Elizabeth would be lying if she claimed she wasn't surprised that Silas knew it was her on the other end of the line. It wasn't just the fact that he had identified her from an untraceable number—it was the casual, almost playful way he addressed her, as if he had been expecting her call all along.
Silas had always been an enigma to her, a puzzle she couldn't quite piece together, and that realization only deepened her curiosity.
For months, she had been doing everything in her power to uncover the mystery of Silas. She'd called in every favor, used every contact, deployed every resource she had to track him down after his unexpected and disruptive visit to the Abyss—the underground arena for Phenomenals. But the results were always the same: a complete blank.
Silas's past, his movements, even his supposed allies—none of it existed on any record she could access. It was as if he had vanished into thin air the moment he left the Abyss, a ghost with no trace left behind. That was seven months ago, and her search had been relentless.
The more she uncovered nothing, the more Elizabeth understood just how dangerous he truly was. People with clean records didn't exist in her world—not naturally. The more spotless someone's background appeared, the more they were hiding. And with Silas, it was clear he was hiding a lot.
It was no coincidence, she thought, that he had reappeared on the world's stage only now, with the launch of the VR game and Pod creating a frenzy that reached every corner of the globe. For someone like Silas to step out of the shadows so suddenly meant he was playing a larger game—one that she couldn't quite see yet.
It bothered her that she couldn't figure out what his endgame was. Why had he chosen to surface now? He had managed to remain hidden for months, evading not just her but every other intelligence agency and network of informants across the globe. If he could do that, then why reveal himself now, at the peak of the VR Pod's media storm? What had changed? Unless...
unless he wanted to be seen.
Elizabeth tapped her fingers thoughtfully against her desk as she considered this. The truth was, she didn't hold any personal grudges against Silas. She wasn't among those who had suffered during that chaotic night at the Abyss when Silas had toyed with some of the most powerful Phenomenals like they were children.
She had watched from the sidelines as he dismantled their pride, one by one, turning what was supposed to be a show of dominance into a game he controlled effortlessly.
Still, she wanted answers. And if there was a way to understand what Silas intended without immediately drawing battle lines, she was determined to find it.
"Silas, can we meet and talk?" she asked finally, keeping her tone neutral, even as her mind raced through the possible outcomes of this conversation.
Silas chuckled on the other end, a sound that felt almost condescending, as if he was humoring her. "You think I'd refuse a meeting with someone as influential as you, Elizabeth? Sure, I'll bite. But let's keep it simple—neutral ground. And no games."
Elizabeth allowed herself a small smile, though she knew he couldn't see it. "Neutral ground, no games," she echoed. "I'll send you the details."
"Looking forward to it, Empress," Silas replied, the nickname rolling off his tongue with a hint of amusement. And then the line went dead.
Elizabeth remained seated, her fingers lingering over the phone. She knew this meeting wouldn't be simple, despite what they'd agreed. Silas wouldn't have accepted so readily unless he believed he had the upper hand. But that was fine. She wasn't going into this unprepared. There was still much she could learn, and perhaps even a way to turn this unexpected meeting to her advantage.
But more than that, a part of her was genuinely curious—curious about the man behind the mystery, about the force that had taken the world by storm. And maybe, just maybe, she wanted to see what would happen if she allowed herself to step into his orbit, if only for a moment.
She straightened in her chair, steeling herself for what was to come. If Silas was planning something big, she needed to know what it was. And whether it meant playing friend or foe, Elizabeth Federick was ready to find out.
With a quick series of taps on her encrypted tablet, she arranged the meeting location and sent the details to Silas through a secure channel. As she looked out the window at the bustling city below, she couldn't help but feel a flicker of anticipation.
Whatever Silas was planning, she was about to find herself right in the middle of it. And she wouldn't have it any other way.