The Elite Farewell Gathering
The pinnacle of connectors—names that inevitably come up—Salvador Ortega and Luthien director Serena Moretti. Wolha Corp CEO Yoo Sena and ECPD Investigations Team Leader Yoo Seung-ah. Agner Etherdam, husband to the Eterno law firm rep and owner of the Etherdam Waste Incinerator, plus Southpeak junk shop owner Frey. Then Soo, with less than six months as a merc, and Enoch, five years as a cleaner. And Angela Meyer, the netrunner with suspiciously ample... no, vast wealth and exceptional skills. No matter how you sliced it, it was an astonishing lineup. Even the staff at LastRall—the finest in all of Northrica—jumped in surprise when they walked in. Sure, nine out of ten reasons for their shock was Salvador, but to outsiders, it was undeniably a bizarre and intriguing mix.
"...Sh-should I... start the investigation?"
Even the guests themselves were thrown off. And the most flustered among them was, predictably, Yoo Seung-ah.
Salvador Ortega and Serena Moretti. Those two were prime targets the ECPD salivated over 365 days a year. The force was always geared up to take them down, but it was always the ECPD getting crushed instead. So if she could snag even a scrap of dirt on either one, it'd be a massive feather in her cap. But was that easy? For Yoo Seung-ah—who couldn't even make eye contact, let alone speak—it was harder than plucking stars from the sky.
"I... I need to... earn some creds..."
She hadn't said it aloud, not wanting to burden her sister, but she'd survived the last two days on water and a single energy bar before coming here. Ever since paying Soo the remainder on that job fee, she'd been scraping by like that. Soo hadn't asked for a fortune, of course—just a modest sum of credits and a promise for the future. But even Soo couldn't know those "modest" credits were a full month's grocery budget for her.
And so, here they were. Yoo Seung-ah looked happier than before, yet somehow worse off. Soo quietly shifted seats to sit beside her.
"Seung-ah, you okay?"
"Ah, S-Soo... ma'am. Yes, I'm fine. No reason not to be, right? Ahaha..."
"You look thinner."
"On a diet."
Soo's languid gaze roamed over Yoo Seung-ah's body. Swollen hands, more than before. Split ends in her hair. A perfume scent she hadn't worn previously. Beneath it, a musty fabric smell wafted. She'd sprayed perfume over unwashed clothes. Others might miss it, but Soo could smell it clear as day.
"...Soo ma'am? I'm really fine, you don't need to worry."
The scrutiny made Yoo Seung-ah squirm. Enoch was the star of the party, but whatever Soo did drew all eyes to her. Not outright staring, of course—they'd chat with neighbors while sneaking glances her way. So right now, every gaze locked onto Yoo Seung-ah under Soo's inspection.
Wh-where were my hands supposed to be?
Tongue... where'd I put it? Blinked when? What was my face doing...? H-how do I even breathe? Breathing suddenly feels wrong...
Just as Yoo Seung-ah's mind went blank, Soo's eyes moved on.
"Grandpa."
The others' attention drifted away from her too. Only then did Yoo Seung-ah gasp for air and scoot her butt over to her sister. The prickly little sis was always a pain, but family was family.
"What is it?"
"What're you scheming, Grandpa?"
"You impudent whelp. What kinda mouth is that for an elder?"
"Just spill one easy scheme."
"Schemes can go hang... Tch."
Salvador's gaze flicked to Yoo Seung-ah. Like Soo had sized her up, he now eyed the Yoo sisters. With his experience, he could read their lives and personalities at a glance. Which meant he knew what Soo wanted: a big win for this poor ECPD girl. By selling out his info, no less.
If anyone else had dared ask, he'd have bolted. But for Soo? He could indulge her. No clue what brewed in that tiny head, but whatever it was, it'd shake Eden to its core—he was sure of it.
Salvador fingered the power suit activation key in his pocket and spoke.
"Listen, Seung-ah."
"Y-yes...?"
"Think you can deliver papers from this old man without getting them snatched?"
Yoo Seung-ah's eyes went wide.
"I'd stake my life on it."
"Nah. If you gotta risk your neck, I'll just hand over disposable intel."
That desperate glint spelled trouble ahead. Her threadbare look screamed rare honest ECPD—no connections, no backing. Team leader of Investigations, pure merit. Load her up with heavy cargo, and she'd burn nine times out of ten.
"Key stuff's verbal—no recordings, no notes. Memorize it. So, what department you say?"
"In-Investigations."
"Investigations—that's where that swine Kares Schwaints lords over, eh."
As Salvador and Yoo Seung-ah dove into talk, Soo quietly slipped away. She already knew dirt to rattle the 9th Special Ops—rival faction to Investigations—and had seven bribes on Kares alone.
With the pair occupied, Soo's eyes landed on the lone Yoo Sena.
"Not bored alone?"
"Huh? I'm fine, not bored at all. Super busy, actually? Leave me be?"
"You look bored. Sit by me."
Yoo Sena half-stood on instinct, then scowled at her own compliance—pride stung.
"Hah, me? Why? You come here."
"Sure."
"Wait! I got something to say."
The second Soo rose, Yoo Sena bolted over, face stiff. No way she'd let Soo stand...
"What?"
"Th-that Luthien merger...?"
Mid-sip of orange juice, Yoo Sena glanced at Serena across the table. The woman lounged with bored elegance, nursing her drink. Outwardly casual, but her mind was all on Agner.
"Yeah."
"When... d-do you think it'll happen? Wolha's all prepped, so..."
"Dunno."
"Ahem, fine! Plenty of time anyway. No rush! Don't gotta ask!"
"Serena."
Boredom twisted into irritation on Serena's face. Her razor-sharp eyes pinned Soo. Yoo Sena stifled a yelp, yanking Soo's arm frantically.
"No...! Hey...! Soo...! I'm good...!"
"When's Wolha merger wrapping? They're sick of waiting—preps done, but no start."
"Wh-when did I say! Gah—"
Yoo Sena clapped hands over her mouth after the outburst. Her trembling gaze met Serena's blood-red eyes...
"E-ehehe... D-director, hic, I know you're busy. This? Hic? This is Soo's prank. Right? A prank, hic, total prank. What kinda jokes you pull? Hiic..."
Hiccups and teary eyes, Yoo Sena clung to Soo. Soo ignored it.
"Southpeak side says not urgent yet?"
"...Not urgent—or solved, maybe. Their noisy branch went dead quiet lately."
"Found a backer?"
"Likely. No moves from other Luthien branches, so outsider help."
Mergers needed justification. A director could swallow a corp whole, but year-end audits meant caution. Wolha wasn't abandoned, though—the construction firm eyeing it got squashed, stocks reclaimed, even office land scouted post-merger.
"Was gonna ask anyway. Perfect. Soo, who do you reckon's backing 'em?"
Prime suspect: Neonic. Back one side, and victory's sealed—perfect entry point. But Neonic had no motive. Eden's poorest district was Southpeak, yet they still ate, packed heat for protection. Luthien and Zailek turned modest profits there. Neonic? Premium implants. "Budget" models still priced out of reach for normies. No need for Southpeak—they dominated Northrica and Easthaim already.
So who jumped in? What bold force dared megacorp war for scraps? Who eyed Southpeak power—the district hugging the Wasteland? What did they crave?
"Heh."
A pleased smile curved Soo's lips.
"Faster than I thought."
"...Pardon? Faster—who?"
"It's fine."
"Fine wha—speak properly!"
"All good. Southpeak branch'll be desperate starting tomorrow."
With that, Soo shifted seats again and made a call.