NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 39: Raven
Lin Wei walked home, his heart pounding.
Despite his confident words to Fu Hua, he was walking into a trap, gambling with his life on a hunch and a sliver of desperate hope.
His only real card was mutually assured destruction with Otto.
He opened the door, his anxiety growing.
He turned on the light…
And everything went black.
Thud.
His attacker stared at the unconscious Lin Wei, surprised by how easy it had been.
They carefully checked him for tracking devices, then, with a final glare, grabbed him and escaped through the window.
Ten minutes later, the tall woman in the OL outfit entered, frowned at the open window, and left, disappointed.
She turned off the light as she left.
Lin Wei woke up in a dark, cramped room, his neck stiff and aching.
He'd been knocked out. The pain brought a wave of unwelcome clarity.
He assessed his surroundings. No windows, no light, just a cluttered space filled with dust and a pungent odor.
A basement, probably.
He was tied to a chair, his hands and feet bound tightly.
At least his mouth wasn't gagged.
Despite his predicament, he felt a sense of relief.
He'd been within St. Freya's perimeter, Schicksal territory. If Otto wanted him, he wouldn't be here. He'd wake up on an operating table.
This wasn't Otto's style.
Definitely not Rita's either. It was too messy, too inelegant. Rita would at least make sure the air smelled nice.
And Otto wouldn't send a low-ranking Valkyrie for such an important task. They were expendable.
He was in World Serpent's custody.
"Tsk, their efficiency is truly impressive. It hasn't even been that long."
Take notes, Schicksal. This is how it's done.
He felt a surge of relief.
"Hello? Anyone there? I haven't had dinner yet! Bring me some pork cutlet rice!"
He cleared his throat and shouted, not acting like a prisoner at all.
The door burst open, a bright light blinding him. He winced, turning his face away.
Can't you come up with something new? he thought, annoyed. He'd seen this before.
The light approached, held by someone with a light, silent step. They scrutinized him from head to toe.
Seriously? This is it? Raven thought, equally annoyed. An urgent mission, first thing in the morning…
And she'd waited in his apartment all day?
She could have finished a video game by now!
(╯‵□′)╯︵┻━┻
And the target was this weakling?
She grabbed his hair, yanking his head back, studying him with a critical eye.
This is the guy who ruined my day?
Gray Serpent, we'll talk later.
"Ow! Easy!"
Lin Wei protested.
Even Fu Hua and Rin hadn't been this rough!
Well, Rin had been worse.
Never mind… still!
"Huh, still feisty, I see."
Raven was surprised. She released his hair, watching him wince. Her annoyance grew.
She felt cheated.
She turned off the flashlight, switched on a dim light, pulled a heavy metal chair across the room with a screech, sat down, and looked down at him.
"Talk. What's Schicksal's purpose in contacting us?"
Her voice was cold, emotionless, like an interrogator.
Anti-Entropy was riddled with World Serpent agents. They wouldn't, and couldn't, threaten them.
This man had to be a Schicksal scout.
If Otto Apocalypse wanted to play this game, they would play along.
They would start by prying open his mouth.
You think I'll play your game? Lin Wei thought with a smirk.
He opened his eyes, adjusting to the dim light.
He looked around again. The clutter was even more apparent in the dim light.
He glanced at the small, hooded figure sitting above him, gesturing at the mess.
This is your interrogation room?
"You…"
Raven was taken aback. This guy was a piece of work.
Fine. She would get straight to the point. No time for games.
She chuckled coldly. Don't forget your place.
"I contacted you to make a deal with Gray Serpent. Tsk, tsk, is this how World Serpent treats its guests?"
Lin Wei leaned back in his chair, his body immobile, meeting Raven's gaze with a strange smile.
"I gave you three days, and you found me in one. Impressive. Much better than those Schicksal clowns."
Insulting Schicksal before World Serpent was always a good move, especially now, when they were planning to teach them a lesson.
Raven narrowed her eyes, displeased by his condescending tone.
"A deal? Fine. What kind of business?"
She crossed her legs, a sharp dagger appearing in her hand, twirling it between her fingers, her gaze fixed on the intricate movements, ignoring Lin Wei.
"I know who you are. A World Serpent executive. Codename: Raven."
Lin Wei wasn't interested in playing along. He would strip away her pretense.
He knew she was putting on a show for the person observing them.
He wouldn't play their game.
The dagger stopped twirling. Raven gripped it tightly, her eyes cold. The organization's intelligence leaks were more serious than she'd thought.
"Who are you?"
This man wasn't a mere scout. He was too arrogant. Was he one of Otto's many clones? Perhaps the Overseer himself?
Intelligent people tended to overthink. Raven was intelligent, so she hesitated.
"So, Raven-san, are you ready to listen now?"
Lin Wei smiled. Information was power, especially in these situations. It was more effective than any bluff.
"I told you my purpose. I want to make a deal with Gray Serpent. I need to speak to him directly."
He smiled, glancing at the ropes binding him.
"I know he's watching me right now. Tell him to come out. If he isn't here, I'll be very disappointed in World Serpent."
"And… that would be unfortunate."
"As you can see, Raven-san, I'm completely helpless. You can easily kill me. This isn't a threat. Don't worry."
"So, are you going to introduce me to Mr. Gray Serpent? Oh, and one more thing…"
He paused, his expression suddenly turning shy and embarrassed.
"I haven't had dinner yet. Do you… provide meals?"