The Triangular Table
Nightfall's table seven is triangular. If you figure one person per side, it's already full. Even if you ignore that and try to squeeze in, it's impossible. There are only three chairs in hole seven to begin with. No matter how big and fancy the table, it seats just three. Lena couldn't sit. She didn't seem upset about it. Just as she said, she'd dropped by to say hello after a long time, nothing more.
"May I ask for introductions?"
"Does this old man really need to handle it?"
Enoch caught Salvador's meaning and shot up from his seat. Speech... they'd keep it casual. He'd save the formal tone for someone like Salvador or those stuck-up corp types.
"Mercenary Enoch."
"Enoch, Enoch. Heh heh, quite a meaningful name here in Eden."
"Heard that one plenty."
"Ah... I didn't mean it as mockery. Just that it's cool. And it really is, isn't it? Enoch was one of the two who ascended to heaven while still alive."
What was he supposed to do with that? Enoch blinked and glanced at Lena. She didn't flinch, steering the mood smoothly. With a soft smile, she turned to Soo. Their eyes met.
"Hi."
Soo didn't stand. She just sat there, staring at Lena. A connector who'd never appeared in the game. A face she'd never seen. A name she'd never heard. Lena Marietti.
"I'm Soo."
No desire to stand for a greeting. Salvador and Enoch might not pick up on it, but Soo definitely smelled disinfectant. This woman wasn't someone to welcome here. It was instinct over logic. Soo trusted her gut.
Well, truth be told, she probably wouldn't have stood even without the wariness.
"My, what a stunningly beautiful lady."
"I know."
I'm pretty, after all. Soo puffed out her chest with that straight face. Wariness was wariness; pretty was pretty. Salvador and Enoch's gazes converged. Shocked by the brazen reply, no doubt. Soo ignored them. It wasn't wrong, was it?
"Is Soo a mercenary too?"
"Teammate with Enoch."
Soo, Soo. An unfamiliar name she'd never heard. Rolling it around in her mouth, Lena's smile softened further. To others, it might melt hearts. To Soo, it just thickened the disinfectant stench.
"Must be quite capable."
"Yeah, I'm strong."
"Recent exploits? To catch this old man's eye, it can't be just brute force."
Lena's gaze drifted down slowly. She eyed the gray trunk Soo had tucked beside her. What could be inside something that big? Weapons, maybe a power suit. Or a person. At a time like this. If there was someone to hide...
"Curious?"
Soo's single word snagged Lena's attention. Naive mercs would spill their life story here. Veterans would slink away slyly. Soo was neither. She turned it back on Lena. Wondering why she cared? Or if she could handle knowing? Those indifferent eyes and lazy expression—unreadable, forcing you to stew.
"Just wondering if we might exchange jobs someday. Did I offend?"
"Nah, not offended."
"Connectors love equal exchange. Equivalent value, right? Anything you're curious about?"
"Just asked. Why we're here—curious?"
Meeting Soo's impassive, unwavering eyes, Lena pondered. Yes or no. Simple. But she couldn't answer easily. Any hesitation would scream suspicion. From the trunk glance? The casual question? Or from not getting a seat... maybe even before.
Standing alone drew all eyes, so every micro-expression mattered. Her eyes narrowed gradually. And then—
"Lena, that's always been your problem."
Salvador, who'd been watching silently, cut in.
"Don't read too much into words. If you're curious, ask. Don't twist it alone and act rash. This old man's said it a million times. Still haven't kicked the habit?"
Lena blinked slowly, her vibe shifting. The disinfectant pressing Soo's nose faded in an instant.
"Ahaha, occupational hazard around new faces... Sorry, Soo. And Enoch."
"No need to apologize..."
Enoch trailed off, sneaking a peek at Soo. She was still staring holes into Lena. About to cause trouble? What kind, and should he stop her now? Soo had her reasons, sure, but not here. Killing a reputable connector like Lena would tangle everything. Salvador, who'd brought them to Nightfall, too. If Soo moved, he'd have to intervene. Somehow.
As Enoch mulled—
Whoosh! Soo finally stood.
"Soo!"
Crash! Enoch kicked his chair back, jumping up. He lunged a big step toward her—then. Knock knock.
"Your order."
Soo's eyes sparkled.
"Food's here."
Salvador and Lena's stares pinned Enoch. Soo, fine. But why'd you jump up so eagerly...? That vibe.
