As Virno turned the corner of the inn, he froze. The driver had attracted a small crowd. Customers lingering on their way out had stopped to gawk, drawn by the dismantled vehicle and its mechanical innards. Scattered parts lay like treasures on the ground, glinting in the sunlight and drawing murmurs of interest from the onlookers.

  Virno (muttering): "Great. Just what we needed..."

  The driver, already aware of their presence, was far from hospitable. Their voice, sharp and unwelcoming, cut through the chatter.

  Driver: "ALRIGHT, enough gawking! Move along! I'm serious -- unless you're here to help, get lost!"

  One particularly well-dressed man ignored the warning, stepping forward with an amused smile.

  Onlooker: "Apologies, good sir, but it's not every day we get to see the insides of such cutting-edge technology! Truly fascinating..."

  Virno approached, forcing himself to remain calm.

  Virno: "Excuse me, gentlemen... Is there a problem? Why are you bothering our driver?"

  The man barely spared him a glance before returning his attention to the vehicle.

  Onlooker: "Ah, greetings, boy. Quite the marvel you have here! I know of several parties who would pay handsomely for such a vessel. Tell me -- would you consider selling it?"

  Virno inhaled deeply, holding back his irritation.

  Virno: "It's not for sale. I'm sorry, but we're in a hurry. Your presence is delaying important repairs."

  Two of the onlookers exchanged glances and backed off, muttering apologies as they moved along. But the well-dressed man stayed put, gesturing for his companions to remain as well.

  Onlooker: "Hang on, boys... Everyone has a price. A rare opportunity like this shouldn't be wasted!"

  Virno's patience thinned.

  Virno: "This vehicle is one of a kind, sir. You *can't* put a price on it."

  The man's grin widened, his tone condescending.

  Onlooker: "Oh, but that's *exactly* what makes it so valuable. Rare treasures are the best treasures to sell... wouldn't you agree?"

  Before Virno could retort, the driver slid out from under the vehicle, grease-streaked and scowling.

  Driver: "Fucking pompous ass..."

  The man's jaw dropped, eyes bulging in disbelief.

  Onlooker: "Excuse me?!"

  Virno jumped in, hastily trying to de-escalate.

  Virno: "H-he doesn't mean anything by it! He's just... frustrated. Look, it's not really mine to sell, no matter how much you offer for it... I'm afraid you're wasting your time if you're looking to bargain."

  The man, unbothered, ignored Virno's protests.

  Onlooker: "Then who *can* I speak with about this marvelous machine? Money is no object -- I insist!"

  Virno gritted his teeth, speaking through a strained smile.

  Virno: "Sir, please --"

  Before he could finish, the driver climbed into the vehicle with an audible groan of exasperation, rummaging around the dashboard.

  Driver (muttering): "I'll show you where to stick your money..."

  They pressed a hidden switch beneath the console. Several hatches along the vehicle's sides hissed open, releasing clouds of high-pressure steam. Mechanical turrets emerged, their barrels locking onto the onlookers.

  The sound of the barrels spinning up made everyone freeze.

  Onlooker (panicked): "W-WAIT! PLEASE!"

  The man stumbled backward, his two companions bolting for their carriage.

  Driver: "Get lost before I turn you into target practice!"

  Onlooker: "I-I'm sorry, I'm sorry!"

  The man scrambled after his companions, their carriage rumbling away in a frenzy.

  Virno spun toward the driver, his fists clenched.

  Virno: "What the hell are you doing?!"

  The driver leaned against the car, utterly unfazed.

  Driver: "Fixing the problem, you damn pussy. Picked a great time to act like a submissive little puppy... Should've just showed him you were serious from the start!"

  If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  Virno's knuckles whitened as he struggled to keep his anger in check.

  Virno: "Our goal is to move *fast* and move *quiet*, not make a scene like you just did! If I'd wanted to scare him off, I could've done it myself. The point was to avoid a scene!"

  The driver shrugged, already sliding back under the vehicle.

  Driver: "Yeah well, didn't work, did it? Better luck next time... You can go now."

  Virno pinched the bridge of his nose, exhaling slowly to calm himself.

  Virno: "... I didn't come here just to shoo seagulls away. There's been a change of plans -- we need to leave, as soon as possible. What can I do to speed this up?"

  The driver stopped tightening bolts, glancing up at him.

  Driver: "I thought we were already in a hurry. There something you're not telling me about again...?"

  Virno folded his arms, avoiding eye contact.

  Virno: "Nothing you should be concerned about... Look, the old man has gone over this before -- don't stick your nose where it doesn't belong. The less you know the better. Just know that we have to get out of here, quick as we can."

  Driver (grumbling): "Less I know the better... Always the same damn bullshit, never take me serious..."

  He couldn't quite hear what they said, it was too quiet for Virno to catch.

  Virno: "What was that?"

  Driver (grumbling): "Nothing...! Fine. If you want to help, hand me the parts when I ask for them."

  Virno furrowed his brow, disappointed but resigned.

  Virno: "... That's it?"

  Driver: "Unless you have experience disassembling and re-assembling Clavia's inventions, then yeah, *that's it*."

