Chapter Five: Give the Talent Back

【Valid Zero Fund shares: 203. Aggregate valuation: 28,700,000 credits.】 Queen’s collateral for the throne was rejected. 【Pledged asset has 203 unauthorized co-owners.】 Elena finally lost her smile. She opened the bundle in her arms, and the black terminal unfolded into a mechanical crown. “You think a majority stays brave? Fear can be bought.” The lights died. All 203 shareholders received an offer: one hundred thousand credits per memory, plus a safe landing in New York. Then a 204th subscriber appeared by itself. 【Subscriber: 12F. Contributed memory: how to crash an aircraft.】 The jump seat was empty, yet its belt fastened itself. A figure in Northstar uniform, with no face at all, slowly sat in Lin Xia’s place.