Chapter 162 - Kregol

A day later... 

Kyle woke up in a pool of sweat on a medical bed in the Oracle Chambers, immediately checking his surroundings. This time, the upgrade didn't seem to hurt him as much. It must be the 229-A-X regeneration helping out. Yet, he also knew nothing in the universe came for free, and his stomach had already been famished from the energy expended to heal the damage caused.

MG404: [ Sub-Class Upgraded | Arcia Mystic (Intermediate) | A small step to arcia mastery | Skills are focused on manipulating the flow of arcia energy.]

MG404: [Skill Upgraded | Arcia Disruption (Intermediate) | Wrong instead of right. | Select one single engraving within a five-meter radius to disrupt. Results may vary. Upgradable. Can store up to two uses. Duration: Thirty Seconds. Cooldown: One Day.]

So, the upgrade is an additional charge of the same Arcia Disruption skill... It didn't seem like much, but Kyle had already been working around the long cooldown, knowing it was a trump card of sorts. Having two of the same trump card was an overall boon for sure, and it would definitely catch mages off-guards. Kyle knew that he would have to face more and more arcia wielders as he rose in power. It is inevitable that people will stand in my way. But a gardener does not care about the weeds in his field - he merely prunes them.

There were still plenty of things he could do in the Oracle Chamber: he had transported over Harrison's exosuit, the battle serum, and the other accumulated research material from Harrison Industries. Everything that had once been of Harrison was now under his control, including Harrison's half-ripped body that was now floating in a stasis pod brought over from Ulut. Kyle didn't forget about the upgrades he could perform on the AI, but he was previously hindered by the lack of Galactic Era materials. With Harrison's resources and research now in the Culdao Peaks, Kyle could finally begin his improvements to the Oracle Chamber.

However, time was of the essence - Kyle knew an upgrade to an A-class AI would be non-trivial, especially when he was only familiar with technology up to B-class. It won't be easy and may take a long time. What I've built in Raktor is still under fire. Best to solve current issues now with what I have. Now that he also had the support of the remaining Ghosts who were effectively a paramilitary organization operating from Desham, Kyle was extremely confident in his ability to come out on top.

[Adminstrator, Sasha and Feldon have a report for you. They are waiting in the palace.]

"Understood." Kyle dressed back up, getting up from the bed and dressing back up. Soon, he was already walking out in his full attire. His sleek cloak and suit from Raktor fluttered behind him, his Spear of Defiance now strapped to his back. He entered the palace with an air of power, the hobgoblin guards immediately saluting while he headed to the king's office. Inside, Sasha and Feldon were already discussing plans with Merissa.

"There's no use striking the locations, there's just too many of them. You're talking about hitting more than a hundred mines, 300 kilometers of farmland, and uncountable forest camps that could be hiding production." Feldon argued, jabbing at a light thrower display of the observation results. "The Ardent Cretins knew just what they were doing."

"We still have to take them out. Otherwise, we'll be in a losing war against the Violet Demons logistically." Merissa shot back.

"Why can't we just strike the supply lines instead? Blow up the roads, rivers, anything," Feldon suggested. "That's better than us trying to wipe out more than three hundred targets. Even if we spent an hour on each target at best, that would still take an entire week! And that's not accounting for the fact that the Violet Demons will certainly reinforce the remaining mines."

"Didn't we just try to hit the road yesterday? They are defending it very carefully - we have to strike at the root, hinder their production capabilities." Merissa stood her ground. "But we don't have enough manpower to strike all targets simultaneously, and with the Kregol soldiers reinforcing the Violet Demons..."

[Sir.] Sasha stood to attention as Kyle entered the room, Feldon and Merissa also stiffening up.

"I heard you have a report?" Kyle took his seat on where King Sahusa's grand chair, relaxing a little as the other three formed up in front of him.

[Yes, sir. We've been striking the locations, but our preliminary observations show there are just too many to deal with.] Sasha gestured to the observation results being displayed on a wall.

