Chapter 14 — The Shadow Networks
Arsis, 01 Lus 910 Aven — 9:30
The city breathed a familiar agitation.
Neither truly modern nor archaic, it had this contemporary industrial aesthetic where brick still dominated steel.
In a busy street, lined with old buildings, there was a unique shop:
a flea market mixing souvenirs and antiques.
Dragon Eyes.
Behind the counter, Yin.
Tall, slender, with silver hair and eyes of the same shade, he gave off an almost unreal aura.
Her traditional white Chinese garment, adorned with a grayish-patterned dragon, draped down her right sleeve, with the dragon's head appearing to watch around her neck.
Clear-rimmed glasses rested on his nose.
With a pen in hand, he was writing a sales report.
Tap.
Tap.
Tap.
His index finger tapped frantically on the wood of the counter.
Unusual nervousness.
He stopped abruptly.
A mark was left on the table.
Yin took a deep breath, put his report away, then walked out the door behind the counter.
---
10:00
He came out transformed.
A standard yellow suit, crisp white shirt, matching yellow tie.
Sunglasses with gold tinted lenses.
In his hand, an ordinary black briefcase.
He left the store without looking back.
The morning wind brushed against his face while the discreet rays of the sun filtered in from within.
Yin turned the sign over.
Open → Close
Then he crossed the crowded street, weaving between vehicles and passers-by, to the opposite sidewalk.
There, a familiar sign:
Mouse Tail
— more simply, the Mouse.
He entered.
The restaurant was bustling.
Waiters running in all directions, customers in a hurry, take-out orders stacked on the counter.
Perfectly organized chaos.
Yin slipped through it with ease, as if he already knew every blind spot.
He reached the heavy black doors leading to the kitchen and walked through them.
Inside, he approached the leader.
A thin man, with bulging eyes and a dull face.
Missed.
"I want to talk to the boss, the little one," Yin said calmly.
Rate took off his hat and placed it against the wall.
"We're looking for you, Ratz…" he whispered.
From the hat rose a small figure.
A mouse.
— Hey, white guy.
What do you want from me?
I have a restaurant and sewers to manage.
—I just want you to keep an eye on my store.
Dragon Eyes.
- Of course.
But for how long?
— Undetermined.
The mouse nodded.
- All right.
No problem.
They parted without another word.
Everyone returned to their role.
---
Yin left the restaurant and continued to the right.
A huge airport stood before him, saturated with travelers.
He bought a ticket, went through the controls without a hitch, and took his seat on the plane.
---
…
…
…
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17:30
Ustate — Nis Yard
The plane lands.
Yin exited the terminal without difficulty and hailed a taxi.
He sat in the back.
The driver's face was hidden in shadow.
—Where are we going, stranger? asked the deep voice.
—Wall Street.
A slight laugh.
— We plan to do business, eh?
The engine started.
The car moved away, swallowed up by the city.
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