Chapter 1461 An Imposter?

Chapter 1461 An Imposter?

Author's Note: Unedited Chapter

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"A Triton guard?" Gustav's tone shifted from confrontational to curious, his grip loosening just enough to allow the guard to breathe more easily.

The guard catching his breath, quickly tried to leverage the moment.

"Yes, yes! I'm—I'm not here to cause trouble. I recognized you, Gustav Crimson, and curiosity got the better of me. I meant no harm!"

Gustav set him down but didn't release him completely, his hand firmly on Sael's shoulder.

"Curiosity? Or were you planning on outing my location?" Gustav's suspicion was evident.

The guard, realizing that honesty was his best chance at walking away unscathed, nodded hurriedly.

"It's true, I thought about it—but I swear, I haven't told anyone! Please, I have no interest in crossing someone like you."

Gustav studied him for a moment longer, then finally released him, stepping back.

"What is a Triton guard doing here anyway? Don't you guys specialize in transporting criminals?"

The guard still catching his breath from the encounter, responded with a mixture of relief and apprehension.

"I—I was assigned to patrol this area, not by choice but by orders. My superiors... they sent me to keep an eye out for Vlaid Zenith."

The mention of Vlaid Zenith caused Gustav to narrow his eyes in surprise and suspicion.

"Zenith? Why?"

Realizing that evasion might only provoke another confrontation from which he might not walk away, he hurriedly complied.

"We were tasked to recover a stolen item—Rion—and to recapture an escaped prisoner, Karis..."

"You're here for Karis and the Rion?" Gustav knew Triton would try to make a move but he hadn't expected it to be so quick.

Sael nodded, eager to cooperate, perhaps to curry favor or simply to avoid further physical persuasion.

"After the incident with one of our transport vessels and theft, our intelligence traced Karis's path to the Nereus Sector. We believe Karis and Zenith might be collaborating, which makes him a person of interest in multiple violations."

Gustav processed the information, "And I'm guessing a team has been formed to process retrieval?"

"That's right," Sael continued, shifting uncomfortably under Gustav's intense gaze.

"Engagement without backup is deemed too risky. Zenith has resources and allies that far outweigh what I could handle alone. My role was reconnaissance only—observe and report back."

Gustav mulled over the details, "Since you guys are here now, there's no need for me to meddle anymore."

"Are you saying you're here for the same reason as us?" Sael asked, his voice laced with disbelief.

"To retrieve the Rion and apprehend Karis?"

Gustav, his expression somber, nodded. "Partially. I was at the scene of the wreckage. That's where we found Eyhrum. He pleaded for help, claiming the Rion's danger was too great to ignore. We saved him and did in fact come here to help, but now I think we should leave the rest to your team."

Sael's confusion deepened, his eyebrows knitting together as he processed Gustav's words.

"As much as I do not wish to further involve myself, the imposter pretending to be you might prove to be a problem."

Eyhrum's brow furrowed, and he signaled for the others to gather around.

A small group of operatives joined them, forming a semi-circle around a central holo-table.

"Can you describe him?" Eyhrum inquired.

"SJ," Gustav called out.

Zing~

The sacred jewel appeared in place and flashed a bright light from its circular visage.

The light formed the features of the fake Eyhrum.

The group immediately took note of the physical features of the fake Eyhrum and began working to identify him.

Images flickered into view, and after several moments, the real identity of the imposter was revealed—

Eyhrum's expression hardened.

"Thalos. I should've known..."

...

...

...

-The Next Day-

In the shadowy underbelly of the Nereus Sector, within the confines of a heavily fortified warehouse at the eastern docks, a clandestine meeting was taking place.

The warehouse was a sprawling maze of crates and cargoes, dimly lit by flickering lights that cast long, ominous shadows across the cold, concrete floor.

At the center of the secretive assembly stood a large, sturdy table littered with digital displays and holographic projectors, illuminating the area with soft, pulsing light.

Standing at the head of the table was Vlaid Zenith, a figure of imposing stature and commanding presence.

Zenith was a striking blend of humanoid and alien features: his skin bore a metallic sheen, reflecting the light in iridescent waves, while sharp, angular ridges ran along his jawline and forehead, giving him an intimidating appearance.

His eyes were a piercing silver, devoid of any visible iris, exuding a cold, calculating intelligence.

Around him were gathered his lieutenants, each wearing tech masks that obscured their faces but enhanced their sense, and connected to the various data streams flowing in from their operations around the sector.

They were not ordinary criminals; they were specialists in espionage, smuggling, and high-stakes theft, handpicked by Zenith for their skills and loyalty.

"Boss, the latest shipments have cleared the outer checkpoints. We've moved the contraband through the Tesseran Rift without any Imperial entanglements. The profits are exceeding projections," reported a lieutenant, his voice modulated through the mask.

Zenith nodded, his expression unreadable.

"Good. The markets are hungry, and our supply lines are holding. What's the status of the Rion acquisition? Has there been contact yet?"

Another lieutenant, a female with sleek cybernetic enhancements visible at the nape of her neck, chimed in, "Still in play. There has been no contact yet, but we are chasing certain leads. However, boss... There have been sightings of powerful forces present in the sector."