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It wasn\'t the first time their paths had crossed, but this meeting would be different. Silas knew that Elizabeth wasn\'t just calling out of idle curiosity. The truth is that he doesn\'t know much about her but what he do know is that she\'s a very decisive woman.

Luna\'s voice broke through his thoughts, her tone smooth and almost playful. {Elizabeth Federick…. Do you think she\'s coming to broker a deal?}

Silas shrugged slightly. "Maybe. But if she\'s reaching out, it means she\'s either curious about the VR Pod—or about me. Perhaps both. Either way, she\'s more valuable as an ally than an adversary, at least for now."

{Understood. I\'ll monitor any communication between her known associates and the usual governmental channels. If she\'s planning to double-cross you, we\'ll know.}

"Good," Silas replied, his smirk fading into a more contemplative expression. He agreed with Luna\'s decision to monitor Elizabeth—even though he knew that could possibly go wrong at the meeting. Besides, ikt wouldn\'t hurt to be cautious.

He stood up, moving to the window of his office. Below, the throngs of people still lingered outside the Kurt Technologies headquarters, reporters with their cameras, and fans eagerly discussing the next possible developments. To them, the real excitement was the VR Pod—its potential, its impact. But Silas knew that this meeting could shape things in a different way.

If he played his cards right—as he already plans to—he might gain insight into the movements of global powers, and maybe even secure an advantage against the more aggressive players circling him.

\'This meeting could be the key to understanding what comes next,\' he thought, watching the city lights flicker in the distance. \'Even if it\'s a trap, the risk, as always, was worth it.\'

---

On the other side of the country, Elizabeth paced her office, a thoughtful frown on her face. She had sent the coordinates of the meeting place—an upscale restaurant known for its discretion, nestled away from prying eyes. It was the kind of place frequented by those who valued privacy above all else. A place where secrets could be exchanged over expensive wine without the risk of eavesdropping.

But despite her carefully chosen venue, Elizabeth couldn\'t shake the nagging uncertainty in her heart. Silas was an unknown quantity, even to her, and that made him dangerous. In her line of work, she had learned that unpredictability often meant power—power that could overturn carefully laid plans.

She glanced at the tablet on her desk, where a detailed dossier on Silas had been displayed. The document was thin, frustratingly sparse compared to what she was used to. No family ties confirmed yet, no known associates, no verifiable history before his explosive debut at the Abyss seven months ago.

And now, this man—who had been a ghost just a few months ago—was running the most talked-about tech company on Earth.

Elizabeth closed the file and let out a quiet sigh. She was no stranger to playing dangerous games, but there was something about Silas that made even her cautious. She knew that meeting him could be an opportunity, but it could also become a dangerous dance, one where a single misstep could turn an ally into an enemy.

She took a deep breath, steeling herself. Whatever Silas\' intentions were, she would find out soon enough. And if he thought he could outmaneuver her, he was about to learn that she was more than capable of matching his game.

---

Hours later, in the back of a sleek, luxurious car, Silas looked out the window at the restaurant that Elizabeth chose as their meeting place.

The restaurant was neutral ground, just as Elizabeth had promised, but he was also reassured of this after Luna had run through every potential security threat. As he stepped out of the car, the city lights casted shadows across his face, he allowed himself a moment of amusement.

\'Meeting the Empress for dinner,\' he mused. \'How delightfully dramatic.\'

He walked toward the entrance of the restaurant, his expression composed and nonchalant. The building\'s understated elegance contrasted with the tension simmering just beneath the surface.

He pushed open the doors and stepped inside, catching sight of Elizabeth seated at a corner table, her posture as poised but he knew that it was likely her just putting up a tough front.

She turned as he entered, and their eyes met—each assessing the other, calculating, searching for hints of what lay beneath their calm exteriors.

Silas approached, offering a curt nod as he took his seat across from her. The air between them crackled with unspoken tension and the tension was becoming almost palpable.

Elizabeth raised an eyebrow, a faint smile curving her lips as she studied him. "You know, Silas, I almost thought you wouldn\'t show."

Silas\'s own smile mirrored hers, cool and confident. "And miss the chance to hear what you have to say? I wouldn\'t dream of it."

The waiter approached, filling their glasses with wine before retreating to give them privacy. The soft murmur of the restaurant faded into the background, leaving them in a bubble of silence, with only the dim lights casting shadows across their faces.

Elizabeth leaned forward slightly, resting her hands on the table as she met Silas\'s gaze. "You\'ve made quite a stir, you know. The world can\'t stop talking about you—about your little VR game and the Pod. But you and I both know there\'s more to this than what meets the eye."

Silas\'s smile widened just enough to be disarming. "The same could be said about you, Elizabeth. You\'ve always preferred the shadows to the spotlight, yet here you are, reaching out to me directly. What\'s changed? Are you here on your own accord or did the Bureau put you up to it?"

Elizabeth didn\'t flinch at the question, instead maintaining her composed demeanor. "Let\'s just say that you\'ve piqued my interest, Silas. And when something—or someone—is interesting enough, I find it wise to understand their motivations."

"Or to figure out if they\'re a threat," Silas countered smoothly, leaning back in his chair, his expression never wavering. "So tell me, Elizabeth, what is it that you want to understand about me?"

Elizabeth\'s smile faltered for a fraction of a second, but her voice remained steady. "I want to know why a man who could remain hidden suddenly decides to become the most visible figure in the tech world. I want to know what\'s driving you—and where this ends."

Silas tilted his head, as if considering her words. "Where it ends? I suppose that depends on how the world reacts to change. But if you\'re asking whether I plan to stop here..." He shook his head, his smile returning, sharper this time. "Let\'s just say, this is only the beginning."

Elizabeth studied him for a long moment, her expression unreadable. Finally, she nodded slowly. "Then it seems we have much to discuss."