Click!

The moment the massive doors opened, Tyla felt like she just walked into another world entirely.

The corridor opened into a vast internal structure that should not have existed considering the dimensions of the building above.

This was not just a building, this felt like a different world.

The structure plunged downward in tiers, comprising dozens of levels that were carved into it like a hollowed-out abyss. Platforms and walkways crisscrossed the open space in mid-air, layered with industrial precision.

There were multiple elevators, each one of them transparent and armored with masked people in white lab attire moving constantly along the vertical rails, carrying cargo and dragging people in chains between levels.

Each tier had a purpose; Dante took his time to explain.

Afterall, Madam Ophelia was not just any customer. This was an A-tier customer because of her wealth and her standing in Omnicore society.

The upper tiers functioned as negotiation zones. There, private VIP rooms were suspended along the perimeter, each one of them sealed with polarized glass.

Deals were made there, quietly and efficiently.

Only VIP buyers like her were brought here directly to observe the best of the best products that Big Joe had to offer, to select, and to negotiate without ever touching the lower levels of operations.

Below that were the mid-tiers which are also the logistics tier. That is where movement, processing, and allocation is done.

Slaves are transported in controlled groups, each group guided by handlers who spoke in clipped, efficient tones.

Digital tags tracked each slave, projecting data that was only visible to authorized personnel, showing each slave’s origin, condition, value, and destination after negotiation, payment, and purchase by a client.

As one of the authorized personnel, the leader even, Dante had access to all this data which made him overqualified as Madam Ophelia’s guide.

In the mid tiers, everything moved with chilling precision.

And further down, the lower tiers disappeared into shadow.

There, heavy machinery operated, from automated systems to containment units, to transport modules that fed into unseen routes beneath the city. Massive cargo lifts descended into these depths occasionally with cargo.

And yes, there were 3 different underground tunnel pathways leading out of the massive underground enterprise.

Again, this showed just how rich and influential Earl Joe was to be able to build personal underground routes for his business linking directly to the inner ring.

Whatever happened in those lowest levels wasn’t meant to be seen, Dante introduced it at surface level only because of her esteemed identity.

And above it all, suspended like a command center was a central observation ring. That is where Dante’s office is, and that is where Joe watched from anytime he visited here to check on business.

While the throne in his mansion was where the Earl monitored all his legal business activities, here was where he monitored his underground business.

From here, the entire operation can be monitored- the flow of goods, the efficiency of transfers, the behavior of both buyers and inventory, the money coming in and out, literally everything.

Holographic displays hovered in the air, constantly updating, adjusting, and optimizing in real time.

This wasn’t just a trafficking hub, this was an entire ecosystem where slaves of different types and ages were processed and sold to clients.

It was self-sustaining and it was hidden in plain sight right at the very heart of the Federation Megacity.

’There’s no way they don’t know about an operation this big,’ Tyla thought solemnly. ’Like expected, the Federation tacitly pushes slave trade’.

’Who knows? Maybe they even take cuts from Joe’.

Tyla came prepared after days of mental preparation.

She had extreme expectations for Joe’s enterprise, but still, the scale of what she saw left her a bit unsettled.

Though she couldn’t see them from here due to how professional and confidential the workers here worked, with her passive senses, Tyla could sense the sorrowful emotions of tens of thousands of slaves within this facility.

...Tens of thousands!

She could almost hear their cry of pain and despair.

In that moment, after explaining everything to her, Dante finally gestured toward one of the observations rooms along the upper tier.

"Madam, your selection will be presented shortly".

His tone was polite and professional. To him, this was just another business transaction.

Tyla turned and looked at him deeply, then she nodded with a smile. "Of course, lead the way".

As Dante led the way, she tapped her right index finger against her thumb once. She didn’t bother to hide while doing it, afterall, she already confirmed that for confidentiality, Joe didn’t install any CCTV camera inside here, meaning this place was hidden from the Omnicore Eye.

Joe put complete faith in the multiple security checks before arriving here.

And Tyla had to admit, the checks were indeed deep and thorough. It was just that the team’s preparation for this operation was even more thorough than Joe’s security system.

Hidden behind all the façade, Tyla’s eyes gleamed as soon as she tapped her index finger against her thumb once.

That finger tap was the signal; tapping it just once meant the mission was a go, while tapping it twice meant that something went wrong.

By tapping her finger once, the signal was received by the relevant people who needed it at that moment in time.

And then instantly...

Bzzz!

Mirror Mask!

In a barely perceptible manner, Talia left her state of hiding.

Talia was here!

The how was easy. Tyla’s smartphone was confiscated but having predicted a scenario like this, they prepared for it.

Tyla’s normal-looking earrings were actually smart earrings naturally integrating Ghost Line NetRunner technology to hide from digital and neural sensors, Leon got them as gifts from Colonel Alphonse.

Talia had been deep-hiding within the earrings since arriving in the inner ring, and like expected, the security check didn’t focus on scanning Tyla’s earrings.

And now, Talia finally materialized after getting Tyla’s signal and without hesitation, she went to work.

She knew that she was in a race against time.

Firewall Bypass!

Bzzz!

Dante paused, then he looked back at Madam Ophelia.

Feeling his gaze, the rich madam acted charmed as she gently flicked her long hair behind her ears in a seductive manner. "What?"

That simple act disarmed Dante. 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

He shook his head. "I just... I just thought I felt something".

Madam Ophelia smiled brightly. "Maybe it was me, who knows?"

Dante smiled, then he continued leading the way forward.

Unknown to him, Talia was already hard at work towards hacking her way with Tyla’s help into this facility’s central server database.

Talia had her work cut out for her though considering the level of cybersecurity protecting this base, but she was ready and determined for a tough battle in the psionic realm.

...

Outside, standing by the street just opposite Big Joe Plaza stood a flamboyant Synth dressed in expensive clothes and sunglasses.

He leaned on his clearly expensive superbike, a bike with a skull head.

It seemed like he was waiting for something. Well, actually, he was waiting for a signal for either action or for him to leave.

This seemingly random Synth was actually Lt. Colonel Umar Farouq.

For this phase of Operation "Chain-Link", after getting information from Leon, he went full-costume this time just to fit into the inner district as he came, waiting for Tyla’s signal.

He disguised as a Synth.

If Tyla tapped her finger twice, his job was to damn the consequences and barge his way into the underground facility to rescue both ladies.

At that point, Operation Killing Joe would end at worst. And at best, the operation will only be delayed for some time.

The Lt. Colonel didn’t want that though, this was why he prayed for the best.

Thankfully, his prayer was answered, Tyla and Talia infiltrated the heart of Joe’s underground facility seamlessly.

The Lt. Colonel clicked his tongue and climbed the superbike.

VROOM!

He drove off.

...

After more than 40 minutes of Madam Ophelia proving difficult and trying to flirt with Dante by all means despite being rejected multiple times by the handsome Geneform already, they finally came to an agreement.

BEEP!

{CREDIT ALERT!}

{Big Joe Enterprises has received a credit alert of 5,000,000 Neo Credits!}

{Invoice: 3 Slaves=}

{Click for details!}

Dante finally smiled as he stood up and shook Madam Ophelia’s hand. "It was nice doing business with you".

Madam Ophelia shook his hand and smiled brightly at him, going as far as patting his head with her other hand, then she finally turned to leave.

She left with 3 female slaves, -5 million Neo Credits from the real Madam Ophelia’s bank account, and detailed information about Big Joe Enterprises.

For the entire Operation Killing Joe, Madam Ophelia’s back account was the source funding all expenses.

’Mission successful!’ She thought calmly.

Then she left.