Project Jellyfish?Strange recruitment(2)

(A/n: slight change in the name from Daniel Griffin to Daniel Carter as that's actually more relatable and common than the fantasy animal surname.)

.....

"Unbalance, you say?"

Cassandra smile returns, her eyes sparkling with interest as she had caught the man's intrigue.

Leaning forward, her face approached his, her tone sounding conspiratorial yet deeply seductive, "Ah, yes~ The balance of power in this city is rather... delicate. The various factions and organizations are constantly jockeying for position, trying to gain the upper hand."

She paused.

"But with the information contained in this package..."

She paused.

"Damnit lady quit it with the suspense." Daniel interups, clearly annoyed.

Cassandra couldn't help but giggle at her own antics. For some reason she was inexplicably drawn to Daniel and she couldn't particularly explain why.

"But with the package information... The entire landscape could change. The power could fall, and the marginalized would rise."

She gaze fell onto the black blindfold. Curious what was hidden underneath.

"And we are willing to pay top dollar for your services, Mr Carter. How does $50,000 upfront and $80,000 upon delivery sound to you."

This of course brought a slight grin from Daniel.

"Are you starting to see the potential benefits?" Cassandra said with a smile of her own.

"Who am I to say no to free money?" Daniel muttered before picking the folder and then opening it only to pause and chuckle out loud, "Sometimes i myself forget about my condition."

Cassandra couldn't contain herself as she burst in a fit, her cute laughs echoes through the room, a melodious sound that's both captivating yet unsettling.

"Ah~ Mr Carter, you indeed are a national treasure." Her eyes sparkling with amusement as the tension and suspense in the room was immediately diluted from a single sentence.

"Allow me to rectify that." She said as she snapped her fingers, and a guard approached Daniel, holding out the device. Its small, wearable contraption that looks like a cross between a smart watch and a miniature computer.

"Allow me to introduce a state-of-the-art neural device interface. A device that'll allow you access and interpret the contents of the folder... without needing your eyes." She leaned forward, her eyes glinting with intensity.

"So Mr Carter, are you ready to take a first leap into the new world of possibilities?"

"I believe this is my cue to say yes... Or am I to deliver a speech?"

Cassandra smile widens, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.

"So you are a man of a few words? I expected at least a speech of a few lines." She said with a chuckle, "Yes, this is where you say yes. Or, at the very least, indicate your willingness to proceed."

She leans back in her chair, locking her fingers together as she awaits a response.

____

Now at this point, I don't know how much this bitch has been leaning and shifting on her seat, but damn this bitch is restless!

___

The air thicc with tension behind. The only sound is the soft hum of the neural interface device.

(A/n: Even the word 'thicc' is THICC in my eyes. Is it that bad?)

"So Mr Carter, what will it be?" She repeats after noticing his silence for a few seconds.

"First off, I'd like to know what the hell is written on the dam folder." Daniel complained with a frown. He had been pointing out what he wants here and this lady here is dancing back and forth on her seat like a striptease or something.

Cassandra's smile falters for a moment, looking slightly taken aback by the blunt reminder. She glanced at the guard holding the device and back at Daniel.

"Ah~ Of course. Forgive me, Mr Carter. I sometimes forget..." She spoke, her voice tinged with a hint of embarrassment. Gesturing towards the guard who stepped forth, holding out the device.

"This should allow you to access the contents of the folder. But of course, I can also allow someone to read the content aloud if you'd prefer."

Daniel remained quiet, before his fingers met with the gaze of the guard silently standing behind him.

"I'd like this sneaky guy to read it out loud." His smirk never leaving his lips. The guard in question frown, not expecting to be spotted out.

Cassandra's expression turned thoughtful, nodding slowly in acceptance.

"Very well. I understand your... reservations." She gestured to the shocked guard, a tall imposing figure with a serious tone, "Victor, please read the content of the folder aloud to our guest." She commanded with authority, a tone she dared not use before Daniel.

Victor stepped forward, his deep voice rumbling as he begins to read:

"Project: Jellyfish. Classified document. Eyes only." He paused staring at Daniel with an odd look, drawing a chuckle from Cassandra and a frown from Daniel.

'You dare mock me.'

"The package contains sensitive information regarding the city's underworld, including..." He hesitates, awkwardly looking at Cassandra who stared back at him with a neutral expression. "The locations of several high-value targets, and the identities of key players in the city's organized crime syndicates."

Cassandra's gaze never leaving Daniel awaited his response, her expression intense.

"Why so secretive? Is this a damn sleepover? Spill the damn beans already, no need to act all classified with me " Daniel taunts Victor with a mocking smile.

Victor responded with an amused smile before clearing his throat and continues reading, his voice a bit more pronounced:

"Location of high-value targets include: the Red Diamond nightclub, the Eastside warehouse, the waterfront docks. Key players include: Victor LaGraine, Maria Rodriguez and Auguste Dumont."

"Wasn't difficult, was it?"

"Forgive us Mr Carter, he's not used to reading bedtime stories to... enthusiastic audiences." She commented with a chuckle, throwing a direct jab to Victor who frowned at the side.

"Now we can discuss the terms of our proposal... We're willing to offer you the agreed summation of money we previously discussed in exchange for your... unique skills. All you need to do is retrieve the package and bring it back to us." She said, sliding a phone across to Daniel who instinctively caught it before it slid off.

A single number was displayed on the screen.

"But what is your take on all this?" Daniel asks in seriousness, his tone absent of the previous jokester.

Her expression turned thoughtful as she leaned back in the chair, steepling her fingertips together. "A wise question you ask Mr Carter. My organization..." She paused, carefully choosing her next words, "...has certain interest that align with the contents of the package. Let's just say that we're eager to acquire this information to further our own goals."

"But I'll be honest with you, Mr Carter. This package is just the tip of the iceberg. For there are those who would kill to get their hands on this information, and we're not the only ones in the game that is searching for it."

Her gaze bore deep into Daniel's eyes... Or at least where his eyes were located behind the blindfold, searching for signs of hesitation or uncertainty in his expression.

"Knowing the full implications: are you in?"

The air once again THICC with tension and suspense and the only sound was the soft hum of the club's music in the background.