Stirrings
It was a day like any other.
Cleaning up the messes Thomson had made until late the previous night, double-checking the schedule for the next day, and trying to get a sliver of sleep that was embarrassing to even call a nap.
Waking up precisely three and a half hours later to clean up the rest of Thomson's bullshit that she hadn't managed to finish the night before, taking an eight-minute shower, and getting into the car to continue the remaining work.
This was the routine she had followed ever since she joined Zyrec and entered Thomson's secretariat.
Because of that, she didn't notice anything strange, nor did she feel any discomfort.
If anything, she felt it was quieter than usual.
It was probably because Thomson's arrival at work was later than usual.
No matter how much alcohol he had guzzled down or how many women he had raped the night before, the Kinetics branch was remarkably quiet.
Whether it was the clear sky after a rain, or the calm before a storm, whatever it was, it felt like a good sign to Elyse.
She liked keeping busy because it made her past memories fade a little, but in the end, Elyse was only human and needed rest.
So, Elyse decided that today, at least, she would work at a leisurely pace and get some rest.
Reason for Living
At least, that was the plan until her phone rang.
After a quick glance around, Elyse stepped into her private office and answered the call.
"...I'm listening," Elyse said.
She no longer uttered the old code words. The person calling through this secure line lately was Swoo, not Angela.
"Elyse, are you preparing well?"
"I have processed everything you requested," Elyse replied. "But this is the limit. If I keep holding it down any longer, headquarters will notice."
Following Swoo's request, Elyse had locked down all information that could be used against her.
Although Elyse lived solely for revenge against Thomson and the downfall of Zyrec, there were things she inevitably had to do in the process.
They were certainly not things that would look good in the eyes of society, or Zyrec.
In short, skeletons in her closet.
Therefore, Elyse hid everything she had done, from the past to the present.
In that process, Angela, who was exceptionally talented in netwatching, and Serena, who already had experience hiding her own information, were of immense help.
Hiding, decorating, changing, rewriting information... She didn't even know if the IEP she had mentioned before would actually be triggered, but Elyse prepared for the coming storm as if possessed.
After that, Elyse raised her own value.
For the past two months, she had followed the traces of Noise and volunteered to clean up the messes that would irritate Zyrec.
In the process, she dealt a blow to the Lui Chen South Peak branch and, with Swoo's help, pulled off major projects to build up meaningful achievements.
That was how she diverted attention from the data she had locked down.
But even that had reached its limit.
Swoo had said two months, but it had already been two months and ten days. Holding out any longer while avoiding the eyes of the higher-ups was reaching its breaking point.
Unless Zyrec's attention was diverted by a massive, unprecedented issue, tomorrow would likely be the last day she could hold out.
"As long as you've prepared well, Elyse, it's fine now."
"...Does that mean..."
"Yep."
A giggle, like that of a child looking forward to a picnic, echoed through the receiver.
"It's about to begin."
"Is today really... *sigh*."
Elyse struggled to steady her trembling voice.
Her heart began to race.
When was the last time... the last time she had felt such a violent tremor? It must have been when she committed her first murder.
Her first day joining Zyrec and becoming Thomson's secretary.
"So you're my secretary starting today? Shame your tits are small, but your face is hot. This much is a pass."
As soon as he arrived, Thomson had scanned Elyse like a piece of merchandise, snickering as he gave his order.
"Gotta have an initiation, right? There's something you absolutely have to do to be my secretary. See that bitch over there? She's your predecessor, and she made quite a few mistakes."
There was a woman standing in the center of Thomson's office, completely naked.
Her body bore the horrific traces of sexual assault. In her eyes, resignation, despair, hatred, and hope... a tangle of emotions that Elyse could not comprehend at the time, as she just stood there, staring blankly out the window.
"Kill her."
The moment the command fell, the woman turned her head. She looked at Elyse and offered a warm smile. What she showed then was probably apology, pity, and hope.
It's okay.
The moment she saw the shape of those lips, Elyse moved.
There was no gun. She simply took the kitchen knife Thomson handed her, walked over, and slit the nameless woman's throat. It didn't cut well. She had to slice again and again. Listening to the strange, wet gurgling sounds, she tenaciously sliced through her skin and tore through her muscle.
That was Elyse's first murder.
With that, Elyse was recognized as Thomson's secretary. Highly evaluated for her cruelty, ruthlessness, and administrative capability, she avoided becoming his "toy."
Elyse still remembered that moment.
Even now, the sensation of cutting that throat was vivid. The expression of the woman smiling as she died was clear before her eyes. Was dying like that easier than staying alive? She found the answer to that question in her fifth year.
Dying was indeed easier.
Elyse was lucky enough not to become a toy, but looking at the others... Thomson's toys, it was undoubtedly true.
"...Is it certain, today?"
Her trembling voice would not calm down.
She couldn't calm down. So she just spoke.
