Ice skates forward, regardless of east or west.

1

Monaco.

Paris Hotel.

December 29th. 3:17 PM.

Ling Wuwen stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window of the seventh-floor suite.

Outside the window is the casino plaza, its gray stone pavement gleaming in the afternoon sun.

A white Rolls-Royce pulled up in front of the hotel. A doorman in a smart uniform opened the car door, and a woman in a fur coat stepped out.

She looked at the scenery.

He gripped the window frame, his fingers still trembling.

The medication has been in effect for thirty hours, and the side effects have not lessened.

The sound of ravens came from behind.

It came from the laptop.

He remotely connected to the room's screen, with the camera pointed at her.

"Volkov's banquet tomorrow night starts at eight o'clock. Arrive at seven-thirty and allow half an hour for pleasantries."

Ling Wuwen did not turn around.

"I've sent you the guest list. Twenty-one people. You recognize four of them: the sister of the Prince of Monaco, the vice president of Rosneft, the chairman of Christie's Europe, and that Kazakh mining tycoon who does business with your 'father'."

She turned around.

Walk back to the center of the room.

A photo of Volkov was displayed on the television screen.

Smiling, with grey-blue eyes, and a white handkerchief tucked into her left breast pocket.

"He would speak privately with important guests after his opening remarks. You were one of them. He needs to maintain relationships with the Kovalenko family, given their position in the Ukrainian energy sector."

Ling Wuwen stood in front of the screen.

Looking into those grey-blue eyes.

"Does he know I'm an imposter?"

The raven remained silent for three seconds.

"I don't know. But he's testing me. He was already suspicious when you took the USB drive last time."

She took the USB drive out of her pocket.

Place it on the table.

It was black, very small, and reflected light under the lamp.

"This time, the target isn't the USB drive. It's the key."

The raven's call continued.

"Volkov's safe is behind the wall in the study. It requires triple verification: fingerprint, iris scan, and password. You have the fingerprint, the iris scan requires close contact, and only he knows the password."

She listened.

"The key is crucial to unlocking the USB drive. Ye Shen has one copy, and Volkov has another. Only by combining the two copies can the list be deciphered."

She put the USB drive back into her pocket.

I walked up to the wardrobe.

Open the cabinet door.

There were three evening gowns hanging inside.

Black, dark blue, and burgundy.

She reached out and touched the fabrics. Silk, satin, lace. Cool, soft, and unfamiliar.

2

"Black," said the raven.

She took out the black one.

Sleeveless, V-neck, floor-length skirt. A thin belt cinches the waist.

She changed into it.

Stand in front of the mirror.

She didn't recognize the person in the mirror.

A black dress covered an unfamiliar body.

Her collarbones were prominent, her shoulders were too thin, and her wrists were so thin they looked like they might break at any moment.

Her face was pale, which even foundation couldn't conceal, and her lips were painted a dark red.

She raised her hand.

The person in the mirror also raised their hand.

She turned to the side.

The person in the mirror also turned to the side.

She smiled.

The person in the mirror is smiling too.

But that wasn't her smile.

It was Anna Kovalenko's laughter.

The angle of her upturned lips and the curve of her squinted eyes were the standard expressions of the woman in the file.

She looked at that face.

long time.

"Accent," she said.

The raven spoke from the other side of the screen.

"Eastern Ukrainian accent. Native Russian speaker, fluent English, but with Slavic-sounding endings. Long vowels and pronounced consonants."

She opened her mouth.

"Good evening, Mr. Volkov."

"Too long. Drag out the vowel a little longer."

"Good evening, Mr. Volkov."

"Good. Let's do it again."

She repeated it.

Ten times.

Twenty times.

Thirty times.

Her throat was dry. She picked up the water glass on the table and took a sip. The water was cold, and as it slid down her throat, a chill ran through her stomach.

3

Five o'clock in the afternoon.

The raven sent Volkov's complete file.

Page 37. From his father's KGB background to his own oil business that made him rich in the 1990s, to his transformation into art collecting and philanthropy after the turn of the millennium.

She turned to page twelve.

Personal habits: I get up at six every morning and swim 1,000 meters. I only eat oatmeal and fruit for breakfast. I usually have lunch at the Monte Carlo Country Club. Dinner always includes caviar and white wine.

Turn to page nineteen.

"Security team: twelve people. Eight work in shifts, and four accompany him. The head bodyguard is Mikhail, a former member of the Alpha Group, who has been with him for fifteen years."

Turn to page twenty-six.

"Study Habits: I spend half an hour alone in my study every night before bed. I drink alcohol, listen to music, and look at paintings. During this time, I must not be disturbed by anyone."

She looked at the line of text.

"No one is allowed to disturb us."

The sound of ravens came.

"That's your chance. He'll definitely go to his study before the banquet ends. Follow him and create a chance encounter. Iris scans require eye contact for three seconds within thirty centimeters. You can do it."

She closed the file.

I walked to the window.

It's getting dark outside the window.

The casino lights gradually came on, and the golden dome glowed in the twilight.

"What if he recognizes me?"

The ravens remained silent.

long time.

"Then let's retreat. Survival is the priority."

She didn't say anything.

Looking at that expanse of lights.

4

7 PM.

She sat in front of the vanity mirror.

The makeup artist was from Raven's company. A French woman in her forties, skilled and taciturn.

She swept a brush across Ling Wuwen's face, applying foundation, blush, eyeshadow, and mascara.

Ling Wuwen kept his eyes closed.

