CHAPTER 88: [88] CHAOS HAS A SCHEDULE

"So we use this," Pierre said finally. "We turn Valerio’s obsession with broken things against him."

Raven pushed away from the window, her cat-like eyes narrowed in thought. "We can’t fight our way out. Not directly. Valerio has too many people, too much control. The moment we tried, he’d lock down the entire port."

"And our ship is still half-dismantled," Alyssa added, sitting on the edge of a chair, spine straight as if she were back in her father’s Naval office. "Even if we reached it, we couldn’t sail away."

Pierre nodded. "So we need leverage. Something that gives us power over him, or at least disrupts his control long enough for us to escape."

"Money won’t work." Alyssa’s voice carried an unexpected bitterness. "I learned that today. Our Cori is worthless here. Everything operates on his Script."

"The script system is the key," Raven said thoughtfully. "The ledger I found showed every ship, every person trapped in an endless cycle of debt. It’s how he maintains control. No one can leave because they can never pay what they owe."

Alyssa’s face transformed, understanding dawning in her sea-glass eyes. "The Master Ledger. That’s what we need to steal."

"Exactly what is this Master Ledger?" Pierre asked.

"Every debt-based economy has one," Alyssa explained. "It’s the central record of who owes what to whom. My father kept one." She paused, her expression darkening. "He called it his ’control document.’"

Pierre leaned forward. "And you think Valerio has something similar?"

"He must," Alyssa insisted. "A man like Valerio doesn’t just remember who owes him what. He documents everything. It’s how he sleeps at night, knowing exactly who he owns and how much they’re worth to him."

Raven nodded slowly. "If we found it, and somehow... altered it..."

"Or destroyed it," Pierre suggested.

"No." Alyssa shook her head sharply. "Destruction is temporary. Men like Valerio always have backups. We need something more permanent."

"What are you thinking?" he asked.

"Exposure." Alyssa’s voice dropped to a near whisper. "We don’t destroy the ledger. We steal it and show it to everyone in Porto Veloce. Let them see exactly how the system is rigged against them."

Raven let out a low whistle. "That’s... not bad, Princess." The old nickname lacked its usual edge. "A debt system only works when the debtors don’t realize they’ll never be free. Once they see the truth..."

"The whole system collapses," Pierre finished. "But when would we do this? Where?"

Alyssa’s eyes lit up. "The Festival of Concord."

Pierre raised an eyebrow. "The what now?"

"Valerio mentioned it at dinner," Alyssa explained. "It’s in three days. A celebration of Porto Veloce’s prosperity, where all the citizens gather in the main square to receive their yearly Script bonuses."

"Perfect," Raven said. "Every resident in one place, and Valerio on stage playing the benevolent master."

Pierre stood up and walked to the center of the room, mind racing through possibilities. "So the plan is: find this Master Ledger, make copies or prepare it somehow, then expose it during the festival."

"And in the chaos that follows," Raven continued, "we make our escape."

"But first we need to find the ledger," Pierre said. "Any ideas where Valerio would keep something so valuable?"

"His private office, most likely," Alyssa replied. "Probably behind additional security—a safe or a locked cabinet."

Raven grinned. "Good thing you have a master thief on your crew then."

"There’s still the problem of getting access," Pierre pointed out. "Valerio’s mansion is crawling with his people. We’d need a distraction."

"That’s where you come in, Captain." Alyssa stood up, moving closer to Pierre. "You become the distraction. The fascinating broken thing that Valerio can’t help but focus on."

"You want me to what, exactly?" Pierre asked, not entirely comfortable with where this was heading.

"Be yourself," Alyssa said simply.

"Fair enough."

Alyssa nodded, her eyes softening. "While he’s busy trying to figure out what makes you tick, Raven and I will have more freedom to move around, search for the ledger."

"It’s a solid plan," Raven admitted. "But it puts a lot of pressure on you, Pierre. You’ll have to keep Valerio interested without revealing too much about your abilities."

Pierre touched the sea-blue stone at his neck. "I can handle Valerio," he said finally. "Raven, you focus on finding where the ledger is kept. Your skills make you the best suited for that."

Raven nodded. "I’ll start mapping the manor’s layout, identifying his office and any potential security."

