The hum of anticipation buzzed through the Singapore Expo Center—real-world marble floors polished to a shine, holographic banners advertising the Metaverse Chain Alliance Conference fluttering above crowds of suited executives, developers, and investors. Lumin adjusted his press badge—"Dual-World Tech Insider," Mirage’s handiwork—and scanned the room, his jaw tightening at the sight of a giant screen displaying the cross-chain bridge’s live status: 98% uptime, $2.3 billion in daily transacti...