"Is it... certain? Today, is today finally the day Thomson Arcardo... falls?"
She felt that now, she didn't have to hold back anymore.
...She didn't know why. It felt like she was possessed. Had she been hacked? Had they invented a technology to manipulate and control her brain without her knowing?
As Elyse spun these absurd thoughts, she realized once again just how massive and sticky her hatred for Thomson was.
"Is today... truly the day my lifelong wish is fulfilled, Swoo?"
"Elyse."
Swoo, who had remained silent for a moment, spoke.
The trace of laughter in her voice had vanished.
In a voice drier than ever before, she whispered to Elyse.
"Don't lose your humanity."
"...Suddenly—"
"Don't forget the goal you first had."
Elyse sat silently, unable to find any words to reply.
"Humans aren't racehorses that can't stop."
A commotion broke out outside. The noise and clamor, which started on the first floor, soon spread all the way to the 28th floor where Elyse's office was located.
"If it's hard, you can always stop and rest."
Then, with a sharp snap, all the noise cut out.
The only thing that could be heard was the sound of emotionless footsteps.
At that, Elyse felt the strength drain from her entire body.
Amidst that chilling silence, Swoo's voice echoed softly.
"Elyse Meier."
Not Elyse.
Elyse Meier.
Elyse repeated the surname attached to her name.
She wasn't the only one carrying that name. Angela Meier. It was also attached to the name of her precious younger sister, her reason for living.
"Congratulations on your promotion."
It was not a shackle.
It was a token bound by blood, reminding them that they were family.
"When the night grows long, come beneath the moonlight."
With that final remark, the call disconnected.
Elyse stood up from her seat.
The door opened.
A line of CSIA elites, who normally would never be allowed to enter this department, stood in formation.
Jet-black visors and jet-black tech suits. Along with Zyrec firearms that had not been released to the public.
At the head of the CSIA stood a man wearing no combat gear.
That man, Branch Manager Mackenzie Harmer, strode forward the moment he saw Elyse.
"CSIA. Elyse Meier, proxy for the absent Director Thomson Arcardo, listen. As of this moment, I announce the activation of the Integrity Execution Protocol for the Kinetics branch."
Elyse tightly clenched her hands in front of her. Without even realizing her nails were digging into her flesh, she stared at Mackenzie.
"All networks of the Kinetics branch are isolated, and all asset access is frozen. All personnel must cease work immediately and wait at their current locations with hands visible. Any resistance or attempt to access data will be deemed a direct violation of Protocol Article 4."
"Repeating. CSIA. As of this moment, I announce the activation of the Integrity Execution Protocol for the Kinetics branch."
Swoo hung up the phone and let out a sigh.
To Angela and Serena, who had watched Swoo closely until now, this was an unfamiliar sight.
Moreover, the way she had spoken Elyse's full name right before hanging up was also something they weren't used to.
"...Is there a problem?" Serena asked.
"Swoo... are you okay?" Angela asked.
"The IEP has been activated."
Instead of answering their questions, Swoo stood up and explained the current situation.
"Serena, you've prepared well too, right?"
Before they knew it, Swoo had returned to her usual self. As if the sight they had witnessed moments ago was just an illusion, she wagged her tail with her usual playful smile.
"...Along with the fact that the IEP would be activated at the Kinetics branch, I've sent the plan to Lui Chen headquarters to take over the vacancy in Eastheim after Director Thomson's downfall, and..."
Serena recalled the project she had planned so far, which was now just one step away from completion.
No matter how much she thought about it, it was an incomprehensible project.
Even if it succeeded, the gains would be extremely minimal.
Nevertheless, Swoo had spoken with absolute certainty, as if she had seen the future. Trusting her, Serena had designed the project according to Swoo's words, thinking there was nothing to lose since it was still in the planning stages.
"The preparations for the West Development Project... are also finished."
The western outskirts of Eden.
A place where electromagnetic storms raged, making the sandstorms of the wasteland look like child's play.
Swoo had asked her to prepare a development project for that area and provided the essential information needed for it.
"You can send it directly to headquarters, right?"
"Given my position, it won't be difficult."
"Nice."
With a broad grin, Swoo hid her tail beneath her clothes and took a step forward.
She had to handle the request she received from Salvador.
Since it was bound to be anything but ordinary, Swoo was filled with great anticipation.
"Serena, you can go back to your office now and submit everything."
"...We've pulled off something on such a massive scale, and that's it? Isn't there anything else I can help with?"
"There is one thing, but that's for our office to handle. Serena, you can go and rest now."
"Well... alright. When shall we have our next meeting?"
"I'll find you when the time comes."
Now that the major tasks were out of the way, a peaceful life would surely follow for a while. Serena stood up, harboring that hope.
Of course, a peaceful life was not what awaited Serena.
Serena, who had never imagined that the project she planned would be approved immediately, also had no idea that she would soon be promoted to managing director.