The spy raised his hands in surrender, his fingers trembling.
"Easy now," he muttered, voice strained. "You don't gotta do this…"
Dex didn't lower the dagger. "Who are you?"
Silence.
Romeo's eyes flicked to the side—a logout attempt.
Dex saw it coming. With a thought, his Cyber Hack jammed the system window, freezing the man in place.
"Wrong move."
He slammed Romeo face-first onto the table, his Omnisight dissecting the spy's stats:
[ROMEO LUCIANO – LEVEL 55]
[CLASS: GHOST OPERATIVE]
[SKILLS:]
「HIGH SHROUD」 – Perfect stealth for 60s (Cooldown: 2min).
「DISGUISE 」 – Assume any player's appearance for 30min.
「SYSTEM GHOST」 – Leave no digital traces (cameras, logs, etc.).
No combat skills. Just espionage.
And that name, Luciano. Dex's grip tightened.
Then—
"I'd think twice before doing that."
The voice was honey-sweet, laced with amusement.
Dex turned.
She sat in the booth behind him, legs crossed, stirring a cup of tea with delicate precision.
Valentina Luciano.
No holograms. No illusions. Just her avatar, in the flesh.
She wore a tight-fitted black bodysuit, the fabric shimmering with subtle circuitry patterns that pulsed like a heartbeat. The neckline plunged daringly, revealing a silver choker embedded with a tiny, glowing NeuraLink logo. Her sunglasses were sleek, opaque, reflecting Dex's masked face back at him.
Her blonde hair was pulled into a flawless high bun, a few loose strands framing her sharp cheekbones. Her lips—painted a deep, venomous red—curved into a smile.
"Hello, Dex," she purred. "Or should I call you Cyber Lord now?"
Dex didn't move. "You knew it was me."
She laughed, sipping her tea. "The mask is new. The swagger isn't."
Romeo whimpered under Dex's blade.
Valentina sighed. "Let him go. He's just a messenger."
Dex didn't release the pressure. "Messaging what?"
Valentina set her cup down with a soft clink.
"An invitation."
Dex pushed Romeo aside with a rough shove, sending the spy stumbling away before he strode toward Valentina's booth. He settled into the seat across from her, the Origin Mask still obscuring his expression—but his tension was palpable.
Without hesitation, he activated Omnisight, scanning her.
[ERROR: TARGET LEVEL TOO HIGH TO VIEW]
His fingers twitched under the table.
'What?'
His Omnisight was Level 2 now, he should've been able to see the stats of anyone thirty levels above him. Spectre was in her sixties, and he could read her just fine.
But Valentina?
Nothing.
Which meant she wasn't just higher than him—she might be higher than Kai, who sat at Level 70.
A soft snap broke his thoughts.
Valentina smirked, stirring her tea with one manicured finger. "Caro, you're staring."
Dex didn't flinch. "Just admiring the view."
She chuckled, then paused, tilting her head. "Ah. I just got a notification. Someone tried to peek at my skills." Her smile sharpened. "I'm assuming that's your doing?"
Dex leaned back, crossing his arms. "Get to the point, Valentina."
She sighed, setting her cup down with deliberate grace. "Fine. The money you stole? Niente, nothing. My family makes that in hours." Her voice hardened. "But the disrespect? That can't be ignored."
She leaned forward, her sunglasses glinting under the arcade's neon lights.
"Still… we're willing to forget this little misunderstanding." Her lips curled. "If you join us."
Dex went still.
"The Don himself wants to meet you," she added, her tone dripping with implication. "Think carefully, Cyber Lord."
The Don?
Dex's mind raced. If Valentina was already beyond Level 70, how strong was the head of the Luciano family?
He leaned in, the Origin Mask dissolving from his face, revealing his sharpened features. His face hovered inches from hers, close enough to catch the faint scent of her perfume—something expensive, intoxicating.
Valentina didn't pull away. Her lips curved, her gaze flickering to his mouth for the briefest moment before meeting his eyes again. The tension between them was electric, charged with something predatory.
"How did you know it was me?" Dex asked, his voice low.
She chuckled, warm breath ghosting over his skin. "That's a secret, caro. One I'll share… if you join us."
With that, she slid out of the booth, her movements sleek as a panther. Dex's eyes tracked her—the sway of her hips, the way her fitted bodysuit clung to every curve.
A sudden, visceral urge coiled in his gut.
The Mask's voice slithered through his mind, amused.
"Ah. The Cyber Lord gene demands its due. No bedding anyone? No release? Tsk. No wonder it's making your body ache."
Dex scoffed internally—
—then realized, too late, that his hand had already moved.
He grabbed Valentina's wrist, yanking her back against him. His arm locked around her waist, pulling her flush against his body.
For the first time, surprise flickered across her face. She masked it quickly, her voice icy.
"What do you think you're doing?"
Dex blinked, releasing her like she'd burned him. "Just… making sure you weren't a hologram this time."
A weak excuse.
Valentina smoothed her sleeve, her smile returning, sharp, dangerous.
"24 hours, Dex," she reminded him. Then, with a final glance at his lips: "Don't keep me waiting."
She turned and walked away, leaving him standing there, the Mask cackling in his skull.
"Smooth. Very smooth."