Adhrit moved quietly through the dark alleys of Ravinaj, his senses on high alert as he trailed Munna. He wasn't the only one hunting tonight. Through his focus, he detected the presence of others. Narrowing his eyes, he followed the faint traces and soon spotted two figures—hidden but clearly skilled.
It didn't take long for the three to lock eyes, each assessing the situation. Avyukt stepped forward cautiously, knowing the confrontation couldn't be avoided. The two figures, a sharp-eyed young woman and her companion, stood tensely.
"Who are you?" the woman, Kalki, demanded, her voice firm but cautious.
Adhrit kept his demeanour calm, knowing the importance of maintaining his cover. "Name's Adhrit," he said. "I'm working with the Public Safety Department, sent here to gather evidence on Munna's smuggling operation."
The other woman, Prachi, exchanged a glance with Kalki. "Public Safety Department? Why haven't we heard of you?"
"I work under the radar," Adhrit replied, keeping his voice steady. "But we're after the same thing. Munna and his smuggling ring. If we want to bring them down, we need to work together. Collect the evidence, report it to the council's branch."
Kalki scrutinized him for a moment before nodding slowly. "Fine. We'll work together, but we'll keep our distance."
"Agreed," Adhrit said, turning his attention back to the alley.
As they watched, Munna and his crew, led by the burly figure Jazzu, seemed to be discussing something. Suddenly it appeared something had changed. Munna's expression became tense after hearing what Jazzu said.
"They've moved up the shipment," Prachi whispered.
Kalki's brow furrowed. "Something's off. Why they have shifted their plans?"
Adhrit nodded, keeping his focus on the group. "We need to follow them and find out where they're taking the shipment.5"
Kalki quickly retrieved her recording device, a small crystal she had crafted to capture conversations, and slipped it into her pocket. "We can't let them out of our sight."
With cautious steps, the group followed Munna, Jazzu, and the smugglers through the labyrinth of alleyways. As they neared a more secluded part of town, the tension grew palpable. The smugglers were nervous, exchanging glances as they made their way to a deserted warehouse.
The trio kept their distance, positioning themselves just outside the entrance to the warehouse. It was here that they overheard Munna and Jazzu speaking in hushed tones, discussing the earlier-than-expected shipment. Still, no crates were visible, and the smugglers seemed to be planning something much more secretive.
Before they could assess the situation further, a sharp, cold voice rang out from the shadows.
"I know you're there."
Adhrit's body tensed. Emerging from the shadows was Balma, her aura radiating power far beyond that of Munna and Jazzu. The chakra emanating from her was intense—Chakra Practitioner level, a step above all of them.
"Show yourselves," she commanded, her voice full of authority.
Kalki and Prachi exchanged a tense glance with Adhrit. There was no point in hiding now.
They stepped out of the shadows, their expressions serious as they revealed themselves to Balma. Her cold gaze swept over them, her lips curling into a smirk.
"Three Initiates meddling in matters far beyond their capabilities," she sneered. "This shipment is none of your concern."
Jazzu, standing beside her, cracked his knuckles and stepped forward. "Balma, let me handle them."
Balma waved him off. "No, Jazzu. You deal with the delivery. These pests… are mine."
Her chakra flared, the oppressive weight of her power filling the space around them. Adhrit, Kalki, and Prachi stood their ground, but they knew they were outmatched. Balma was far stronger, and the tension in the air was almost unbearable.
With no crates in sight and the smugglers growing restless, the group knew they were walking into a battle far more dangerous than they had anticipated.