Chapter Four: Turning Whispers into Evidence

The report meant to destroy his credibility gave the company its first public attention. Zhou confirmed that his hedge had relied entirely on public data. The bank released the funds after counsel intervened, and the office passed inspection. That night the five celebrity stocks spoke together: “Twenty-one days, zero hours, zero minutes.” The sixth voice followed. “Anomalous observer has established an external node,” PAN said. “Begin feeding.” Tang watched free data sources flood their server. “It isn't trying to shut us out,” he said. “It wants us to see exactly what it chooses.”