"So Sebastian has done a good job of diversifying the supply lines," Kyle muttered to himself, thinking of the various circumstances.

[Yes. Striking the city of Kregol would not hinder the outlying farms or mines as well. There's not a single point of failure in the entire network. Even if we blew up the Culdao Peaks Town today, there are still supplies being routed through other longer tracks to make their way into Raktor.]

"And we're fighting a combination of Kregol, Violet Demons and Ardent Cretins," Kyle concluded. "How are they getting the Kregol soldiers?"

"To clarify, the Kregol soldiers aren't exactly soldiers. Most of the people we've captured have been gang pressed into service by the Violet Demons and the Ardent Cretins." Merissa pointed out

Kyle raised an eyebrow. "You're saying they are being conscripted unwillingly. I seem to recall that there was a major gang ruling Kregol before..."

"The Ravens. But I've collected information that they have been thoroughly disbanded by the Ardent Cretins. The leader was killed by Ares recently while we were away." Feldon substantiate.

"Interesting..." Kyle tapped the holster of the chair. "A major gang doesn't collapse so easily just because their leader is dead. There are always bound to be remnants, and clearly, the people of Kregol are not too fond of the forced conscription by Raktor gangs. If we can get the remnants and people on our side..."

"Then we can cut off the manpower flow and subsequently have more resources to tackle the businesses and locations supplying the Cretins and Demons!" Feldon concluded.

"You know what to do?" Kyle looked at Sasha.

[Yes, sir. We'll infiltrate Kregol quietly and find someone to rally the people.]

"No. No skulking about. I want you two to make sure everyone knows you're in town." Kyle ordered Sasha and Feldon. "And once you find the candidate, bring them to me."

***

In Kregol, two days later...

The gothic architecture of Count Kregol's castle loomed over the city, a traditional military fortress that had now expanded its walls. Rows upon rows of buildings were neatly arranged, a stark contrast to the haphazard slum-like construction of Raktor. A lone lady donning a hooded cloak walked briskly on the muddy cobblestone streets, hiding her face from the residents who peered out warily through boarded windows. The lady noticed the forlorn expression on some of the kids' faces, her heart scrounging up with pain at the terrible sight of what Kregol had become.

"Hey, open up! We know you're hiding your son!" The lady noticed a gang of five men, the leader knocking harshly on the door of a two-story shophouse along the street. "I know he's sixteen - you best bring him out or you'll spend the rest of your days in the dungeon!"

One of the five men turned his head, looking towards where the lady had been but not seeing anything. "Shit, swore there was somewhere else." As he turned his head back, a glint of the hooded cloak disappeared back into the alleyway.

The lady snuck up along the walls behind the house in question, searching for a way in. She noticed an arctech pipe running up to the bathroom on the upper floor, the lady clambering up hurriedly in a bid to rescue those being besieged. However, as soon as she managed to claw her way up to the bathroom window, a gruesome sight greeted her, her face pale. A loud bang from the front door being knocked down forced her to climb back down, while she heard the five men storm the house.

"Boss... the idiots hung themselves." The lady eavesdropped on the five men through the wall.

"Fucking shit... we need to fill the quota soon. Next house!"

The lady clenched her fist in anger, biting back the urge to charge into the house and slaughter all of them. Instead, she held her rage internally, slinking off into the depths of the alleyway. She snaked through corners and dark lanes, eventually reaching a strange door with a flickering arctech neon sign, the only one still working in the smog-filled backstreet. A single knock on the door by the lady had a small slit slide open, an amber pupil glaring at her. "Three tears were sung."

"For we yearn to climb the rungs." The lady responded.

"About damn time you showed up." The amber pupil grunted, the slit closing along with the door unlocking fully. It swung open to reveal a burly bouncer, his glare furious. "What the hell were you doing? Trying to play hero again?"

"Shut it. Where are the others?"

