Jaune's chest burned as he sprinted through the fog-drenched alleys of Vale, his boots splashing through shallow puddles. He didn't stop, didn't look back. The Silent Hunter had proven himself to be relentless, but Jaune knew the city better than anyone. He could lose him here, at least for a while.
As he turned a corner, he slid into the shadow of a broken lamppost, crouching low to catch his breath. His heart pounded in his ears, drowning out the distant hum of the harbor. The Hunter's pursuit had thrown everything into sharp focus: he wasn't ready for this. The heist, the chase, the fight—it was all a step beyond what he had planned for.
He pulled the map from his coat, the one Isolde had given him, and traced a shaking finger over the marked locations. There was a safehouse nearby, but it wasn't the safest option. It belonged to an old associate, someone he wasn't sure he could trust anymore. Still, it was better than staying out here in the open.
He pushed himself to his feet, taking a deep breath to steady his nerves. The Hunter wouldn't stop, but Jaune didn't plan to be an easy target.
The safehouse was tucked behind a nondescript tavern in the Old Quarter, a place where Vale's underworld thrived in the shadows. Jaune slipped in through the back alley, knocking twice on a rusted iron door.
It opened just a crack, revealing the suspicious eyes of a wiry man with a scar running across his temple.
"Jaune Arc," the man said, his voice rough. "I thought you'd finally met your end."
"Not yet, Kade," Jaune replied, stepping inside. "But someone's working on it."
The door shut behind him with a heavy thud, and Jaune took in the familiar surroundings of Kade's hideout. The room was cluttered with tools, weapons, and half-finished contraptions. Kade had always been a tinkerer, a man who could fix anything—or break it, depending on who paid him.
"What kind of trouble are you dragging in this time?" Kade asked, leaning against a workbench.
Jaune pulled the ruby from his pocket and set it on the table. It caught the dim light, casting a faint red glow across the room.
Kade let out a low whistle. "Well, that explains a lot."
"You've heard about it?"
"Who hasn't?" Kade said, crossing his arms. "The Duke's vault gets hit, and the whole city's buzzing about the 'Arc Phantom' stealing his prized jewel. But that's not the part you should be worried about."
Jaune raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"
Kade leaned in, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "Word is, the Duke didn't just want that ruby for its value. It's leverage—something tied to a deal he's been working on with the Black Talon Syndicate."
Jaune frowned. The Black Talon Syndicate was one of the most dangerous criminal organizations in the kingdom, known for their ruthlessness and reach.
"And now that I've stolen it…"
"They're coming for you," Kade finished. "And if the rumors are true, they've already hired some of the best to take you out. Your friend out there? He's just the first wave."
Jaune's jaw tightened. He had thought the Hunter was his biggest problem, but this changed everything. The Syndicate wouldn't stop until they had the ruby—and his head.
"I need a way out of the city," Jaune said. "Tonight."
Kade hesitated, his eyes darting to the ruby. "You sure about that? You're putting yourself on their radar even more if you run."
"I'm already on their radar," Jaune shot back. "Staying here isn't an option."
Kade sighed, scratching at his scar. "There's a cargo ship leaving at dawn. The Silver Gull. It's headed north, to the borderlands. I can get you on it, but it won't be easy. The docks are crawling with patrols after what happened at the Duke's estate."
"I'll handle the patrols," Jaune said, his voice firm.
Kade smirked, shaking his head. "You've got guts, I'll give you that. Fine. I'll set it up. But you owe me for this."
"Add it to the tab," Jaune replied