Chapter Three: Ninety-Three Lives and One Drop of Metal

No one noticed one drop of silver metal left beside a plaza drain. A white microdrone absorbed it into its belly. Ten minutes later, its atomic structure reached Geneva. At the top of White Spire, Vaughan regarded a crystal lattice too perfect for human industry. “Linjiang, old city, seven-kilometer radius,” his aide reported. “The target used a level-one fabricator. His style favors rescue and concealment.” “All ninety-three?” “Every one.” Vaughan approached the window. Above the clouds, his white agent vessel opened a ring of golden light. “Then congratulate our colleague,” he said. “After that, buy every drone company in Linjiang.” On Zhou's roof, Refraction silently unlocked its second chamber.