Feel the brushes brushing against your skin.

It's very light.

Just like when her mother combed her hair when she was a child.

She opened her eyes.

The person in the mirror has changed a little again.

She looks more like Anna than Xia Wu. Her eyebrows are thinner, her eyeliner is upturned, and her lips are painted rose-colored.

The makeup artist stepped back, looked at it, and nodded.

Pack up your tools and leave.

The door closed.

She was the only one left in the room.

She looked at her face in the mirror.

Three seconds. Five seconds. Ten seconds.

She spoke.

"elder brother."

The sound was very soft.

"Lend me some courage."

The person in the mirror is looking at her.

He didn't say anything.

She was also looking at that person.

long time.

5

8 PM.

Raven's video call was reconnected.

"Tomorrow's timeline: Depart at 7:00, arrive at 7:30. The banquet begins at 8:00, and Volkov gives a speech at 8:30. From 9:00 to 10:00 is free time for networking; you need to approach him during this period and obtain his iris."

She listened.

"He left at 10:30 to go to his study. Wait five minutes and follow him. There's a security guard at the end of the corridor, but you have a fingerprint sticker, so you can say you're lost and ask him to take you there."

She nodded.

"Once you have the iris scan, send the data to me. I'll handle the rest."

She looked at the ravens on the screen.

He has lost even more weight than he did two weeks ago.

Sunken eye sockets, prominent cheekbones, and long stubble.

"How long has it been since you slept?" she asked.

He froze for a moment.

"I don't remember."

Go to sleep.

He shook his head.

"Twelve platforms are attacking simultaneously, the situation is changing every second. I can't sleep."

She looked at him.

three seconds.

"Any news from Gu Xidong?"

Raven glanced at the screen next to it.

"They're going into the jungle tonight. They'll make their move at four in the morning."

She nodded.

Outside the window, the night in Monaco grew deeper and deeper.

6

Nine o'clock in the evening.

She stood in front of the mirror.

Exercise.

Smile. Turn to the side. Look up. Reach out.

"Good evening, Mr. Volkov."

"So nice to meet you again."

"My father sends his regards."

Repeat each sentence ten times. Twenty times. Thirty times.

My hands are still shaking.

She clenched her right hand, then loosened it, then clenched it again, then loosened it again.

The shaking didn't stop.

She walked to the minibar, took out a small bottle of vodka, poured it into a glass, and drank it all in one gulp.

The alcohol burned my throat.

My stomach warmed up.

My hands are still shaking.

But it's a little too light.

She returned to the mirror.

carry on.

"Good evening, Mr. Volkov."

"Good evening, Mr. Volkov."

"Good evening, Mr. Volkov."

7

One o'clock in the morning.

She was lying in the hotel bed.

The ceiling was high, white, and decorated with plaster carvings. The wall lamps cast fine, intricate shadows of the carvings onto the ceiling.

She couldn't sleep.

My hands are still shaking.

She pressed her left hand under her body to hold it down.

Close your eyes.

Gu Xidong's face was in my mind.

Standing in front of the check-in counter, clutching his boarding pass, looking at her.

She opened her eyes.

Pick up your phone.

No new messages.

It was one in the morning, and he was in the jungle. The signal was lost.

She looked at the screen.

long time.

Send a message:

"I'm ready."

Failed to send.

No signal.

She put her phone back on the bedside table.

Close your eyes.

8

Three o'clock in the morning.

She suddenly woke up.

Her heart was racing. Her hands were trembling more. She sat up and turned on the bedside lamp.

The face in the mirror was pale, and there were bloodshot eyes.

She stood up and walked to the window.

Monte Carlo outside the window was still asleep. Most of the casino lights were dimmed, with only a few casting a faint glow.

There was no one on the street, only the streetlights illuminating the empty cobblestone path.

She looked at the silence.

I'm reminded of something Gu Xidong said.

"The lights on the ice rink are cold. The light reflected from the ice and hitting your face is cold."

She reached out and touched her face.

It's cold.

She pressed her forehead against the glass.

The glass was also cold.

She closed her eyes.

9

Four o'clock in the morning.

Malaysia.

Sabah jungle.

Gu Xidong lay prone behind a palm tree, his face painted with face paint and holding night vision goggles in his hand.

Two hundred meters ahead was an oil palm plantation. The tin-roofed buildings gleamed faintly in the darkness.

Two boats were moored at the dock, and people were smoking on the shore, their cigarette butts flickering.

Captain Lin lay down next to him.

"It's time for the changing of the guard," he said in a low voice. "Three minutes."

Gu Xidong remained silent.

He looked at the buildings.

Ye Shen is inside.

Thirty armed men were around.

Six teammates were by my side.

He took a deep breath.

The jungle was cool at four in the morning. Dew dampened my clothes and clung to my skin. Mosquitoes buzzed around my ears.

He ignored it.

Looking at that cluster of buildings.

wait.

10

Four o'clock in the morning.

Monaco.

Ling Wuwen was still standing by the window.

My phone vibrated.

The signal has been restored.

A message.

Posted by Gu Xidong:

"We've entered the jungle. Wait for me."

She looked at those five words.

long time.

reply:

"Wait for you."

She pressed her phone against her chest.

Through pajamas, through skin, through heartbeats.

It's almost dawn outside the window.

A pale gray tinge appeared on the eastern horizon. The Mediterranean night was receding.

She looked at the light.

My hands are still shaking.

But she couldn't hold back anymore.