"Alyssa," Pierre continued, "you’re our expert on men like Valerio. I need you to learn everything you can about the festival itself—the schedule, the layout, where Valerio will be, how many of his men will be present."

"I can do that," Alyssa agreed. "Marco seems eager to show me around. I’ll use that to my advantage."

"And me?" Pierre asked, though he already knew the answer.

"You get to be the shiny object that captures Valerio’s attention," Raven said with a slight smirk. "Keep him focused on you, make him think he’s getting somewhere with understanding your power."

"Without actually letting him understand anything," Pierre finished.

"Exactly," Alyssa said. "The more fascinated he is with you, the less he’ll pay attention to us."

Pierre ran a hand through his red hair, feeling the weight of their plan settle on his shoulders. "This isn’t going to be easy. If Valerio realizes what we’re doing..."

"He won’t," Alyssa said. "I know how men like Valerio think." Her voice hardened. "They’re so convinced of their own brilliance that they never expect to be outplayed."

"And that’s their weakness," Raven added. "They see people as tools, not as threats."

Pierre looked at his two crewmates—the cynical thief with her mismatched hair and calculating eyes, and the fallen princess with her newfound resolve. In that moment, he felt an unexpected swell of pride. They weren’t just running; they were fighting back. Taking a stand against someone who thought he could own them.

"Three broken tools," he murmured.

"What?" Alyssa asked.

Pierre smiled, a genuine expression that took both women by surprise. "That’s what Valerio thinks we are. Three broken tools he can fix and repurpose. But he’s wrong."

"We’re not broken," Raven said, catching his meaning.

"And we’re definitely not his tools," Alyssa finished.

Pierre nodded. "Let’s make that clear to him. And to everyone in Porto Veloce."

As if on cue, a soft knock at the door interrupted their planning. All three tensed, exchanging quick glances. Had someone been listening?

"Yes?" Pierre called out, moving protectively in front of his crewmates.

The door opened to reveal a young servant girl, barely fourteen, her eyes downcast. "Master Valerio sends his compliments and asks if there’s anything you require before retiring."

Pierre relaxed slightly. "No, thank you. We have everything we need."

The girl nodded but didn’t leave immediately. She stood hesitating in the doorway, a slight tremor in her hands.

"Was there something else?" Pierre asked gently.

The girl glanced up, then quickly back down. "Master Valerio also wanted me to inform you that he’s arranged a special tour of his personal workshop for you tomorrow, sir. He said... he said he has much to show you about his methods of restoration."

Pierre kept his face neutral. "How thoughtful of him. Please tell Master Valerio I look forward to it."

The girl nodded again and finally left, closing the door softly behind her.

As soon as she was gone, Raven moved to the door and checked that it was properly closed. "Well, that didn’t take long. He’s already making his move."

Alyssa touched his arm. "Remember, he needs to think he’s in control. That you’re intrigued by his methods."

"I know." Pierre met her eyes. "I can play along."

"But be careful," Raven warned. "Don’t let your guard down around him, not even for a second."

Pierre nodded, but his mind had already drifted far beyond their conversation, winding through the labyrinthine possibilities that tomorrow promised. Valerio’s workshop—the sanctum where the eccentric artificer performed his so-called miracles of restoration. The sacred space where broken vessels were transformed into what the master craftsman deemed perfect. The very thought sent an electric current of anticipation and dread coursing through Pierre’s veins.

Deep within him, that familiar darkness stirred restlessly, like a predator scenting blood on the wind. It whispered seductive promises through the corridors of his consciousness—how simple it would be to drain Valerio dry at the first opportunity, to siphon the man’s essence and power, adding them to his growing reservoir of stolen strength. The temptation painted vivid images behind his eyes: how easy, how efficient, how satisfying it would be.

Pierre’s jaw clenched, the muscles working beneath his skin as he violently pushed the thought away, disgusted by how natural such predatory instincts were becoming. That parasitic hunger wasn’t him—or at least, it wasn’t who he was fighting to remain. That wasn’t the man he had decided to be in this twisted world.

"We should get some rest," he said aloud. His sky-blue eyes refocused on Raven and Alyssa, his expression betraying none of the internal battle he’d just waged. "Tomorrow, we start putting our plan into motion."