Driving through the city, the familiar glow of streetlights and the hum of traffic were a stark contrast to the silent battle Vanda was fighting. When they arrived at the address, they found themselves outside a nondescript building with a sign for "Innovatech Labs." "This is it," Maya said as they got out of the car. "Looks quiet." They approached the building, finding the main door unlocked. Inside, the lobby was modern and unoccupied, with a directory board listing various small tech companies and independent developers. "We need to be careful," Vanda whispered as they headed towards the elevators. "We don’t know what we’re walking into." They took the elevator to the fourth floor, where the suite corresponding to the IP address was located. As they approached the suite, the door opened slightly, as if inviting them in. Inside, the suite was dimly lit by the glow of multiple monitors. Rows of servers hummed in the background, and on the main screen, there was a live feed of the campus park—showing the real world overlaid with Vanda’s game environment. "Hello, Vanda," a voice called out as they entered. Turning, they saw a young woman standing by a workstation, her expression a mix of defiance and curiosity. "I’ve been expecting you." "Who are you?" Vanda demanded, his heart pounding. "What are you doing with my game?" The woman smiled slightly. "I’m not the enemy, Vanda. I’m here to help you control what you’ve unleashed. My name’s Elise, and I think we have a lot in common." Vanda and Maya exchanged a glance, uncertain but aware that the night had just taken another unexpected turn.
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