[If a person's hatred could kill, Pao-Lin and Ivan would be dying over and over again past the heat death of the universe. But Lane's hatred is not born from a burning flame, not anymore; instead it's simply the bitter ashes of defeat.
Lane exhales. "You promise you won't hurt my family?"]
Mm-hmm.
[And Pao-Lin does mean it, insofar as much as she can mean something that's not quite in her control. It's true that she doesn't intend to hurt Lane's family at this moment, but if it turns out his family is also involved in the anti-NEXT business and Ouroboros sends her after them, then she'll have no qualms about taking them down.
Lane closes his eyes. "Then what do you want to know?"]
What do you know about Project Palmtree?
[It's a mysterious phrase that pops up every now and again in confiscated evidence and overheard conversations with people known or suspected to be deeply involved in anti-NEXT activities. The new recruits and grunts seem to have no idea about it.]
no subject
Lane exhales. "You promise you won't hurt my family?"]
Mm-hmm.
[And Pao-Lin does mean it, insofar as much as she can mean something that's not quite in her control. It's true that she doesn't intend to hurt Lane's family at this moment, but if it turns out his family is also involved in the anti-NEXT business and Ouroboros sends her after them, then she'll have no qualms about taking them down.
Lane closes his eyes. "Then what do you want to know?"]
What do you know about Project Palmtree?
[It's a mysterious phrase that pops up every now and again in confiscated evidence and overheard conversations with people known or suspected to be deeply involved in anti-NEXT activities. The new recruits and grunts seem to have no idea about it.]