The warehouse was quiet inside.
It was dimly lit by hanging lanterns that cast dull light across stacked crates and sealed barrels.
Baron Veyne walked calmly with his hands clasped behind his back, glancing around as workers stood well back, careful not to draw his attention. He inspected seals, checked markings, and nodded to himself, clearly satisfied.
The main doors opened again not long after. A small group entered. They were well-dressed, relaxed, and locals. Their tone was friendly and casual, as if this were a routine eting rather than a secret one.
"Baron," one of them said with a smile. "Always busy, I see."
Veyne replied with a cordial smile. "Trade never sleeps, my friend. I assu you didn’t co just to admire my inventory."
"Only the parts that matter," answered the man with a knowing smirk.
"Very well." Veyne gestured for them to follow.
He led them past the visible storage and toward the back of the warehouse, stopping at a section of shelving that looked no different from the rest. With great familiarity, he pressed a concealed chanism.
The wall shifted, revealing a hidden compartnt beyond.
Inside, the air was still and perated with a pungent sll. Dozens of figures sat behind iron bars. All of them were girls. They were silent and subdued, displaying a dazed look in their eyes.
"One should always verify the quality," Veyne said calmly. "Before arrangents are finalized."
The visitor nodded. "You run a careful operation."
"I run an efficient one," the Baron scoffed lightly. "Discretion is the reason I still breathe freely within the city."
"And the shipnts north?"
"Already arranged," Veyne said matter-of-factly. "Routes are secured. The line of credit has been extended, as agreed."
The man smiled. "Then we have no complaints."
"Good," said the Baron with a nod. He turned away as if the matter was settled. "I dislike complications."
The wall slid shut behind them, leaving the warehouse as it had appeared.
However, none were aware that a shadowy figure had perched upon a wooden beam near the ceiling of the warehouse and observed everything as it unfolded while silently scribbling notes.
***
Lying prone atop the warehouse, Adam watched as the Baron and the other party hamred out the details of their deal. Not long after, both sides boarded the carriage and went their separate ways.
For a long ti, he remained rooted on the spot, thinking back to what he had just witnessed.
At last, his lips curled into a wry smile.
Who would have thought, he wondered.
My second initiation mission would also be related to human trafficking.
But unlike the first ti, when he’d publicly hanged the perpetrators and burned the pleasure house to the ground, this ti he was going to take a different approach.
There were several differences between the two instances.
At that ti, he was a Mana Liquefaction Magus with the direct backing of Berger, and also the indirect backing of Gerald Acadia — although he didn’t know that at the ti.
This ti, he was a Mana Core Magus pretending to be a clueless Mana Foundation Magus with no backing whatsoever. So he couldn’t be ostentatious in his approach and in how he delivered judgnt.
No. He had to be prudent and... faceless.
Adam did not follow the Baron that night. Instead, he tailed the second party.
They left the River Ward and headed west, deeper into the Forge Ward. The streets grew narrow and louder, filled with smoke, heat, and the constant hamring of tal.
He kept high when he could, low when he had to, never close enough to be rembered. Eventually, the visitors reached a foundry-adjacent building and entered.
Not long after, another figure arrived. This was soone Adam hadn’t seen before. The eting was brief. Words were exchanged quietly. From their postures and timing alone, Adam could tell the visitor was reporting what had transpired at the warehouse.
He morized their faces, routes, and schedules.
For the next week, Adam split his ti between both parties. He followed the Baron through his routine and shadowed the visitors whenever they surfaced.
Gradually, patterns erged, etings were repeated, and locations began to overlap. By the end of the month, the picture was complete.
Only then did Adam return to his apartnt and prepare to compile his report.
But first, he needed a good night’s rest. For the past month, he had been living in temporary camps under bridges near the River Ward, and illegal rooftop shanties in the Trade Ward.
***
The following day, Lebu arrived at the apartnt.
"I thought you’d have quit halfway through the assignnt," said the Agent as he scanned the dusk-skinned youth, who appeared haggard and slightly emaciated compared to the last ti he saw him.
He then offered genuine praise, "You truly have a lot of patience for soone so young, Kenny. I am very impressed."
The boy shrugged in response. "This isn’t much different from hunting in the Sea of Green," he murmured in between a yawn.
"You stay still, ignore the filth, and wait for the prey to move."
He paused for a mont, rubbing his tired eyes. "Only this hunt lasted a little longer."
Lebu deeply looked at the youth. He then asked curiously, "Why did you choose to stay in those awful places?"
Kenny feigned surprise. "H-how did you know?!"
Lebu simply smiled in response.
Kenny acted stunned for a few monts before he awkwardly scratched his hair. "Uh, I don’t know. I guess I was afraid of being followed back to the apartnt. I didn’t want to get Kori and Pang in trouble. They’ve been very kind to , so..."
Lebu nodded with a gratified smile. Inwardly, he couldn’t help but think to himself:
The boy’s a natural. It’s as if... he was born to be a spy. With proper training and guidance, just how good can he beco?
Thinking about the current internal struggles within the Brotherhood, he couldn’t help but sigh helplessly.
He’s exactly the kind of person the Brotherhood needs right now.
"Did... did I do sothing wrong, Magus Potts?" Kenny asked nervously.
Lebu snapped out of his thoughts. He replied with a smile, "No, not at all, my boy."
Soon, his expression turned solemn, and he continued:
"Now, brief on your findings."
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