Ch 96: Dockside Shadows

The plan was simple—observe, listen, and interfere if necessary. The docks were a crucial intersection of information, money, and power, and Kael had no intention of sitting on the sidelines while forces moved in the dark.

Mira adjusted the straps on her gear. "We go in light, right?"

Kael nodded. "No heavy fights. We're just here to watch."

"You say that now, but I've never seen you walk away from trouble."

Kael smirked, slipping a small device into his coat pocket. "I don't walk away. I just make sure trouble regrets coming after me."

With that, they left the safehouse and made their way toward the docks.

Night at the Docks

The harbor was alive with activity despite the late hour. Ships came and went, loading and unloading goods under the dim light of oil lanterns. Dockworkers moved crates, smugglers exchanged quiet words, and mercenaries lingered in the shadows. The sea breeze carried the scent of salt and damp wood, mixing with the distant tang of fish and sweat.

Kael's eyes scanned the area, noting the positions of armed guards. Some were standard dock security—hired muscle ensuring business ran smoothly. Others? They belonged to factions, watching, waiting.

Mira nudged him. "Over there."

Kael followed her gaze. A group of men stood near the water's edge, their conversation hushed but intense. One of them—a tall man with a scar across his cheek—was checking a manifest against a line of crates stacked near the pier.

"That's Kheldrin's crew," Mira whispered.

Kael frowned. "They're preparing to move something big."

Mira pulled her hood lower. "We should get closer."

Kael didn't respond immediately. Instead, he tapped his boot lightly against the ground, feeling the slight vibrations beneath him. The docks were never quiet, but the subtle rhythm of hurried steps, shifting cargo, and murmured conversations painted a picture in his mind. Something was off.

They moved carefully, sticking to the shadows cast by towering cargo stacks. Kael adjusted the frequency on his receiver, listening in on the devices he had planted earlier.

Static crackled before voices came through.

"We're on schedule. The shipment moves in an hour."

"The buyers are waiting?"

"Yeah. Voss' people are handling the transfer."

Kael's eyes sharpened. "So Obran Voss isn't just watching—he's actively involved."

Mira exhaled. "That complicates things."

Kael smirked. "It makes things interesting."

He crouched behind a stack of barrels, watching as the smugglers began shifting the crates onto a nearby transport cart. From the markings on the wood, he recognized some of the symbols—industrial components, refined metal, and… weapons.

Weapons meant for a war.

Kael tapped his fingers against his thigh. This wasn't just routine smuggling. Someone was building up arms, and it was only a matter of time before those weapons saw use.

Mira whispered, "Do we intervene?"

Kael shook his head. "Not yet. We need to know who the buyers are."

They didn't have to wait long.

A group of cloaked figures approached the dock. They moved with the precision of trained operatives, their presence commanding the attention of Kheldrin's men.

Kael watched as the leader—a man with dark gloves and a heavy coat—stepped forward. His voice was smooth, authoritative.

"Everything in order?"

Kheldrin's second-in-command nodded. "All accounted for. We had to adjust the route, though—too much heat on the main road."

"Understood. And the other shipments?"

"Already in transit."

Kael narrowed his eyes. "They're moving more than just this."

Mira tensed. "They're stocking up for something big."

Kael made a decision. "We need to follow that shipment."

As Kheldrin's crew secured the last of the crates, Kael and Mira moved back, staying in the shadows. The transport cart—now loaded with weapons and industrial components—was wheeled toward a waiting wagon.

Kael pulled Mira aside. "We can't get on that wagon, but we can track it."

He reached into his pocket, pulling out a small, thin device—an improvised tracker powered by mana resonance. With a practiced flick, he attached it to the underside of the wagon as it passed by.

Mira smirked. "You always come prepared, don't you?"

Kael grinned. "Of course."

They stayed low as the wagon rolled away. Just as Kael was about to lead them back to their hideout, something caught his attention.

A low, mechanical hum.

Not from the sea. Not from the wagons. Something deeper.

Mira noticed his expression and whispered, "What is it?"

Kael exhaled. "Something beneath us."

They made their way toward a secluded part of the docks where fewer workers moved around. There, Kael knelt and pressed his palm against the wooden planks.

A vibration. Rhythmic. Purposeful.

He scanned the area and spotted an old, rusted ladder leading down beneath the dockside platforms. Without a word, he started climbing. Mira sighed but followed.

The scent of damp wood and algae filled the air as they descended. At the bottom, a narrow stone tunnel stretched into darkness. The sound was louder here, a deep, controlled thrum—like a machine buried underground.

Kael tapped his fingers against the wall, testing the material. Old stone, but reinforced in places.

Mira narrowed her eyes. "Someone's using this place."

Kael nodded. "And I want to know who."

They moved carefully, the tunnel curving slightly before opening into a larger chamber. Dim, flickering lights lined the ceiling, casting long shadows.

At the far end, a massive reinforced door stood closed, metal plates bolted over it.

Kael approached, running his hand over the surface. "This wasn't made recently. Someone repurposed an old war bunker."

Mira frowned. "What the hell is down here?"

Kael exhaled. "Something worth hiding."

Before he could inspect further, a sound echoed from the tunnel behind them—footsteps.

Mira tensed. "We've got company."

Kael took a slow breath. "Then let's welcome them properly."

The night was far from over.