The plan was bold, but effective.
If it succeeded, they would obtain all the evidence they needed in one decisive move. If it failed, their identities would be exposed, and the mission would collapse.
"The risk is high," Rowan said calmly, weighing every angle. "But this may be our best chance."
"Then it's settled," Silver Moon replied without hesitation. "We move in one week."
The week passed in the blink of an eye.
Meteor Group's grand client banquet arrived as scheduled. It was a large-scale social event, attended by elite clients and partners from across the star system. The venue was the luxurious banquet hall on the top floor of the headquarters, a place normally reserved for board meetings and opened only for the most important occasions.
Rowan stood by the window in his office, gazing upward through the glass at the brilliance above. The banquet hall shimmered with light. Beneath crystal chandeliers, guests of every race and background mingled, their laughter and music drifting faintly down.
He checked the time on his wrist display. 8:15 PM.
According to plan, Silver Moon should already be inside.
"Lin Feng, still working?" Tony leaned into the doorway, surprised. "It's the weekend. There's a huge event upstairs. You're not curious?"
Rowan adjusted his glasses, maintaining his reserved persona.
"I'm not much for social gatherings. I'd rather finish this analysis report. The supervisor wants it tomorrow."
Tony shook his head with a chuckle.
"You're too dedicated. But that's why people like you in this department. Alright, I'm heading out. Good luck."
"Thanks. Get some rest," Rowan replied politely.
Once Tony left, Rowan scanned the office.
The department was nearly empty. Most employees had gone to the banquet or left for the weekend. Only a handful of work-focused individuals remained.
He returned to his desk, appearing to work, while silently observing everything around him.
He was waiting.
Meanwhile, at the banquet hall above, Silver Moon moved gracefully through the crowd as Suya.
Dressed in a deep blue evening gown, she radiated elegance and confidence, the perfect image of a successful businesswoman.
"Ms. Suya, you look stunning tonight," a mechanical-race client said as he approached her. "I hear you're new to Meteor Group?"
"Yes, I joined just a month ago," she replied with a charming smile, raising her glass. "It's an honor to serve such distinguished clients."
While conversing, her attention remained elsewhere.
Across the hall, the company's upper management had gathered.
Victor Meteor stood among key clients, his expression serious. Nearby, Alia Stoneheart was speaking quietly with a group of unfamiliar figures.
Silver Moon narrowed her eyes.
Those individuals wore formal attire, but their presence was different. Disciplined. Controlled. Like trained operatives.
Who are they?
At that moment, Helen approached.
"Suya, come meet some important clients."
Silver Moon followed her to a quieter corner.
Two young human men stood there. Their appearances were unremarkable, but their eyes carried an unsettling depth.
"These are representatives from Shadow Trade Company," Helen introduced. "Mr. Li and Mr. Wang."
Silver Moon's instincts sharpened immediately.
Shadow Trade Company was on the hostile forces watchlist. On the surface, it was a legitimate business. In reality, it operated in far darker territories.
"A pleasure to meet you," she said smoothly. "Your company has an excellent reputation in frontier trade. I hope we can collaborate."
Mr. Li smiled.
"Our cooperation with Meteor Group has already been quite fruitful. We look forward to taking it even further."
There was weight behind his words.
"Deeper cooperation benefits everyone," Silver Moon replied, testing the waters. "What areas interest you most?"
Mr. Wang exchanged a glance with Li before answering.
"We are particularly interested in information exchange. Market trends, policy shifts. Of course, we are willing to share some of our own insights as well."
A clear implication.
Intelligence exchange.
Silver Moon kept her composure.
"Information is indeed the key to success. Meteor Group has strong capabilities in that area."
"We've heard," Mr. Li added meaningfully. "Your systems can access very valuable data. That makes cooperation… easier."
At that moment, her communicator vibrated once.
Rowan's signal.
He was about to begin.
She glanced at the time. 8:45 PM.
She needed to buy him at least thirty minutes.
