Chapter 28 Bait & Blame

The convoy proceeded smoothly at first, the hum of the armored van’s engine filling the silence. It was awkward—unbearably quiet, even for me. Shouldn’t someone say something? Crack a joke? At least ask about the damn weather? Instead, I felt the weight of eyes on me, and the tension thick enough to cut with a knife.

Sitting in the van with Jonas, Lion King, and Vortex, I tried to make sense of the oppressive atmosphere. My instincts told me something was off, but it was hard to pinpoint what. Maybe it was nerves... this cargo was the mission’s crown jewel, after all.

I decided to prod Jonas for answers, testing the waters. “Jonas, how long have you been Mathilda’s right hand?”

He didn’t get a chance to answer.

“Enough,” Vortex cut in sharply. “No talking.”

I was about to retort, but Jonas smiled. It was an unnerving, friendly grin. And in one smooth motion, he pulled out a pair of pistols. Before I could react, he fired.

Pain erupted across my chest as the first bullet grazed me. The second shot sent Vortex crumpling to the floor. My reflexes kicked in, and I scrambled for the exit, trying to phase through the walls.

But I couldn’t.

The air felt heavy and suffocating, my powers refusing to respond. A nullifier. Jonas was a fucking nullifier.

I barely registered the realization before Lion King’s foot smashed down on my shoulder, slamming me to the floor. Pain shot through me, and I groaned as his weight pinned me down.

“Jonas, you’re a nullifier all along…” I hissed through gritted teeth, my mind racing for a way out. “Fucker.”

Lion King didn’t respond, but his golden eyes gleamed as his foot pressed harder into me. I twisted to look up at him, only to see his body partially shifting—his human form giving way to rippling muscle and a mane of golden fur. Shifter. Of course, I knew.

I needed time. Just enough to think.

“I know the first half of the password to open the cargo,” I blurted out. It wasn’t a calculated lie, just pure survival instinct. “Nightgard cracked it before I killed him. He didn’t finish decrypting, but I got enough to matter.”

That made them pause. I caught the flicker of hesitation in Lion King’s movement, the faintest falter in Jonas’s unwavering grip.

“The cargo,” I added, dragging the words out to give myself another second, “is hiding a Precog-9.”

Their reactions were immediate, their stiff postures betraying a mix of disbelief and apprehension. They hadn’t known. I’d guessed right... They had no idea what was inside.

That could mean Mathilda didn’t know… Either Mathilda was lying about her sense of hearing could spread across the entire ship or that she purposefully made her minions uninformed about the content of the cargo. I was banking on the fact that she was unaware of the cargo’s contents and that she didn’t hear Nightgard confessing to me the first half of the cargo’s password.

Jonas pressed the barrel of his pistol against my temple. “How do you know this?” His tone was even, but there was a sharp edge of suspicion. "Precog-9? Don't tell me it's Nightgard? Using a dead man as an excuse... How convenient..."

My mind scrambled for a plausible answer. It wasn’t enough to sell the lie; I needed to sell myself.

“Royal,” I said quickly, my voice tinged with just the right amount of desperation. “Royal told me. He hired me personally, said he had a deal with Sharpy after her crew was ambushed and slaughtered. I’m bait, okay? He sent me here to lure out the traitor. Once Sharpy figures out who targeted her, she’ll activate sleeper agents Royal planted among the crew.”

"You are bluffing!"

"Bluffing? No, I am not!" I forced a bitter laugh. “I’m useful, Jonas. I can tell you more.”

There was a tense pause. Lion King’s weight didn’t lift, but his claws didn’t sink into me either. Jonas’s expression was unreadable as he exchanged a glance with Lion King.

“Talk,” Jonas said coldly, his gun still pressed to my head. “Quickly.”

I took a shallow breath, praying my next lie would stick.

I didn’t stop talking, letting my words spill out like a flood. “It was a mistake leaving Sharpy on the ship! Don’t you see? By the time you return, there won’t even be a ship left. She’s probably planning to take it for herself! But I can help you... I’m not just some random freelancer. I’ve got plans, big plans back in Markend. You need me alive!”

Lion King crouched beside me, his predatory gaze locked onto mine. Without a word, he reached down and yanked off my hat—and with it, my bonnet. The cold air bit at my exposed skin, and I flinched involuntarily.

Lion King’s expression shifted, a cruel smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. “Oh, he’s just a kid,” he said mockingly, tilting his head to study me like a curiosity. His claws flexed against my shoulder, their sharp edges reminding me that he could tear through me in a heartbeat. “What’s your call, Jonas?”

Jonas didn’t answer immediately. His pistol stayed trained on me, his eyes narrowing as he weighed his options. I could feel the tension between them, a silent conversation playing out over my pinned body.

I decided to press my luck. “You don’t want to kill me,” I said, forcing confidence into my voice. “Not yet. If you do, you lose your only leverage against Sharpy and Royal. Think about it... if I’m dead, they’ll know you’ve gone rogue. But if I’m alive, you’ve got a bargaining chip.”

Lion King chuckled darkly. “Bold for someone in your position.” His claws pressed down slightly, not enough to draw blood, but enough to make my muscles scream in protest. "Why do you think we isolated you and Vortex of all people?"

