Upon arriving at the Lin Family Headquarters, Rowan Lin immediately sensed the gravity of the situation. The Lin family had suffered devastating losses, their reach and influence severely diminished. As Rowan entered the main hall, he was stunned to see Victor Lin, the family patriarch once revered for his commanding presence, reduced to a frail shadow of his former self. The man who had once epitomised unwavering confidence and control now seemed broken, consumed by despair.
Recognising the futility of words in such a moment, Rowan chose to retreat silently, leaving Victor to his thoughts.
The aftermath of the attack was catastrophic. The Lin family's systems, networks, and assets linked to the virtual web had been compromised in one coordinated strike. The damage was so extensive that it left even the family’s most experienced analysts baffled. The mantle of leadership shifted quickly—Ethan Lin, the eldest son, ascended to the role of head of the family in an effort to stabilise morale and steer the family out of this crisis.
The assault had been orchestrated entirely through the virtual web. The Lin family’s technical teams uncovered chilling details: all signs pointed to a single attacker. This lone individual had executed a flawlessly synchronised operation, leveraging the web's vast and complex infrastructure with an almost supernatural mastery. It was a claim that many found difficult to believe—could one person truly possess such overwhelming capability? Yet the absence of any traceable evidence or actionable clues left little room for doubt.
The Lin family had deployed 89 Grey Domain Controllers and over 200 technical experts to counter the attack in its initial stages. This number had swelled to 152 Controllers and more than 400 technicians as the crisis unfolded, a testament to the family's formidable resources. Yet despite their best efforts, the enemy remained untouchable, evading every defence and countermeasure with apparent ease. For hours, they had watched helplessly as the assault unfolded before their eyes, powerless to intervene.
The question that now tormented Ethan Lin was, Who was behind this? And why target the Lin family? Could it have been an act of vengeance, a calculated warning, or a deeper, more sinister scheme?
Suspicion naturally turned to the other three great houses—the Guteisda, Yan, and Ji families. Yet Ethan dismissed the idea. The delicate balance of power among the four houses was carefully maintained through generations of alliances and mutual dependence. Any unilateral aggression would risk a united backlash from the others, a cost no family could afford. Moreover, none of the other houses possessed the technical prowess to dismantle the Lin family’s defences so thoroughly—not even the Ji family, famed for its technological expertise.
Amid these grim thoughts, Ethan’s communicator buzzed unexpectedly.
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Frowning, Ethan glanced at the device. He had given explicit instructions not to be disturbed. Pressing the call button, a translucent screen materialised, but instead of a face, only static greeted him. Then, a voice emerged—calm, with a mocking undertone.
"Ah, Ethan Lin. A pleasure to finally meet, even if only virtually. Congratulations on your new position as head of the Lin family."
Ethan's breath caught. This was the perpetrator. Keeping his composure, he responded, “Who are you? Why have you done this? What grievance do you hold against the Lin family?”
The voice chuckled softly. “Your questions are misplaced. If you want answers, perhaps you should ask Geben Lin instead. I merely wished to offer a little… demonstration of my capabilities. A warning, if you will.”
Ethan seethed inwardly at the mention of Geben, his younger brother known for his reckless antics. Swallowing his anger, he asked, “What will it take to end this?”
The voice, still tinged with amusement, replied, “As I said, this was merely a warning. Leave me be, and I’ll leave you alone. But if you insist on pursuing me… Well, you’ll find I’m not so easily cornered.”
The veiled threat made Ethan’s blood boil, but he understood the gravity of the situation. The Lin family needed time to recover, and provoking this adversary further was not an option.
“Very well,” Ethan said. “You have my word. We will cease all actions against you.”
“Splendid. I do appreciate reasonable men,” the voice remarked. Then, as if sensing the approach of another interruption, it added, “It seems my time is up. Until we meet again.” With that, the screen went dark.
A knock at the door broke the silence. Ethan allowed the visitor in—a personal aide who began listing his schedule for the day. Interrupting brusquely, Ethan ordered, “Find Geben Lin. Bring him to me at once.”
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Elsewhere in the Farr Quadrant, the atmosphere in the Mech Pilots’ Guild was far more casual. Two pilots, tall and short, were deep in discussion about Ash, a rising star in the competitive mech duelling scene.
“What do you think of his last match?” the tall pilot asked with a grin.
The shorter one nodded. “Impressive, honestly. His fundamentals are solid. There aren’t many who can match his precision and control.”
“Ah, so you think his other skills aren’t quite there yet?” the tall one teased.
“Not yet,” the shorter pilot admitted. “But his growth is undeniable. He’s improving at an astonishing rate.”
“Agreed,” the tall one said, crossing his arms. “His talent is extraordinary. The kind you only see once in a generation.”
The shorter pilot smirked. “I’d give myself three years before he can beat me.”
The tall pilot raised an eyebrow. “And after three years?”
“That depends on how much he improves,” the shorter one replied, his expression turning serious. “But at this rate, surpassing me is a real possibility.”
The tall pilot glanced around, lowering his voice. “They’ve probably noticed him by now, haven’t they?”
“Of course,” the shorter one replied, his tone sober. “How could they not? With talent like his, it’s only a matter of time.”
“Do you think he’ll be selected?” the tall pilot asked.
“There’s no doubt in my mind,” the shorter one said with conviction. “Ash was born for the mech.”
“But isn’t it strange?” the tall pilot mused. “The Guild doesn’t have any records on him.”
The shorter pilot shrugged. “That’s for them to worry about. Let’s see how far this ‘Ash’ can go.”