Ling Mei stood by the large floor-to-ceiling window, which offered a spectacular view of the city. The Old World Network, with its towering buildings and bustling streets, was as busy as ever. The morning sun glinted off the glass, casting a majestic silhouette of the city. Ling Mei stood silently, her phone pressed to her ear, a subtle smile on her face.
Behind her calm demeanor and controlled expression, she was contemplating her next move in the business. Being an information broker in the Old World Network wasn't easy, but Ling Mei had made herself one of the most respected—and feared—figures in the field.
The silence was broken by the voice on the other end of the line. "Ling Mei, have you got the information I asked for?" The man's voice was tense.
Ling Mei smiled, still gazing out the window. "Oh, Tian, there's no need to worry so much," she said in a calm yet authoritative tone. "Everything is taken care of. Your information will arrive on time. Just make sure the payment is as we agreed."
A sigh of relief came from the other side. "Alright, Ling Mei. I'll trust you. You've always been reliable," Tian said, sounding somewhat relieved.
"And I'm glad you recognize that," Ling Mei replied, her tone slightly teasing but still cold. "Remember, Tian, in this world, trust is the most valuable currency. Never forget that."
Tian sounded a bit awkward before ending the call with a brief goodbye. Ling Mei lowered her phone and chuckled softly, then deftly scrolled through her contact list.
Denzel. The name appeared on the screen, and without hesitation, Ling Mei tapped the call button.
The phone rang a few times before a man with a soft yet serious voice answered. "Ling Mei, how's it going?"
"Denzel, it's good to hear your voice," Ling Mei replied with a sweet, almost contrived tone, but one that carried meaning. "I'm doing well, as usual. And you? How's your latest project?"
Denzel chuckled softly. "You always seem to know everything before I even get the chance to tell you."
Ling Mei stepped away from the window and walked slowly toward the large desk in the room, adorned with luxurious furnishings. Black leather chairs, a finely carved wooden desk, and contemporary paintings decorated the walls. Every detail of the interior reflected her wealth and status.
"Yes, Denzel, that's part of my job, isn't it?" she said, settling into her comfortable chair and idly spinning a glass of empty wine in her hand. "But of course, I didn't call you just for small talk. I've come across something intriguing that might catch your interest."
"I can hear the distinctive tone in your voice, Ling Mei. You've got new information, haven't you?" Denzel's tone grew more serious, intrigued by what Ling Mei had to say.
"There's always new information," Ling Mei replied with a sly smile that almost seemed audible in her voice. "But what I've got isn't just ordinary news. Let's just say it could change the game, Denzel."
There was a brief silence on the other end as Denzel considered her words. "You know I'm always interested in something that could change the game. Give me a hint."
Ling Mei leaned back in her chair and stared at the ceiling for a moment, enjoying the sensation of having hooked her bait. "I've uncovered something about The Outcast Collective, about some of their members who went missing in a recent mission. There's crucial information coming out of it, and... what if I told you it involves a very rare quantum artifact?"
Denzel sounded more intrigued now. "A quantum artifact? That's no small matter, Ling Mei. How did you come by such information?"
"You know I always have my ways, Denzel. And you know that what I say is always reliable," Ling Mei replied in a soft voice that still carried an air of authority. "But of course, this information doesn't come cheap. You'll need to be prepared to pay more than usual."
There was a pause on the other end as Denzel considered her offer. "How much do you want?"
Ling Mei gave a faint smile, pleased to see her game unfolding perfectly. "Nine million nexbits, and I'll give you all the details."
A sigh was heard from Denzel. "That's quite a steep price, even for the high-quality information you provide."
"Of course," Ling Mei responded quickly. "But, Denzel, this isn't just any information. This could bring you one step closer to your goal. I wouldn't share it if it weren't crucial."
Denzel seemed to ponder the offer. "Alright," he said finally. "I agree. I'll send the payment as soon as possible. You can give me the details afterward."
"Always a pleasure doing business with you," Ling Mei replied with a tone of triumph underlying her words. "Send the money, and I'll send you everything you need."