"They are waiting." The bouncer gestured over his shoulder towards a dark descending staircase, the bottom pitch black. The lady had no fear at all, taking the steps down while the bouncer latched the door with a double lock behind him.

As soon as she reached the base of the stairs, an ambient candlelight glow came into view, illuminating a shady bar space, only enough space for a few tables at best. There were only two others inside, two men sitting at a round table, both of whom stood up immediately upon seeing the lady. They took off their hats and held it to their chest, giving a deep bow. "Lady Valentina."

"Skip the pleasantries. I just saw a press gang running around town without a care in the world. What the hell are the enforcers doing?" Valentina sat straight down and got to business, uncaring about etiquette.

"The enforcers must have been bought out." One of the men replied. "Just like how they bought out the other minor gangs."

"Those cheeky Cretins - they are throwing their weight around in a county that hardly belongs to them, and everyone is caving like a newborn kitten!" The other man scowled. "How the hell are we supposed to revive the Ravens?"

"We should keep hitting any business or gang working with the cretins." The first man offered. "We have to make it known that the Ravens don't take lightly to collusion with external enemies."

"Not an option." Valentina shook her head. "I was counting on the enforcers to help us a little, but at this rate..."

"Lady Valentina, we can't just give up because we're losing men!" The first men tried to assuage her fears. "Even though what's left of the Ravens might be split up and scattered, out there, there are still people loyal to us. If we can gather all of them back together we'll be more than enough to take back the city."

"Even if we gather everyone back together, just how exactly should I plan to fight the Ardent Cretins and Violet Demons head-on? Did you forget about Ares?" Valentina snapped. "Did you forget how he crushed my father and our best fighters into a pulp within minutes? None of us even know how he did it!"

"I'm sorry for your loss, but as his successor-"

"I am not worthy to be his successor." Valentina sighed. "I can't even fight back against the minor gangs, and now the enforcers have turned against us as well..."

"Now isn't the time for despair, its the time for action!" The second man asserted. "We might not be able to gather everyone, but if we don't do anything and simply sit here, Kregol will definitely fall into the hands of Sebastian. And we know what we need to do."

"You're saying you two have a plan." Valentina leaned forward. "Tell me."

The two men exchanged a knowing look, the first man taking out a map from a container and rolling it out, displaying the county of Kregol and its bordering lands. "We all know Versia is now offering a ceasefire. Count Kregol would most likely accept it, especially with Raktor in chaos. This means that there would be military supplies continuously crossing the border right here." The second man tapped on a drawing of a river snaking down from the mountains at Utul through the northeast of Kregol. "There's a bridge here we can use."

"They'll be transporting the supplies day and night, and we already got a tip of a few night shipments coming through, chock full of rifles and ammunition. All we have to do is get in, and get out."

"And how are we going to get out from the river crossing? The bridge must be crawling with guards or at least an escort." Valentina pointed out.

"Simple. We throw the supplies into the river. The current will carry it down far and out beyond the city, where it would be easier for us to collect." The second man let out a grin. "With just a single crate we would have enough to arm an entire platoon of fighters to take back the city."

"What about the Violet Demons? Surely they will send backup or reinforcements from the Culdao Peaks Town to suppress us. We may be able to beat back the minor gang temporarily, but if Ares shows up?"

"Ares won't show up. There are daily reports of him fighting the nobles' knights and retinue in the Central Sector. It would take him days to get here." The first man nodded with confidence. "We can do this. Simple smash, grab, and throw into the river. Followed by a second grab. Repeat that enough times and soon enough the old glory of the Ravens will be restored."

"So you need me to sneak into the convoy?"

"No, we need you to talk to some of the other Ravens in town, try to get at least three of them back here so we have enough men to pull off the heist."

"Got it." Valentina was starting to feel more and more confident in the plan. There wasn't any need for a direct confrontation just yet, a simple heist to build the foundation back up. "When's the shipment?"

