The wind picked up as Elias watched the skyline from the rooftop. Blackridge stretched out beneath him like a sleeping beast — dangerous, unpredictable, and always hungry. He had to move fast, make the right calls, or risk losing everything.
His fingers traced the outline of the burner phone in his pocket. There were no calls, no messages. Just silence. The kind that gnawed at the back of his mind.
Dizzy was pacing back and forth behind him, still uneasy. "You sure this is the right move? This supplier thing is getting bigger than we thought."
Elias didn't turn around. "If we don't move on it, someone else will."
"Yeah, but who the hell is pulling the strings? We don't even know who we're up against."
"I know," Elias muttered. "But we can't play it safe anymore. There's too much to gain."
The system chimed, its usual hum slicing through the tension.
******
[System Alert: New Mission Objective – Contact Watchdog Supplier]
Objective: Confirm the identity of the Watchdog Supplier
Time Limit: 72 Hours
Requirements:
- Locate supplier's hideout
- Make contact without revealing true intentions
- Gather intel on supplier's operations
Reward for Completion: +15 Crime Points | +2 Skill Points | Unlock Special Item or Skill
******
The new alert was clear, but Elias had no illusions. Finding the supplier wouldn't be easy. The Watchdogs were a larger, better-organized force than anything he had encountered so far. But if he could pull it off, he'd be closer to the top — and that was a place he was determined to reach.
"Alright," Elias said, his voice cutting through the air. "We move tonight. I'll need you to stay close, Dizzy. Don't engage unless I give the signal."
Dizzy gave a quick nod, his anxiety clear in his posture, but he trusted Elias enough to follow.
They moved through the back alleys of Blackridge, the only light coming from the distant glow of neon signs and flickering streetlamps. Elias led the way, the map from his Crime Shop overlay guiding him through the labyrinth of streets and abandoned buildings.
Each step was calculated, every turn an opportunity to gather more intel, more leverage. Elias knew the city better than anyone, and tonight, it was his advantage. They finally arrived at a nondescript warehouse on the edge of town.
No guards, no obvious security — just a plain, run-down building that looked as if it hadn't been touched in years.
"This it?" Dizzy asked, his voice low.
Elias studied the building. The hairs on the back of his neck prickled. Something wasn't right.
"Stay here," Elias said, voice firm. "I'm going in."
He moved silently toward the building, taking care to stay out of sight. He tested the door — unlocked. The smell of damp concrete and stale air hit him as he stepped inside.
It was quiet. Too quiet.
Elias's eyes scanned the dim interior. There were no signs of activity, but the hairs on his arms stood on end. He could feel it — they were being watched. But by whom?
His system flashed another alert.
******
[System Alert: Unidentified Presence Detected]
Warning: High Probability of Hostile Encounter
Time Limit: 12 Hours
Requirement: Identify and neutralize threat before supplier is contacted
Reward: +10 Crime Points | +1 Skill Point
******
Elias's mind raced. He had walked right into it — the setup, the trap. But he wouldn't back down now. If there was a rival here, he'd have to outsmart them.
He crouched behind a stack of crates, waiting, listening. His breath slowed as he tried to pick up any sound — any movement.
Then, he heard it. A soft footstep, barely audible, but enough to alert him to the danger. Elias's instincts kicked in.
He moved fast, emerging from his cover just as a figure lunged at him. The man was fast, but not fast enough. Elias was already in motion, slamming the side of his forearm into the man's throat, knocking him off-balance. A quick jab to the stomach, and the man crumpled to the ground, gasping for air.
Before Elias could finish the job, another figure appeared, aiming a gun at him. He dove to the side, narrowly avoiding the bullet that grazed his arm. Pain shot through him, but he didn't flinch. He fired back, his Glock delivering a precise shot to the attacker's chest.
The figure dropped, lifeless, the gun skidding across the concrete.
Elias stood over them, breathing heavily. This was getting complicated. But he had no choice now. He had to move forward.
Dizzy entered the warehouse cautiously, his eyes wide as he took in the scene. "You okay?"
Elias nodded, wiping the blood from his arm. "Yeah. But we're not done yet."
The system chimed again, the mission alert flashing in his HUD.
******
[Objective Update: Supplier Location Unconfirmed – Hostile Encounter Resolved]
Crime Points: +10
Skill Points: +1
New Intel Thread: Unknown Hostile Group – Tracking Progress: 0/3
******
Elias gave Dizzy a sharp look. "Let's finish this. We need to find that supplier."
They moved deeper into the warehouse, determined. Whoever had set this trap had to be connected to the Watchdogs. The only question left was how far their reach went.
Elias's resolve hardened. He wasn't just a pawn anymore. He was taking control of the game — and no one was going to stop him.
******
[Objective Complete: Survive Hostile Encounter – Warehouse Secured]
Crime Points: +8
Skill Points: +1
Unlocks: +1 New System Upgrade Option (Pending Completion of Primary Mission)
******
The game had changed. And Elias was ready for the next level.