Chapter 8: The Fall of Gold-Eye

Selena stood on the eastern docks, her flintlock rifle still trailing faint wisps of white smoke as she gazed down at the kneeling figure of Ironbear Grey.

The once-mighty mercenary, known for his brute strength and massive battle axe, was now panting like a beaten dog, his weapon discarded beside him. His hulking, muscular frame trembled, his voice a hoarse growl:"I... I surrender."

Around them, the mercenary remnants stood frozen, afraid to make a move. The air was still thick with Black Serpent Fog, the toxic mist lingering over the battlefield.

Finn, Lina, and Locke stood guard with their guns, their presence dominating the field.

[Ding! Defeated Ironbear Grey. Fortune Value +320. New Ability Acquired: 'Enhanced Strength' (boosts physical power). Current Fortune Value: 1350.]

Jerome "Cunning Fox" Black clapped, his arms wrapped around three barrels of rum, his drunken eyes glinting with admiration.

"Brilliant! My dear lady, that was even craftier than my best tricks! This big brute—he deserved to fall into your hands."

He shook his rum barrel, flashing a gold-toothed grin,"Well, I got my drink. Who's next?"

Selena smirked, her gaze shifting toward the western docks, where lanterns illuminated the outline of a massive warehouse.

"Gold-Eye Lais, head of the Merchant Guild—the moneybags of Grayfog City. His Fortune Value is 290. I want his wealth... and his life."

Jerome whistled, tilting his head."Gold-Eye, huh? That sly old fox is no easy target. He's holed up in his guild hall, surrounded by hired thugs and cunning strategists. He controls all trade in this city—Even Lucien's army needs his connections. But..."

His eyes gleamed with mischief."I've got a way to make him walk straight into our trap."

Selena narrowed her eyes, modern instincts kicking in."Go on."

Jerome swirled his rum, his tone lazy yet precise,"Gold-Eye loves money and reputation. Lately, he's been looking for 'Blueflame Crystals'—rare ignition catalysts worth a fortune."

He tapped his barrel,"I've got fakes. They look real enough to fool him. We spread word that the shipment is on my ship—he won't be able to resist."

He grinned, full of wicked amusement,"I lure him into our trap, you ambush him, and we take everything. I just want three barrels of rum—and the pleasure of watching him squirm."

Selena chuckled darkly. This fox was venomous.

"System, analyze Gold-Eye Lais."

[Analysis Complete]

Name: Gold-Eye LaisFortune Value: 290Background: Merchant Guild Leader, controls trade in Grayfog City, even supplying Lucien's forces.Personality: Greedy, arrogant, and cunning.Weakness: Overconfident in intelligence gathering, weak combat ability.Recommendation: Exploit his arrogance and set a trap.

"Perfect."

Selena turned to Finn,"Spread the word—Jerome's ship has Blueflame Crystals. The deal is in three days."

She looked at Lina,"Take Cannonmouth and the mercenaries—prepare firepower."

Then to Locke,"Flintlocks and Ironbear's men—station them for an ambush."

Finally, she faced Veil,"Make the Black Serpent Fog stronger. I don't even want him to have the chance to breathe."

Jerome raised his hands in mock surrender, laughing,"Miss, I do like your ruthlessness. See you in three days!"

The Merchant Falls for the Bait

Three days later, the western docks.

A weathered pirate ship bobbed in the harbor.

On deck, Jerome stood swaying drunkenly, his crew pushing a cart covered with cloth, making a grand show of their "precious cargo."

Finn had leaked the rumor, and as expected—Gold-Eye Lais took the bait.

The merchant's luxurious carriage rolled up to the docks, the golden trim gleaming under the lantern light.

Gold-Eye himself stepped out, a short, rotund man dressed in opulent silk robes, a monocle glinting in one eye while the other was covered by an old wound's eyepatch.

He was flanked by forty heavily armed guards—mercenaries wielding sabers, axes, and rifles. A tall, skeletal strategist, his feathered fan waving lazily, whispered into Gold-Eye's ear.

Gold-Eye's voice was sharp and mocking.

"Jerome, you drunkard, do you really have Blueflame Crystals?"

He sniffed disdainfully,"Don't you dare try to scam me. My eye never fails when it comes to spotting real treasure!"

Jerome hiccupped, dramatically unveiling the "goods"—a pile of blue-tinted fake crystals.

He grinned mischievously,"Well, Old Gold-Eye, here's the cargo. Got the ten thousand gold to match?"

