02-24-2025, 09:43 PM
”The sea's memory is long, and its patience is eternal.” -Old Eirian Proverb
”His domain of water may be still, but the seas never sleep. Know that their stillness will be brief before their retribution.” - Excerpt from the Unitist Mailanju Svekrē, Testimony of the Angel of Water, 3/12.
—
Serenity City, Eiria
The dockyards of Serenity City were quiet for a seaside metropolis, even for the middle of the night. Not a hushed sort of quiet, like the sound of someone trying to conceal something. Abnormally quiet.
Dead quiet.
There were no longer the sounds of smugglers slowly opening shipping containers. No more footsteps of corrupt guards or customs agents sent to make sure the coast was clear. Serenity City was once a major hub for international smugglers wanting to bring things into Eiria, but those days had seemingly disappeared without a trace.
All this to say, there was no better time and place to set up shop.
The steps of heavy work boots hitting the ground perforated the veil of silence hovering over the dockyard. Having already paid the requisite bribe to enter the area, the figure examined the empty cargo containers with a relaxed curiosity. After ascertaining that the area met with their specifications, they switched off their flashlight and turned heel, disappearing into the night.
A few footprints in the gravel and the sound of rocks crunching beneath hard soles were the only signs that anyone had been there in the first place.
—
Central Geminus, Eiria
“My patience is running out, Lira. And you know what happens when it does.”
The steady baritone voice of the Lighthouse himself poured out of Lira’s Elek5 phone, although the veiled threat was made a bit less intimidating by the static of the speaker. Lira huddled under the front cover of the restaurant a few blocks from her work, trying to stay both dry and engaged with the conversation.
“I am trying to find the mole, I promise you. These warrants are coming out of nowhere. Entire operations are being surgically removed. It’s as if someone on the inside knows just what people to apprehend and what money to pin to cripple everyone involved,” She said, trailing off in thought.
“They obviously have people on the inside. I have had three reliable business partners captured since the start of the year, and even more since October. Now we have reckless gang leaders coming in and trying to replace them, not knowing the Laws of the Sea nor current territory claims. Angels help me, I hate upstarts. They do not understand the breadth of what they do not know.”
Under other circumstances, Lira might have laughed at the mob boss’ exhausted tone. Given his earlier threat, she decided against it. “I apologise. I am trying my best to find out who is leaking all of this information to the DEI. What I know so far is that the source did not go through the standard informant process. Whoever it is, they are close to someone high in the Department, and they know how to cover their tracks.”
“Find them, Lira. If they come after me, I promise you that I will take you down before I fall.”
The line went dead. After glancing around the street and regaining her composure, Lira adjusted her suit, opened her umbrella, and stepped back out into the rain.
”His domain of water may be still, but the seas never sleep. Know that their stillness will be brief before their retribution.” - Excerpt from the Unitist Mailanju Svekrē, Testimony of the Angel of Water, 3/12.
—
Serenity City, Eiria
The dockyards of Serenity City were quiet for a seaside metropolis, even for the middle of the night. Not a hushed sort of quiet, like the sound of someone trying to conceal something. Abnormally quiet.
Dead quiet.
There were no longer the sounds of smugglers slowly opening shipping containers. No more footsteps of corrupt guards or customs agents sent to make sure the coast was clear. Serenity City was once a major hub for international smugglers wanting to bring things into Eiria, but those days had seemingly disappeared without a trace.
All this to say, there was no better time and place to set up shop.
The steps of heavy work boots hitting the ground perforated the veil of silence hovering over the dockyard. Having already paid the requisite bribe to enter the area, the figure examined the empty cargo containers with a relaxed curiosity. After ascertaining that the area met with their specifications, they switched off their flashlight and turned heel, disappearing into the night.
A few footprints in the gravel and the sound of rocks crunching beneath hard soles were the only signs that anyone had been there in the first place.
—
Central Geminus, Eiria
“My patience is running out, Lira. And you know what happens when it does.”
The steady baritone voice of the Lighthouse himself poured out of Lira’s Elek5 phone, although the veiled threat was made a bit less intimidating by the static of the speaker. Lira huddled under the front cover of the restaurant a few blocks from her work, trying to stay both dry and engaged with the conversation.
“I am trying to find the mole, I promise you. These warrants are coming out of nowhere. Entire operations are being surgically removed. It’s as if someone on the inside knows just what people to apprehend and what money to pin to cripple everyone involved,” She said, trailing off in thought.
“They obviously have people on the inside. I have had three reliable business partners captured since the start of the year, and even more since October. Now we have reckless gang leaders coming in and trying to replace them, not knowing the Laws of the Sea nor current territory claims. Angels help me, I hate upstarts. They do not understand the breadth of what they do not know.”
Under other circumstances, Lira might have laughed at the mob boss’ exhausted tone. Given his earlier threat, she decided against it. “I apologise. I am trying my best to find out who is leaking all of this information to the DEI. What I know so far is that the source did not go through the standard informant process. Whoever it is, they are close to someone high in the Department, and they know how to cover their tracks.”
“Find them, Lira. If they come after me, I promise you that I will take you down before I fall.”
The line went dead. After glancing around the street and regaining her composure, Lira adjusted her suit, opened her umbrella, and stepped back out into the rain.
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