Chapter One: Free Mint

A private corporation had no business sealing municipal infrastructure. The six armed guards at the shaft made it stranger still. Their commander, Shen Que, paused for two seconds over Lin's date of birth. “Stay inside the blue markings,” Shen said. “If you find a door without a municipal number, turn around. If you hear someone call your name, don't answer.” Old Zhou forced a laugh. “Who would be down there?” Shen did not smile. “Then you have nothing to worry about.” Ten minutes underground, communications died. The straight pipe shown on the map split ahead. Rusted iron continued left; to the right lay a seamless black passage absent from every city plan. Warm water bled through its surface.