Blake followed the man from a distance as they walked through the Red region. His eyes drifted to his imposing back and he remembered Big's not-so-vague warning. 'Look kid, this is just as unfavorable for you as it is for me but there are some people whom you can not just say no to. I hope you don't live long enough to encounter them.'
While it wasn't a direct threat, it still carried a heavy implication. There were far bigger people than Big.
He would have laughed at the irony but he was far too distraught to care.
"For easy identification, call me B." The man suddenly said, breaking Blake out of his thoughts.
He nodded, 'B and 024? Trying to hide their identity? That means that there is someone or something that even they have to fear.'
The more of the web he saw, the more he realized he had yet to see.
Now that his focus was broken, he finally realized where they were. He noticed the red soil darken as it approached the barely visible forest outline in the distance. With the starless night sky, it looked like two different black pools were converging.
Blake took a step back and chuckled nervously. "What are we doing close to the forest?"
Since childhood, one instruction had remained a constant. Stay away from the forest at all costs.
'But then again, I am about to commit a crime for a criminal syndicate. What is the point of upholding that?' He reasoned to himself but couldn't calm his racing heart.
B placed his hands into his pocket and turned casually to him, "What else? We are going to rendezvous with my boss. There, we'll inform you of what you have to know."
Blake wanted to accuse him of being an agent of death sent to him but he held his tongue. He would die if he tried such. 'Plus, who actually knows what is actually behind the forest line? It isn't anything dangerous because there's no fence but with the Global Alliance, it could be a monster.'
Swallowing his pointless self-arguing, he continued following B even as he approached the forest.
The closer they got, the smaller Blake's steps became. All the pep talk in the world couldn't suddenly change his fears.
'For all I know, a giant mouth will swallow me before the moment I place my foot in the forest.'
He knew he was being unrealistic, but if Genetic wrist scanners were unrealistic before, then who knew what the realm of possibility held? Either way, he wasn't willing to find out.
Finally, they entered the pitch-black forest and Blake subconsciously scurried closer to B.
B raised an eyebrow and glanced at him but said nothing.
Apart from the chirping crickets and the occasional snapping of twigs under their feet, the forest was completely silent.
'I don't even know if that's more assuring or worrying. On one hand, it could mean that this part of the forest is uninhabited or a top-chain predator has devoured all other animals.'
Blake inhaled deeply and hoped for the best.
Eventually, a small light caught his attention. It was unmistakably artificial lighting, 'But where is it from?'
B didn't seem as surprised so he could guess that was their destination. With safety — or a close comparison — so close, there was suddenly a pep in Blake's step.
'Just because I am committing a crime doesn't mean that I should be completely gloomy.' He wouldn't call himself happy but he had more or less accepted his situation.
As they got closer, Blake realized that the light was coming from a small cabin amidst tall trees.
Through one of the windows, he could just make out the silhouette of a man standing inside. No doubt 024.
He looked around, 'No signs of his car. So how did he get here?'
They arrived at the cabin and B pushed open the door. As expected, 024 was standing in the middle of the cabin still with his shades on.
'He must have excellent vision.' Blake joked to himself but the sudden shift in the air made him freeze.
024 stared at him, "Black. You have one task. To acquire a canister from a man in the Blue region." He started.
He continued, "The task is quite simple. In a couple of hours, he is hosting a gala to celebrate the launch of a new product and luckily, the venue is none other than his penthouse."
Blake nodded as he listened to the next part. "This is perfect because the canister is also in his penthouse — albeit stored within a safe. So you'll infiltrate the gala, find your way to the safe, and steal the canister." 024 finished like it was nothing but Blake's mouth dropped.
'Impossible! Does he hear himself?! He wants me to sneak into a clearly high-class gala, find the safe, and steal from it, then leave? Is he crazy or does he believe that everyone in the Blue region is blind because I am definitely going to get caught?' The situation seemed impossible and rejection wasn't even an option.
B finally stepped forward to speak. "Don't worry yourself about the logistics of access or the safe's code. We'll get you to the gala and direct you to the safe. All that matters is taking the canister and leaving without getting caught. Otherwise means death."
Blake hummed. If they actually provided him with those, the task would be a lot easier but there was another issue. "I'm sure that if the target can afford to throw a gala, he has security cameras, guards, and measures in place to ensure nothing happens to his goods. One way or another, I will be found."
024's neutral mask cracked and he chuckled a little, "Good, Black. You're thinking."
B reached out at a speed incomprehensible to the naked eye and slammed a hand over Blake's head.
The latter's heart pounded against his ribcage. His eyes widened, 'Is this how I'll die? Because I asked a question?!'
Then he felt an immense force fall on his skull.