Prologue

"We've won."

The president of EQUALIST Incorporated leaned back into his plush chair and closed his eyes, ignoring his secretary's voice as it rang out through the murky darkness of his office. He tightened his grip around the rim of the small, delicate glass and brought it to his lips, parting them to let the smooth, amber liquid burn down his throat. His assistant crossed the room briskly and appeared at his side, eyes flashing as he delivered the news with giddy anticipation.

"We've won, Amon."

Amon glanced up at him and smirked, already knowing the other's next words.

"Avatar Aang is dead."

Although the news came as no surprise to him, Amon could feel his heart swell up in triumph. He suppressed it immediately, maintaining a stoic demeanor as he heaved himself up out of his chair in a single, swift motion.

"We haven't won yet, Mr. Liu."

Liu pushed his glasses further up the bridge of his nose, looking confused.

"But sir," he stammered, flinching under the cold gaze of his superior, "Aang was our biggest competitor – now that he's dead, there is nothing standing in our way. We can finally destroy AVATAR and its associates."

Amon stood with one hand in his pocket and the other lazily gripping his glass of scotch as he gazed out the window at the luminous skyline of Republic City. He narrowed his eyes.

"That is where you are mistaken, Liu," he took another swig of his drink and licked his lips, "That old geezer was not a force to be reckoned with. He knew better than to become ill and not think of appointing someone to inherit his precious company."

"You mean, he—" Liu gasped and his face paled.

Amon nodded.

"I believe his successor currently resides in the South," he murmured, setting the empty glass on the table, "And is on their way to Republic City, right now. Despite your everyday accusations of me being a lazy president, Mr. Liu, I always do my research."

He winked at Liu, whose face flushed a burning red.

"So," Liu straightened up, edging closer to Amon as he settled back into his seat, "How do you want to handle this unfortunate development, sir?"

"Considering that Aang's successor is arriving with the intention to take over the business immediately, I think that we may already be running out of time."

Amon tapped his fingers against the desk and gave his assistant a smug grin.

"It looks like we'll have to accelerate our plans."