Kael moved through the pathways, every sense on edge. Families and tourists meandered among the displays, making it the perfect stage for an ambush. His backpack was slung over one shoulder, his hand instinctively resting on the strap, the [Core of the Ancient Beast] a cold, heavy presence within.
He found the designated meeting spot: a secluded bench tucked beside a waterfall of rare, violet orchids. He sat, his back to the wall, giving him a clear view of the entrance.
His phone's digital clock flashed 1:59 PM.
One minute.
His heart hammered a steady, powerful rhythm against his ribs. A year of brutal training had forged a new body, but this was a different kind of fight. A game of shadows and whispers, and he had no idea what the other player looked like.
Precisely at 2:00 PM, a figure stepped into the Orchid House.
Kael's blood ran cold.
It was her. Dr. Mei Blackwell.
She moved with the same unsettling grace he'd seen at the university, her tailored blazer and pencil skirt a sharp, professional contrast to the conservatory's wild beauty. Her gaze swept the area, missing nothing.
When her eyes landed on him, she froze. The professional calm on her face shattered for a fraction of a second, replaced by a look of pure, unadulterated shock.
Is it him? her mind reeled. The student? It can't be.
Kael was equally stunned. The world-renowned academic who'd noted his unusual physique was the anonymous, high-stakes buyer from the web. The horrifying coincidence was no coincidence at all.
It was a test, he realized instantly. She was vetting me before the meeting.
Dr. Blackwell recovered first, her professional mask clicking back into place, though her eyes now held a dangerous, predatory gleam. She walked over, settling on the opposite end of the bench, a picture of calm elegance.
"Mr. Mahendra," she purred, her voice a low, captivating sound. "You continue to be a source of… surprises."
"Dr. Blackwell," he replied, his voice flat, betraying none of his shock. "I could say the same."
She smiled, a brilliant, knowing expression. "Let's skip the pleasantries. My time is valuable. You claim to have an object of interest. Show me."
Kael unzipped his backpack, his movements slow and deliberate. He reached inside and pulled out the [Core of the Ancient Beast].
The moment the purple crystal met the light, the air around them grew heavy with cold. The vibrant colors of the orchids seemed to dim, as if the very life was being leached from them by the crystal's silent, corrupting presence.
Dr. Blackwell's breath hitched. Her professional curiosity was instantly incinerated, replaced by a raw, naked hunger for knowledge. She leaned forward, her eyes wide, scanning the object not as a collector, but as a scientist who had just found proof of a new, terrifying law of physics.
"Its energy signature… it's a perfect null-point entropy field," she whispered, her voice filled with awe. "It doesn't just absorb energy; it erases it from existence. This… this is the theoretical foundation of the organization that funds my research."
She looked up at him, her gaze intense. "Where did you get this?"
"That wasn't part of the deal," Kael said, his voice cold. He placed the Core on the bench between them. "The deal was appraisal and acquisition."
Mei's lips curved into another smile. His control impressed her. She pulled a small, sleek tablet from her bag and a scanner that looked like a high-tech pen. She ran the scanner over the Core. The tablet flared to life with a cascade of impossible readings and complex equations.
"My employers are a private research consortium with a vested interest in extra-dimensional materials," she explained, her eyes still glued to the screen. "They have authorized me to acquire any confirmed artifacts at any cost. This… this is a Tier One discovery. The highest priority."
She looked at him, her expression all business. "The price for an artifact of this magnitude is non-negotiable. It is set by the consortium's standing offer."
She turned the tablet towards him. A number was displayed on the screen, a wire transfer confirmation pending his approval.
$5,000,000 USD
Kael's eyes widened. He did the conversion in his head instantly. Over 75 billion rupiah. It wasn't just enough for a plane ticket; it was enough to never have to worry about money for the rest of his life. It was a king's ransom.
"The funds will be transferred to an untraceable, encrypted account of your choice the moment I take possession of the artifact," she said calmly.
Ding!
A system window appeared, visible only to him.
[External Transaction Detected]
[The Codex can facilitate a secure, anonymous transfer. Proceed?]
[Y / N]
He focused his will, pressing [Y].
Dr. Blackwell's tablet chimed. "Transfer complete," she said. She carefully picked up the Void Core, placing it in a specialized, lead-lined containment case. The oppressive cold in the air vanished.
The deal was done.
But Mei didn't stand to leave. She turned to him, her professional mask softening slightly, replaced by that same, intense curiosity from the lecture hall.
"You have your money, Mr. Mahendra," she said, her voice dropping to a more intimate tone. "But my interest has only just begun. You are an anomaly. A young man who undergoes an impossible physical transformation overnight and then, by sheer 'coincidence,' comes into possession of an artifact that could change the world."
She leaned in slightly, her gaze unwavering. "I don't believe in coincidences. I believe in sources. And I have a feeling you are a source of some very interesting things."
She stood up, smoothing her skirt. "My employers will be very pleased. But my own research has just found its new primary subject." She offered him a final, captivating smile. "I have a feeling we'll be seeing a lot more of each other, Kael. I look forward to seeing what you do next."
She turned and walked away, leaving Kael on the bench, his bank account suddenly full, and his life infinitely more complicated.
He had the money. The path to Greece was now wide open.
But he had also just painted a target on his back for a woman who was just as brilliant, and potentially far more dangerous, than any monster he had faced yet.