Secrets Of Underworld | LingOrm GxG

II

The rain fell in heavy sheets, drumming against the windows of the mansion as if the sky itself was warning of the storm brewing inside. Ling Ling Kwong stood in front of the massive floor-to-ceiling window in her office, staring out at the world below, her reflection casting a cold shadow in the glass. She was always poised, always controlled, but tonight, her mind was a battlefield.

Betrayal was a stench she could sense miles away, and it was growing stronger. The failed shipment was no mere act of random sabotage—it was surgical, precise, and reeked of insider knowledge. Ling Ling’s world was full of enemies, but only those within her inner circle could have made such a calculated move.

She turned from the window, walking back toward her desk, her heels clicking sharply against the polished floor. Orm stood by the door, her hands folded neatly in front of her, as usual, waiting in her understated way. The maid’s presence had always been quiet, but tonight, Ling Ling felt something more beneath the surface. Something she hadn’t noticed before.

A soft knock at the door interrupted her thoughts. Ko entered, his face pale and tense, with two other lieutenants in tow. They looked exhausted, beaten by the night’s events.

"Anything?" Ling Ling asked without preamble.

Ko shook his head. "Not yet. We’re still working through our channels, but it’s as if the shipment disappeared into thin air."

Ling Ling’s fingers traced the edge of her desk as her eyes narrowed in frustration. "Nothing ever disappears without a trace, Ko. Find them, or I will find someone else who can."

Ko swallowed hard and nodded. "Yes, Ling. We will." He hesitated, glancing toward Orm before continuing. "There’s… something else. A message came in about an hour ago. It’s encrypted, but we’re working on decoding it."

"Encrypted?" Ling Ling's brow furrowed. "From who?"

Ko shifted uncomfortably. "That’s just it. We don’t know. It didn’t come through the usual channels. It’s… off the grid."

Ling Ling’s gaze sharpened. This was unusual. In her business, encrypted messages only came from serious players—people who didn’t want their identities known, or worse, people with power rivaling her own.

"Get it decoded now," Ling Ling ordered. "I want answers within the hour."

Ko nodded, motioning to his lieutenants before they hurried out of the room. The door closed softly behind them, leaving Ling Ling and Orm alone once again. Ling Ling didn’t immediately speak, instead crossing to a liquor cabinet and pouring herself a small glass of whisky. She took a slow sip, the burn steadying her thoughts.

"Orm," she said quietly, turning to face the maid. "What do you think of all this?"

Orm stood perfectly still, her face as unreadable as ever. She rarely offered unsolicited opinions, but Ling Ling valued her insights more than she let on. There was something about Orm’s quiet presence, her ability to blend into the background while seeing everything, that made her indispensable.

"Whoever sent that message," Orm began, her voice soft but steady, "wants to remain hidden. But they also want you to know that they have power. Real power. This isn’t a simple rival trying to sabotage your business."

Ling Ling regarded her with a calculating gaze. "You think it’s more personal?"

Orm nodded. "Yes. This feels like a message meant for you alone. A test."

Ling Ling turned back toward the window, the storm outside a reflection of the storm within. "A test," she murmured, her fingers tightening around the glass. "Then we’ll see how well they fare when I turn the tables."