Chapter Three: Three Contracts, One Second

Lin's voice entered every room through the speakers. “Electronic signature opens at six. If one party declines, all three contracts terminate. You have sixty seconds to decide whether you share in Harborbridge's success—or share ownership of a failure headline.” The timer reached zero. Three pens moved within the same second. When the money entered escrow, two thousand supporters outside Old Dock roared as though Harborbridge had scored. Kane's counterattack arrived ten minutes later. He filed an emergency objection with the English FA, claiming that Luka's debt release and Milo's transfer formed an unlawful inducement. Vale followed with a settlement offer: Harborbridge would leave the deal and Northcastle would clear every short-term debt.