He shrugged, flashing a smirk,"Or do I need to find a new buyer? Maybe... Lord Lucien?"

Gold-Eye's monocled eye twitched at the name. His fingers clenched.

He leaned toward his strategist,"This drunkard is lying. The crystals are real, but something's off. Test him."

The strategist nodded, waving a signal.

Five mercenaries stepped forward, leveling rifles at Jerome.

"Hand it over. Or we shoot."

Jerome let out an exaggerated scream,"Help! I'm being robbed!"

Then he dramatically dived into the water, swimming away at an alarming speed.

Gold-Eye snorted,"Figures. Take everything!"

The Ambush Springs

From the shadows of the docks, Selena smirked."Arrogant fool."

She signaled Veil—and the Black Serpent Fog poured out.

The thick green mist flooded the pier, mercenaries choking and collapsing in seconds, screams piercing the night.

Locke led Ironbear's men in a coordinated gunfire assault, bullets ripping through flesh.

Lina and Cannonmouth's artillery blasted apart Gold-Eye's carriage, shattering wheels and sending his horses screaming into the sea.

Gold-Eye rolled onto the ground, his once-pristine robes now filthy, his monocle shattered.

He sputtered in rage,"Who dares attack me?! I have Lucien's backing!"

His strategist frantically waved his fan,"Form up! Protect the master!"

Gold-Eye whipped out an ornate flintlock pistol, firing blindly into the darkness—a bullet narrowly missing Selena.

"Still got some fight in you?" Selena vanished into the shadows, reappearing behind him in an instant.

Her rifle pressed against the back of his skull.

"Lucien won't save you."

She fired—a warning shot grazing his ear.

Gold-Eye screamed, dropping his pistol, a dark stain spreading down his silk trousers.

The strategist panicked,"Retreat! Get the guild master to safety!"

Selena sighed,"Veil, pull the gas back."

Veil retracted the mist.

Gold-Eye gasped, looking up at Selena with utter terror."Y-You're... Selena Nightshadow?!"

Selena smirked,"Remember that name."

"Grayfog City now belongs to the Nightshadow Clan."

[Ding! Defeated Gold-Eye Lais. Fortune Value +290. New Ability Acquired: 'Wealth Perception' (detects lucrative opportunities). Current Fortune Value: 1640.]

Jerome crawled out of the water, clutching his rum barrels, laughing so hard he was gasping for air.

"Miss, that old bastard puts on a better show than I do! Groveling like a whipped dog! Now, where's my three barrels?"

Selena tossed him the promised rum."Not bad. Now, where's the Merchant Guild's warehouse?"

Gold-Eye trembled, pointing a shaking finger toward the west side of the docks.

"T-There… Three floors… All filled with goods… I-I'll lead you there, just don't kill me!"

Selena pressed her boot onto his hand, making him cry out in pain.

Her voice was as cold as ice."Move. Now."

The Merchant Guild's Treasury

One hour later, Locke kicked open the massive warehouse doors.

Inside, the scene was staggering—mountains of gold coins, bolts of fine silk, piles of gunpowder barrels, and a weapons cache that could equip an army. The total value was tens of thousands of gold coins.

Gold-Eye knelt beside her, his once-pristine robe filthy and torn, his voice a whimpering plea.

"This… this is my life's work… Take it all! Just spare me…!"

Selena smirked, the sound of his desperation like music to her ears.

"Your life's work? No—this is mine now."

She turned to her people, issuing crisp orders.

"Finn—take half of it, leave the rest for our dock workers. We need loyalty."

"Lina—recruit. Expand the mercenary force to a hundred men."

"Locke—watch Gold-Eye. If he tries to run, put a bullet in his skull."

"Veil—distribute the poison. Make sure every newcomer knows who their master is."

Jerome leaned against the doorway, sipping his rum, muttering,"Miss, with this kind of power shift… Grayfog City's about to bear the Nightshadow name."

Then he grinned."So, what's next?"

Selena's cold gaze drifted toward the distant horizon.

"Lucien."

"His Iron Cavalry will move soon. I'm waiting for him to walk into his grave."

She closed her eyes, activating "Wealth Perception."

The entire economic web of Grayfog City unfolded in her mind, wealth veins glowing like trails of gold dust.

Gold-Eye's final intelligence whispered in her ear:

Lucien's Iron Cavalry… departs in three days.

Selena tightened her grip on her rifle.

Her voice was low but resolute.

"Three days of preparation…"

"That's all I need."