16

I opened the black web, scanning the interface swiftly before submitting a request for an efficient assistant. I made sure to attach a highly generous salary to attract only the best candidates. In a matter of minutes, my inbox was flooded with applications, each promising confidentiality and skill. Under normal circumstances, I would have relied on Secretary Yun—his competence and discretion were unmatched—but the stakes this time were too high. I couldn't risk Wilde catching the slightest hint of my plan to infiltrate his lab.

The black web was perfect for this type of clandestine transaction. Hidden beneath layers of encryption, it allowed me to operate with complete anonymity. No prying eyes, no unnecessary questions. Within minutes, I was already exchanging messages with my new assistant via an encrypted line, ensuring our communication was secure. I outlined the details of my mission, and he set to work immediately, wasting no time in securing resources and mapping out the next steps. Everything was falling into place, just as I intended.

Wilde, hopefully, has no idea about anything, but one can never be too sure, he is, after all, the villain of the whole story. I'd asked him to recommend some companies where I could "expand my horizons in business"—the notion itself was ridiculous. Me, the most accomplished international entrepreneur in my original world, needing to learn from anyone? It was almost laughable. But Wilde, ever the pragmatist, took the bait without question. He probably is curious to see what I am cooking, and his curiosity is very much a kindness to me. He may have planned things for me but he's also oblivious to the fact that I have already positioned myself several moves ahead.

Among the list Wilde provided, NextGen Pharmaceuticals stood out, carefully disguised between two smaller, less significant companies. It was the perfect entry point. On the surface, NextGen appeared as a standard biotech firm, but beneath the facade lay Wilde's lab—the very place where the zombie virus was being developed. It was the heart of his operation, and it was where I needed to be.

Of course, I could have approached the company directly without informing Wilde, but there was always a chance he could grow suspicious of my sudden interest. And taking unnecessary risks at this point would be foolish. I had to keep everything under the radar. My ultimate goal was simple: get in, complete the mission, and return to my world with minimal interference. And maybe, just maybe, I could finally enjoy a quiet bowl of ramen in peace.

Now that I had Wilde's implicit permission to join his company, I knew I needed to play the long game. I couldn't just waltz into NextGen without a well-crafted cover story. Instead, I would start by applying for a position at one of the other companies on Wilde's list.

My newly hired assistant would ensure my application was conveniently rejected, which would then leave me no choice but to turn to NextGen Pharmaceuticals. Wilde, ever the manipulator, would think he had orchestrated everything in my favor. He'd personally see to it that I secured a position at NextGen—likely under the assumption that he could control my movements within the company.

But he had no idea. I would be inside the very heart of his operation, gaining access to critical information about the virus, and positioning myself for the next stage of the mission. The beauty of it all was that Wilde would unknowingly pave the way for me.

As for why Wilde was so eager to have me close to a place where I clearly shouldn't be—well, that was something I would figure out in due time. Whether he had his suspicions or his own agenda, it didn't matter. Whatever he had planned for me, I was more than capable of handling it.

For now, I had a long road ahead of me. I sent off the initial applications to the other companies, knowing full well that the rejections would come soon enough. My assistant was thorough, after all. The path to NextGen Pharmaceuticals was already set, and Wilde would soon be welcoming me into his world with open arms. What he didn't realize was that I wasn't just infiltrating his lab. I was preparing to dismantle everything he had worked so hard to build. And at the very end of it, he'll be thanking me for it. I'm his queen after all.