"Tonight."

"Then we better get movin-"

A dull thud from the top of the staircase echoed down into the bar, the three of them instantly standing up with hands on their own handguns strapped to the belt. Valentina watched in horror as the bouncer toppled down the stairs, crashing into the doorway while bleeding profusely. His weak bloodied face glanced at them, his mouth croaking. "Lady Valentina... run-"

The bouncer's words never left his mouth, not with a smoking pellet wound that drilled right through the back of his cranium, turning Valentian's childhood guard into a bleeding corpse. "GARRETH!" Valentina screamed, but the second man grabbed her down behind cover, the men flipping the bar tables into makeshift barricades.

Without much warning, seven attackers poured through the entrance, mercilessly stepping over the dead bouncer. Valentina wiped the tears from her eyes, gripping her handgun and immediately opening fire on the attackers. The quiet snug bar was now turned into a whirlwind of death, pellets zinging to and fro as the attackers scrambled for their own makeshift cover, propping up chairs, tables, and whatever they could get their hands on nearby.

While Valentina took potshots at the attackers with the second Raven, the first Raven tried to use his arctech radio to call for help. "This is Raven 12, requesting for help from any surviving Ravens! We're pinned in the Crow's Nest, under heavy fire!"

"STEP OUT, LADY VALENTINA!" One of the attackers called out from behind a pillar, clearly the leader in charge. "No one needs to get hurt, we just want to have a chat."

"A chat? Who the hell even are you?" Valentina cursed back. "Do you even know who you're fighting? We're the Ravens!"

"We're the Ravagers! Surely you must have heard of us!" The leader exclaimed.

"Who?!"

"Fucking Ravens... you don't give a shit about anyone else, just as expected. Well, I got some news for you: the Ravens don't rule this place anymore!" The leader shot back. "Now give it up, or this will only get worse!"

"Just because the Cretins are backing you doesn't mean you're a big shot, cocksuckers!" Valentina roared back in anger, peeking out from cover to shoot at the leader. Her pellet managed to nick the leader in the ear, the leader letting out a scream of pain as he clutched the left side of his face.

"The... the fucking bitch! Capture them all!" The leader shrieked, the other attackers moving forward as best as they could, shifting covers and inching forward bit by bit. Valentina tried to slow their movement by delivering suppressing fire, but there were too many of them.

"We're being surrounded." The second man grunted, loading more pellets into his handgun. "Just where the hell is the backup?"

"No one's responding on the channel! Maybe they are coming, but we got to hold out long enough-URK!" The first man's words were cut short by a pellet that somehow penetrated the thick bar table, slightly wounding the first man's back as he doubled over, groaning in pain.

Valentina exchanged a knowing glance with the second man, knowing that time was of the essence. She held up three fingers, slowly closing each one of them in a countdown. Three, two, one - NOW!

The two of them burst out in a furry of pellets, the barrage instantly shredding the three nearest attackers and tearing through their flimsy armor. The firefight heated up as both sides unloaded everything they had into each other. Valentina ran from pillar to pillar, avoiding the incoming shots while firing back her own. She aimed her handgun right at the exposed head of the leader, who was still crouching behind a pillar nursing his wounded ear. Just as she was about to pull the trigger, a sharp cry came from the second man, his body already gushing blood from various new holes in his chest, crumpling to the floor. Shit!

Before Valentina could react or do anything, she suddenly felt the cold sting of a rifle barrel pressed into her spine. "Make a move and you might be left with just your top half." The attacker behind her hissed. Within seconds, she was surrounded by the remaining three attackers, while the leader managed to muster the strength to get back up.

"Why did you always have to make it so hard?" The leader lamented as he kicked the lifeless corpses of his dead men. As he sauntered over to Valentina, he tapped two of the attackers. "Tie up the last guy. I'll deal with this cunt."

