A cool wind, a heavy night and a heart locked in ice.
A young woman in thin clothing stood alone on the deserted shore.
The sea wind howled, stirring her flimsy garments, yet she seemed oblivious to the cold. She tilted her head, listening to the sound of the waves surging forward again and again.
「Why is he here?」
「According to the Prodigy's prophecy, that guy should be in Jinzhou, Huanglong.」
「Or perhaps the 'him' before me isn't the 'him' I knew?」
The girl unconsciously rubbed her cool fingertips, trying to find a sliver of comfort in the small action, but her thoughts only grew more tangled like hair wildly tousled by the wind, impossible to sort out.
What should she do next? Report this to the Fractsidus?
No… based on the Fractsidus's methods, even if he wasn't that person, he would likely become a sacrificial pawn in some scheme.
"Better to…" she murmured. "Keep watching for now."
She lowered her gaze and kept watch.
…
When the final note dissipated beneath the dome of the concert hall like a wisp of smoke fading into nothingness, the magnificent performance officially drew to a close.
For Ray, the real work was only beginning.
With the theater now noisy and crowded, a perfect cover in the swell of people, he began his preparations, methodically setting the stage for the forthcoming infiltration.
This theater had been custom-built for the head of the Fasciaspina family. Although it hosted public performances on ordinary days, bringing audiovisual feasts to many art lovers, more often it functioned as a private performance hall, catering to the personal tastes and needs of the Fasciaspina patriarch.
Therefore, within this theater, aside from the main hall and a few publicly accessible areas for guests, most of the theater's regions were strictly off-limits.
"Sorry, this area is off-limits to guests. Please understand."
At that moment, Ray was attempting to approach a cold, metallic door but was swiftly blocked by two guards.
"Ugh Isn't this the restroom?" He adopted an expression of utter distress, eyes showing a hint of anxious helplessness, pretending to be flustered.
"This is the private domain of the Fasciaspina family head," one guard said.
"Oh? My apologies, I made a mistake." Ray feigned an awkward, hurried manner, quickly turning and leaving the sensitive area.
Hmm, so it seems passing through that door is the way to Giacomo's office.
But the security inside must be pretty tight, right?
While this was an infiltration mission, Ray had no advanced equipment for support, no external assistance or coordination. Could he really succeed in slipping inside?
What if he hid in a cardboard box and snuck through? That obviously wouldn't work, this wasn't a game. A moving cardboard box would be far too suspicious.
In that case, there appeared to be only one choice left.
'Kill. If I eliminate all the witnesses, then no one will discover the infiltration.'
The problem was… attempting that would likely doom the mission.
Ray wasn't at all confident he could take out all the guards without raising an alarm.
"Whatever, I'll ask Miss Carlotta. As the chief planner, she surely wouldn't send her employee on a mission with no viable plan, right? That doesn't make sense, logically or otherwise."
Ray left the theater and found a quiet corner. He took out his terminal and dialed Carlotta's number.
After a brief wait, Carlotta's clear, pleasant voice answered.
"Reconnaissance complete?"
"Pretty much. I have a general idea of the layout, but going any deeper is impossible. Giacomo's security is airtight cameras everywhere, squads of vigilant guards patrolling. No openings," Ray reported.
He paused, then added in a hopeful tone, "So, Miss Carlotta, do you have any good ideas?"
"Of course," Carlotta's voice remained light, as if everything were under control. "I've naturally considered that already."
"Don't worry. I purchased a batch of infiltration gear from the New Federation. These devices are still experimental, but they should be more than sufficient for the difficulty and scale of this operation."
The New Federation? Infiltration gear? Ray realized the Second Young Miss had planned this thoroughly.
"What's my next task, then?" he asked.
"Hmm, next…" Carlotta tilted her head, tapping her chin before continuing. "There's nothing specific for now, just wait patiently for my instructions. Oh, and one more thing."
"You haven't had dinner yet, have you? I know a restaurant that recently hired a chef from Huanglong. You're from Huanglong, right? Want to try some hometown flavors together?"
Of course he would, boss treats were rare. This was the second time she was treating him.
"Really?" he blurted.
"Of course. The Montelli family never fails to reward those who serve it well."
"Thank you, Boss!" he said.
"Just call me Second Young Miss," she replied.
"Understood, Second Young Miss."
"I'll send the location. Come on your own."
…
Back inside the theater.
Giacomo Fasciaspina stood before a floor-to-ceiling window, a glass of red wine in hand as he listened to a subordinate's report.
"Master, the theater's attendance today far exceeded our projections," the subordinate said with a slight bow. His tone held surprise and a trace of reverence. "Considering this orchestra is making its public debut, there's no clear reason it should have drawn such a crowd."
Giacomo gently swirled the crystal wineglass. The deep red liquid moved like flowing blood, shimmering with a strange, captivating glow in the light.
A cold smile curved his lips.
"Hah. People aren't here for that unknown orchestra. What they truly want is the young lady of the Montelli family."
"If she hadn't invested heavily, poured in funds and influence, how could this orchestra have achieved such a sensational debut, drawing crowds like flies to honey?"
"It seems I truly underestimated the drawing power of that young lady."
The subordinate raised his head, wary. "Then, Master, regarding future cooperation..."
"Cooperate, of course!" Giacomo said. "This is an excellent opportunity to make money."
He paused, then inquired further. "Oh, by the way, have the Montellis made any moves?"
"Based on current intelligence, not for the time being," the subordinate replied, shaking his head. "The Montelli family has internally categorized Ettore's death as an accident."
"Is that so? Good." Hearing the answer, Giacomo let out a small sigh of relief. "That so-called young lady of the Montellis is nothing but a tool in someone else's hand. I doubt she can stir up any real waves. Proceed with the plan as arranged."
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Bonus Chapter Alert!
If we cross 100 powerstones this week, there will be another bonus chapter.
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