BIOLOGICAL SUPERCOMPUTER SYSTEM

849 Hunting for Shade (6)

Back in the car, Rebecca broke the silence that settled over the group.

"What do we do?" she asked, looking around at her companions for guidance.

Erik, the de facto leader, didn't hesitate. "We're going to this Shadow's Market," he said, his tone resolute. "And find all the information we need."

Ramon, leaning back in his seat, rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

"It'll be dangerous, based on what Vincent said." He voiced the concern that lingered in his mind.

"Don't trust Vincent," Erik said, a hard edge to his words. Ramon raised an eyebrow. "I never did, but why do you say that now?"

Erik sighed. "Vincent didn't tell us a lot of things."

His gaze sweeping across the faces of his companions.

"What he omitted to say is that the Shadow's Market also hosts an underground arena where the most dangerous criminals fight, high-stakes betting takes place, and even auctions for mysterious stuff are held."

"But that's not important. What was important, and which he didn't talk about, is that there's a secret level to the Market, accessible only to a select circle of the criminal elite. It's there that the darkest and most dangerous operations are planned, operations that have direct ties to the shadows within Etrium's government."

"This means Shade…" Ramon said.

"Exactly."

Camille shifted, her expression strangely grin. "So, it's worse than we thought."

June, who had been silent, finally spoke up. "This just got a lot more complicated. If there are ties to the government, we need to tread carefully."

Erik nodded, acknowledging June's concern. "Exactly, and we can't take Vincent's words at face value. Why did he omit this information?"

"Maybe he was scared," Rebecca said.

"Yeah. But he already told something he shouldn't have. Why omit this at that point?" Camille voiced a reasonable question, but another important want was voiced by Rebecca again.

"Do you think we're walking into the lion's den?"

"That's for sure," Erik said.

"I think Vincent understood what we wanted to do, and omitted this information to make us die, or because he is tied to that place somehow. Regardless, based on this, that place likely has someone knowing Shade, or at least believing in his existence."

"Then we need a solid plan," Ramon said. "If we're going to infiltrate this place, we need to know what we're doing and have contingencies in place."

Rebecca ignited the engine of the flying car, and they began their journey toward the Shadow's Market.

The conversation shifted toward strategies, each member contributing their thoughts on how to approach the Shadow's Market.

As the car continued its journey, the group kept talking and thinking.

As the city passed below them, a curious Camille turned to Erik. Something was swirling in her mind.

"What I really itch to know is: How did you learn all of this?" she asked.

Erik leaned back, his response laced with nonchalance. "It's pretty obvious," he said, but didn't utter a single word more.

"Can you read our minds?" Rebecca asked, half-joking, yet having guessed the right answer without knowing.

Erik met her question with a cryptic smile, choosing not to reveal the extent of his abilities. His silence only deepened the intrigue surrounding him.

However, in his mind, Erik was piecing together the larger picture.

Despite Vincent not believing in the existence of Shade, considering him more myth than actual underworld leader, Erik was convinced of the crucial role the Shadow's Market played in Shade's criminal empire.

He believed that this place likely served as the hub for Shade's most ambitious and secretive operations.

Vincent's lack of awareness only highlighted Shade's ability to control and remain unseen, even to well-informed underworld sources. He was an opponent Erik wasn't going to underestimate.

As the group traveled toward the Shadow's Market, the scenery outside the car shifted.

The polished, bustling districts of Nokisi Point gave way to more shadowed, secretive areas of the city, where the air thrummed with a distinct energy.

The buildings here were older, their facades steeped in mystery and tales untold, hinting at the clandestine activities that occurred within their walls.

"We should buy masks," Erik said, remembering Vincent's mention of how identities were concealed within the Market.

"They're not uncommon there, i guess, and it'll help us blend in. The last thing we want is for someone finding out who we are, or questioning us."

The group agreed, and soon, they stopped at a small, nondescript shop tucked away in a side alley.

Inside, they selected masks that ranged from simple to elaborate, each choosing one that felt right.

With their new disguises in hand, they resumed their journey.

Eventually, they arrived at a very luxurious building that stood as a stark contrast to its surroundings.

While it wasn't the largest structure they had ever seen—the Band of Giants' headquarters held that distinction—the building before them was all the same impressive.

It was clad in shimmering glass windows that reflected the city lights, casting an aura of exclusivity and wealth.

The entrance was guarded by sleek, modern sculptures, and the ground floor boasted high-end shops that seemed out of place in the underworld market they sought.

Not only was the building very tall, but it was also very large, among the largest they had seen.

<This must be due to the underground fighting arena, > Erik telepathically said to June.

<These guys spare no expense, Master. >

<Yeah. >

Ramon, Camille, and Rebecca, accustomed to the grandeur associated with their mercenary guild, couldn't help but shrug at the building's design and the statement it made.

They knew this was the gateway to the Shadow's Market, based on what Vincent said.

The group parked nearby and Erik led the way, his mask firmly in place, as they approached the entrance.

The group's demeanor changed; with their faces concealed, they felt safer, but they were still on edge.

They were about to step into a world few knew existed, armed with masks to hide their identities and a resolve to uncover the secrets that lay within.

As they entered, the group knew they were stepping into the lion's den, their disguises their only protection as they ventured deeper into the shadows of Nokisi Point's criminal empire.

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