Ch 95: The Sound of Secrets

Kael worked fast. He had no other choice. The web of intrigue they had stumbled into was too large, too deep, and too dangerous to navigate without proper information.

Absheron's docks were a prime target—people came and went, smuggling was a way of life, and whispers carried farther than swords. If someone was pulling the strings in the region, the docks would be where the threads met.

And Kael needed to hear those whispers.

His workbench was cluttered with half-stripped radio transmitters, busted receivers, and old scavenged comms equipment. The core of his plan wasn't just eavesdropping—it was about making something small, unnoticed, and expendable.

"Are you really making spy tech out of literal trash?" Mira asked, arms crossed as she leaned against the wall.

Kael didn't look up. "Trash is the best disguise. People throw it away without a second thought. They step over it, ignore it, pretend it doesn't exist. That's what makes it perfect."

He held up a small device—a bent metal casing with a cracked circuit board inside. It looked useless. It was useless... to anyone else. But inside, Kael had rewired it with resonance plates, a micro power cell, and a basic amplifier. It would pick up vibrations in the air, translating voices into weak signals that his receiver could catch.

"It's not about hearing everything," he continued, "just enough."

Mira scoffed. "And what if someone actually picks one up?"

Kael smirked, tapping the casing. "Then they'll just think it's broken junk."

With that, he moved to the next device—a rusted bolt with a hollowed-out center. He inserted a tiny wire mesh, soldering it carefully.

Mira shook her head. "I don't know if you're a genius or just insane."

Kael grinned. "Both."

By the time night fell, Kael had dozens of micro-listeners ready. He and Mira moved through the dockside district under the cover of darkness.

Absheron's port was a massive, sprawling mess of stone piers, wooden platforms, and crumbling warehouses. Ships rocked gently in the harbor, their lanterns casting reflections over the water. The scent of salt, fish, and burning oil filled the air.

They worked quickly.

A discarded metal canister wedged between shipping pallets. A rusted nail stuck in a wooden support beam. A broken bottle half-buried in sand near the docks. A loose plank tucked between barrels of cargo.

Each one a listening post. Each one feeding into Kael's receiver.

Mira kept watch, her eyes darting around as dockworkers moved crates and barrels under the dim lanterns. The occasional mercenary patrol passed through, rifles slung over their shoulders. Smugglers loitered near the piers, haggling in hushed tones.

"All done," Kael whispered as he planted the last device.

Mira gave a short nod. "Good. Let's see if we catch anything."

Back at their safehouse, Kael activated his receiver.

At first, the airwaves were filled with garbled static, the hum of machinery, and the distant creak of wooden docks.

Then, as he fine-tuned the filters, words started forming.

"–shipment's arriving tomorrow. Standard drop point. Boss wants it moved fast."

Kael's eyes flicked to Mira. "Got something."

She leaned in, listening.

"Kheldrin's men are getting too bold—someone needs to put them back in line."

"Obran Voss sent another message. Tell him we'll move when we're ready."

"Velinian steel—top grade. Not cheap, but worth it."

Mira frowned. "Kheldrin, Obran Voss... these names mean anything to you?"

Kael tapped his fingers on the table. "Not personally. But they're involved."

"What do you mean?"

Kael gestured at the notes Mira had compiled over the last few days.

"Kheldrin runs one of the bigger smuggling operations in Absheron. He mostly deals in stolen industrial tech and weapons—nothing that would shake up the balance of power too much. But if someone is saying he's getting 'too bold,' it means he's either expanding or stepping on the wrong toes."

Mira narrowed her eyes. "And Obran Voss?"

Kael exhaled. "A fixer. A middleman. He doesn't control a faction himself, but he's got ties to several. If he's sending messages, it means he's trying to orchestrate something bigger."

Mira leaned back. "A proxy war."

Kael nodded. "Or at least, the beginnings of one."

Kael pieced it together in his mind. Kheldrin was pushing too hard. Someone didn't like that. Obran Voss was waiting, watching, and likely preparing to move his own pieces.

And somewhere in all of this... Mira's name had ended up on a hit list.

She folded her arms. "So what now? We just listen?"

Kael grinned. "No. We go where the action is."

He tapped a point on the map—the docks.

"We need to be there when that shipment arrives."

Mira smirked. "Now you're speaking my language."