Around 9 in the evening, I received a ssage with GPS coordinates and a retrieval code that I’m supposed to ssage back to this sa contact number. I imagine it is one that is ant to be thrown away and not truly attached to the seller.
Using the ssage feature to open the phone’s map app directly, I see that it was an abandoned lot behind a long defunct paper mill (according to the location ratings) miles outside the city proper. Which is to say, quite close to the railyard I’ve already been to and way down by the industrial district.
I was to arrive between 2:00 and 4:00 AM, alone, and text the code. Every royal instinct told this was potentially a trap. Yet, if these hunters operated within the Council’s broader frawork, then openly attacking a werewolf without provocation would violate their own protocols.
> Does tricking them into thinking I was one of them, but still actually paying for the good I bought count as provocation? If so, then their whole concept of trade anonymity needs reworking! <
Still, I’d prepared as carefully as I could. I wore a set of dark, flexible clothing that wouldn’t restrict movent if I needed to shift. Purchased cheaply from a big na store.
The hunter’s knife was secured on a black belt without any shiny tal. I’d even taken a circuitous path to ensure I wasn’t followed, doubling back and changing routes three tis. Even climbed a ladder and hopped down from a fire escape once.
Smokestack silhouettes lood in the remaining moonlight, blocking so of the stars that clouds were not yet. Chain-link fencing surrounded the property like most places in this area, but the gate itself hung open with its chain long since cut by bold explorers...
I checked the ti on the system map, instead of the glow of my phone. 2:47 AM... early enough to easily remain within the window I was given. Late enough that anyone waiting to catch a glimpse hopefully grew impatient or tired.
The lot behind the mill seed like a ’graveyard’ of industrial debris. Rusted machinery parts, hills of concrete rubble, and weather-worn and rotting wood pallets created a maze of potential hiding spots.
> This place looks perfect for an ambush. Also perfect for to disappear if things go wrong if no one is hiding behind them. How dangerous... <
Vrika huffs as I scan the area with shifted eyes. Using both the hybrid form’s enhanced sight and scent to try and detect any human presence. Nothing seems imdiate, though plenty of old slls lingered.
Multiple people had been here in the past few days and, by the tire tracks... at least one group tonight. In the center of the lot, they’d sat down what I ca here for. A steel shipping container, stark white with the reinforced door exactly as pictured in the listing.
It appeared to be in notably good condition compared to its surroundings... sticking out like a sore thumb as I circled for any signs of tampering or far away surveillance. Of course, if they are doing it with tiny caras I may never know.
Rounding the last corner of it, sothing imdiately caught my eye. A logo printed on the side panel, partially obscured by a quick repaint but still visible for its embossed and stylized crescent moon with the words [Lunarizon Industries].
I stopped in my tracks, staring at the ’erased’ familiar emblem.
> Of all the places they might have acquired a container in the world, my purchase had co from Kyrie Voss’s company? <
My wolf made a weird sound and sent an impression that I... was acting silly? It seed to think it only made sense. And I suppose I agree.
That the biggest company na in the city and one of the bigger ones in this region of the country would have lots of these. And that, through whatever thod, they were being resold to hunters.
> If this BoundaryKeeper purchased them legally, then that ans so of the money I took from her card is going right back to her company... <
A little relief that I might not be borrowing as much from her as I thought turns to frustration that I couldn’t seem to escape touches of her influence, even when trying to be completely independent. Taking this ans my Stash will almost permanently have sothing to do with her.
Unless I replace the container at the first possible opportunity... which seems like a hassle. And a nagging suspicion about whether this was re coincidence or sothing more deliberate started to build.
> Did she know? Is she monitoring her card’s usage and sohow orchestrated this? <
No. That was paranoia talking and I didn’t even need the spirit to give that pointed look to realize it. Lunarizon was simply a ’major player’ in the region and this was all coincidence.
Being owned by the Ricoat Alpha... the hunters probably had a standing arrangent with them for decommissioned units. Since they work alongside the council. It makes a strange amount of business and community sense.
Hiding in a spot where my phone’s screen light hopefully won’t be noticed, I text that code to the number provided. The response ca almost imdiately. Is every person in this world just always holding onto their devices?
BK: [Verified. Property transfer complete. Maintenance package inside top left corner. Do not return to this location.]
I blinked a few tis, seeing the contact... having letters on the icon and not just so generic symbol. Moving back to my contacts, I see that the number had... been added to it without my doing so.
> That’s not creepy at all. How was it even done? <
The device had been in my possession the entire ti, yet sohow this [BoundaryKeeper] had managed to insert themselves without physical access. Helene’s mories provided no help - her knowledge of phones and computers extended only to the most basic functions.
Sealed royal missives in my world could definitely be opened and doctored by those with enough knowhow or reason to risk it, but even that is an extrely rare skill to possess without being found. I have to imagine that whoever this person is, they are very good with technology.
For a mont, I considered deleting the contact entirely. But sothing told that might be noticed. And I had no idea what other access they might have or what they would do if I ssed with what they’d done.
For all I knew, they could be tracking my movents through this device even now. If so, why they would... why they are even still willing to work with is an oddity.
> Should I respond? Thank them? Or pretend I never noticed this invasion? <
Vrika offered no strong opinion, rely radiating a sense of caution to temper my thrill seeking. The wolf seed to understand that we were operating against sothing neither of us fully comprehended.
> Nothing new, there. <
In the end, I simply pocketed my phone without further response. Though I did grow a sudden epiphany that made mumble out loud.
"Even though two other people have given business cards now, I’ve never added a single contact myself. Both of these entries, people have just... put them on my phone on their own. I’m starting to feel like a pushover."
> I’m starting to feel like Kyle!
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