About thirty minutes later, after Dahlia’s morning briefing a middle-aged woman approached the stage and motioned for Dahlia.

“I have an important call, Ms. Frost. Do you want to take it here?” she asked.

Dahlia answered the question with a cold, calculating gaze. The woman produced the phone and left her. She recognized the number, it was from her associate, Nasri Zubayr Hadad. But she called him Nas. Several moments later, Dahlia moved to the nearby gazebo.

“What do you have for me?” she said.

“I’m a crooked path with many turns by the bay,” the speaker replied. “What is my name?”

“Lombard,” Dahlia said.

“Please hold for his eminence.”

Dahlia heard a few clicking noises before being connected.

“D, did you receive my instructions? I sent word earlier this morning.”

“I’ve been busy training the latest recruits, Nas.”

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“Any potentials, for my harem?”

“No, these young women fighters are not suited for your tastes.”

“Call me when you have decoded my message,” Nas said.

Fifteen minutes later, Dahlia entered her study. She’d decorated it like her chateau in Locksbottom. It also reminded her of the [Her son Hunter at 7:44] son, Hunter. She winced at the thought.

It seems like only yesterday when my plans had gotten thrown away. You could have led sisters into battle, my son.

Dahlia received the encrypted container, which she downloaded on her computer. She took out a worn notepad from her safe. She decrypted the series of letters, numbers, and special characters based on the new system that Nas’s men had come up with.

The message read:

New player introduced:

Sunchee Chen is a man of many talents. He is the oldest member of the Cabal who demands our loyalty. In exchange, he will solve our cash flow problems.

Dahlia called Nas back. She didn’t like involving him as much, but since losing significant resources after the attack on the island, she needed to rely on the aid of his bank account more often than she would have liked.

“Why do we need this Chen fellow?” Dahlia asked when he answered.

“You can call him an angel investor. He’s interested in the human weapons you are developing,” Nas replied. “He also needs your help to secure other technology.”

“Like what? I’m not a technologist.”

“He just needs some muscle for a job that will yield him the information. Who can you send on short notice?”

“I will pick my two best agents and send over dossiers within the hour.”

“Good, Mr. Chen holds efficiency in high regard. Almost as much as loyalty.”