"One was rescued upstream, the other was washed further downstream."


    Melvin was the one found upstream. The other was in Australis.


    "We''ve also checked the records for all the rivers in Australis from that time. There were no reported drowning deaths in the two weeks following the incident."


    That meant their second brother was very likely alive and had been rescued by someone in Australis.


    "Shanley, can Cybeic Shadows operate in Australis?" Jimmie asked quietly. "I''ve already got Binary Oracle on it, but if both ourworks are searching, we''ll have a better chance of finding him."


    "It''s tricky," Shanley said, a dangerous glint in his eyes.


    Australis was Binary Oracle''s territory. Years ago, his Sigma Network had shed with them. He''d only bombed one of their bases, destroyed ab, and burned down a vegetable garden, but the leader of Binary Oracle had gonepletely insane. She targeted anyone and anything rted to Sigma Network with a vengeance.


    Justst year, one of his ships had barely crossed into Australis''s waters when the leader of Binary Oracle personally ordered a dozen ships to open fire. His vessel was blown to smithereens.


    "However..." Shanley paused. "Their leader has been missing for over a year. Rumor has it she might be dead."


    She was ruthless and arrogant; it wouldn''t be surprising if one of her many enemies had finally taken her out. Good riddance. It might be time for Sigma Network to expand into the Australis market.


    "Let''s give it a try," Shanley agreed, his voice low. "It''s been three years. I''m curious to see if Binary Oracle has improved at all."


    ...


    Meanwhile, Juniper woke up to a flurry of messages on her phone. One from Jimmie said they had a lead on her second brother in Australis. As she scrolled down, her eyes fell on a message in her private group chat, and her expression turned icy.


    Binary Oracle: [Boss, Sigma Network is trying to breach our border defense system.]


    Still groggy, Juniper sat up and typed a reply: [Those fucking idiots.]


    She should have aimed her cannons directly at the Sigma Network leader''s headquarters. No, directly at his head.


    Binary Oracle: [Boss, I think it''s your arch-nemesis himself this time.]


    She had to admit, for an old relic, he had skills. Her underlings were no match for him.


    Juniper: [Patch me in.]


    A link appeared on her screen.


    Juniper started countering the attack from her phone, but it was clumsy. The old bastard had gotten better Deciding she needed a proper setup, she got out of bed and headed for Shanley''s study.


    "Juniper?" Shanley instinctively half-closed hisptop when she walked in,


    remembering her disdain for Cybeic Shadows.


    "I need aputer," she said, trying to sound casual. She sat cross-legged on the sofa and grabbed a nearbyptop. "I''m just going to y a game. You keep working."


    "Alright," Shanley replied softly, his attention returning to his screen.


    But within moments, he noticed


    ét


    something was wrong. The opponent''s defense had suddenly be imprable, blocking his every move. It had to be that psycho leader from Binary Oracle. So she was still alive. What a


    disappointment.


    Furious keystrokes echoed from his desk. He wanted to curse, but a nce at Juniper, who seemed intensely focused on her game, made him swallow his frustration and redouble his efforts.


    From a distance of fifteen feet, the two legendary hackers were locked in a fierce battle. He advanced, she parried. He retreated, she pursued. Neither could gain the upper hand.