Valentina didn't move, not with the rifle still aimed squarely at her spine. She dropped the handgun onto the floor, raising her hands up high in surrender. The leader grinned as he unhooked a rope from his belt. "And here I thought every Raven was just a cocky dumbass. Guess you got some brains after all."

"There's no reason to fight among ourselves." Valentina pleaded while the leader tied up her hands. "The major gangs from Raktor are using you! You're just their cannon fodder, footsoldiers to be exploited! Have you not seen them taking people from us to fight their own wars?"

"Doesn't mean shit to me, as long as we get to be the top of Kregol. I'm using them as much as they use me. It's called mutual cooperation, something a Raven like you wouldn't understand." The leader snorted.

"They are still exploiting Kregol, its people! Your friends, your family, your-"

Valentina suddenly came face to face with the serrated edge of a pocket knife, the sharp tip glinting dangerously under the candlelight. "What's the name of my gang?" The leader asked with a quiet fury. "You forgot, didn't you? You don't care! You've been at the top of the game for so long, everyone else here is like rats to you. No-name squatters fighting for the scraps you can't even be bothered to deal with. Is it so hard for your puny brain to understand that I will do anything, ANYTHING, to keep you one foot below me?"

"Even if it means licking boots?"

"As long as it isn't your boot. Decades of domination at the top - it's time for a change. Once I'm done with you, you can join your father in hell. Take her back to the holding cell, and ring up the Violet Demon commander at the Culdao Peaks. I'm sure he'll be glad to hear the good news." The leader ordered the others.

"You bastard, you're selling your own county out!" Valentina roared as she struggled against the rope tying her arms together. She launched a kick at the nearest attacker, but a single pellet shot burst through her thigh, causing her to collapse onto the ground in pain.

"At least it's mine now." The leader wore a shit-eating grin on his face that extended from ear to ear, and Valentina was convinced it would grow even more if it wasn't for the sudden sound of the bar's entrance door opening.

The leader jerked his head back at the sound. "Who the hell is that?"

"Sir, maybe it's the Violet Demons or Ardent Cretins-" One of the attackers offered his opinion.

"Impossible. Have you even called them up?"

"No-"

"Then of course it's not them!" The leader snapped. "There were two guarding the door, weren't there?"

"Yes, sir but-"

Their conversation was interrupted by the sound of footsteps descending the staircase from out of view, approaching slowly but surely. The leader immediately motioned with his hand, prompting the attackers to fan out again and surround the entrance from all angles in a semi-circle. He took Valentina by her tied wrists, dragging her behind cover.

Sweat trickled down the brows of the attackers as they held their handguns at the ready, waiting with bated breath as the footsteps drew near. They half-expected an enforcer or maybe a reinforcing Raven squad, but instead a clearly foreign man stepped in, his eyes wide in horror at the body of the dead bouncer. "AH! What the hell?!" The foreign man screamed out of fear, recoiling as he spotted the barrels all aiming at him through the dim bar.

"Who the fuck are you? Who sent you?"

"I-i-i just wanted a drink!" The man put both of his hands up in the air while his shoes' soles were steeped in a pool of blood at the base of the staircase.

"A drink? Here, at the Crow's Nest?"

"Is that what this place is called? I honestly got no idea. I just wanted to have a drink with my friend here." The foreign man's eye glanced at a sleek lady entering from behind, her white short cropped hair contrasting with the red shirt against the dark wooden backdrop.

"You got to be crazy, bringing your date to a Ravens' bar!" The leader laughed, earning a round of chuckles from the other attackers.

"Ravens' bar? What's that?"

"Don't play dumb, everyone knows who the Ravens are!"

"Oh, like the big black birds I saw on the top of the castle walls? That's interesting, I didn't know Kregol had bars dedicated to birds!" The foreign man nodded with a genial smile, confusing the attackers.

"Wait, you really don't know? You really are an idiot!" The leader exclaimed in surprise. "I should've guessed from your face looking like that."

