Chapter 423 Andrea in Metacortex

Andrea paced his small apartment, phone clutched tightly in his hand, the weight of the recent call from Italy pressing down on him. His mother’s nurse had sounded urgent, her words echoing in his mind: “The operation needs to happen soon, Mr. Ricci. Without it…” Andrea hadn’t even let her finish. He’d cut her off, promising, “I’ll get the money in a few hours,” even though he had no idea how. Now, his nerves were frayed. Eligos had promised him instructions—had promised action. Yet here he was, still waiting. He glared at his phone, scrolling through his contacts to find the one number he didn’t want to call but had no choice. “Eligos,” he muttered under his breath, hitting the dial button. The phone rang once, twice, and then went to voicemail. Andrea cursed. “Of course, now you don’t pick up,” he hissed, redialing. Andrea’s chest felt tight as he tossed his phone onto the coffee table. His usual lifeline, Eligos, hadn’t given him any instructions lately. Three calls to the man