The air inside the Aegis Archive was freezing. Each breath stung. This was the Directorate's most locked-down place—a secret site buried way under the city. You could feel the pressure. No guards, just cameras and those quiet, spider-like robots in the dark.
For Yin Lie, quiet was good.
It's been a rough ride. Things changed after the archive raid months ago. Chen Gu's advice and Su Li's tricks helped him chase down the First Wave project's dirt. Every step hurt, each piece of info cost him. But slowly, the mess inside turned into something sharp—control. He was in charge now, calling the shots for those three groups.
He reached the Core chamber. A huge, frozen server hung in the center, held up by cables and pipes. This was it—the last piece. The location data was split up, but the key to read it was here.
He slipped past the last robot, freezing it with a shot of cold, and plugged into the Core. Chen Gu's code started breaking through a tough firewall. Decryption began, crawling across the screen. Ten percent. Fifteen.
You're getting good at this.
The calm voice cut through the silence. It was Inspector Kai, standing in the shadows.
Yin Lie didn't turn. He sensed her—a calm void in the room.
She stepped into the light, uniform perfect, eyes sharp. No weapon. Didn't need one.
I knew you'd be here, she said, her voice echoing. The data you needed led here. The key. I just waited for you to walk into my trap.
Thirty percent.
No trap, Inspector, Yin Lie said. Just a door you don't want opened.
A door that stays locked, she said, stepping forward. You're chasing a story, Frost Wolf. 'Chimera' won't save anyone. It'll cause chaos—a disaster. I keep order, protect the city from people who would trash it for a promise.
Your 'order' is a cage, he said, watching the progress bar. You want control like Qi Yan—you just hide it with a uniform.
Fifty-five percent.
Control is needed, Kai said. what you can do is dangerous. I've seen your file—the damage. You're a walking problem. She stepped forward, changing the air. Her harmonizing power that once stopped him. Hand over the data. Give up. Last chance to avoid a fight.
Yin Lie faced her, eyes glowing. There's nothing peaceful about a lab and a life sentence.
He felt her power trying to crush him. But he wasn't the same. He didn't fight it.
He listened.
He saw her power—a perfect wave to stop him. He used the wolf's instincts, not to attack, but adapt. He met her order with his own note, using his powers together in her field.
Kai looked surprised, feeling the feedback. Like silencing a bell with silence. Her power still pressed on him, but he wasn't held. He was pushing back.
Eighty percent.
How? she asked, mask broken.
You're right, Yin Lie said, stepping toward her, the floor frosting. I am trouble. But I'm not starting it.
He lunged. They fought, a mix of force. Kai knew how to fight up close, trying to stop him. But Yin Lie was strong. He met her strikes with the wolf's power. When she reached for him with her stopping energy, black ice blocked it.
It was her order against his chaos. He slammed a fist down, ice heading her way. She stopped it, ice turning to vapor. She was a knife against his hammer, neither winning.
Ninety-nine percent.
One hundred. His terminal chimed. Download done.
Yin Lie ripped out the data. He was done. Now he needed to live.
He didn't attack. He hit the server, sending a pulse of freezing energy. A freeze.
The server shook, alarms blaring as it dropped. Cracks formed. Inspector Kai jumped back as it fell apart, sending frozen metal and gas everywhere.
His chance. In the chaos, he vanished into the tunnels.
He got to a drain to the Undercity, body hurting from Kai. The data was in hand.
He opened a channel to his only contact. Chen Gu, he said. I have it. The key.
His mentor's voice came on, strained. Good. Get to the spot. It's over, Lie. He paused. Now the war starts.