CHAPTER 18
---
In Department XA.
Ryan: Yo, Doctor Stephanie!
Dr. Stephanie: It seems you finally got a partner. (A mocking smile appeared on her face).
Ryan: Hey—hey— (pointed at Dr. Stephanie) I don't like what you doin' right there.
General Li stepped in, eyes sweeping every corner. Dr. Stephanie froze, recognizing the same emotionless girl from years ago—now a calm, unreadable woman.
Dr. Stephanie: Leah.
She called softly, almost with warmth. But Li Xuefang's cold stare stiffened the air around them. When Dr. Stephanie moved as if to reach out, Li turned away, focused solely on the mission.
General Li: Is this all we have for the team?
Ryan: That's exactly what I was thinkin'.
Dr. Stephanie: The agency wants to gauge how critical this job is before assigning more hands.
Archive entered nervously.
Archive: At least they sent me. I'm a Red Hacker from the Tech Department.
General Li: (Studied Archive quietly). [Red? He's way too young to be at that level.]
Xynra: That is what you will think until you observe the neurological capacity I am detecting in him.
Yes—Red Hackers were the highest-ranking in GCS, and Lionel, known as Archive, was only 16.
Ryan: You might wanna introduce yourself to her.
He pointed behind him.
Archive finally noticed General Li and froze.
Archive: (Gasped) O–O–Oh my gosh! Leah… the Legendary Agent Leah!
General Li: [Is he having a heart attack 🤨 ?]
Xynra: 🤦 He is simply excited to see you.
Li gave a composed nod and moved to the digital desk, lifting her hands to its edges.
General Li: Drop the intel.
Archive: Right… well…
The holograms powered on.
Dr. Stephanie: The virus in question was developed seventeen years ago by the Medical Research Institute in Australia to secretly punish inmates who showed no remorse.
Ryan: So it was made for a good cause at first?
Archive: You could say that.
Dr. Stephanie: Upon inhalation, the virus induces obstruction and internal irritation, progressively mimicking parasitic degradation of organ tissues. After approximately forty-eight hours, systemic failure becomes ir...
Ryan: English, please.
Dr. Stephanie: (Exhaled) Meaning: once the virus activates, the victim dies within two days.
Archive: Later, the government discovered the project and banned it. The existing viruses were stored in two briefcases called Silent Cases. We don't know if there are any copies they made. Antidotes were created and prepped for global distribution in emergencies.
Dr. Stephanie: But on the day the antidotes were to be released, the Institute was bombed.
Li's head lowered slightly, as if remembering something.
Ryan: Meaning the antidote never saw daylight. (Magnified a hologram) The first time the virus was used after the ban was in America—
Archive: Not actually...
General Li: Macedonia. (Raises her gaze) The first release was in Macedonia.
Archive: Yeah— but how did you know? It was a confidential case.
Li said nothing.
Ryan: Ahh, I get it. Ghost was the top sponsor of the research. Stuff like that is child's play for an ex-member of the Ghost Division.
General Li: Details of the current case.
Archive: Right! Here they are.
Moments later…
General Li: So here's the plan. As a former member of Ghost Division, I'm going into the Ghost Password Institution… in disguise.
The scene shifted visually to the Institution as they spoke.
Archive: I've prepared a facial mask based on the target's features. The rest is up to you, Agent— I mean, General Li.
Tan Beatie (Li Xuefang) stepped into the building.
Xynra: The area is clear.
Beatie (Xuefang): Go offline, Xynra. Ghost's ware detectors may detect your signal.
Xynra: Affirmative, General.
Beatie adjusted the ID card of the real Tan Beatie.
Beatie (Xuefang): Step 1 accomplished.
Earbud (Ryan): You sure she can handle all that alone?
Earbud (Dr. Stephanie): Don't worry. She knows every branch of Ghost like the back of her hand.
Earbud (Archive): You both know she can hear you, right?
Beatie reached the Decode Room and scanned in.
Inside, hundreds of hardware cabinets filled the room. She approached the Decode Room Manager with a confirmation tablet.
Beatie (Xuefang): (Secret voice changer) Mr. Collins.
Mr. Collins: And you are?
Beatie (Xuefang): (Shows ID) Tan Beatie, Unit 1-0-3.
Mr. Collins: Sent to collect the passcode for Silent Case 1-4V?
Beatie (Xuefang): Indeed. (Hands over the tablet) Please sign here.
When she signed, she missed a stroke.
Mr. Collins: Isn't your signature a little off? You missed a stroke.
Earbud (Archive): A stroke?? Who studies everybody's signature like that??
Earbud (Ryan): Yo—Asian lady, stay sharp.
But Li didn't flinch.
Beatie (Xuefang): (Indifferent) I see why you were appointed Decode Manager. Have you heard of this proverb, Mr Collins; Unum signum in lapide relictum totum exercitum superare potest.
TRANSLATION: A single left out mark on a stone can defeat an entire army.
Earbud (Archive): 😲 Whoa…
Beatie (Xuefang): I'm sure you understand.
Mr. Collins stared, then relaxed. Her aura, precision, and flawless deceit made her indistinguishable from the real Tan Beatie.
Mr. Collins: Let me get you what you came for.
He handed her a small hard-disk—the passcode. And she left.
Beatie (Xuefang): Step 2–accomplished.
She approached the second checkpoint. They let her pass without a problem.
Gateman: Hold up.
She stopped. The Gateman walked to her.
Gateman: Take off your glasses.
Earbud (Archive): W–What's he doing??
Another Gateman: Sir, she is—
He was silenced by a gesture.
Gateman: Remove the glasses.
Silence… then the soft click of her glasses being removed.
Earbud (Ryan): (Eyes closed) Please don't look that man in the eyes…
But she did—calmly.
Gateman: Those eyes… They're as cold as rumored. (Stepped back) Safe journey.
Her team released a breath of relief.
She reached the car park and entered the car—Ryan driving.
Ryan: (Starting engine) Step 3– accomplished.
She removed the disguise.
---
Next Day — Department XA
Ryan: Yo, baby face. You find that briefcase yet?
Archive: (Typing fast) No— not the location. The disk has the password, yes, but the briefcase's location is inaccessible. Every time I get close, new viruses pop up.
Ryan: Then wipe 'em out.
Archive: That's the problem— every time I destroy them, they multiply.
General Li: Is there really no one besides you who can handle this?
Dr. Stephanie: Archive is the best when it comes to viruses.
General Li: In all of GCS?
Dr. Stephanie: (Nodded). The agency can confirm it.
Xynra: Correct. I have scanned every IT specialist in the building and the database. None match Archive's intelligence.
General Li exhaled, hands sliding into her pockets as she tilted her head slightly upward.
General Li: Then I guess… it's time for a little trip.
Everyone stared.
Ryan: A trip? In the middle of a case??
Li didn't answer.
Only Xynra understood.
Xynra: Do not worry. I am already tracking her.
But who?
---