CHAPTER 91: The Day of the Party

CHAPTER 91: The Day of the Party

Night had fallen over the city, and the Antigen building shone with dazzling lights. The rival company's gala was in full swing, the atmosphere a mix of sophistication and tension. Inside the grand event hall, an orchestra played classical music in the background as guests, dressed in their finest suits and gowns, chatted and laughed, raising their champagne glasses in celebratory toasts. Conversations ranged from business to speculation about the latest developments in genetic technology and biotechnology, Antigen's forte.

The hall was decorated with excessive luxury: crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling, reflecting light in thousands of sparkles, and the polished black marble floor mirrored the figures of the attendees. The tables were covered with impeccable white tablecloths, adorned with exquisite floral arrangements and lit candles that cast dancing shadows. Waiters, dressed in black and white uniforms, glided among the guests, offering trays of delicately prepared appetizers and glasses of high-end wine.

Among the waitstaff, two figures moved with care and discretion: Vanessa and Lucian, infiltrated into the party as service personnel. Vanessa wore her hair pulled back in a neat bun, her expression serene as she offered glasses to guests and carefully observed every corner of the room. Lucian, on the other hand, wore a feigned smile, moving with grace and elegance, but with his gaze always alert for anything going wrong.

"Remember," whispered Vanessa into the small communicator hidden in her ear, keeping her gaze fixed ahead as she passed Lucian, "if anything doesn't go according to plan, we need to create a distraction and buy Phoenix time to finish his part."

Lucian subtly nodded as he continued on his way, carrying a tray of empty glasses towards one of the side tables. "I've got it. I just hope Phoenix doesn't lose his patience this time," he murmured quietly, knowing their teammate had little tolerance for this kind of undercover mission.

Outside, parked discreetly on a nearby street, a luxurious black limousine waited. Inside the vehicle, Enid was reclining comfortably, one leg crossed over the other, holding a glass of red wine in her hand. She wore an elegant black dress with gold details that accentuated her figure, and her face reflected a mix of confidence and patience.

"Well, well," she murmured to herself, taking a sip of the wine, enjoying the velvety taste sliding down her throat. "Let's see if this plan goes as intended... or if Phoenix decides to do things his own way."

She held a small device in her other hand, through which she could monitor Phoenix's movements via the building's ventilation shafts. Her expression was serene, but her eyes showed a spark of excitement. She knew these kinds of operations were risky, but that's what made her feel alive.

Meanwhile, in the shadows of the ventilation shafts snaking through the Antigen building, Phoenix moved with stealth and speed, but his expression reflected frustration. He was dressed in black tactical clothing, tight-fitting to facilitate movement in confined spaces. He stopped for a moment at a junction in the ducts and looked into the hidden camera he carried with him.

"Who the hell plans these things?" he muttered sarcastically, speaking directly to the viewers through his personal camera. "A ridiculously luxurious gala, a handful of guys in expensive suits, and here I am, crawling like a damn rat through these ducts. And for what? To find some shitty papers that might, or might not, help Enid Corp gain an advantage over Antigen. It's ridiculous!"

Phoenix sighed, running a hand through his hair, clearly irritated. "Of course, because my life isn't interesting enough, right? Of all the jobs, I get the dirtiest one," he continued, sliding his body through the narrow duct.

Despite his anger, Phoenix kept moving with precision. He knew time was limited and he had to reach the CEO's office before the situation at the party spiraled out of control.

"And it's not even a good plan," he kept talking, now filterless. "Better said, it's a basic and boring plan. Vanessa and Lucian are downstairs waiting for things to get complicated, Enid is sitting in her limo, drinking her expensive wine... and I'm here, smelling ten-year-old dust and listening to the echo of my own thoughts."

Suddenly, he heard a noise near one of the ventilation grates further ahead. His gaze sharpened and his muscles tensed. "Hold on, I think I'm close," he said, switching back to professional mode. He advanced a few more meters until he reached a small grate leading into an opulent office decorated with luxurious mahogany furniture.

"Alright," he murmured, taking a screwdriver from his belt and quickly but silently beginning to remove the screws from the grate. "Let's see what secrets they're hiding here."

The grate fell with a soft click, and Phoenix slid down, landing gracefully on the office floor. He glanced around, making sure no one was there, then headed for the desk where the important documents were supposed to be kept.

"We're in this now," he said, unable to suppress a sarcastic smile as he began searching the drawers.

Phoenix was in the CEO's office of Antigen, quickly searching through the drawers of the mahogany desk. The room's opulent decor, with its shelves full of ancient books and a Persian rug, contrasted with the tension in the air. The documents he needed to find weren't easily appearing. As he opened another drawer, his intuition told him something was wrong.

"Come on, they have to be here somewhere," he muttered to himself, pushing aside a few unimportant papers and moving to the next drawer.

It was then that a chill ran down his spine. A subtle noise, barely a whisper of movement in the office's gloom, alerted him. Phoenix looked up and froze, his senses heightened.