For Alen and his team, the task laid upon their shoulders was a daunting one. They were charged with uncovering evidence, hard, undeniable proof of wrongdoing. Not only against the Cerebus Guild, whose corruption had long been whispered about in alleys and dark corners, but also against the Grand Magus himself.
Already, in their investigations into the Cerebus Guild, Alen and his companions had unearthed plenty. The guild’s wrongdoings were not hidden carefully or locked away behind closed doors. No, they were brazen, almost arrogant in the way they carried them out. It was as though they believed themselves untouchable, confident that no one would dare stand against them.
It was clear that nearly everything was under their thumb. Still, they were cunning. The Cerebus Guild often passed down their dirtiest tasks to guilds beneath them, smaller factions who were willing to carry out orders in exchange for coin or protection.
Alen had already reached out to Raze, keeping close contact with the man. From the Underside, there were whispers and murmurs, people willing to testify, ready to expose the guilds involved. Slowly, a list of those responsible was forming. There were guilds supplying illegal substances openly, pushing them into the hands of students, dragging the vulnerable down into addiction and despair.
This, Alen knew, was more than a matter of catching criminals. It was about timing. Once the full list of guilds was complete, he wanted to strike all at once, rounding up those responsible, questioning them, and exposing their ties to the Cerebus Guild.
But taking down the Cerebus Guild itself? That was sothing else entirely. Even if they revealed the truth to the public, who would have the strength to act against such a powerful force? That was when Alen knew he would have to rely on the Dark Guild and on Raze himself. Only with their strength could this be achieved.
For now, though, their more pressing challenge was building a case against Gizin.
How could they prove that he was the one manufacturing these substances? That question had plagued Alen for weeks, and the answer seed always just out of reach. He and his small team of four had attempted to sneak into several factories rumored to belong to him, but infiltration was nearly impossible.
Now the five of them sat slumped in a quiet corner of a coffee shop, the rich scent of roasted beans doing nothing to ease the frustration in the air. They had just returned from another failed attempt, another fruitless lead.
"I hate to say it," one of the n finally broke the silence, his voice low, hesitant, "but what if Gizin isn’t actually responsible? Only the Grand Magus claims that he’s behind this. Yes, Gizin runs the Cerebus Guild, and they’re guilty of plenty of wrongdoings, but... that doesn’t an he’s the one making these substances."
Alen pressed a hand against his chin, his eyes narrowing as he mulled it over. That was exactly the problem. This was the excuse the public would seize upon if they failed to uncover hard evidence. Without proof, their claims would crumble, dismissed as slander or hearsay.
Another teammate leaned forward. "Right. I an, Gizin is one of the wealthiest n in Alterian. I can see the argunt, get people addicted, sell them substances that alter or damage their magic core, then make money again by selling them the so-called cures. Endless profit. But even without that, he’s already rich beyond asure. I just don’t see why he’d risk it."
It was true. Gizin had power, wealth, and influence. Why would he stoop so low unless there was sothing even greater to gain? Yet Alen couldn’t shake the feeling that they were missing a vital piece of the puzzle.
Visiting Gizin’s factories had proven useless. Official inspections gave them no chance to see the truth. By the ti they arrived, whatever they sought could be hidden or destroyed. And sneaking in carried risks of its own, risks that outweighed the chance of success.
Alen finally exhaled and spoke, his voice cutting through the doubts. "We need to look at it differently. Think of it this way. From everything we’ve uncovered, we can conclude two things: there is a mass production of illegal substances happening right under our noses, and it is being distributed and controlled by the Cerebus Guild. So the question is simple, where are they getting it from?"
His gaze swept over his n, sharp and unyielding. "We’re not investigating Gizin directly. That’s not our task. We’re tracing the source. If the trail leads to him, then so be it. But our focus should remain on the product, on finding where it is being made. That is how we’ll uncover the truth."
Frad like that, his words breathed new life into the group. No longer did they feel as though they were chasing shadows, doubting their own purpose. Instead, they felt once again like seekers of justice, driven by sothing righteous.
At that mont, Alen’s wrist began to vibrate. He glanced down, recognizing the na imdiately. He cast a silence spell around their table before answering, so the others could hear without interruption.
"Raze," Alen greeted. "I assu you’re calling because you need sothing?"
Raze’s voice ca through, steady but urgent. "That’s right. More and more people from the Underside are coming to us now, aware of what we’re doing. At first, I was only curing those addicted to illegal substances. That allowed your team to investigate the guilds quietly, to follow the trails. But lately... others have co to as well."
Alen frowned. "Others?"
"Not just addicts," Raze clarified. "People who seem... different. And there are a lot of them down here. So are perfectly healthy, no problems at all, but they’ve chosen to live in the Underside anyway. They’re hiding." His tone lowered. "And I think there’s a reason.
"There’s a place I believe you should investigate. But it’s dangerous. Too dangerous for your team to handle alone. I’ll be sending soone to help you."
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