Ch 93: Unraveling Threads

The sun hung low over Absheron, casting golden streaks across the rippling sea. The air carried the scent of salt, fish, and burning oil from the numerous workshops scattered along the harbor. Kael and Mira had settled into a routine—work during the day, reconnaissance during the evening, and planning at night.

But as the days passed, Kael could sense the tension in the city shifting, like a taut wire ready to snap.

Mira returned from her latest excursion, stepping into their rented workspace with a contemplative look on her face. She tossed a small bag of supplies onto the table before collapsing into a chair.

Kael, who was seated at his workbench sketching out modifications for his equipment, looked up. "New intel?"

Mira exhaled. "More of the same, but it's starting to make sense."

She unrolled a map of Absheron onto the table, tracing a few locations with her fingers. "Remember how I said there's a power struggle here? It's not just political. The supply chains are being fought over like war prizes. Different factions are staking claims, some openly, some through proxies."

Kael leaned closer. "Who's winning?"

Mira scoffed. "No one. Not yet, anyway. But I did confirm something."

She tapped a point near the docks. "There's a warehouse here—officially, it's used for trade goods. Unofficially? It's where shipments of weapons, machinery, and other contraband are funneled in and out of the city."

Kael raised an eyebrow. "Who's running it?"

Mira's lips pressed into a thin line. "Multiple hands are in the pot, but a group backed by the Consortium is taking the lead. And guess what? Those 'mercenaries' who grabbed me before? They had contacts linked to this place."

Kael set his pencil down. "So whoever tried to take you off the board might have assets here."

Mira nodded. "Exactly."

Kael stood and walked toward the window, looking out at the streets below. "And what do we do about it?"

Mira leaned back in her chair. "Depends. We could ignore it and move on, focus on finding out more about the larger war instead of getting caught in this mess."

Kael hummed in thought. "Or?"

Mira smirked. "Or we see what's inside that warehouse."

Kael turned back to her, amusement flashing in his eyes. "You just got out of one mess, and you're already walking into another?"

Mira stretched, feigning innocence. "I wouldn't call it 'walking into.' More like... observing from a safe distance. Besides, don't you want to know why the Consortium is moving things through here?"

Kael considered it. Information was power. And if this was tied to the larger picture, ignoring it might leave them blind to future threats.

"Fine," he said at last. "But we do it smart. No unnecessary risks."

Mira grinned. "Wouldn't dream of it."

That night, Kael and Mira moved carefully through the city. The harbor district was quieter now, with only the occasional patrol passing by. The warehouse Mira had marked was a squat, fortified structure near the water, surrounded by cargo crates and guarded by a handful of armed men.

Mira gestured toward an upper window. "That's our best entry point. Minimal visibility, and it leads into the storage area."

Kael nodded. "I'll go first. Keep watch."

With a practiced ease, he scaled the side of a nearby building and used the shadows to move unseen toward the window. A quick scan confirmed no immediate threats inside. He unlatched it and slipped in, Mira following a moment later.

The interior smelled of metal, oil, and damp wood. Stacks of crates filled the space, some labeled with legitimate trade markings, others with symbols that Kael didn't recognize. Mira moved to inspect a nearby crate, prying it open with a crowbar.

Inside, rifles and ammunition gleamed under the dim light.

"Military-grade," she murmured. "No way these are legal shipments."

Kael moved to another crate, lifting the lid. Inside, compact devices hummed faintly—small Expo generators, similar to the one powering his crawler.

His eyes narrowed. "This isn't just weapons. Someone's moving high-grade tech."

Before they could investigate further, movement near the entrance caught their attention. A group of men entered, speaking in hushed tones.

"…shipment is being delayed. Orders are to reroute through another city."

"What about the backup stock?"

"It stays until we get confirmation from the top."

Mira and Kael exchanged glances. Whoever was running this operation was being careful.

Mira smirked. "We should leave before they notice us."

Kael nodded. "Agreed. But we're coming back later."

Slipping back out the way they came, they disappeared into the night.

Now, they had leverage. And they intended to use it.