As the meeting continued, High Magistrate Lestrade gave his final verdict.
"Very well, Mr. Shade," he said. "I can agree to offer TEC the protection of Libra. But understand this: your group is not to involve itself in our political affairs. Any breach of this agreement may leave TEC vulnerable, and I assure you, we won't extend our hand in aid should trouble arise."
Shade agreed, understanding the implications; it was more of a subtle alliance than a partnership. The Magistrate's words were clear—should anything go awry for TEC, Libra would stand aloof.
Conversely, if Libra called upon TEC for assistance, Shade would be obligated to rally his forces. Yet, the underlying truth was that he still held the power to decline. At least in theory.
"We can work with this," Shade finally replied.
Not a bad move to make, but he would still need to tread carefully.
"Good," Lestrade said. "Just remember that things might not always appear as they seem in this city."
As Shade prepared to leave with Venn and Venita, Lestrade raised a hand, halting their exit.
"Wait," he commanded. "I'm dreadfully sorry… I almost forgot: there's someone who would like to meet you."
"That so?" Shade said, turning around.
A nearby door opened, revealing a figure with a smirk on his face: Cyrus.
For a split second, Shade found himself taken aback. Without his mask, everyone would have seen the shock in his eyes.
How could he not be stunned? Cyrus was here, a member of Libra—yet appearing so very different than in their last encounters. There was a calmness about him, one that seemed more friendly than Shade would have expected.
But why did he want to meet Shade of all people?
Cyrus approached, bowing respectfully, and said, "It's an honor to meet you, Mr. Shade."
Venn and Venita exchanged puzzled looks as Venn whispered, "Who's this exactly?"
"I'm Cyrus," the young man greeted, straightening up. "A member of Libra, though not one of importance, I assure you."
Shade's doubts became one of suspicion.
"Your affiliation with Libra, what is it?" he dared to ask.
Cyrus didn't hesitate to give a forward answer, "I'm afraid I'm not allowed to disclose that information."
"Then tell me," Shade replied, keen to gather insight. "What brought you to this meeting? Why did you want to meet me out of all the rebel leaders?"
With an honest smile, the man replied, "I wanted to meet you because of your recent accolades." He paused to gauge everyone's reactions. "There aren't many who rise to be heads within a rebel faction like you have."
Lestrade nodded at this subtle display of admiration. "I allow him to observe as he learns, Mr. Shade. He is under my wing, so I'm sure you understand."
Shade understood, alright. He understood that he was being eyed by the various Bandits. Cyrus just so happened to be one of them.
"I admire what you're doing," Cyrus earnestly continued. "I hope you continue finding ways that contribute to Libra's cause."
Libra's cause just so happened to line up with Shades. Perhaps this could be an opportunity.
Without skipping a beat, he asked, "What if I offered you a position in TEC?"
The question was so blunt that it was borderline. Only he would be so bold as to ask it in front of Lestrade, whose eyebrow arched in surprise out of curiosity as to what Cyrus would say.
Cyrus stiffened for a moment, but then shook his head resolutely, saying, "I appreciate the offer, but I'm devoted to Libra. My loyalty lies with them."
"As I would have expected from Libra's recruits," Shade calmly said. "I meant no disrespect, Magistrate Lestrade, as this was a test of his character."
Lestrade found this amusing and said, "I assumed as much, Mr. Shade. You're not the type to make stupid mistakes."
As Shade signaled for Venn and Venita, the trio began to exit the elegant room. They slid into the waiting car without anyone saying a word.
It was only once they'd driven a safe distance from the building that Shade turned to Venn to ask, "Did you do it?"
Venn smiled. "Of course. The bug is in place. We've got them."
Venita opened her laptop and immediately began typing. Not a moment too soon, the car was filled with Lestrade's voice. There wasn't any video footage, just audio.
"Cyrus," Lestrade was saying, "you were clever to request coming to this meeting. But be wary—Shade is not a man whose loyalty can be easily secured."
"Oh," Shade said, resting his elbow on the armrest.
There was a reason why Shade opted for an audio bug rather than a miniature camera. Audio devices were not just small; they looked no different than the average gnat. They were small, compact, and practically invisible to the naked eye.
They all hear a slight pause before Lestrade continues, "Cyrus, I must commend you on your manners. It seems my guidance is paying off."
"Thank you, High Magistrate," Cyrus replied. "I've aimed to live up to your teachings."
"I expect nothing less," Lestrade responds. Then he shifted gears. "Now, regarding your training progress, I trust you've taken the necessary steps to enhance your Band?"
"Yes, I've completed all assigned missions successfully. However… I find myself crossing paths with the son of AU's head more often than I'd like."
"Cassian Black?" Lestrade thoughtfully mused. "I take it he's become a target of yours?"
"Not at first," Cyrus affirmed. "But it's become apparent that I should eliminate him. If I could just—"
"Slow down, Cyrus," Lestrade interrupted. "Killing their head's son will not benefit Libra in the long run. Capturing and holding him hostage would better serve Libra's cause."
Cyrus hesitated before saying, "I deeply apologize, Magistrate… If I may ask, how would capturing him serve us better?"
"You have much to learn, so it seems… Taking him captive could provide invaluable leverage, not just against AU but also in a large landscape of power on this continent. We can use him as a pawn, rather than a victim. Can you see the bigger picture, boy?"
"I see your point, Magistrate… I'll adjust how I deal with it if we ever meet again."
"Good choice," Lestrade agreed with a more satisfied undertone.
Just as the two began discussing plans, the audio feed cut out, signaling the end of the bug's recording time. Shade glanced outside the window while Venn and Venita, who are both lost in thought.
"Quite a lot we just uncovered," Venn finally said, breaking the silence. "Cyrus seems ambitious. But is he really that low in ranking?"
"We best not underestimate him," Venita chimed in, typing away on her laptop. "He's linked to Libra. That right there makes him more than dangerous."
"It's the fact the Magistrate secretly let him in our private meeting," Venn revealed. "That's not normal, if you ask me."
Shade knew he was right. There weren't that many low in the rankings of any rebel group to be looked at by someone of a higher rank. And for Lestrade to have allowed this intrusion also meant that Libra was looking down on TEC.
This was fine, for the information Shade received on himself was just as important. He'd always known he'd be targeted for being linked to his father's position. Knowing about it would make him all the more cautious.