Rise of the Gold Dragon: A Superhero's Tale

Chapter 5: The Reunion

Jin Chen sighed as he looked at the pile of papers on his desk. He had been working non-stop for the past week, trying to finish his latest invention: a device that could detect and neutralize any superpower in a radius of 100 meters. He hoped that this would help the authorities deal with the rising threat of Ghost, the mysterious crime boss who had been terrorizing New Shangri-La with his army of super-powered henchmen.

Jin was the world's No 1 Inventor, and everyone expected him to come up with brilliant solutions for every problem. He had earned his fame and fortune by creating amazing gadgets and weapons that helped the government fight against evil.

But lately, Jin felt something was wrong with him. Ever since he had encountered the Obsidian Orb, a mysterious artefact that Ghost had stolen from an ancient temple, he had been experiencing strange symptoms. He felt dizzy and nauseous at times, and sometimes he saw flashes of dark visions in his mind. He also noticed that his powers were becoming unstable and unpredictable. He had tried to analyze the Orb, but it seemed to be made of an unknown material that defied all logic and science.

He wondered if the Orb had somehow affected him, or if he was just overworked and stressed. He decided to keep it a secret from his friends and colleagues, hoping that it would go away on its own. He didn't want to worry anyone, or worse, make them think that he was losing his mind.

He glanced at the clock and realized that it was already past 8 pm. He decided to call it a day and head home. He packed his things and locked his office in the Chen Industries building, the skyscraper that he owned and operated. He took the elevator down to the lobby, where his personal assistant, Lisa, was waiting for him.

"Good evening, Mr. Chen," she greeted him with a smile. "How was your day?"

"Busy as usual," he replied. "Any messages for me?"

"Yes, sir. You have a meeting with the mayor tomorrow at 10 am. He wants to discuss your device and how it can help with the Ghost situation."

"Alright, I'll be there."

"And you also have a dinner invitation from Ms. Lee, the reporter from Daily News."

Jin frowned. Ms. Lee was a young and attractive journalist who had been trying to get an exclusive interview with him for months. She claimed that she wanted to write a feature story about his life and achievements, but Jin suspected that she had ulterior motives. He had heard rumors that she was actually working for Ghost, trying to get close to him and find out his secrets.

"I'm afraid I'll have to decline," he said.

"Are you sure, sir? She said it was very important."

"Yes, I'm sure. Tell her I'm busy."

"Very well, sir."

Lisa handed him his coat and briefcase. "Have a good night, Mr. Chen."

"Thank you, Lisa. You too."

Jin walked out of the building and got into his car, a sleek black sports car that he had designed himself. He drove through the busy streets of New Shangri-La, admiring the neon lights and skyscrapers that illuminated the night sky. He loved this city, and he felt proud to be one of its protectors.

He reached his home, a luxurious penthouse apartment in a high-rise building near the park. He parked his car in the garage and took the elevator up to his floor. He entered his apartment and was greeted by his pet robot dog, Sparky.

"Hello, master," Sparky said in a metallic voice. "Welcome back."

"Hello, Sparky," Jin said as he petted the metal canine. "How are you?"