The air inside the abandoned warehouse was thick with tension. Every movement, every shift in posture was a test—a delicate balance between trust and impending conflict.
He studied the silver-haired woman before him. Her posture was relaxed, but her golden eyes never wavered, dissecting him like a puzzle waiting to be solved. She was dangerous. Not just because she knew about the catastrophe, but because she understood the weight of information.
He exhaled slowly. "Alright. Let's talk."
She smirked, satisfied. "Smart choice."
The man who had brought him here—her subordinate, most likely—leaned against the wall, arms crossed, watching the exchange with quiet interest.
"I need to understand something first," he said, keeping his tone measured. "How do you know about the impact?"
Her gaze flickered with amusement. "Let's just say I have my sources."
"Not good enough."
She tilted her head. "And yet, you're here, which means you already know I have value."
He narrowed his eyes. She was testing him, trying to gauge how much he knew. Fine. Two could play that game.
He took a slow step forward, letting the air around him distort slightly—just enough for her to notice.
Her eyes widened for a fraction of a second before she masked it. "Spatial manipulation."
"So you do know more than you let on," he said smoothly.
She chuckled. "I wouldn't have invited you here otherwise."
The tension between them shifted—still sharp, but with an undercurrent of understanding. They both knew things they shouldn't. They both had reasons to be cautious. But more than that, they both needed allies.
"Alright," she finally said. "I'll answer your question—partially. I don't have the exact details, but I have access to data that shouldn't exist. Fragments of future events. I know that in two years, the world as we know it will cease to exist."
He frowned. "How reliable is your data?"
She crossed her arms. "Reliable enough to have built an underground network dedicated to surviving what's coming."
Now that was interesting.
He had expected rogue individuals, maybe even a few minor organizations grasping at rumors. But a full-fledged network? That changed things.
"What's your end goal?" he asked.
She didn't hesitate. "Control."
Bold. Honest. Dangerous.
He nodded slowly. "And you want me because?"
Her smirk returned. "Because I don't just need people with knowledge—I need people with power. And you, from what I've gathered, have both."
He considered her words. She was playing a calculated game, but then again, so was he.
"Let's say I agree," he said. "What do you get out of this?"
She shrugged. "A stronger chance at shaping the post-impact world into something more… stable."
"And if I refuse?"
Her smile didn't falter. "Then I'll have to keep an eye on you. And I don't particularly like loose ends."
A warning. One that wasn't even veiled.
He smirked. "Noted."
For a long moment, they stood in silence, weighing each other's words. Then he nodded. "Alright. I'll listen. But I work on my own terms."
Her golden eyes gleamed. "Then we have a deal."
Just as the tension began to settle, a faint beep echoed through the warehouse. The woman's expression darkened, and she swiftly tapped a device on her wrist. A blue holographic display flickered to life.
"Status?" she asked, her voice colder now.
A garbled voice responded, "We have movement. Unknown entity approaching the outer perimeter. Unregistered energy signature."
He tensed. Someone else was watching them.
The woman turned to him, eyes sharp. "Still think you have the luxury of working on your own terms?"
For the first time, he wondered if he had underestimated just how deep this conspiracy ran.