Chapter 58 – Infiltration
RA-02 Police Station, Willow Lane, North Borough, Giaris City
The RA-02 Police Station wasn't usually chaotic, but today it was a storm. Inspector Bennett's sudden orders had mobilized every available officer toward Steel Mill Road.
By 4 P.M., eighty green-uniformed policemen swarmed the compound, carrying truncheons, cutlasses, and in some cases, rifles and revolvers. Their clatter drew curious onlookers, who pressed against the gates.
"Are they having some sort of drill?" an old man muttered, smoke curling from his cigar.
"Looks like they're preparing for a battle, gramps," a young voice replied.
The older man turned, ready to scold, but froze mid-sentence. The boy's face… wasn't a boy at all. It was a 35-year-old man, sharp-featured, wearing a black vest over a white shirt, a bowler hat perched neatly atop his head, and a single-breasted jacket.
"What the… I thought you were young!" the man stammered.
The blonde man peeked through the fence, chuckled, gave a polite bow, and walked to the Hansom cab parked across the street. After whispering something to the coachman, he stepped in, and the carriage rolled silently into the depths of North Borough.
…
Back at the station, a young man in his thirties with striking red hair stepped forward, surveying the officers. Anxiety rippled across their faces.
The truth was simple: North Borough's peace relied on quiet agreements between gangs and officials. With 400,000 residents and only 700 policemen, complete law enforcement was impossible. Petty crime thrived, but as long as no one broke the unspoken agreements, chaos remained contained.
Bennett's voice cut through the murmurs. "I know you're anxious, but we aren't waging war on the gangs. Our mission is to rescue someone."
Blonde Officer Hannah stepped forward and saluted. "Sir… may we know who we're rescuing?"
Bennett shook his head. "Not yet. You'll know soon enough."
He lifted a top hat from nowhere, adjusted it, and nodded. "To Steel Mill Road. Dismiss."
Within minutes, officers mounted horses and loaded wagons. Three large wagons rolled out, flanked by dozens of armed men, their boots clattering over the cobblestone streets.
…
Old Rice Mill Factory, Steel Mill Road
By 4:30 P.M., a black Hansom cab stopped outside the towering Rice Mill. A sharp-featured blonde man leapt from the carriage, tossing two silver coins to the coachman, and approached the two-meter-tall iron gate.
The gate creaked open, revealing a red-bricked structure as tall as a three-story mansion. Shattered windows and graffiti marred the facade. Cobblestones were overrun with weeds; rusted machinery lay scattered. Smoke and chatter drifted from within, carrying the scent of stale tobacco and musty wood.
Two young men, barely older than teenagers, stood at the entrance. They bowed instead of stopping him. Raven observed them closely — likely apprentice Walkers — and noticed a dozen ragged youths lingering in the yard, low-ranking gang members.
Without hesitation, Raven opened the wooden door and stepped inside.
The interior contrasted sharply with the outer decay. Magical lamps cast warm light across high ceilings. Old machinery and scattered equipment filled the space, but Raven's eyes were drawn to a small room at the far end. A woman in her late twenties leaned against the wall, smoking.
'Remy,' he realized. A fourth Circle Official Walker of the Gold Thieves, present when he had infiltrated the Holmes Mansion.
Raven coughed to clear his throat, stepping toward a staircase leading downward. Remy barely glanced at him.
'His cough… sounds like a child,' she thought, shrugging and taking another drag of her cigarette.
The basement was not a dungeon but a grim residential hall. The pungent stench of alcohol, opium, and damp wood hit him immediately. Empty bottles littered the floor, scorched spoons and pipes scattered evidence of addiction. A haze of smoke clung to the clothes of the slouched gang members, their vacant eyes fixed on nothing.
Nearby, others played cards, laughing and coughing in equal measure. Moans echoed faintly from the rooms ahead. Raven wrinkled his nose, forcing himself to focus.
Yellow light from wall-mounted lamps illuminated the cracked doors and worn floorboards. A few men and women stood ten meters away, speaking quietly. Among them, two familiar faces: Tomy and Zyad.
He hesitated. 'I snuck in… now what?'
[There are twelve rooms up front and ten at the back. Notice the difference — the front is well-lit with magical lamps; the back barely has two in the farthest corners. That's where Thomas is.] Zera's voice echoed in his head.
Raven nodded, walking calmly past the group, face thoughtful, avoiding eye contact. He reached the third door on the left, the only one locked from the outside, and entered.
The room was small but functional. Two tables, several chairs, and a brand-new whiskey bottle caught his attention. He pocketed it for later.
[What now?]
"I wait for the police. Once they subdue the gang, I'll rescue Thomas."
[Or use Face Morph to switch with him.]
"I'll decide after I secure him," Raven muttered.
Suddenly, a male voice rang from the corridor. "POLICE ARE COMING! ALERT THE BOSS!"
Chaos erupted. Remy's voice quavered, panicked. "What? But… the boss…"
Alvin's voice answered from the crowd. "I saw tens of horses and three wagons moving here. If Jeff hadn't warned me earlier, we wouldn't have noticed at all."
Mia, the Vice Leader, immediately took control. "Grab whatever you can. Hold the entrance. I'll take the hostage and escape through the back. As long as the boss and I survive, we can sort the rest later."
Gang members scrambled, weapons in hand. Mia moved swiftly, slipping through the corridor with practiced precision.