BIOLOGICAL SUPERCOMPUTER SYSTEM

An elegantly dressed woman greeted Erik and Rebecca as they entered Lysa's shop. Her smile was professional, and she directed them toward her boss's office without delay.

"Lysa is expecting you. Please, right this way," she said, leading them through the exquisitely designed interior.

As they made their way, Erik's eyes scanned the surroundings, taking in the subtle details.

He noted the high-quality merchandise, the tasteful decor, and the discreet security measures.

Lysa's recent success was unequivocal in every aspect of her business, especially since the woman started doing business with him. Erik felt a growing curiosity about the personal quest she asked him to complete.

Once inside Lysa's office, they were met with a warm smile from Lysa herself. The room was spacious and sophisticated, filled with artwork and tasteful furniture, a tremendous improvement from the first time he met her. Lysa gestured for them to take a seat, and they settled into plush chairs.

"Thank you for coming," Lysa began, her eyes meeting Erik's. "I'm afraid I have a rather pressing matter that requires your attention."

Erik's brow furrowed, concern clear in his eyes. "What's going on, Lysa?"

Her face tightened as she leaned forward. "One of my storage buildings has been ransacked. Finding the culprit and retrieving the stolen items is imperative."

Erik's eyes narrowed, his mind already racing with possibilities. "Tell me everything you know."

Lysa's voice took on a serious tone as she recounted the details. "It happened at night, two days ago. According to the security footage, ten people were involved. They were all wearing hoods and masks, so their identities were concealed. But it was clear they were professionals, moving with precision and coordination."

"Did they take anything specific?" Rebecca asked, her voice sharp with interest.

"Many things, but they focused on Thaids' bodies. Bones, pelts, fangs, brain crystals. There is footage."

Erik leaned back, his mind working. "I need to see it. Can you arrange for access?"

Lysa nodded. "Of course. I've already prepared copies for you. It's all on this drive." She handed Erik a small, sleek device he carefully took in his hands.

He examined it before tucking it away. "Thank you, Lysa. We'll sort this out."

Lysa's eyes were filled with gratitude. "Erik, I have faith in you and your abilities. I trust you will retrieve the merchandise for me as soon as possible. I must get it back, as I will face significant problems this month if it is not recovered."

"Consider it done," Erik said, his voice firm. "Anything else we should know?"

Lysa hesitated for a moment before responding. "Just be careful. Whoever did this is very skilled. They left no evidence behind, no fingerprints, no DNA. Nothing. It's as if they were ghosts."

"We'll handle it, Lysa," Rebecca assured her, her voice strong. "We won't let you down."

They talked a little more, mainly about the quest, but also about their daily life. But then the meeting ended, and Erik and Rebecca left Lysa's office.

"Damn thieves…" Erik said.

"Yeah, I'm sorry to hear that this happened to your friend," Rebecca replied.

"Yeah, thank you," he added. "Things are becoming weird around the city; these kinds of things started happening more in the past months."

"Yeah, it is weird, honestly speaking. If they have the skills to rob a shop, why didn't they just hunt Thaids?"

"Agree. It is weird," Rebecca said. "Let's see what we can find in the storage building for now," she suggested.

"Do you think we can find something? Lysa wasn't able to, so I doubt we would gain anything useful there," Erik said. He thought highly about Lysa, so he couldn't comprehend her missing something.

Rebecca gave Erik a confused look. "I'm surprised you said that."

"There Is a first time for everything."

***

The storage building was a massive industrial structure on the outskirts of the city.

Constructed with concrete and steel, its design was more functional than aesthetic. High walls and a robust security system underscored its purpose: a fortress for valuable merchandise.

The building was part of a complex network owned by Lysa, each serving as a vital link in her expansive business.

As Erik and Rebecca approached the site, their attention was drawn to a gaping hole in the wall. The destruction was violent and methodical, with jagged edges where the mana-hardened concrete had been blasted apart.

"Looks like they cared little for subtlety," Erik observed, his eyes narrowing as he studied the breach.

Rebecca shook her head, her expression filled with disbelief. "No, they didn't. That's a powerful explosion. They must have used high-grade explosives or a powerful brain crystal to create an opening like that."

"This wasn't some amateur job. Whoever did this planned it thoroughly. They entered and left within minutes before security arrived. We'll only know after seeing the storage footage."

They noted the precise execution of the blast while examining the damage. The perpetrators had aimed for a precise section of the wall, intending to minimize collateral damage.

After a thorough inspection of the exterior, they ventured inside the building. The interior was vast and brightly lit, with rows upon rows of shelves filled with various goods. The air was heavy with the smell of dust and lingering traces of smoke.

Erik's eyes darted around, taking in the details. "This place is a maze. They knew where to go, as Lysa explained to us."

Rebecca nodded, her eyes scanning the surroundings as well. "They must have had inside information. It wasn't possible to navigate this place and go through the shelves straight to the target without knowing where it was."

They found the targeted area as they went further into the building. Shelves were toppled, containers broken, and goods scattered. Yet, despite the chaos, there was a pattern to the destruction. A clear path had been forged, leading to a specific section of the storage.

They spent the next hours combing through the wreckage, searching for clues, and piecing together the puzzle, but there wasn't much they could find.