The aftermath of the Syndicate patrol's retreat left the Ratline tunnels thick with the scent of sweat, gunpowder, and victory. Elias didn't celebrate. He stood over the scattered bodies with his arms crossed, analyzing everything — timing, movements, weaknesses.
Every skirmish was a data point. Every fight, a lesson.
"Yo," Dizzy said, nursing a graze on his shoulder. "We won, right? So why you lookin' like someone stole your future?"
Elias didn't answer at first. He was staring at a wall behind the Syndicate's entry point — a fresh spray tag, red on grime: **"FALX."**
He tapped his HUD, pulling up the Crime Map overlay. The eastern sector of Blackridge had begun blinking — faint pulses of red on the edge of their growing claim.
FALX wasn't just another gang. It was a militant splinter faction, rumored to be ex-Syndicate enforcers turned mercs. If they were watching the Ratline, they weren't just scouting.
They were planning.
******
[System Alert: Hidden Threat Detected – Unknown Faction: "FALX"]
Warning: Enemy operates with Tactical Intelligence and Heavy Gear
Risk Level: HIGH
Recommended Action: Reinforce defenses | Gather intel | Avoid direct conflict
+1 Crime Point for Discovery
******
Dizzy leaned in, reading over Elias's shoulder. "You think they're coming?"
"I think they're already here," Elias muttered.
They returned to the safehouse by dawn. Elias spent the next hour reinforcing the armory and rotating their patrol schedule. He couldn't afford to be reactive anymore.
He needed leverage.
That's when he remembered the name on the burner phone from earlier: **Lysa Marrow** — former Syndicate fixer turned rogue, operating a blackmail and info trade out of a crumbling motel near the border.
He sent Dizzy to scout while he accessed the Crime Shop.
******
Crime Shop – Tier I
Current CP: 56
– [Nightvision Attachment] – 8 CP
– [Encrypted Transmitter] – 12 CP
– [Enhanced Reflex Booster (1-hr)] – 18 CP
– [Random Skill Boost (Lv.1)] – 15 CP
– [Rumor Network Ping: 1 Sector] – 5 CP
******
He purchased the **Encrypted Transmitter** and **Rumor Network Ping**.
–12 CP
–5 CP
Remaining CP: **39**
The transmitter would let him coordinate safely with Dizzy across secured channels. The ping returned one hit — Lysa Marrow had last been seen trading intel to a Blackridge detective, off the books.
That made things messy. But Elias didn't flinch.
Within hours, Dizzy was back.
"She'll meet. One hour. Neutral ground — the water tower on Locke Street."
Elias strapped on his vest, holstered his Glock, and double-checked the transmitter.
This wasn't about gaining territory now. It was about outsmarting enemies smarter than him.
As he stepped into the grimy morning light, Elias knew this game was accelerating. The board was expanding, the pieces more dangerous.
But that was fine.
Because he wasn't just another player anymore.
He was the one setting pressure points — and watching the city twitch.