"Shall we continue this conversation on the terrace?" she suggested. "It's quieter there."
They agreed.
On the sixtieth floor, Rowan finally moved.
He confirmed no one was nearby, then slipped away from his workstation.
The chairman and vice chairman offices were on the ninetieth floor, the highest administrative level.
The elevator ride felt longer than usual.
When the doors opened, he stepped into a corridor of luxury. Thick carpets muffled footsteps. Priceless artwork lined the walls.
Security was tighter here. Cameras at every corner. Biometric locks on every door.
But tonight, staffing was minimal.
The banquet had drawn most personnel away.
Rowan moved to a blind spot and activated a specialized device.
The nearby cameras flickered, then froze.
A temporary gap.
He moved quickly to Victor Meteor's office.
The door required fingerprint, retinal scan, and voice authentication.
Rowan took out another device, one capable of simulating biometric data. Over the past week, he had collected enough information.
A soft beep.
Green light.
Access granted.
The office was dim, lit only by the glow of the city beyond the window.
Rowan did not turn on the lights.
He moved straight to the desk and the private terminal.
Within minutes, he bypassed multiple security layers. The system yielded.
Folders appeared.
His eyes narrowed.
Encrypted files.
He opened the first one.
Communication logs.
Evidence of direct contact between Victor Meteor and multiple hostile factions. Not just business intelligence exchanges, but coordinated plans targeting the Virtual Universe Company.
Some operations even hinted at military involvement.
"This is bigger than expected," Rowan muttered, copying the files.
Footsteps echoed in the corridor.
He froze.
In an instant, he shut down the screen and slipped behind a cabinet.
The footsteps stopped outside the door.
Silence.
Seconds stretched.
Then the sound faded.
A patrol.
Rowan exhaled quietly and returned to work.
The second folder contained financial records.
Massive transfers.
Over one hundred billion universe credits exchanged in secret within a single year.
Hard evidence.
Then his communicator vibrated again.
A warning.
On the terrace, Silver Moon's situation had worsened.
The conversation had grown sharper, more probing.
"Ms. Suya," Mr. Wang said, "how would you describe Meteor Group's relationship with the Virtual Universe Company?"
Alarm bells rang in her mind.
"That's a complex topic," she replied calmly. "At my level, I don't have access to detailed strategic information."
Mr. Li smiled faintly.
"You're being modest. We've heard your company recently obtained some very valuable market intelligence."
They were testing her.
Possibly suspecting.
She needed to disengage.
"As professionals, we must respect confidentiality," she said smoothly. "Shall we return inside? There are many other topics worth discussing."
Before they could respond, something changed.
Alia Stoneheart appeared at the terrace entrance.
Her expression was sharp. Two security personnel stood behind her.
"Suya, there you are," Alia said, stepping forward. "I've been looking for you."
Silver Moon's heart tightened.
"Vice Chairman Stoneheart," she replied calmly. "I was speaking with our clients."
Alia nodded, but her gaze lingered.
"Good. But something requires your immediate attention. The technical department reported unauthorized access to the executive level."
The words struck like lightning.
Rowan.
Silver Moon forced a look of surprise.
"Unauthorized access? Could it be a system error? With such an important event tonight, it seems unlikely."
"Perhaps," Alia said coldly. "But we cannot ignore it. Come with me."
There was no refusal.
As they walked back through the hall, Silver Moon passed the service table.
"One glass of red wine," she said casually.
At the same time, her finger pressed the emergency signal on her communicator.
Three pulses.
Retreat.
In the office, Rowan felt the signal.
Three rapid vibrations.
Emergency withdrawal.
He stopped immediately.
All traces were cleared with practiced efficiency. No sign of intrusion remained.
The copied data was secured in a micro-storage device.
He moved toward the door.
Then he heard it.
Multiple footsteps.
Fast. Organized.
He glanced through the gap.
Three security officers were sweeping the corridor.
Room by room.
Closing in.
-------------------------------
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