"Hey, what the fuck does that mean?! I think I'm pretty good-looking!"

"Won't be once we ship you off to the frontline. Looks like we got a new target, boys!" The leader grinned.

"WAIT!" The foreign man held his hand up, halting the attackers. "I'm here to meet a person named Valentina. Long black hair, leather cloak... kinda looks like the lady you got there next to you."

"You a Raven?!" The leader took aim with the handgun. "Too bad you're a dumb one, trying to rescue the boss by yourself!"

"Oh, I won't be handling you guys. She will."

"Your bitch? Lads, kill her bef-" The leader's eyes widened in surprise, noticing that the foreign man was standing alone. Wait, where did the strange lady go? 

A flicker of white hair turned into a blur, the attackers crying out in pain one by one as the sleek lady expertly weaved through the collapsed and damaged furniture, breaking their limbs and incapacitating them. Not a single of them could hold a candle to the lady, her movement far too quick for them to even react.

"Fuck!" The leader cursed, swiveling in an attempt to take aim at the lady. But a whirlwind of white and red flashed past his eyes, the ceiling of the bar and his surroundings spinning wildly as he was thrown onto the ground. He gagged the moment his body hit the ground, feeling two sharp pain erupting from nerves running through his shoulder as the sleek lady stabbed him.

He didn't have the chance to let out a wail, immediately being kicked in the head and knocked out cold. The rest of the surviving attackers were left as whimpering squirming messes, trying to prop themselves up on whatever they could grab nearby. Valentina watched in a mix of surprise and fear at the sheer combat prowess of the lady, wondering just what was going on.

She had her tied wrist freed by the sleek lady, the lady not saying a single word to her while the foreign man had a big grin on his face. Instead of heading to Valentina, he made his way to the bar, picking up a bottle of cognac and popping it off. With a big swig, he let out a satisfied sigh of relaxation, leaning against the bar counter. "Man, now I know what it feels like to be the boss. Imagine I could go everywhere like that, bodyguards at my beck and call-"

The foreign man stiffened up as the sleek lady shot him a furious glare. "Wrong choice of word, sorry. We're partners- Okay, okay, don't look at me like that, just acquaintances. Working colleagues who have a great rapport with each othe-why are you still giving me that look? We work very well together, everyone around knows us as Feldon and Sasha, the unstoppable duo sweeping through our enemies like-WAIT, DON'T GO! I know, I can change it to Sasha and Feldon, don't leave!"

Valentina watched in utter confusion as the sleek lady left the bar, leaving her alone with a self-proclaimed member of the unstoppable duo, his face looking very punchable. Still, she held back her internal disgust, recognizing his assistance for what it was. "Thank you, Mr. Feldon...?"

Feldon jolted out from his attempt to call Sasha back into the bar, his face beaming brightly. "You know of me? God damn! My own kids don't even remember me, but the leader of the Ravens even knows my name! How did you know me?"

"Uhh... you mentioned your name just now-"

"Oh, I bet it was because of one of my legendary exploits, wasn't it? It must be the one you heard of me leading the Violet Demon members right into a goblin trap. Snag them at the town. They thought I was just another clueless company employee but oh they got what they were coming for. Or was the one you heard about how I managed to take over the whole of Desham? I was right there, leading the whole mob from the front. Might even call me a leader of the rebellion."

Valentina's eyes were glazing as Feldon continued to rant, claiming credit for some of the strangest events that Valentina hadn't heard before in her life. "Mr. Feldon, so sorry to interrupt you, but we have to get out of here soon. No doubt word has spread of my presence here, and there is more than one minor gang looking to capture me. Unless you're here to capture me as well." She ended on a suspicious note.

"Oh, me? Not at all! I'm not from Kregol. Hell, I ain't even from Raktor! This is like child's play compared to what I went through in Proco." Feldon boasted. "We're here to rescue you!"

"But who sent you?"

