Interlude: The White Line and Xuanyan

Two days later, in Whitewash City's Canal District, at the Milk-Foam Café.

The stirrer clinked against the cup as Xia Lun stirred the black coffee. Its bitter aroma rose with the white steam.

Xia Lun set down the stirrer and took a small sip. Through the faintly bitter steam, he looked at White Line across the table.

Golden morning light fell through the window onto the side of her face, illuminating her white wide-brimmed hat and black Carbon Mask. Back in her familiar attire, she rested her chin on the backs of her clasped hands and tilted her head at Xia Lun.

Their table was right beside the window, normally a prime spot. Yet everyone inside and outside the café completely ignored them. They were under Psychological Invisibility.

"So, did you get any information about the Foresight Club from Delis's body?" Xia Lun asked, setting down his cup.

Delis's body had been badly damaged by Life Drain, so White Line couldn't simply read its memories. She needed to take it elsewhere for examination. After they dealt with Delis two days earlier, White Line had hurried off with the body. They'd agreed to meet again in two days and trade game items while they were at it.

"I did," White Line replied. Then she added, "I have good news and bad news. Which do you want to hear?"

"You didn't use to talk in circles. Just tell me."

"You're awfully serious today."

White Line made the remark, then cleared her throat with a blend of mechanical voices.

"The good news is that the Foresight Club has caught the Internal Affairs Department's attention. They've opened a case against this 'terrorist organization' and assembled a team of experts. And because we recovered Delis's brain at the Ranch—conclusive evidence that the organization exists—we have