Ethan woke with a start, the chill of the basement biting into his skin. For a moment, he forgot where he was—the cracked stone walls, the faint smell of mildew, and Lila's quiet breathing beside him all brought him back to reality. He glanced at her, still curled up on the blanket, peaceful despite the chaos they were wrapped in. The soft glow of morning light seeped through cracks in the basement ceiling.
His mind snapped into focus as the system's task replayed in his head:
[New System Task: Prepare for the Next Move—Gather Supplies and Weapons. Reward: +1 Tactical Awareness.]
We don't stand a chance without an edge, Ethan thought. Gray's men were ruthless, well-equipped, and organized. They needed tools, and fast.
Lila stirred awake, blinking up at him. "You're up early," she murmured, rubbing sleep from her eyes.
"Couldn't sleep," Ethan replied, offering a faint smile. "We need to move. It's not safe to stay here too long."
Lila stretched her arms, then sat upright. "What's the plan?"
"Supplies," Ethan said firmly. "Weapons. We're going to need them if we're going after Gray."
Lila's brow furrowed, her resolve solidifying. "Do you have a place in mind?"
"Yeah," Ethan replied. "There's an old contact of mine who runs a black-market operation out of the docks. If anyone has what we need, it's him. But…"
"But?"
Ethan looked her squarely in the eye. "It won't be a friendly visit. The docks aren't the safest place, and my contact, Marcus, doesn't deal with strangers lightly. We're going to have to be sharp, careful, and ready for trouble."
Lila smirked faintly, brushing dust from her coat. "Trouble seems to follow us, so I guess we're ready for it."
The docks were a stark contrast to the city's abandoned streets. Rusted shipping containers loomed like sentinels, stacked in disarray, while cranes hung motionless in the gray morning sky. The faint stench of seawater mixed with oil and metal lingered in the air. The place seemed deserted, but Ethan knew better. Beneath the veneer of decay was a world that never slept.
"Stick close," Ethan said softly as they approached an aging warehouse on the edge of the dockyard. "Let me do the talking."
"Got it," Lila replied, falling into step beside him.
The large sliding door groaned as Ethan pushed it open. The inside of the warehouse was cavernous, filled with the hum of generators and the faint glow of makeshift lights. Rows of crates and boxes were scattered across the floor, some covered in tarps, others open to reveal illicit goods—guns, ammo, electronics, and more. The air was thick with tension, as though violence lurked just out of view.
A group of men lounged near a worktable in the center of the room. One of them, tall and broad-shouldered with a scar running across his jawline, looked up sharply as Ethan entered. His hand instinctively dropped to the pistol at his waist.
"Ethan Hart," the man said, his voice a low growl. "Thought you were dead."
Ethan shrugged casually, though his pulse quickened. "Not yet, Marcus. Nice to see you too."
Marcus narrowed his eyes, flicking his gaze to Lila. "Who's she?"
"A friend. We're here on business."
Marcus leaned back in his chair, a slow grin spreading across his face. "Business, huh? You don't come around for years, and now you want something? What makes you think I'll help?"
Ethan held his ground, his tone calm but firm. "Because you like money, and I'm willing to pay."
Marcus raised an eyebrow. "Is that so? What are you looking for?"
"Weapons. Enough to take on a small army."
The men around Marcus chuckled, but their amusement didn't reach their cold eyes. Marcus scratched his chin, pretending to consider it. "That kind of firepower doesn't come cheap, Ethan."
"I know." Ethan pulled a small bundle of cash from his coat pocket and tossed it onto the table. It wasn't much—certainly not enough to pay for everything they needed—but Marcus didn't need to know that yet.
Marcus smirked, eyeing the money. "Not bad. But money only gets you so far. How about a little test?"
Ethan tensed. "What kind of test?"
Marcus stood, looming over them like a predator. "There's a shipment coming in today. A rival crew's been causing problems on my turf, trying to muscle in. Take care of them for me, and I'll get you what you need."
Ethan clenched his fists. He didn't trust Marcus for a second, but they didn't have a choice. If they wanted weapons, they had to play the game.
"Fine," Ethan said. "Where's this crew?"
Marcus grinned, satisfied. "Pier 17. They'll be waiting for their delivery in an hour. Handle it, and I'll make sure you walk out of here with enough firepower to take on whoever you're after."
Ethan nodded stiffly, turning to leave. Lila followed him, casting a wary glance back at Marcus and his men.
Once they were outside, she hissed under her breath, "Are you crazy? We're taking on an armed crew for him?"
"I don't like it either," Ethan admitted, leading her toward a row of stacked crates to plan. "But we need those weapons. We'll handle it quickly and get out."
Lila folded her arms. "And what if Marcus double-crosses us?"
"He might," Ethan replied, his voice steady. "But we'll be ready."
Pier 17 stretched out like a broken finger into the bay, its wooden planks warped from years of neglect. Ethan crouched behind a stack of crates with Lila, watching as the rival crew unloaded their shipment. There were five of them—armed, distracted, and clearly confident that no one would challenge them.
Ethan's system hummed quietly in the back of his mind. A notification appeared:
[New Subtask: Eliminate the Rival Crew. Reward: +1 Stealth Proficiency.]
Perfect, Ethan thought grimly.
He turned to Lila. "We'll do this quietly. I'll circle around and take them out one by one. You cover me."
Lila frowned. "Be careful."
Ethan nodded, slipping away into the shadows. The system's influence guided him, his movements precise and silent. He crept along the edge of the pier, staying low and using the cover of crates and shadows. The first man barely had time to react before Ethan struck, pulling him backward into the darkness and knocking him unconscious.
One down.
Lila watched from her position, her sharp eyes tracking every move. When one of the crew members wandered too far from the group, she tossed a small stone, drawing his attention. The moment he turned, Ethan sprang from the shadows, disarming him with a swift motion and knocking him out cold.
Two down.
The remaining three were clustered near the shipment, laughing and talking. Ethan signaled to Lila, and she nodded. Together, they moved quickly. Ethan closed the distance while Lila provided cover, knocking a barrel over to create a distraction.
"Who's there?" one of the men shouted, spinning toward the noise.
It was all the opening Ethan needed. He struck fast, taking the remaining crew members by surprise. A few quick blows and the fight was over.
Lila stepped out from her hiding place, breathing hard. "You okay?"
Ethan wiped his brow, nodding. "Yeah. Let's get out of here before Marcus changes his mind."
Back at the warehouse, Marcus was waiting, clearly impressed.
"Well, well," he said with a grin. "Didn't think you had it in you, Ethan."
"Now hold up your end," Ethan said coldly.
Marcus laughed but waved to one of his men. "Get them what they need."
Within minutes, crates of weapons and supplies were loaded into a van. Ethan and Lila climbed in, their victory hard-won but satisfying.
As they drove away from the docks, Lila glanced at Ethan. "We've got what we need. What's next?"
Ethan's jaw tightened. "Now we take the fight to Gray."
In the quiet hum of the van, the system chimed softly:
[Task Completed: Supplies Gathered. Reward: +1 Tactical Awareness.]
Ethan felt the shift instantly—his mind sharper, his focus clearer. The pieces were falling into place.
Gray won't know what hit him.