Chapter Two: Negative Seven Million

They could not print or connect a drive, so Lin did what servers did best: he memorized an order. He turned nine accounts into table numbers, wine codes, and steak temperatures. Su scrolled; he recited. Forty minutes later they left empty-handed, with the ledger stored in Lin's head. “Even if you know,” she said outside, “do you have money to stop it?” “No.” “Does anyone believe you?” “No.” “Then how will you buy Lanterns?” Lin looked across the rainy street at its glittering sign. “I won't buy it yet. First, we kill tonight's agreement.” He called the commercial registry and reported the related company, guarantee number, and suspected backdating—nothing about magic money.