"Food... arrived."
Enoch echoed her. Too awkward to stand frozen, he gritted his teeth and headed for the door.
"Where you going?"
"I, uh... getting the food."
Brief silence, then Salvador burst out laughing. Enoch's ears burned redder. Beside him, Lena—struggling to compose herself—giggled through escaping laughs.
"Um... Enoch. Nightfall sets the table without you lifting a finger. First time, so you wouldn't know. Nothing embarrassing."
"R-Really."
"Enoch noob merc?"
Enoch shot Soo a resentful glare. She stared back, innocent as ever. At this point, she had to know. Every move shoved a massive lollipop his way—too coincidental for accidents. No proof, though. Just vibes. Weak ones. Enoch couldn't blame her...
"Food's here, so I'll head out. Next time, a tea perhaps, old man."
"Go handle your business."
"And Enoch, Soo. My apologies. Hope we do good business through the old man someday."
"Yeah, bye."
Enoch sat and nodded silently. Soo—who'd cheered the food moments ago—ignored it entirely, eyes locked on Lena.
The blaring music swallowed the click of heels. No one else caught softer voices.
"On mercenaries Enoch and Soo."
With soft, flowing steps, Lena—no, Serena Moretti—glided through Nightfall's throng of mercs and connectors.
"Where they bought their clothes. Where they eat. Where they sleep. And that trunk."
Grinding her teeth, she greeted familiar mercs with sweet smiles en route.
"Source of the trunk, their movements. All of it."
Her warm smile drew men's gazes. Women weren't immune. That 'perfectly crafted smile' pulled eyes.
"Report by tonight."
"And Salvador?"
Her soft eyes and teasing lip curl framed icy words.
"You call that a question? Salvador Ortega is untouchable. Think why a man feuding with ECPD still breathes."
Her aide paled, lips twitching to speak. Serena gave no chance.
"Your handler was Lia Schwartz, right? Looks like she failed your training. Send her head with the report."
"...Pardon?"
Didn't even know she hated repeats. Serena looked away, striding on.
"Send yours too. Pass it to your successor."
Conversation over. The aide froze; Serena kept walking. No need to look back. She knew the aide's network inside out. They'd vanish one by one, heads delivered home—eventually to her desk. No time to fret over the doomed.
Serena's mind burned with fury at Soo. Indifferent eyes, lazy face. Petite build made her seem just a pretty nothing. But conversation revealed it. Especially to Serena, who'd tangled with countless foxes.
Spit nonsense to gauge reaction, then steer subtly to their tune. Few words exchanged, but silence in that vibe was dialogue too. There, she'd been shut down. Rudely, and without Salvador, humiliated.
Crack—her molars shattered at the limit. Swallowing shards, she beamed warmly. Until leaving Nightfall for home, she was Lena Marietti.
"Bit late to say with her suspecting us, but now wasn't the time."
Nom nom—Soo munched her burger; Enoch, dignity ditched, sawed steak with a dagger. Both eyed Salvador.
"Planned to spill gradual-like if you stayed quiet, but you nearly outed yourself—scared me half to death, you know?"
What the hell? Enoch gawked blankly, flicking between Salvador and Soo. Out herself? The connector Lena who'd just left?
"Lena's Luthien Biotech neural engineering director, Serena Moretti."
Enoch's jaw dropped.
"She doesn't know this old man knows. Lets me track her moves early. Called you here to warn: watch out."
What was this? The famed connector was Luthien brass? And spilling so casually? Soo had sniffed it out?
Enoch's shocked gaze hit Soo. Same old face. No surprise, no fluster. Like she'd known.
"Trunk guy might've been her prey too. Stay sharp. Corp eyes and ears everywhere."
...Play along, then. Acting clueless now would earn mockery.
"...Got it."
Enoch feigned calm. Nod nod—Soo nodded obediently too.
"Enough of that. Food's nearly gone—let's settle up. Mission pay, of course, plus what we squeezed from the strike team. All yours. And..."
Salvador eyed the trunk.
"Extra for that, too."
No clue the amount, but massive credits incoming. Quest reward alone was insane. Add strike team loot and Viktor handover? Astronomical.
Enoch tamped wild excitement, awaiting details. Across, Soo nommed her burger coolly. Neither Salvador nor Enoch could read her thoughts.