Chapter Two: Stealing a City in Forty Seconds

Synchronization rose from zero to seven percent. “Listen carefully,” Lu Yao whispered. “White Duke recognized the look in your eyes. Before Yanhui collapsed, he warned us that the next person to wake inside him might not be him. When midnight ends, don't trust the first person who recognizes that card.” Shen Yan tried to question her, but the image peeled apart. The city became silver static. Lu Yao reached desperately toward the lens. At 1:07 a.m., the rented room returned. Something new lay on the desk: a black shell casing wet with acid rain. Its cold weight proved the match had not been a dream. His phone vibrated with a message from an unknown number. “Congratulations, Mr. Shen. How was your experience with the card?”