Moth of Ink

Three days ago, Level 7 below the Heliopolis Life Sciences Pharmaceutical trade zone.

As the minutes on the electronic screen ticked down to zero again, it meant it was now 9:00 PM. Even the staff who were used to working overtime were feeling tired. But fortunately, it was now time to go home. It was time to return to their employee dormitories and have a good rest.

The office lights in the work area were being turned off one by one. A young assistant, who was a little slower and had just finished tidying up her things, gave a big yawn. Her eyes were a little blurry from fatigue. However, she still accurately caught sight of her superior, and quickly straightened her body, greeting him with a smile, "Is the supervisor still not off work yet? You've worked hard."

Hearing the assistant's voice, the supervisor in charge of the trade zone's export matters seemed startled. His body shook slightly before he quickly returned to normal.

"Uh, why are you still not off work at this time? Although the company's security robots are very reliable, a girl like you should still be careful when walking alone at night," he said with a straight face, scolding the assistant with a tone that was both caring and critical.

The assistant stuck her tongue out, and replied with a nod. Only after the supervisor had left did she happily grab her things and leave the office.

She had plans to have a late-night snack with her friends tonight. Although she was a little tired, she had to go because her friends were treating, and she could get some free food. Thinking about that, after taking the elevator back to the 1st floor, she subconsciously glanced at the mirror in the lobby's window, not seeing any signs of weight gain on her face.

"Looks like I'm naturally beautiful. There's no way a little late night snack can make me fat." She was in a great mood and naturally didn't notice the black shadow that flashed by in the glass.

On level 8 below, the supervisor, who had just greeted his assistant, was now cursing loudly, "Damn it, not going home at night, scaring me like that. I'm going to dock her pay this month."

After silently adding a grudge against the assistant, the supervisor arrived at the accounting audit office on the eighth floor. He then activated the shielding device in his hand, freezing the surveillance footage of this area to a few minutes earlier.

"After this, I'm going abroad. What a garbage company, making me sign a confidentiality agreement…" His body felt a little hot, and he tugged at his collar, skillfully placing the decryption card on the electronic lock. With a ding, the electronic lock opened.

But what greeted him wasn't the company's funds that he had prepared to embezzle, but a black gun muzzle.

"Oh? Good evening, Mr. Supervisor. It should be off work hours now, I wonder why you're here?" A young woman was looking at him with a smile, but her two ruby-like eyes were cold and devoid of emotion.

"I'm just… no, who are you? This is Heliopolis Life Sciences Pharmaceutical's territory. You damn intruders, aren't you afraid of our security personnel?" Although the supervisor was startled, his reaction speed was very fast. He immediately questioned them in return.

"Hmm? You're quite clever, but unfortunately, the person in charge of Heliopolis Life Sciences Pharmaceutical is me." Raven took off her hood, and her short grey hair was exposed. It was only at this point that the supervisor remembered the information he had seen in the company's personnel files.

Thinking about this, he immediately lowered his stance. "I wonder, Ms. Cioara, why you've come to the trade zone late at night? Is there anything that I can help you with?"

"Ah, there is indeed something I need you to help with. I've heard that recently, there have been multiple instances of company funds being transferred. Does Mr. Supervisor have any impressions of this?"

"Ms. Cioara, isn't the word 'impressions' a little inaccurate? Shouldn't it be 'leads'…" The supervisor wiped the cold sweat off his forehead. The intense sense of unease in his heart was making his whole body tremble slightly.

Realizing that she had indeed used the wrong word, Raven pressed her forehead apologetically. But the gun in her other hand didn't move at all. "Sorry, I mean, explain—do you have anything to explain?"

"No…"

"Nothing?" Raven seemed surprised by this answer. Whether she was surprised that he really didn't embezzle funds, or surprised that he dared to say that, she turned to look at her two companions, who had, at some point, appeared in the shadows. "Hey, Chen Tianwu, do I need to have you show him the things that you discovered?"

Chen Tianwu, who was holding an electronic tablet, having just finished reconciling the accounts, lifted his head, and glanced at her, displeased with her exaggerated acting.

On the other side, the middle-aged man lowered his head, and patiently explained to her, "According to my information, Mr. Supervisor had transferred 2.1 million, 3.2 million, and..."

"Alright, alright," Raven interrupted the middle-aged man's rambling, and looked at the supervisor, who was now looking terrified. "Do you have anything you need to explain?"

"No! No! Don't kill me! Don't kill—"

Bang—!

Blood splattered on the wall, painting a picture of a greedy person.

The stinking smell made Raven frown. She led the two men out of the accounting office.

"To dare embezzle so many funds, it's almost as much as my little island…" Annoyed, Raven closed the door. She pressed the communicator on her hand. Now that the internal pests had been removed, the remaining matters were no longer her concern. The corpses and the transferred funds could all be left to the logistics department to handle.

The middle-aged man, who was actually the Father puppet controlled by Ren, couldn't help but interrupt after hearing Raven's words. "According to my investigation, Ms. Cioara's private villa island should have cost 130 million…"

Before he could finish speaking, Raven's gun, which had just killed someone, was pointed at his forehead. Her expression was extremely gloomy. "I don't care how you found out about this information, but I think you should shut up."

Ren immediately backed down, using his hand to make a gesture over his mouth, indicating that he wouldn't say any more. Only then did Raven move the gun away, and return it to her holster.

"Alright. You and Chen Tianwu have managed to find seven or eight internal pests for the serpent in a mere five days. You've helped to recover a lot of unnecessary financial losses. I'll report your achievements, and if there aren't any surprises, you will soon have your own codenames." She put her hood back on, and the feather-like cloak on her shoulder covered her body. "Like my codename, Raven, you can also prepare a name for yourselves. If the serpent approves, it will be directly adopted."

After exchanging a look with Chen Tianwu beside him, Ren looked at the lights in the corridor, and said quietly, "Then, what about naming me Moth of Ink?"

"Hmm? Is there any meaning to it?"

"Ink splashed on white paper, staining it with darkness, painting a moth that belongs to chaos. The moth drawn on paper doesn't chase after the bright flame, nor does it desire the whiteness of the paper. It will only dedicate its chaos to the supreme serpent." Ren lowered his posture, like a loyal believer, or like a seeker of the truth who had seen enlightenment.

"I didn't realize that you were really willing to dedicate yourself to World Serpent. I'd like to remind you that the serpent has never been kind." Noticing Ren's somewhat fanatical attitude, Raven frowned. Although she was also a cadre of World Serpent, she didn't have any great fondness for World Serpent, and knew how dark World Serpent's actions were.

Ren laughed, and didn't say anything. Raven also didn't persuade him any more.

"What about you, Chen Tianwu?"

"Night Owl."

"What? You're hungry?"

Looking at Raven, who was deliberately teasing him, Chen Tianwu was somewhat annoyed. But, judging his own combat strength, he didn't say anything more.

"Want to eat? If you don't, you can go back on your own."

"…"

"Fine."