Sweat rolled down Awan's neck, stinging the fresh cuts on his shoulder. Behind him, Sekar dragged the shivering apprentice, Banyu, whose small hands gripped her leather jerkin like a lifeline. Rumors traveled faster than cholera in Gresik, and right now, every sellsword from here to the Majapahit border wanted a piece of the Veiled Swordsman. Gresik had transformed into a hornets' nest. Lanterns flickered wildly in the damp night air as groups of armed men patrolled the narrow, muddy streets. Awan grinned, though his knuckles were white where he gripped his concealed blade. "Keep your head down, gorgeous," Awan whispered, leaning closer to Sekar. "Unless you want your pretty face on a wanted poster next to mine." Sekar glared at him, her jaw tight, a vein pulsing at her temple. "This is not the time for your pathetic charms, Awan," she hissed, her voice a harsh whisper. "The entire city guard is hunting us, not to mention every cutthroat with a rusty blade." Banyu whimpered, burying his face deeper into Sekar's side. "Do not worry, little one," Awan said, patting the boy's head with mock ease. "Your uncle Awan has everything under control." They slipped into a narrow alley, the stench of rotting fish and salty mud growing stronger. Reaching the edge of the harbor, Awan peered around a stack of rotting cargo crates. Crowds of bounty hunters choked the docks, their eyes scanning every departing vessel. Two massive rival factions dominated the pier. On the left stood the Sea Wolves, a vicious band of iron-armored sailors known for drowning their victims. On the right were the Black Tusks, brutal mercenaries carrying heavy spiked clubs and wearing matching leather vests. Awan watched them, his eyes narrowing as his mind ran a dozen calculations a second. "We cannot fight our way through that," Sekar whispered, her hand hovering over the hilt of her sword. "There are too many." "Who said anything about fighting?" Awan murmured, a slow, wicked smile spreading across his face. Searching his pockets, Awan pulled out a heavy leather pouch filled with silver coins and a bundle of red-wrapped firecrackers he had filched from a Chinese merchant stall earlier. "Wait here," Awan instructed, his voice dropping to a low, commanding tone that left no room for argument. Slipping into the shadows, Awan moved with the silent grace of a hunting cat. He approached a drunken merchant snoring near a pile of dry hay. Carefully, Awan placed a few silver coins into the man's pocket, then snatched a lantern hanging nearby. He crept toward the Black Tusks' weapon cart, wedging the firecrackers deep inside a barrel of black powder. Next, he slipped toward the Sea Wolves' side of the dock. "Hey!" Awan yelled, disguised in a rough, gravelly voice. "The Black Tusks just found the Veiled Swordsman! They are keeping the bounty for themselves!" Before anyone could react, he threw the lighted lantern directly into the Black Tusks' weapon cart. Seconds later, a deafening explosion rocked the harbor. Red sparks and thick black smoke erupted into the night sky, throwing the docks into utter chaos. Screams of panic echoed as the firecrackers ignited the black powder, sending wood splinters flying like shrapnel. "They are trying to steal our prize!" a Sea Wolf captain roared, drawing his cutlass. "Kill them all!" a Black Tusk brute bellowed in response, swinging his massive club into the captain's chest. Violence erupted instantly, a massive brawl consuming the two mercenary factions as they turned on each other with feral fury. --- "Now," Awan whispered, reappearing beside Sekar and grabbing Banyu's arm. Guiding them through the screaming crowd, Awan navigated the smoke-filled docks with practiced ease. Blades clashed and bodies fell into the dark water around them, but Awan's group moved like ghosts through the riot. They reached the far end of the pier where a small, unassuming fishing skiff was moored. "Get in," Sekar urged, pushing Banyu toward the boat. Right before Awan could step onto the wooden deck, a sudden, unnatural chill swept over the pier. Standing quietly at the end of the wooden walkway was a figure who had not been there a moment ago. White silk draped her slender frame, a stark and pristine contrast to the mud and blood of the harbor. Awan stopped dead in his tracks, his playful demeanor vanishing in an instant. "Who are you?" Awan asked, his voice dropping to a dangerous, icy quiet. She did not answer with words. Instead, she drew twin daggers from her sash, the polished steel gleaming under the moonlight. High-pitched vibrations hummed from the blades, a sound so intense and resonant that it vibrated painfully in Awan's teeth. "Step back, Sekar," Awan ordered, his muscles tensing as he prepared to unleash his true strength. Slowly, the mysterious assassin stepped forward, her movements fluid and mesmerizing. Smiling warmly, the assassin called Awan 'brother' as she revealed a matching noble signet ring that he thought his family had destroyed twenty years ago.

Chapter 8: The Shadow Over Gresik