  Virno: "Fair enough... Let's make haste, then."

  As Virno and Ballo worked to move stealthily and swiftly, Nox's relentless efforts to pinpoint their location escalated, their net tightening with every passing moment...

  Hooded Figure: "So, this is it...?"

  Lunalus stood in the decaying ruins of a once-grand cathedral. The air was dense with a suffocating gloom, thickened by the oppressive presence of a massive, hooded figure seated on a dark throne at the far end of the nave. Broken arches loomed above like skeletal remains, the crumbling stone walls riddled with holes. Through them, glimpses of a storm-choked, blackened sky offered no reprieve from the oppressive atmosphere.

  Hooded Figure: "This is the fruit of your precious research, Lunalus?"

  His voice was deep and resonant, like thunder rolling through a hollow canyon. He gestured toward Barr, who stood motionless by Lunalus's side.

  Barr resembled a twisted sculpture -- his pale, lifeless skin marred by black, veiny material that seemed to grow like invasive roots across his arms and skull. His eyes, dark and empty, gave no indication of life or thought.

  Hooded Figure: "Frankly, I find it repulsive. If you'd spent less time toying with your experiments and more time gathering intelligence, perhaps Eclipse's plans would already be exposed. What you've brought before me is not an asset... It's an abomination. You disappoint me, Lunalus."

  Lunalus's expression remained unfazed. With one arm draped protectively around Barr, he spoke with calm conviction.

  Lunalus: "What stands before you is far more than a simple experiment. Its appearance may be... *unconventional*, but I believe what you see is the prototype for the ultimate agent. He is efficient, relentless, and nearly perfect. He could be the first of many..."

  They raised a massive hand, dismissing the statement as if swatting away a gnat.

  Hooded Figure: "Perfect? If this is what perfection looks like to you, I shudder to think what you'd consider a failure. You've twisted nature itself to create something unnatural, something *disturbing*. What stands before me is neither man nor spirit -- it is utterly hollow."

  He leaned forward slightly, his enormous frame casting a shadow across the cracked floor as his gaze bore into Barr's vacant eyes.

  Hooded Figure: "It feels as though I'm staring into the void itself."

  Lunalus allowed a brief, prideful smile to cross his lips, but it was short-lived.

  Hooded Figure: "... No. We cannot trust something like this."

  Lunalus's expression darkened.

  Lunalus: "Then we risk making a grave mistake, Dominus."

  Rising from his throne, Dominus loomed over Barr, inspecting him as though he were an object to be evaluated. He gripped Barr's chin between his massive fingers, tilting his head upward.

  Dominus (Hooded Figure): "To twist humanity in an attempt to create a 'superior' version of it... Does this not mirror what our enemies seek to achieve? You must see the parallels, Lunalus."

  Lunalus instinctively pulled Barr back, breaking Dominus's hold. His voice, for the first time, carried a note of defiance.

  Lunalus: "We are not like them. Barr was not created to usher in some misguided utopia for a species doomed to suffer -- he was created to bring about their destruction in the least painful, most efficient manner. It is fundamentally different!"

  Dominus stared at him for a long moment, his hood obscuring his expression.

  Dominus: "Yet, at the surface, the methods appear almost identical. This will not sit well with the other members of Nox -- especially without results to justify it. Am I wrong?"

  Lunalus hesitated, the faintest crack in his composed demeanor.

  Lunalus: "I understand your hesitation. But today, I bring you more than just theories... I bring proof!"

  From within his cloak, Lunalus produced a small object, extending it toward Dominus. The dim light from the stormy sky illuminated the coin's surface -- a faint, silvery gleam etched with intricate symbols.

  Dominus recoiled slightly, his massive hand stopping just short of touching it.

  Dominus: "Eclipse..."

  Lunalus: "Indeed. We long suspected that Eclipse was searching for something of great importance within the city, but we lacked details... This coin has changed that."

  Dominus leaned forward, his interest piqued despite himself.

  Lunalus: "In his final moments, Lacerbus showed me a vision -- brief, but revealing. A boy. With Cabdan's assistance, I identified him. He is the same boy whose mother carried this coin..."

  Dominus's eyes narrowed beneath his hood.

  Lunalus: "... And his name is Virno. Virno von Virtus."

  The name seemed to hang in the air, heavy and foreboding. Dominus's eyes widened, his towering frame visibly stiffening.

  Dominus: "Von Virtus... Charles's son?"

  Lunalus nodded.

  Lunalus: "The very same. For years, Charles evaded us, eluding capture time and again... Leave it to his son to undo all his efforts. Judging by Eclipse's interest in him, the curse still beckons. The sword of greed cries out for freedom, and that boy will be its vessel. If we fail to capture him, Eclipse will take him under their wing. With him, they'll gain a devastating advantage in the coming war."

  Dominus sank back into his throne, his massive hands gripping the armrests. A flicker of concern crossed his face.

  Dominus: "Ever since the Leopard's death, Eclipse has gone silent. We've no clear leads on their current whereabouts... Probing one of their agents will not be easy."

  Lunalus stepped forward, his voice steady.

  Lunalus: "That is where this coin comes in, Dominus..."