Vortex was a teleporter, and I am an intangible... Our survivability was off the charts. What should I say to make them believe I was no threat to them, and I was more useful to them alive than dead?

"I am in here for the money," I confessed. "I got... student loans..." That was a lie.

Jonas finally spoke, his voice calm and measured. “He’s got a point. Killing him now is messy. But keeping him alive… that could work.”

Lion King grunted in acknowledgment, his claws retracting as he stood up. He loomed over me, his shadow stretching long in the dim light of the van. “Fine,” he said. “But if you try anything stupid, kid, I’ll make sure you regret it.”

Jonas gestured with his gun. “Get up.”

I pushed myself to my feet, my shoulder throbbing where Lion King’s foot had pinned me down. My hat and bonnet lay forgotten on the floor, leaving me feeling strangely vulnerable without them.

Jonas stepped closer, his gun still aimed at my chest. “You’ve got one chance, Eclipse. Prove you’re useful, or you’re dead. Understand?”

I nodded, swallowing hard. “Crystal clear.”

Lion King snorted. “You’d better hope you’re as smart as you think you are, kid. Otherwise, you’re just dead weight.”

The van lurched slightly as the convoy continued its journey. I glanced out the narrow window, catching a glimpse of the sprawling wilderness beyond. My mind raced, searching for a way to turn this disaster around. They weren’t going to trust me, not completely. But if I could buy enough time, if I could figure out their endgame… maybe, just maybe, I’d get out of this alive.

I stared at Vortex’s lifeless body, sprawled awkwardly on the van floor. Blood pooled beneath him, glinting in the dim light. That could have been me. My pulse thudded in my ears, but I forced myself to breathe evenly. I needed to stay sharp.

“I’ll give you what you want,” I said, my voice steady despite the rising tension. “The first half of the password is Delta-7-1-4. Consider it as goodwill on my part, and that I am willing to become your accomplice. The only ones who know the full password are the clients and Royal, right? Blackout’s your best shot at cracking the rest of it.”

"You are either stupid to share the password so easily like that, or you are an idiot."

Lion King's words had merit, but half the password was useless to me... and was more useful to me to incentivize Jonas. Moreover, a Precog-9 didn't really appeal to my greed. The cargo held no value to me. In the end, I'm just a start-up grunt. Lastly, by giving up half the password, they perceived that I've learned from Royal, they would think of me as a traitor. It was the best move I could think of.

Jonas tilted his head, his sharp gaze pinning me in place. “You’re suggesting we force Blackout to cooperate?”

I nodded, keeping my expression neutral. “It’s your best bet. Blackout’s a genius when it comes to tech. Everyone knows that. She’ll figure out the rest of the password if you apply the right… incentives. But you don’t have much time. I believe Royal might have set up a trap for this betrayal. If you wait too long, you risk losing everything.”

Jonas exchanged a glance with Lion King, who shrugged. “Sounds plausible,” Lion King muttered, his tone laced with disinterest.

I continued, using the momentum to muddy the waters. “But there’s a catch. If you push too hard, the other freelancers will notice. I don't think you have their loyalty. They’ll figure out what you’re up to, and then it won’t just be me you have to deal with—it’ll be all of them.”

Lion King smirked. “Let them come. I’m not afraid of a little resistance.”

I bit back a retort, focusing instead on the bigger picture. I needed to turn this situation to my advantage, to plant seeds of doubt and force the others into action.

“If you want my advice,” I said, “stirring up conflict is your best option. The freelancers are a loose alliance at best. Pit them against each other, and you’ll have a better chance of keeping control. Otherwise, they might unite against you.”

Jonas studied me for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Then he lowered his gun slightly, though his finger still hovered near the trigger. “You’ve got a silver tongue, Eclipse. I’ll give you that. But don’t think I trust you for a second. Keep your advice to yourself.”

“I wouldn’t expect you to trust me,” I replied smoothly. “But I know how this works. You keep me alive as long as I’m useful, right? And I’m telling you... if you play your cards right, you might actually get a better deal out of this conundrum.”

Jonas didn’t respond, but I could see the gears turning in his head.

At this point, it was revealed that Jonas was the traitor... and Lion King too. If Jonas were working alone, he'd have killed Lion King. And if they weren't working alone, it meant there could be more. But, who were they receiving orders from? That was the ultimate mystery. I found Mathilda as the most suspicious person right now. Chances were, she was the mastermind behind everything.

I glanced at Lion King, whose golden eyes gleamed with amusement. “You’re banking on survival, huh?” he asked, his tone mocking. “Smart move, kid. But don’t get too comfortable. We’re not done with you yet.”

I didn’t doubt that for a second. Jonas and Lion King weren’t going to let me walk away from this, not without ensuring their plans succeeded. But I wasn’t naive enough to think I’d survive by playing along.

That was where Sharpy would come along.

If I could buy enough time, Sharpy would have no choice but to act. She’d need to rally the freelancers to convince them that fighting back was the only option. And Gladiatress and Berserker… I wasn’t sure where their loyalties lay, but I’d have to gamble that they weren’t part of this mess.

A ‘cause.’ That’s what it always came down to. Something to unite everyone against a common enemy. If I played my cards right, Jonas and Lion King would provide exactly that.

But for now, I had to focus on staying alive... and keeping the flames of suspicion burning just bright enough to set everything ablaze.