With only one hour remaining before the six-hour deadline.
A knock echoed against Serena's door.
She lazily opened her eyes.
There wasn't a single shred of surprise in her cold, wicked gaze.
She looked as though she had known all along that they would come crawling back.
Remaining lounging on the bed, she drawled, "Come in."
The door opened.
Director Silas Kaelen, wearing his signature silver-rimmed glasses, walked in.
This time, his attitude was noticeably more polite and extremely cautious.
It wasn't just the courtesy reserved for a lucrative black-market doctor; it was the deference shown to someone who was dangerously beyond their control.
"Miss Panacea," Silas said, offering a slight bow. "My apologies for disturbing your rest."
Serena sat up, casually brushing a few stray dollar bills off her lap.
Leaning lazily against the headboard, she looked at him through heavy-lidded eyes. "What, have you prepared the fifty million dollars?"
Silas's smile faltered slightly.
Just as expected, The Panacea's only true loyalty was to money.
He managed a tight smile. "Miss Panacea, after discussing the matter with the board, we simply cannot hand over the complete core data."
Serena let out a soft scoff and waved him off dismissively. "Then we have nothing left to talk about."
Silas hurried to interject. "However, we can provide you with updated supplementary data. Furthermore, we are willing to elevate your security clearance aboard Project
Zero-Transit."
With that, he produced a black magnetic security card and placed it respectfully on the table in front of her.
Serena shot it a fleeting glance.
The sleek card was forged from a unique material, entirely blank save for the emblem of The Raven, signifying access to the Living Assets sector.
She arched an eyebrow, shifting her gaze to Silas.
"The ship would like to officially hire you as the Specialized Medical Consultant for
the Living Assets on this voyage," Silas explained.
"With this Rayen-Crest Access Card, you can enter the specialized treatment zone. You'll be able to pull partial experimental and real-time monitoring data for Specimen Seven as well as requisition medications, equipment, and
assistants from The Med Tech Quarantine."
"In fact, with a proper escort, you'll even be permitted entry into The Sanctum Vault's Outer Perimeter."
At this point, his tone grew a fraction heavier. "Of course, this clearance does come with restrictions."
"You are strictly forbidden from entering the Inner Vault. You cannot make unauthorized contact with any other Living Assets, nor are you permitted to copy, transmit, or remove any core data."
"Every access request will be meticulously logged in the ship's mainframe."
Serena merely lifted her eyes,
staring at the access card with
profound disinterest. Looking utterly
bored, she leaned back against the
headboar and drawled, Do yo
honestly think tossing me some consultant title is doing me a favor?"
"Or do you really think The Panacea is stupid enough to work for you for free?"
Silas seemed fully prepared for this exact reaction. He immediately reached into his pocket, pulled out a sleek black bank card, and offered it to her with both hands.
"We would never expect someone of your caliber to provide your services without proper compensation."
"This is your retainer from the ship. Thirty million dollars."
Serena's brow finally twitched upward, though her expression remained largely indifferent. "What? You think throwing in an access card lets you chop my fifty million down to thirty?"
Silas smiled. "The thirty million is strictly to keep Specimen Seven stable until we dock at Whitecliffe
Harbor. If any of the other Living, Assets require your attention we will negotiate separate fees."
Hearing those last few words, a genuine smile finally spread across Serena's face.
She reached out, plucked the card from his hands, and flipped it over her knuckles. "Can I check the balance?"
Silas immediately handed over a terminal. "Of course."
Serena took the device and slid the card into the slot.
Almost instantly, a string of digits illuminated the screen.