The industrial district never truly woke up; it just lingered in a perpetual haze of smoke, rust, and desperation. Sun and Neptune followed the trail left behind in Grimshaw's notebook, their breath fogging in the early morning chill. The next name on the list was Aveline Crass, a name whispered in connection with the Velvet Veil's human trafficking ring.
Unlike Grimshaw, Aveline wasn't a middleman. She was a shark—ruthless, resourceful, and utterly remorseless. She ran her operation from the depths of the district, her domain a mix of sweatshops, warehouses, and run-down tenements.
"Are we seriously doing this?" Neptune muttered, his voice low as they approached a decrepit factory marked with Crass's insignia—a silver handprint spray-painted onto the walls.
"We can't stop now," Sun replied, gripping his staff tightly. His golden eyes scanned the area, his senses on high alert. "If we back off, she'll just move more people. More kids like Tessa."
Neptune sighed, but there was no real argument in his tone. "This feels like suicide."
"Then why'd you come?" Sun shot back.
Neptune smirked faintly, his grip tightening on his trident. "Because someone has to keep your tail out of trouble."
The factory was silent when they slipped inside, its vast interior cloaked in shadows. Rows of dormant machinery loomed like skeletal giants, their rusted gears and belts frozen in time.
"This place gives me the creeps," Neptune whispered, his voice echoing faintly in the stillness.
Sun's ears twitched as he picked up a faint noise—a low hum coming from deeper within the building. He signaled Neptune to follow, and they crept toward the sound.
The hum grew louder as they approached, resolving into muffled voices. The two of them peered through a gap in the machinery, their eyes widening at the sight below.
Aveline Crass stood at the center of the room, flanked by armed guards. She was tall and striking, her silver hair pulled back in a tight braid, her sharp features accentuated by the harsh overhead lights. Her tailored suit was immaculate, a stark contrast to the filth around her.
Before her was a man on his knees, his face battered and bloodied. Aveline circled him like a predator, her voice calm and measured.
"You thought you could skim off the top," she said, her tone almost conversational. "A little here, a little there. Did you really think I wouldn't notice?"
The man tried to speak, but his words were garbled by the blood dripping from his lips.
"I trusted you," Aveline continued, her voice hardening. "And you betrayed me."
She turned to one of her guards and nodded. The man stepped forward, drawing a pistol.
Sun's body tensed as the gunshot echoed through the factory, the sound reverberating like a thunderclap.
Neptune flinched, his grip tightening on his weapon. "She's not messing around," he whispered.
"No kidding," Sun muttered.
Aveline gestured to the body, her expression indifferent. "Clean it up. And let this be a reminder to all of you—loyalty is rewarded. Disobedience is punished."
The guards moved quickly, dragging the body away as Aveline turned and headed toward a side door.
"Now's our chance," Sun whispered.
"Chance for what?" Neptune hissed. "Did you see what she just did? She's got an army down there!"
"We can't let her get away," Sun said, his voice firm. "She's the key to all of this."
Neptune groaned. "You and your damn hero complex."
They followed Aveline through the maze of the factory, keeping their distance as she descended deeper into the building. The air grew colder, the walls narrowing into a series of underground tunnels.
"This feels like a trap," Neptune muttered, his eyes darting around the dimly lit corridor.
"Probably is," Sun admitted. "But we don't have a choice."
The tunnel opened into a cavernous chamber filled with cages. Unlike the warehouse, this was a holding area—temporary, but no less horrifying. The air was thick with the smell of unwashed bodies and despair.
Aveline stood near the center, speaking with a man in a lab coat. They were too far away to hear, but the body language said it all. The lab coat was nervous, gesturing frantically as he tried to explain something.
"We need to get closer," Sun whispered, his tail flicking anxiously.
As they moved along the edge of the room, Neptune grabbed Sun's arm. "Wait. Look."
Sun followed his gaze and saw a group of guards patrolling the perimeter, their eyes scanning the shadows.
"Great," Sun muttered. "We'll have to take them out quietly."
Neptune raised an eyebrow. "Quiet isn't really my style."
"Then learn fast," Sun shot back.
The first guard went down without a sound, Sun's staff striking the back of his head with practiced precision. Neptune followed suit, using his trident to disable another guard before dragging him into the shadows.
But they weren't fast enough.
"Hey!" a voice shouted.
The remaining guards turned, their weapons raised.
"So much for quiet," Neptune muttered, spinning his trident into a defensive stance.
The fight erupted in a blur of motion. Sun darted between the guards, his staff a blur as he struck with speed and precision. Neptune held the line, using his trident to deflect bullets and disarm attackers.
The commotion drew Aveline's attention. She turned, her sharp eyes narrowing as she spotted them.
"Well," she said, her voice carrying across the chamber. "Looks like we have guests."
Sun met her gaze, his chest heaving as he tightened his grip on his staff.
"You don't scare me," he said, his voice defiant.
Aveline smirked, her lips curving into a cold, predatory grin. "Oh, sweetheart," she said, pulling a sleek pistol from her jacket. "You should be."
She raised the gun and fired.
The bullet tore past Sun, missing him by inches. He rolled to the side, using the chaos to close the distance between them.
Neptune shouted something, but Sun didn't hear him. His focus was on Aveline, her movements calm and deliberate as she aimed for his head.
Sun leapt forward, his staff swinging in a wide arc. Aveline sidestepped with practiced ease, her pistol coming up to fire again.
But this time, Neptune was there.
He hurled his trident, the weapon crackling with energy as it struck the ground at Aveline's feet. The shockwave threw her off balance, giving Sun the opening he needed.
He lunged, his staff connecting with her wrist and sending the pistol clattering to the floor.
Aveline glared at him, her expression cold and calculating. "You're brave," she said. "Stupid, but brave."
"Where are the others?" Sun demanded, his voice shaking with anger. "Where are you taking them?"
Aveline smiled faintly. "You think this ends with me?"
Before Sun could respond, a siren blared, and the room was bathed in red light.
"Self-destruct sequence initiated," a mechanical voice announced. "All personnel evacuate immediately."
Aveline's smile widened. "You've already lost."
Smoke began to fill the chamber as she slipped into the chaos, disappearing into the shadows.
"Sun!" Neptune shouted, grabbing his arm. "We've gotta go!"
Sun hesitated, his fists clenching in frustration. But there was no time to argue.
They turned and ran, the walls shaking as explosions ripped through the factory.
Outside, the factory collapsed in a plume of fire and smoke. Sun and Neptune stood in the rain, their clothes torn, their faces streaked with dirt and sweat.
"She got away," Sun said bitterly.
Neptune clapped a hand on his shoulder. "But we're still standing. That's gotta count for something."
Sun didn't respond. He stared at the burning wreckage, the weight of their failure pressing down on him.
In the distance, sirens wailed. The city's shadows were growing deeper, and the water was getting bloodier.