Code name: Falcon
"A bit, I guess?" he said while smiling as he made his way toward the kitchen.
Yan Qianxi watched his disappearing back, "Zheng Yichen, huh? I guess I might need to make a little investigation on you to be fair. It's not good to be the only one kept in the dark."
With those thoughts still lingering in her mind she proceeded to take precautionary measures to prevent the possibility of information leaking. She set up her full screen, secured her server once more though she still cautious on the man who has the little girl on his arm and proceeded upstairs.
Not long after, the video conference with her grandfather started just in time when the man came down and sat down beside her which startled her a little but upon considering that they will have to talk to an elder it is only appropriate to be face-to-face with them.
On the other hand, Zheng Yichen sat nonchalantly seemingly oblivious to the fact that the woman beside her is looking at her with a frown.
He surveyed the living room and he immediately saw that the full length glass wall that freely lets the sunlight pass through was now covered with another layer of black tinted glass from the inside.
The screen was divided into two, while the other one was now occupied by Yan Qianxi's Grandfather the other one was left blank. Zheng Yichen then turned to his side and asked, "Who are we waiting for?"
The old man on the screen cleared his throat, "We're waiting for Old Xu, the direct superior of Falcon."
Falcon? Who's Falcon? He thought. Although he is very much curious he knows that it is not his place to ask questions more than he was supposed to.
"Grandpa!" Yan Qianxi sneered, is it really okay revealing an information as sensitive as that in front of this man? Just who is he anyway?
Shen Jinyan ignored his grand daughter.
Only a few seconds after, the screen on the other side showed yet another person who seems to be in his 70s. It's obvious that two have already aged but it doesn't mean they looked weak and old at all. Their bravado is spectacular, one could easily determine that these people were important figure with just the way they sit.
"It's been a while, Old Shen." the man greeted the other. The set up on their side were similar to what Yan Qianxi and Zheng Yichen is seeing.
"Thank you for taking care of my grand daughter as always, Old Xu." its indeed been a long time since they had talked seriously like this.
"Aren't you very jealous of me? Your precious grand daughter chose to follow me." there was a smug look plastered on the face of Old Xu, he really liked provoking the Old Shen as the two of them has always been at each others' throat ever since they entered the military academy at such a young age.
"Huh! Who's jealous of who?" he retorted with a grin.
Old Xu ignored him and asked the grand daughter instead, "How was your flight Qian Qian? Are you really sure you want to stay there? Grandpa Xu will make arrangements if you don't want to."
Yan Qianxi can't help but massage her temple, isn't this suppose to be a meeting? Why does it seem to be so out of topic? "The flight was terrible but I was fine soon as I landed. Grandpa Xu, you don't have to worry about anything I can handle it just fine."
"Alright then if you say so. Then we shall start." the old man paused and turned very serious as he cleared his throat.
"Code name."
Hearing the familiar word, her body moved on a reflex as she stand and gave the man a respectful salute.
"Code name: Falcon. Specialty: Undercover. Status: Temporary Hiatus."
Enumerating each of what she had mentioned is a prerequisite before the start of each meeting.
The man's eyes lit up upon hearing the confidential information about Yan Qianxi, he indeed conducted an investigation about her background but this is the first time he'd learned about her code name because that is a piece of information one cannot easily obtain, not even for him.
"You may take your seat." he said which sounded more like a command but Yan Qianxi was already used to this.
Once the only woman in the meeting was firmly seated Old Xu began explaining the details of the mission, "This is an exemption from the past missions you've been involved with Qianxi, the mere fact that your identity was exposed to the other party was against the rules of Cipher Zero and I'm only doing this because this is a request from Old Shen."
Xu Wen is the current head of Cipher Zero, an entity that must not be known. They are based in U.S. and Yan Qianxi is one of its agents. Only the head, which is Xu Wen knows the faces of each and every agent as they all operate under code names, even Yan Qianxi doesn't have any idea how many agents were working for Cipher Zero.
"This mission is all about the Spiders." once Yan Qianxi heard the name her whole body stiffened which didn't escape from the observing eyes of the man beside her.
Yan Qianxi suppressed her emotions from spilling and Zheng Yichen knows it, the two elders on the hand know exactly the reason behind her reaction, "They've started to infiltrate the country and according to our intel their target seems to be the Young Master beside you."
The woman creased her forehead, just how important is this man anyway?
Seeing the crease on his grand daughter's face Shen Jinyan can't help but feel embarrassed a little.
"I apologize Zheng Yichen, but it seems like my grand daughter really doesn't know you." Shen Jinyan said apologetically, 3 out of 10 might not know the name of the city mayor but all 10 of them must know the name Zheng Yichen!
Unaffected by Yan Qianxi's very little knowledge of him, he just shrugged and answered "I don't particularly mind, we have a long time to learn about each other."
The ambiguity of his sentence is totally ridiculous, Yan Qianxi thought.
"Qian Qian, that man is the sole heir of Zheng International and the current head of Zhengxi Entertainment, which is the largest entertainment company in the country and also the flagship of Zheng International. They are well known both on the surface and underground and their influence isn't something to be taken lightly off. I will send you the documents regarding the thorough background investigation of the extent of their family's influence but to cut the long explanation, the Spiders wanted to control his influence and his power."
"Oh." so he falls under the category of crazy rich people. It's just like how she thought. Considering what was already mentioned, he seemed to be a really important person.
"This is not the first time you will be dealing with someone linked with the underground and you yourself is a part of it, although this is a national threat you know that a lot of our clients were willing to pay just to end them. Their influence outside is inevitably strong but from what we have gathered, the roots of this all lies within that country you're in now."
Hearing their explanations Yan Qianxi can't help but think, why now? After all these years they've avoided this country. Also, is that man really a part of Spiders? But, he has the tattoo!
"As for why you were chosen for this mission I think you know that better than anyone else. Oh well, it's not like we really wanted this but because it's you even if we do not give this mission to you will still do it anyway."