Path of the Unmentioned: The Missing Piece Chapter 55 55: The Vipers [4]

The humid night air clung to Vex's skin as he crouched in the shadows of a broken-down delivery truck.

The stench of rotting garbage and motor oil filled his nostrils, but he didn't flinch.

His eyes remained locked on the empty intersection ahead, where dim streetlights flickered like dying fireflies.

He pressed a finger to the comm device in his ear. "All units, confirm positions." His voice was barely above a whisper, but the high-tech gadget picked up every word.

"East alley, locked and loaded," ca Rook's raspy reply through the earpiece.

"West side clear," Hark grunted. "Got my boys spread out behind the dumpsters."

Vex adjusted the scope on his mana pistol, the cool tal soothing against his calloused fingers. "Rember - we hit hard and fast. No witnesses. If even one Viper walks away..." He let the threat hang in the air.

The radio crackled. "Relax boss," Rook chuckled.

"They are sending rookies with their shipnt tonight. This will be like taking candy from a baby."

Vex's jaw tightened. "Shut up and stay focused. Overconfidence gets n killed."

He checked his watch - 11:57 PM.

Right on schedule.

The distant rumble of an engine cut through the night. Vex's muscles coiled like springs as headlights appeared at the end of the block.

A black delivery truck with peeling paint rolled into view, its suspension groaning under so unseen weight. The number plate matched the intel they had received.

"That's our mark," Vex murmured into the comm. "Rook, take the shot when I give the word."

The truck slowed as it approached the intersection, its brakes squealing like a dying animal.

"Now."

The sharp crack of Rook's mana gun split the night.

The truck's front tire exploded in a shower of rubber and sparks. The vehicle lurched violently, swerving sideways before smashing into a lamppost with a deafening crunch of tal.

Before the dust settled, Vex was already moving. "Smoke out!" he barked into the comm.

Three canisters arced through the air, shattering against the pavent and unleashing thick gray clouds that swallowed the wrecked truck.

"Move in! Move in!" Vex ordered as he sprinted forward, his pistol raised.

From every alleyway, dark figures erged - twenty-five Red Fang mbers ard to the teeth.

They moved like ghosts through the smoke, surrounding the disabled vehicle.

Vex gestured to Hark. "Check the cargo. The rest of you, watch our backs."

The hulking enforcer yanked open the truck's rear doors with a tallic screech - then froze. "Boss..." Hark's voice sounded strangely hollow.

"There's nothing here."

A cold dread crept up Vex's spine.

Then he heard it - a faint ticking coming from inside the truck's cab.

His blood turned to ice.

"AMBUSH!" he roared into the comm. "FALL BA-"

BOOOMM!!

The world erupted in fire and noise. The concussion wave lifted Vex off his feet and slamd him into a brick wall.

His vision swam as debris rained down around him. Through the ringing in his ears, he heard the slow, mocking sound of applause.

As the smoke cleared, a figure stepped into view. The man wore a smirk that made Vex's blood boil.

"Bravo, boys," the stranger drawled. "Really impressive work."

Vex spat out a mouthful of blood and broken teeth. His ribs scread in protest as he struggled to his knees.

Through the pain and fury, he managed to growl one phrase that carried all his hatred.

"You... bastard..."

***

[Flashback - Viper's Hideout]

The dim glow of mana-lamps flickered across Risha's scarred face as she leaned back in her chair, arms crossed.

The air slled of gun oil and cheap liquor.

Dain—Kyle in disguise—stood before her, his expression calm despite the dangerous glint in her blood-red eyes.

"You are telling ," Risha said slowly, tapping her fingers against the desk, "that we have got a rat in our ranks?"

Kyle nodded. "Think about it. How else would the Red Fangs know exactly when and where your shipnts move? You change routes, but they're always waiting. That's not luck—that's inside help."

Risha's blood-red eyes narrowed. She didn't like accusations, especially from newcors.

But the math was too clean to ignore.

She leaned forward, her voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. "And how do you know so much about our operations, Dain?"

Kyle t her gaze without flinching.

"Because I have seen this before. Back in the Blackwatch, traitors bled us dry before we caught them. Sa signs here."

A tense silence stretched between them.

Finally, Risha exhaled sharply through her nose. "Fine. Say I believe you. What's your play?"

Kyle smirked. "We feed the rat false info. Let them think the shipnt's going out as usual—sa route, sa ti. But we switch vehicles halfway. Real cargo moves separately."

Risha studied him for a long mont, then reached into her desk and pulled out a small recording crystal.

She pressed her thumb against it, and her voice echoed clearly:

"Do as Dain says."

She tossed it to him. "Don't make regret this."

***

[Present - Ambush Site]

The acrid smoke from the burning truck stung Kyle's eyes as he watched the surviving Red Fangs stagger to their feet.

The explosion had done its job - only about fifteen of them remained standing, coughing and blinking through the haze.

Their clothes were singed, their faces sared with soot and blood.

Vex, the gang's leader, wiped a trickle of blood from his busted lip with the back of his hand.

His twin swords - curved and wicked sharp - caught the flickering orange light from the flas. The look he gave Kyle could have lted steel.

"You are gonna pay for this," Vex growled, his voice rough like gravel.

He spat a glob of bloody saliva onto the cracked pavent. "I'm gonna peel the skin from your bones slow, you bastard."

Behind Kyle, the shadows moved.

Rat stepped out first, his broken nose making his grin look even more crooked than usual.

Jory followed, cracking his knuckles with a sound like snapping twigs.

Two more Vipers erged from the alley - a wiry guy with a crossbow and a hulking brute with an axe that looked heavy enough to split a man in half.

Kyle didn't even bother taking his tachi off his shoulder. The blade rested there easy, like it was just part of him.

His smirk was all teeth, no warmth.

"I would like to see you try," he said, his voice light like they were discussing the weather instead of a bloodbath.

The street went quiet except for the crackle of flas. Sowhere in the distance, a piece of burning debris clattered to the ground.

The Red Fangs shifted their grips on their weapons, waiting for Vex's signal. The Vipers tensed, ready to move.

Kyle just kept smiling. He had been looking forward to this.

***