Three cities. One corridor. Twenty-eight brokers.
Vikram Malhotra holds the Tri-City Network?Singapore, Tokyo, Seoul?bound by 6% tribute and Exchange jurisdiction. He's dissolved a state-sponsored Coalition. Won a Tribunal war. Frozen his karmic debt at 5.0:1.
Then the Chinese Regulatory Commission arrives.
Director Zhao Min. Twelve to fifteen brokers. Beijing direct authority. They don't offer partnership. They announce acquisition.
Seoul was the test. Manila is the war.
Tribunal victory. Coalition dissolution. Moral injury permanent at 91.2%. Empire endures through the willingness to fight harder than the next predator.
Three cities held. Fourth comes. Network holds.
The Cursed Commerce Chronicles ? where karmic debt is the HP bar, tribute is the mana cost, and moral injury is permanent.
