Chapter Three: The Release-Night Crash

After a dozen paces, water activated a hidden reflective serial number on the heel. Lin lifted his foot to the lens. “Every Polar Day has a permanent serial. In Hive's three hundred and twenty photographs of supposedly different stock, there are only seventeen serial numbers.” Su released the image comparison. High bids began disappearing. Presales reversed from twelve thousand to nine. He Xiao called. “Your mother still needs surgery. End the stream and I will give you half a million.” Lin put the call on speaker. “Fifty thousand last night, half a million tonight. Mr. He, your price is falling faster than the shoes.” “You think retail buyers will thank you? When prices fall, they'll hate you.”