With that, the call ended. Ling Mei placed her phone gently on the desk and stood up, walking back to the large glass window. The Old World Network stretched out before her, full of secrets, intrigue, and power flowing like an unseen river beneath its seemingly ordinary surface.
With her characteristic smile, Ling Mei knew that every step she took brought more rewards, both in terms of money and influence. The world of information was her domain, and she was its queen.
She looked out, still holding the empty wine glass in her hand, reflecting for a moment. In a city brimming with manipulation and violence, few truly survive. But she, Ling Mei, wasn't just surviving—she was thriving, evolving, and growing stronger with each opportunity.
With her business concluded, Ling Mei settled into her comfortable chair, letting herself sink into the luxury that surrounded her. Her office was a perfect blend of high-tech functionality and artistic elegance. Abstract art adorned the walls, while sleek modern furniture added a touch of sophistication. In one corner, a tall glass vase with exotic flowers from distant galaxies emitted a subtle fragrance, adding a touch of tranquility to the bustling world of the Old World Network.
In front of Ling Mei, a large holographic screen hovered over her sleek black glass desk. Her hands deftly swiped through panels of information, her fingers dancing in the air as if she were playing a complex instrument. Each movement revealed new windows of data: names, faces, illicit transactions, and maps tracking the movements of key figures across the Old World Network.
She took a deep breath, letting the cool air from the office ventilation brush against her smooth skin. In silence, her mind worked faster than the hologram in front of her. Ling Mei was no ordinary information broker. She knew more than anyone in this underground network, even more than the leaders of the syndicates themselves. All the anomalies and suspicious activities within the network quickly reached her ears—and now, two names had come up in her web of information.
"Modeus... Abigail..." The names echoed in the quiet of her office. They appeared repeatedly in recent reports she had received. These two Relic Hunters had suddenly become prominent with an alarming speed. Typically, it takes years to rise through the ranks of the Old World Network. But they had appeared seemingly out of nowhere and had quickly attracted a bounty of 10 million nexbits.
Ling Mei pressed a finger to the hologram, zooming in on the profiles of both individuals. Modeus, a Relic Hunter with an otherwise unremarkable track record over the past few weeks. Nothing extraordinary about him. He seemed like just another hunter scavenging the remnants of an ancient civilization. Ling Mei studied his photo for a moment, trying to figure out what made him so different. His profile listed various achievements within the Old World Network, but nothing stood out until recently. According to his records, Modeus was known as an unremarkable fighter, yet somehow he had suddenly attracted a bounty of 10 million nexbits—a notable achievement.
"Modeus..." Ling Mei whispered the name softly, her voice almost swallowed by the elegance of her silent office. "What are you really hiding?"
On the screen next to Modeus, Abigail's profile appeared. Abigail, a man with a history nearly identical to Modeus's. These two seemed to have no direct connection before, yet now their movements seemed aligned. Both were unremarkable, both had surged to prominence abruptly. Too fast. Too suspicious. However, Abigail seemed to have emerged from the shadows with skills that both impressed and alarmed many.
Ling Mei's gaze remained fixed on the profiles, her mind racing to unravel the mysteries behind these sudden rising stars.
Ling Mei stroked her chin thoughtfully. A rookie Relic Hunter rising through the ranks so quickly—such anomalies in the world of Old World Network could never be taken at face value. She never believed in coincidences and never let significant information slip by without thorough investigation.
She spun the hologram screen, zooming in on the latest data about them. Recently, these two names had been involved in the hunt for Selena, a high-profile target within the Old World Network's criminal syndicate. Selena was just one of many bounties, but her high value of 10 million nexbits made her a focal point for many. Ling Mei knew all too well that nothing in this world happened by chance.
"Abigail..." she murmured, letting the name roll off her tongue as her mind spun with possibilities. "Are you just coincidentally in the right place at the right time, or is there something deeper here?"
"How did they manage to track down such a significant bounty?" she asked herself, her eyes still fixed on the screen. "And why was there no prior knowledge of their movements?"
