The sun had set completely over the luxurious Redux City, leaving the skyline glowing with neon lights that casted deep shadows throughout the alleyways.
Within these shadows, Arthur moved effortlessly, his presence completely undetectable as he made his way towards the heart of Redux City's political district.
While on the surface, the district looked polished, high class and peaceful, Arthur knew better than anyone to believe that. Beneath its polished appearance laid a political scene submerged in corruption due to the lust for power.
Earlier that night after returning home, Arthur had spent hours piecing together what he could about Lucius Carrington's network. His investigation had led him through the digital back alleys of the city's bureaucracy.
He hacked into confidential databases and using his supernatural awareness to sift through the threads of information that connected people to one another.
It was how he learned of Cayden Marshall. A human politician, outwardly respected and a public advocate for "Civic Unity," Cayden was actually a puppet of the Elven Pure-Blood faction.
He was deeply in Lucius's pocket, receiving funds to stifle investigations, ensure leniency in judicial cases involving Elves, and keep the city's infrastructure favorable to Elven interests.
There were many other persons in Redux City who were working with Lucius, but Cayden was by far the most brazen. Most people knew he had a powerful mystery backer, and that allowed him to get away with all his crimes.
Cayden had also been in a quiet but bitter political rivalry with Sasha Williams, the city's reformist candidate and a staunch advocate for the rights of marginalized supernatural races.
With Sylvia Carrington residing in Redux City and Sasha Williams gaining momentum, Arthur couldn't dismiss the possibility that the Elven elite had more sinister plans afoot to control the future of Redux City.
Especially when he found connections between Cayden's ongoing political campaigns and several crime syndicates rumored to be involved in crimes such as trafficking, illegal summonings, artifact smuggling and murder.
After this investigation, Arthur decided go confront Cayden. He currently stood before Cayden's house, a luxurious three-story building tucked behind iron gates, patrolled by two human guards and warded with security spells.
However, none of this posed even a slight obstacle to Arthur as his form blurred, invoking an illusion as he bent the light around himself to become invisible. He walked through the wall as he incorporealized his body for a few seconds and slipped through a second floor window.
Inside, the house was extremely quiet for the most part, with the only noise coming from the study room at the end of all the hall.
With Arthur's hearing, he could immediately tell it was Cayden, discussing with someone on the phone with a voice laced with a trace of frustration.
"…I told you, there won't be any issues," Cayden was saying, "The council meeting tomorrow will end in our favor, and our… 'friends' have assured me that the unrest will be enough to destabilize any last-ditch efforts from Williams."
Arthur's eyes narrowed. He waited until the conversation ended, listening as Cayden set the phone down and leaned back in his leather chair.
Arthur stepped into the study, dropping the illusion just enough to create a shadowed, distorted outline of himself. It wasn't his true appearance, but something that would keep Cayden from recognizing him later.
The politician stiffened, his eyes darting to the open door. "Who—?"
Arthur moved swiftly, covering the distance between them and pressing a hand to Cayden's mouth to muffle any cries for help. The politician's eyes widened in terror as Arthur leaned in, his voice a cold whisper.
"Make a sound, and you'll regret it," Arthur said, releasing his grip only once he was sure Cayden understood. The man's breathing was ragged, and sweat beaded on his forehead.
"Who… who are you?" Cayden stammered, trying and failing to sound authoritative.
Arthur's illusioned face showed no emotion, but his eyes were like steel. "Someone you should listen to carefully," he replied. "Now, let's have a chat about your involvement with Lucius Carrington and the Elven Pure-Bloods. Specifically, any plans that might involve disrupting the city or targeting Sylvia Carrington and her family."
Cayden swallowed hard, his fingers clenching the armrests of his chair as he took a couple more deep ragged breaths, "I-I don't know what you're talking about."
Arthur's patience was nonexistent. He reached into his coat and pulled out a small, rune-etched knife. Its blade shimmered with a glow, a reminder that the weapon was designed to hurt far worse than any mundane one.
He held it up, letting the light play over Cayden's face.
"Wrong answer," Arthur said coolly. "Let's try again. Tell me everything you know, or I'll start carving up your secrets myself."
The threat wasn't an idle one, and Cayden seemed to recognize that. If this guy was strong enough to secretly enter his house without anyone noticing, then he was easily strong enough to make him 'disappear.'
Cayden's face went pale after that threat, and he quickly began to speak, words tumbling out in a panicked rush.
"Okay! Okay! Lucius… he's been using me to control parts of the city," he admitted, "Funding my campaign, ensuring the right votes in the council, that sort of thing. In exchange, I help keep the authorities off his back and make sure certain projects get approved."
"Projects," Arthur echoed, leaning in as he grazed the knife against Cayden's head menacingly, "Elaborate."
Cayden licked his lips nervously. "He's… he's been pushing for new construction initiatives in the lower districts, but it's a front. They're using the areas to set up concentration camps for half-breed Elves. He's also pushing for police immunity, so he can use the officers he control to take on capture missions for Half-Breeds or any other Elven enemies."
Arthur's eyes narrowed as he listened. Naturally, he had figured out that Lucius had his own agents sprinkled in the Police Station, some of them were even Elves themselves.
As he learned more about Lucius' plans, the pieces were rapidly coming together in his mind, "What about Morgana Carrington?" he pressed. "Where is she, and what does Lucius plan to do with her?"
Cayden's eyes darted away, and Arthur slammed the knife into the desk beside the man's hand. The wood splintered, and Cayden yelped, jerking back.
"She's…I don't know where they took her, I promise," Cayden stammered, putting his hands together in a praying motion as his eyes were deep with fear when looking towards Arthur's shadowy figure.
"He's barely told me anything about her, and his plans for her. All I know is he wanted her, and her talent. Please that's all I know!" Cayden begged as he finished speaking.
Arthur's jaw tightened, but his expression remained cold, "You'd better pray she's still alive," he said, leaning back. "Because if she isn't, I'll be coming back for you."
Cayden shivered, and Arthur could see the fear in his eyes. Arthur tapped his finger on Cayden's head, infusing a nightmarish curse onto the Human.
From now on, every single time Cayden goes to sleep he would be cursed with nightmares of all the people who have died or been seriously injured due to his actions.
He knew the man wouldn't sleep well for weeks, haunted by the vicious nightmares. One he was done, Arthur turned and faded back into the shadows, leaving the house as quietly as he had entered as his mind raced.
He left the townhouse as quietly as he had entered, his mind racing as he thought about what should be his next step. Should be approach the other persons working under Lucious in the city? Or take a different angle.
After some thought, Arthur pulled out the vial that housed the dried blood of Morgana he had previous gathered and made a decision, vanishing into the shadows.