Zishan Cafe, the meeting pce designated by Gloria Lee, a p the South-Eastern District, close to the banks and docks of the Mud River.

  The owner of the cafe was a sharp and somehow familiar looking woman, who examined him like a skilled martial arts practitioner would when he came in. Gloria Lee was sitting by an iable, with a friend of hers - the same friend that came with her on their other meetings before, Sue Xu.

  “Thank you for meeting with me. And I apologize for this sudden and st minute request.” Marcus sat down and said.

  “I’ll have an artisan cappuo, and my friend Sue here will have a signature Ube Latte.” Gloria raised her eyebrows at Marcus.

  Marcus was not sure what the young woma at first. After around two seds, he chuckled a up to the ter and pced the order.

  The owner of the cafe was already quite familiar with the two items for the two young women and fihem in no time. Marcus ordered himself annature drink - a tea with milk foam. For a retively fancy looking coffee shop, the prices of drinks were surprisingly reasonable.

  “Okay. Enjoy.” Marcus carried the tray over and hahe drinks to the two young women: “So, we chat now?”

  “Have you guys got free access to those Blue Envelopes yet?” Gloria tapped her fingers oable.

  “No, unfortunately. We set up a meeting with a cilman earlier this week. He asked for more information. Our captain agrees to provide it - but it’s going to take a while.” Marcus shrugged.

  “We don’t have time for this, ’t you just take a look at the files directly?” Sue asked.

  “I wish. But the thing is, if we access the files directly, it might alert those people iy. And we ’t afford that, not with all the - the iigation going on.” Marcus took a sip of his tea.

  “That sounds like an excuse.” Gloria shook her head.

  “Maybe. But right now we don’t really have any leverage.” Marcus pretended not to uand what Gloria meant: “But - that’s not what I came here for. I think I have something - an urgent lead, if you will, that could be mutually beneficial for us if we resolve it.”

  “Fine.” Gloria put her mug down oable with noticeable force, a few droplets of coffee jumped onto the table. “What do you want?”

  “Lanmian Forest. Did you hear that the unity collective is hosting a food festival there?”

  This news made the two young women squirm and gasp uheir breaths. Not as big a rea as Marcus was expeg. But from the stern looks on their faces, he khey k least something about the food festival, if not just as much or even more than what he knew.

  “What do you know about the food festival?” Sue asked.

  “Another site of sacrifice, for the 15 year circle.” Marcus got straight to the point. This answer made them more uneasy than the news about the food festival itself. “And those snatched kids who are kidnapped are going to be sent there. We haven’t heard of any new cases for a while - they are probably pnning something big - ”

  This time, the terrible look on Sue and Gloria’s faces were as he expected. The two young women exged looks, befloria asking: “Are you certain?”

  “I’m sure. There might be other, smaller sites around the city, but just like the cruise ship ‘act’ st time. It is very likely that they HAVE TO have a tralized sacrifice. I am not sure why, but it appears so.” Marodded and finished his tea. It was indeed quite tasty, no wohe young women wao meet here.

  But also - it was strahat the owner of the shop kept looking over, as if she was trying to pay attention to their versation and eavesdrop.

  “... okay. That makes sense.” Gloria Marcus: “I assume - you’ll want to check the pce out?”

  “Yes.” Marodded: “And this will be off the books. This is - this is big, and possibly very bad. And I would like some help.”

  “I see. I see.” Sue nodded: “Where did they say it’s going to be?”

  “Somewhere he edge of the Lanmian Forest. At least that’s what the liaison told us.”

  “ we trust him?”

  “Not really. Which is why I need help from someone who’s a good fighter, experienced with everything and - and I trust, mostly.”

  “Oh, is this your attempt at buttering me up? ” Gloria chuckled, then shook her head: “Okay, tell us the pn.”

  “I don’t really have one. ” Marcus shook his head: “Not a detailed o least. Since I decided not to ask for too much detail to avoid raising suspi. And - I know a thing or two about the reputation of the Desote Forest, so I want to - at least sult with you before making the pn.”

  “...okay.” Gloria thought for a while, then shrugged.

  “What?” Sue immediately grabbed Gloria’s arm: “We - we o talk about this. That pce is just around the - ”

  “It’s okay. I o check the area out anyway.” Gloria held Sue’s hand: “I assume it’s time as well.”

  “Your refill.” Just this moment, the owner of the coffee shop put down two extra mugs of drinks oable, the same kind of drinks floria and Sue.

  “We o have a chat outside.” Gloria sighed: “Give us a few.”

  The owner of the coffee shop was clearly someone who khe two young women. It was a simple setup. He checked the napkin folder and the paper tissue box. And uhe tissue box, he saw a simple transmitter.