Chapter Three: The Sentence That Was Erased

Lin Qi slapped an old photograph onto the desk. It showed White Tower's practice room before the final three years ago. Five computers stood in a row. Shen Yan's case was half open, and a sliver of silver-white metal showed within. The timestamp read 11:59 p.m. “I thought it was a reflection,” she said. “Then someone mailed Undertow a trial invitation today. It contained only your name and this photograph.” Shen Yan did not mention Arclight City or the memory penalty. “Who sent it?” “Qiao Mi. An engineer from the league equipment crew. She disappeared after the incident three years ago.” Lin Qi noticed the shell casing and reached for it. Her fingers passed through. The object existed only for Shen Yan. Text appeared on the monitor.