Ling Mei's fingers continued to swipe through the hologram, pulling up other reports related to the incident. She read carefully about their recent mission in the ruins of a laboratory. There were inconsistencies—like how they managed to handle the entire Outcast Collective present there. Official reports mentioned a purge team's assault, but Ling Mei wasn't entirely convinced. There was a small gap in the report, and it was this gap that drove her to dig deeper.
Suddenly, she paused on a newly arrived report. An internal memo from the Outcast Collective. The name Luca appeared in the report. While the initial information wasn't particularly revealing, there was something about Luca's team's deaths, including the renowned mecha pilot Selena. Luca's involvement now became the focal point of Ling Mei's attention.
She tapped her fingers on the desk, thinking it over. "Luca was involved… Selena was killed by these two rookie Relic Hunters." Ling Mei couldn't ignore the irregularities.
Even though Modeus and Abigail had risen through the ranks rapidly, Ling Mei had a sharp instinct for detecting the unseen. The Old World Network was a realm of intrigue and manipulation. The forces moving behind the scenes always had hidden motives. She knew there was more beneath the surface of Modeus and Abigail's actions. They might appear to be ordinary Relic Hunters, but their movements suggested something much larger was at play.
Ling Mei organized the data on her hologram, meticulously noting several key points: the meetings between Modeus and Abigail at various locations, their connection to the rare quantum artifact, and their involvement in executing high-profile bounties. Every detail was broken down, analyzed, and reassembled in her sharp mind. If there was one thing Ling Mei understood, it was that seemingly insignificant people often played a much bigger role than they appeared.
She paused on a section detailing the autopsy results of the bounty head brought in by Modeus and Abigail. "Interesting," she murmured quietly. "Selena... this woman was not easily subdued."
Beneath the clinical information, Ling Mei saw deeper implications. Selena was one of the most renowned agents of the Outcast Collective, a formidable mecha pilot who had survived countless impossible battles. Yet, Modeus and Abigail had managed to defeat her. Not only that, but they appeared to have done so without major harm to themselves. This wasn't just luck; it was a precise calculation.
Ling Mei smiled slightly. "They're more than just ordinary Relic Hunters," she whispered. "Perhaps... they have deeper connections than they seem."
But who was pulling the strings behind the scenes? Her mind raced, trying to connect the dots. So far, there was no direct sign of involvement from any major syndicate, but if these two continued to move at this pace, they would surely attract attention. And when that happened, the Old World Network would start to stir.
She pressed another button on the hologram, this time opening a secret file containing reports from her spies. The file had some brief notes on Abigail's activities—suspicious activities in numerous ancient ruins, though all remained vague. There was no solid evidence to accuse him of anything—just speculation.
In the luxurious silence of her office, Ling Mei closed her eyes for a moment. Her focus was sharp, her mind mapping out every move Modeus and Abigail had made. If they were indeed conspiring for something greater, she needed to find out what it was. And if they were merely pawns in a larger game, she would uncover who was holding the reins.
One thing was certain: nothing moved within the Old World Network without reaching her ears. Ling Mei always heard everything—even the most secretive whispers.
With a swift motion, she shut down the hologram screen. The room was once again enveloped in silence. Ling Mei rose from her chair and walked slowly to the window, turning her gaze back to the large pane beside her, overlooking the cityscape. Below, the hustle and bustle of the Old World Network continued its relentless spin, like a never-ending Ferris wheel. Amidst all this, Ling Mei was both observer and player. She was at the pinnacle of this game, knowing almost everything. Yet, for the first time in a while, she felt a faint stir of uncertainty—and intrigue.
"Modeus... Abigail... Luca... You three are more than just ordinary Relic Hunters. But what are your real motives?" Ling Mei repeated their names, this time with a more serious tone. "You're becoming quite interesting to follow."
With a calm step, Ling Mei rose from her chair, shutting down the hologram screen with a single touch. The day's work was not yet complete, but she knew this was just the beginning of something much bigger. A small smile played on her lips. She was certain that soon enough, the answers would come—either through the information she gathered or perhaps through their next moves.
As the most feared information broker in the Old World Network, she understood that power came from knowledge—and these two Relic Hunters, in some way, held the key to secrets much greater than what was visible on the surface.
***