Feldon's face was frozen, Valentina able to see his heart sinking in realtime. "But but but you said you knew about me, which means you must know about me being Kyle's right hand man..."

"Kyle? Kyle of the Seven Snakes?" Valentina recognized that name after having done her research on who was fighting against the major gangs. "I don't remember you being the right-hand man. Wasn’t it Damia-"

"It's unofficial, Kyle loves to keep things under wraps." Feldon shrugged her off. "But yes, we're here to invite you to our base in the Culdao Peaks. Kyle would like to speak to you in person."

"But..." Valentina glanced at her injured man, the first man who was still breathing but suffering from the injuries.

"We know whats happening here. You won't be able to save anyone, not without help. Longer you stay here, the higher chance of you being captured." Feldon explained. "We don't have much time, you'll need to decide if you're coming or not."

"What's your real motive?" Valentina questioned.

"You can ask Kyle that when you meet him. But we already have orders to take out anyone supporting the Cretins or Demons in Kregol. So if you decide to be on their side..." Feldon's tone hardened.

"Not at all. An enemy of my enemy is a friend. I'll come. But I'm bringing him along." Valentina motioned to the surviving Raven.

"Sure. Looks like it's a bit hard for him to move though." Feldon took another swig of the cognac, slamming it down onto the counter and strolling over to the injured Raven. With a swift motion, Feldon took out a few health potion test tubes from pockets on his belt, pouring them over the pellet wounds.

Valentina watched as Feldon dumped more than two health potions worth onto the Raven, her heart knowing just how expensive it was. "Thank you, if we get out of this, I'll find a way to repay your expense."

"What, the health potions? Relax, I got two dozen!" Feldon showed off his belt, opening each of the flaps. "Sasha has even more."

"As expected of Kyle's right-hand man." Valentina nodded in understanding.

The first man was still out cold, Feldon carrying him up and out of the bar back to the entrance. Valentina tried to stop him, her hand holding his shoulder back. "Wait, there might be enforcers or other attackers out there."

"Sasha got it covered, don't worry!" Feldon grinned, shrugging off her hand and continuing his ascent. Valentina was about to protest when she finally saw the carnage wrought just outside the bar's entrance. More than a dozen bodies of varying affiliation were strewn along the back alley, Sasha and two other Ghosts filtering through the belongings to check for more clues.

Sasha noticed Feldon coming up, motioning to him with a few hand signs. Feldon nodded in understanding, handing the injured Raven to a Ghost. "You two, follow me. We're escorting the Raven Leader back out to the Aurtla. Move!"

Valentina glanced back at Sasha, who was heading off in a completely opposite direction and aiming for the center of the city. "You guys are leaving her alone? She'll be surrounded by more than a thousand people in Kregol! Once the Violet Demons hear about this they'll send their fighters too!"

"Then it's an even fight for her." Feldon nodded approvingly. "Stay low, stay quiet, and follow my lead."

The four of them snuck past enforcer patrols and other residents, sneaking through a neverending twist of alleyways and streets, masking their movements. Just as Feldon turned a sharp corner leading out right into a main street, he quickly shot out his hand, forcing the three behind to halt. "Patrol, get back!"

They scrambled out of view, covering themselves behind heaps of trash and makeshift boxes that had been long emptied. Feldon dragged Valentina with him to hide behind a broken trash collection bin, hiding away from the sweeping glances of the enforcer patrol that had begun searching for the missing Raven Leader. Valentina's heart pounded as she peeked out from her hiding spot in the alleyway, watching in fear as the enforcer patrol began to round the corner. "We should go now!" Valentina hissed to Feldon, but Feldon didn't budge, merely holding up a single finger to his lips tightly shut.

What is this guy even waiting for? We're going to be discovered! Valentina wanted to scream out, but she held her tongue, partly due to the sheer confidence Feldon emitted, his eyes laser focused on the incoming patrol. Even when the enforcers were merely four feet away from their hiding spot behind the bin, Feldon stayed firm, not budging even an inch or even letting out a single breath.

