Meanwhile…
Lady Liang’s hover car glided through the neon-lit streets, its sleek, silver surface reflecting the colorful glow of the city. The hover car was silent as it approached a dimly lit district, the kind of place that made her bodyguards uneasy.
She glanced at the towering buildings above, the flashing advertisements displaying everything from high-end technology to the latest synthetic entertainment.
This part of the city, however, was anything but luxurious. The neon lights barely lit up the dark alleys, and the people walking by were shadowy figures, hidden beneath hoods and masks.
Her bodyguard, Jiro, shifted uneasily in the front seat. “My Lady, this place… it’s not safe. You shouldn’t be meeting a man like that here. People like him only care about money.”
Lady Liang smiled, a soft, dismissive smile as she glanced at her reflection in the car’s window. Her face was illuminated briefly as they passed under a bright sign advertising some underground club.
“Calm down, Jiro. Do you doubt your own abilities or think this man would dare cross my family?”
Jiro tensed but remained silent. He knew better than to argue with her. She shifted in her seat and adjusted the silver belt around her waist, her tailored suit catching the low light. Her other bodyguard, Mundol, nodded slightly, though his eyes were still sharp, scanning every shadow.
“Besides… It’s his love of money that makes him trustworthy,” Lady Liang continued. “I have more than enough of it to ensure he won’t make a foolish move.”
The hover car slowed to a stop in front of a bar with a flickering neon sign that read “The Rusted Gear.”
The place looked as shady as her guards had warned. The sign buzzed loudly, and a few broken windows added to the charm. Lady Liang stepped out, her high-heeled boots clicking on the pavement. Jiro and Mundol quickly followed, moving in to flank her.
The streets were filled with shady characters, but none dared approach them. Lady Liang’s presence was commanding, her reputation enough to keep any potential threat at bay.
The bar’s interior was dark, smoky, and filled with low conversations that buzzed like flies. As she stepped inside, the noise didn’t stop, but she could feel the small shift in attention. Eyes followed her briefly before turning back to their conversations.
The bartender, a scruffy-looking man with a cybernetic arm, glanced up. “What’ll it be?” he grumbled, wiping down the counter with a stained rag.
“I’m here to meet someone,” Lady Liang said. She leaned forward slightly, lowering her voice but still keeping it sharp. “He goes by the codename ‘Specter.””
The bartender raised an eyebrow but didn’t ask any questions. “Wait here,” he said, then called out to an assistant, a slim woman with brightly colored hair and mechanical legs. “Take her to the VIP section.”
The assistant nodded and motioned for Lady Liang and her bodyguards to follow her. They moved deeper into the bar and down some stairs, arriving somewhere else.
A large open space was lit with colorful lights and filled with all sorts of people, armed, walking around.
Music filled the space, and waiters and waitresses went around serving.
They walked past tables of people who were clearly mercenaries, hitmen, and traders, each engaged in their own dealings. Some discussed missions in whispers, while others reviewed data pads, taking on hits and jobs casually.
“You sure about this, Lady Liang?” Mundol murmured, his eyes scanning the large open space.
“Quite sure,” Liang replied without breaking her stride. “These people are here to do business, nothing more.”
As they walked past a table, a gruff man with tattoos covering his face could be heard talking to a cloaked figure across from him. freewebnσvel.cm
“You’ve got three days to retrieve that package, or the deal’s off. No excuses,” the tattooed man growled, his voice rough.
Another voice from the next table, this one more mechanical, chimed in. “The target is in Sector 7. The payout’s doubled, but the risk is high. Get in, get out, clean job.”
Lady Liang paid no mind to the conversations, though she noted how the underground hub operated efficiently, despite its chaotic appearance. Her bodyguards exchanged uneasy glances but remained silent, following her lead.
Finally, they reached the VIP section. The assistant stopped in front of a secluded booth, where a man sat alone.
He was dressed extravagantly, with a luxurious fur scarf draped around his neck, golden chains hanging from his neck, and tinted sunglasses covering his eyes.
A glass of something dark and expensive-looking was in his hand, but unlike many of the other VIPs, there were no women or hangers-on around him. He sat alone, looking like a king in his domain, yet without a crowd.
“Lady Liang,” the man said smoothly, noticing her, standing up and offering a slight bow. His voice was deep, almost too polished for a man of his trade.
“I’ve been expecting you.”
“Specter,” she acknowledged, sliding into the booth across from him. Jiro and Mundol took up positions nearby, keeping a careful watch on the entrances and exits.
Specter smiled, a lazy, confident smile as he sat back down. “I trust the journey here was… uneventful?”
“I don’t like unnecessary small talk, Specter. You know why I’m here. I believe we had a deal.” Specter’s smile widened slightly, and he raised his glass in a mock toast before taking a slow sip.
“Ah, yes. The feather of the Phoenix.” He set the glass down carefully, watching her with a steady gaze. “You’re aware such items aren’t exactly easy to come by.”
“I’m aware,” Lady Liang replied calmly, crossing her legs and keeping her sharp gaze fixed on him. “But that’s why I’m paying you such a high price, isn’t it?”
Specter nodded, reaching into his coat. For a moment, both Jiro and Mundol tensed, their hands moving instinctively toward their weapons, but Specter simply pulled out a small,
sleek case and set it on the table between them.
“See for yourself,” he said, gesturing to the case.
Lady Liang didn’t move immediately. She locked her eyes with his for a few seconds longer before finally reaching out and opening the case.
Inside was a single red feather, glowing brightly with a light that seemed to pulse like a
heartbeat.
A small red item window appeared.
[Phoenix feather S rank]
She studied it for a moment, then closed the case with a soft snap. “You’ve done well,” she
said, her tone calm, yet there was a hint of satisfaction in her voice.
“I always deliver,” Specter replied with a smug smile. “When the price is right.”
Lady Liang glanced at him, her expression unreadable. “And no complications?”
“None,” Specter said, leaning back in his seat. “Though the Phoenix itself wasn’t too happy about parting with it, I assure you.”
“Good,” she said, standing up, her bodyguards moving to her side instantly. She pulled out a small, sleek data pad and transferred the agreed-upon amount to Specter’s account. A soft chime from his wrist device confirmed the transaction.
Specter glanced at his wrist and smiled again. “Pleasure doing business with you, Lady Liang.
If you ever need another rare item or mercenary services, or perhaps you want to make
someone disappear… you know how to find me.”
Lady Liang turned to leave, but before she walked away, she paused and looked over her shoulder. “Next time, I expect delivery to be a little quicker. Delays aren’t tolerated in my
family.”
Specter raised his glass in acknowledgment. “Understood. I’ll keep that in mind.”
With that, Lady Liang and her bodyguards left the VIP section, stepping back into the smoky,
neon-lit bar. The deal was done, and the feather was hers. She had one of the items she needed for her deal with Spade.