The interior design of the Broken Sphere was a slight contrast to the exterior design. It was sleek and filled with metal beams, buried and stretched out across the wall, keeping the building in place.

The interior design of the building is a series of conference rooms, bathroom, ballroom and sitting areas, partitioned. However, the modular aspect of the building was changed, making the Broken three areas, surrounding balconies, with seats and tables surrounding the main ballroom.

The Broken Sphere was circular on the inside as well, which surprised me, but not by much. Twelve balconies ascended from the bottom floor to the roof. Luckily, those areas were close off to everyone, or protecting the Romacellins would’ve been a complete waste of time.

One thing I noticed though, the building was still under construction, which meant, they were many holes for people to get through. What a pain…what a pain, I thought.

That doesn’t mean we didn’t have other sleeper agents stationed throughout the different floors. Of course, we did, knowing how meticulous Stelyne was, she had a separate line for those sleepers as well, who updated her every few minutes.

She may have been one woman, but Stelyne did the job of five, a multi-tasking extraordinaire. Knowing Stelyne was in the skies, monitoring everything around us, filled me with comfort…but certainly didn’t help knowing Commissioner Hexan was by her side.

“I don’t agree with Tellence, A new cryptocurrency would send the market inro a freefall.” Someone said as I passed them by. “You mean like the four hundred other cryptocurrencies currently in circulation? If the market hasn’t collapsed by now…why in the IMBIBE would it do so later?” His opposition said, trailing off as I passed them.

The ballroom was filled with citizens from all forms of life. The banter that filled the room was of theoretical studies, creditable gain, sportsmanship, defrauding insurance and everyone’s favourite corporate espionage.

The favoured colours of most guests were either all black, all white, Which was tailored in a Tuxedo or Evening Gown. Despite, how classy some of them looked with their matching accessories, it didn’t allow them to stand out like the ever swirling patterns of the textile designs that a few wore, which no doubt, drew the eyes of many onlookers.

Yes, the Romacellins were the envy of this party in their fancy outfits, but it also made them easy targets and that was not just on the sneers I noticed roaming throughout the makeshift ballroom.

The Romacellins were the most powerful family in Bridge City, making them the Elite of the Elites within The Antillean Federation. Anything they did, warranted attention. I could care less for who they were, but i knew how ‘precious’ they were.

They had a controlling interest in all of the banks within Bridge City and at least 8% outside of it. So Yes, I was chaperoning the very credits that both ran and destroyed Bridge City.

Admittingly, the Romacellin’s faces, nor have their names ever been publicised, and no matter how much my cybernetic eye registers their faces, whenever I searched the BLACKNET for information about them as I worked, nothing ever came up. Which made me question what the dossier gave me, even more.

Was It volunteered? Or was done through other means I thought ruefully. It was as if they were scrubbed clean, unknowing, but were known verbally as the Power that ran Bridge City.

That could’ve explained why the Commissioner was here, but the moment that thought came into mind, I pushed it away, like a speck of dust cleansed from my mind.

Despite all of the sneers the Romacellin drew, double the amount of smiles they gained, glaring with fake smiles and curated bows, Sycophants no doubt, making this event even duller than a rusted knife left in the Carib Waste.

The sound of shattered glass panged against the marbled floor. Hushed murmurs and hustling feet began to shake the ground as people sway away from the general vicinity from whence the sound of broken glass came.

“Confinement!” Stelyne shouted over the coms. That was the signal for the CSS Bodyguards to tighten up, whilst the other Shadows monitored the scenario.

I weaved through the bustling crowds, watching as someone weaved through, but more aggressively trailed to the left of the atrium, disappearing into the crowd of people. I zoomed in on his face and caught sight of a small scar across the left side of his lip which dragged into his beard.

A woman bumped into me, forcing my eyes off the target. I reorientated myself, forcing my eyes to re-train on the target’s possible movement, but I only found afro kinky styled hair mixed amongst the balded heads and long swaying hair from patrons. “Report!” Stelyne snapped.

A waiter was kneeling ground, palms bare as he tried to push himself up from the serving tray that lay beneath him. Sparkles of shattered champagne glasses were sprinkled to his right, the bottle still rolled, but stopped a mere five meters away from him, in the open, where everyone now kept their eyes gazing upon the scene.

“I need an ID Check,” I said, A man draped in a black tuxedo, with no tie and a Wyrm-Dragon tattoo covering the right side of his neck, towered over the waiter. A few seconds later, more men with Wyrm-Dragon tattoos along their necks came strolling in. “Go on Cypher,” Stelyne said a few seconds later. “Black man, a scar running from the left side of his lip and into his beard.

“What colour was his eyes, and beard?” Stelyne asked.

“The beard’s brown, I’ll send you footage from my cybernetics,” I told her, I stimulated my SMB, forcing the footage into a digital pack, then sent it to Stel.

My SMB clutched my brain, and I felt as though I’d been that way for days. Damn it I said to myself, is this what it’s like to have an SMB without an Artificial Assistant? This is shit! I need Nova back!

“Query the team, look out for him. I’ll try to quell this situation before it gets out of hand. Have the team dra—“

“No need to direct me Cypher, I know what I’m doing,” Style said, cutting me off.

“Roger.”

I snapped my head to the left and allowed my eyes to trace the atrium, trying, and hoping to regain sight of the bearded assailant, just in case, but as I suspected he was already gone. Something felt off about him. If he was part of the security detail, he would’ve manoeuvred towards the commotion, not away.

