Zara's eyes locked onto Koko, the old woman's gaze piercing. "What do you mean, 'the first price'?" she asked, her voice firm but wary.
Koko smiled, her eyes glinning like moonlight on water. "The market's deals are layered. You've paid for Aisha's return, but her memories are still trapped. You need to retrieve them."
Amara spoke up, her voice steady. "I saw the ledger, Zara. Aisha's memories are tied to the Shadow Server – a digital grave for lost souls."
Zara's mind raced. The Shadow Server was a myth, a dark corner of the deep web. "How do I get in?" she asked.
Koko handed her a small, encrypted USB drive. "This'll get you access. But be warned, the Server's guarded by the Architect – a ghost in the code."
Zara took the drive, her fingers tingling. The game just got real.