Just as Valentina was about to wince at the imminent discovery, a loud bang erupted from further down the alleyway, the blast of the explosion rolling through the narrow corridor and buffeting the enforcers. The enforcer patrol stared in shock at the spiraling plumes of smoke stemming from where the Crow's Nest was. "What the hell is going on over there? Enforcer Patrol A, report in." The patrol leader barked to a radio strapped to his chest, his brows furrowing when there was no radio reply. "Patrol A may be in danger, we'll need to assist. Move, quickly!"

The patrol left without even discovering Feldon, Valentina or the two Ghosts. The moment Feldon saw the trail of the enforcers' uniform disappear into the distance, he quickly grabbed Valentina, standing up and breaking into a sprint. "Sasha made the distraction for us, lets go, quickly!"

With the enforcers now all converging on the explosions, Feldon easily led the rest out of the city, using a secret entrance that should have been known by Ravens only. Valentina wanted to ask, but Feldon didn't give her any time, forcing her to run non-stop as soon as they were clear of the city. Within a few minutes of running, they finally reached a clearing, where a strange rock was situated right in the middle of a field of weeds and flowers beyond Kregol's walls.

Feldon approached the rock with purpose, grabbing its surface and tugging it hard. Valentina's eyes widened as the rock turned out to be a makeshift disguise, encompassing an Aurtla plane where the pilot was already waiting. Valentina was escorted up into the cabin, the other two Ghosts helping her strap into the seat's harness while Feldon tucked back the rock disguise tarp. The instant he was done and into the cabin, the Aurtla plane took off on a short dirt path, the jostling shaking Valentina's body violently. She stared out of the window, watching more explosions burst out like candles in the cityscape of Kregol as they soared away from it.

Still, the presence of the Aurtla plane threw whatever assumptions Valentina had about the Seven Snakes' strength out of the window. "Why does a minor gang in Raktor have Versian technology?" She shouted her question over the roar of the passing air.

"There's more to us than meets the eye. I'm sure you know of our exploits." Feldon puffed up his chest. "Once all this is over, we will be practically on the same level as a major gang!"

Valentina couldn't disagree, her attention stolen by the unfamiliar interior of the cabin. The modifications and arctech added to it looked like nothing she had seen before, and that was saying something for a daughter of Kregol's dominant gang leader. The sight of the overwhelming power and resources that even a minor gang had compared to the current state of the Ravens struck a nerve in her. What can I do to bring the Ravens to such heights? Just who is this Kyle?

The Aurtla plane began to land, its wheels skidding along the makeshift runway in the middle of the goblins' kingdom. Valentina felt dizzy from the shock of the landing, a first for her, while Feldon was hardly affected, seemingly having experienced this a few times already. The cabin door opened to reveal an honor guard entourage made up of Ghosts and hobgoblins, along with the man she was already expecting to see.

Valentina staggered to her feet, trying to maintain her learned etiquette as she stepped off the plane. Still, her outfit was bloodied and in a horrid mess, a stark contrast with the man now approaching her. Feldon and the other two Ghosts saluted as the man approached. "Boss! Raven leader secured. She's the best candidate we've found."

"Good work, Feldon. Take thirty more Ghosts and raise hell all over Kregol. Make sure to leave survivors."

"You got it, boss." Feldon nodded, leaving while Kyle approached Valentina.

" Welcome to the Culdao Peaks, Valentina. I hope the journey was smooth?"

"I'm thankful for the rescue, but more importantly, shouldn't you be asking Feldon to rescue the member you left in Kregol alone?"

"Sasha?" Kyle asked.

"If that's her name, yes. Soon, she'll be surrounded by enforcers and gang members from all over Kregol! Even the Violet Demons might start to send troops over to catch her!"

Kyle had a small, knowing smile on his face. "Oh, I'm counting on that. If they can even catch her."