“Lead the Romacellins away.” Stelyne snapped through the comms. Twelve clicks echoed simultaneously and I felt goosebumps wash over me. My eyes twitched left and right, watching a group of waiters with Pistols and Submachine Guns trained and encroached on the Silent-Dragons.

The Caterers are part of CSS? Holy shit. I did not know that. I should’ve been told this…at least.

“There’s no need for violence.” One of the waiters said submachine gun shouldered stiffly. I strafed to my right, trying to get a better sight of the ballroom, still hunting for the assailant. “Anything Cypher?” Stelyne asked.

“Nothing, still hunting,” I whispered.

“You all came knowing full well this is neutral territory.” The Waiter continued. The once-bustling atrium of sycophants and prudish arrogance was now a den of tension and ire.

The gritted teeth of the Silent-Dragons were evident as steam and saliva fluttered in front of them as they flashed their angered teeth. The Silent-Dragon on the right, with the knife across his hand, began moving to his left, whilst the one behind him went in the opposite direction, eyeing the caterers venomously.

“Easy…” The waiter said, shifting to his right. “This doesn’t have to get violent.”

“Gentlemen!” A booming voice said, unexpectedly. I kept my eyes on the Silent-Dragons, slowly rounding them, “Let the caterers know I’m one of them.” I whispered to Stelyne.”

“As you can see…there’s no point in startling everyone. So, if you please. Kindly take fresh glasses from over there, relinquish your fists and let us continue with the Auction.” The man said with his booming voice, loud thuds pounded into the air, as whoever spoke, did so with authority as they made their way towards the Silent-Dragons.

The man passed me to my right, and I caught sight of who it was and was shocked to see him in the flesh. My heart skipped a beat from seeing his face alone. I was unsure if it was from either joy or fright, but I’d like to think the latter.

It was Colonel Landrin Levisay, Owner of Celaron Security Services, a former War Hero for the Antillean Federation, a man of Legend.

The colonel wore a dark green tuxedo, with beige and black textile patterns, swirling around his suit. The eye patch he wore, covered his right eye. His hair was cut short, black at the roots but grey at the ends, styled in a very military-like fashion.

His diamond sculpted face made his jawline seem strong, but still withered. I chalked up the exterior to reconstruction surgery he had. It was like mine, but archaic mine was a lot more pristine, making it hard to realise I was cybernetic.

From what I heard, the failed assassination attempt, by the Latrina empire, was the reason I was sent in to deal with Hortort Calisum. If that wasn’t irony, I don’t know what is.

After the failed attempt on his life, he retired and used his pension to start up CSS, now, he was one of the best PMCs in the Antillean Federation.

In all my years, I’ve put in with CSS I never met the man. Hell, at times I thought they just used his name to promote the company, but to think it was true. Damn, I thought, I’m seeing a real legend here.

The quiet ballroom was now littered with hushed whispers and growing confidence from the audience. Everyone knew Colonel Levisay’s face, even scum like the Silent-Dragons should.

The presence of the Colonel was domineering, making everyone in the Ballroom seem like ants compared to him. Hell, I didn’t even feel this presence from the Romacellins upon meeting them. Yes, they had their haughty gazes and sneering eyes, but presence? They lacked so much of what the Colonel had.

The Colonel approached the kneeling waiter, feet strutting across the marbled floor, hands clasped behind his back. He peered down at the waiter. “Give it to me.” He said, voice cold as ice.

“What are you talking about!” The Silent-Dragon barked “Are you gonna make me repeat myself, Soldier!?” Colonel Levisay snapped, voice sounding sharper than a knife.

The kneeling waiter drew a hidden knife from beneath his shirt sleeve with nimble fingers, then placed the knife into the Colonel’s outstretched hand.

“Thank You,” Levisay said, then pocketed the knife into his pocket. He turned to who seemed to be The leader of the waiterss and nodded. The leader of the waiters slung his machine gun across his shoulder and brought the waiter up with a tug.

Colonel Levisay stepped forward, whilst I finally rounded them, turned my neck left and right, still hunting for the scarred beard assailant.

“Stelyne?” I asked again.

“Give me a second Cypher,” Stelyne said annoyed, “I’m still receiving updates!”

A loud slap echoed across the room, as the Colonel slapped the waiter on his chest. His shoulders squared up immediately and he raised his head slightly. “Size 17”?” The Colonel asked, still not facing the Silent Dragon troupe. “I mean you, Mr Wu.” The Colonel said gruffly.

“How do you know my name,” Wu growled.

“It’s my job to know to know,” Levisay said coldly. “Now tell me, do you wear a Size 17?”

The weight of the room felt heavy, with air funnelling down my lungs. If there was a time for me to drown on my oxygen, it would be now.

Wu, the Silent-Dragon, was quiet, unreserved and unyielding, but he knew who Colonel Levisay was. No. Everyone did, but as a Silent-Dragon, he probably had a reputation, one he wasn’t going to let go down because of Levisay. I wouldn’t put it past a Silent Dragon to take such rash action, callously…without repercussions.

“Yes…” We finally said, “I wear Size 17.” Colonel Levisay tapped the lead waiter on his shoulder and whispered something in his air.

The waiter unslung his submachine gun, whilst the kneeling and began picking up the broken champagne bottle pieces, placing each on his tray.

Murmurs from the crowd grew, as the head waiter unbuttoned his shirt, handing it to Colonel Levisay, who then turned and handed it over to Wu.

“Stelyne…anything?” I asked, feeling agitated.

The Silent Dragon gave a dry laugh and shook his head. “Thank you. Colonel Levisay.” He said, before trailing off into the crowd on the southern section of the ballroom.