Ashen Crucible

Chapter Seven: The Big Shots

Chapter Seven: The Big Shots (Part 1)

After receiving payment, Su converted all 200 coins into purified water, food, and ammunition within ten minutes. With no intention of lingering at this settlement, he prepared to depart after basic resupply. In Su's mental map, this outpost labeled K7 lay only 100 kilometers from Asmo - still dangerously close. Though Li showed no murderous intent, her troublesome nature and Su's growing premonition warned she might bring catastrophic complications.

He chose westward departure.

Following habit, Su first walked every corner of K7. His consciousness mapped each detail, coordinates labeling the settlement "K7" as the designation formed in his mind. The K7 commander desperately wanted this sniper who'd single-handedly turned their battle to stay, though poverty made retaining such professionals impossible. By nightfall, Su disappeared westward into the wasteland.

Before leaving, the commander gifted a map marked with coordinates for Eagle's Nest - headquarters of the mercenary group Falcon. Su pocketed this potential employment lead, though survival remained his immediate priority.

Dawn broke over Clockwork City as military chants echoed through eastern districts. Li stood barefoot on a five-story rooftop ledge, wind whipping her chestnut hair, watching troops drill below. Her 500 elite soldiers consumed 80% of Roxland's northern division budget, yet generated no profit. This garrison's true purpose extended far beyond simple occupation.

At sunrise, sentries spotted dust clouds approaching. The convoy's three retro-styled black limousines flanked by armored vehicles and troop trucks signaled VIP arrival. Roxland director Fassel emerged - a portly silver-haired man in immaculate gray suit - followed by two striking youths in dark uniforms with gold cuff insignias.

Conference room negotiations turned tense when Fassel slid green-tinted microscope photos across the table. Rigaud's cigarette hand trembled, recognizing the alien cellular c*****e from Dr. Ross's lab. "You disappoint me," Fassel sighed. "But your adopted daughter Shirley... let's say she's receiving free education from our Dark Dragon Knight partners."

Rigaud's fist crushed the unlit cigarette. "Leave Li out of this."

"Of course," Fassel smiled. "We need her talents."

The two knights introduced themselves - Leconar Fabregas (haughty corporal) and Oberyn (quiet private with glowing gray-green eyes). Oberyn's sketch based on Rigaud's description materialized Su's piercing jade gaze flawlessly.

"Gather your agents. We move to Asmo immediately," Leconar ordered. As their modified Humvee passed the drill grounds, his eyes lingered on Li's toned silhouette. "That firecracker needs proper breaking in. You want first ride, Oberyn?"

The gray-haired knight stared ahead. "I have someone."

Rigaud's knuckles whitened on the steering wheel as engines roared westward, Oberyn's diagnostic gaze periodically scanning the driver. The hunt for Su had officially escalated to corporate-knight alliance level.

Chapter 7: The Big Shot (Part 2)

Lekona and Oberon, each accompanied by five retainers, followed Rigori’s vehicle in four off-road cars as they sped toward Asmo. Rigori noted that the retainers carried only pistols, with no heavy firearms in sight. Lekona and Oberon themselves weren’t even armed.

By nightfall, the roaring convoy arrived at Asmo, jolting the quiet town from its slumber. After briefly stating their purpose, Lekona and Oberon inspected the room Su had occupied and interrogated nearly everyone connected to him, including Bern. Items suspected to have been used by Su were collected as evidence.

Lekona’s entourage leaned toward combat prowess, while Oberon’s team included a biochemist, a mechanic, a communications and electronics specialist, a tracker, and one soldier.

Su’s reputation in Asmo had been neutral—some admired the quiet, mysterious young man with his mesmerizing eyes, while others despised him for those same striking features. But faced with the aggressive presence of the Dark Dragon Riders and Payne Corporation’s silence, even Su’s sympathizers crumbled under pressure. Those who disliked him eagerly embellished stories, piling accusations onto his name. Those who defended him suffered brutal interrogation tactics from Lekona’s retainers. Bern lasted only half a minute before one of them ripped off two of his fingernails.

The sole resister was a woman—the same one who’d tried to seduce Su at the bar. Though not unattractive, her faint scent of mutated tissue (a relic of her wasteland upbringing or recent hedonism) repelled Lekona. Impatient, he let crimson flames engulf the interrogation room moments later. When Oberon and Rigori rushed in, they found Lekona indifferent and the woman’s charred corpse on the floor. Oberon sighed but said nothing.

The convoy restocked water and fuel in Asmo, rested briefly, and departed for the jungle at dawn. The dead woman had allegedly been the lover of Payne Corporation’s CEO, yet no high-ranking members showed themselves during the entire ordeal.

Under pale daylight, Oberon and his tracker combed the jungle. The tracker, among the best Rigori had ever seen, retraced Li’s path as if he’d witnessed the events firsthand, pinpointing bullet-scarred trees and eventually the abandoned building where Su and Li had clashed.

Only Oberon and the tracker entered the building. Inside, the tracker’s heightened senses detected Su’s faint scent—a rarity, given Su’s usual meticulousness. The room bore signs of struggle: a long table scraped against the wall, fresh marks suggesting violent friction.

Using spray reagents and a magnifying lens, the tracker revealed ghostly imprints on the table—a woman’s silhouette and motion trails. Oberon frowned, exchanging a silent glance with his subordinate before shaking his head.

When Lekona and the others entered, the reagents had evaporated. They learned only of the fight and Su’s residual scent. The tracker claimed he could trace Su’s path from these traces, though the trail would vanish if Su deliberately concealed himself.

Lekona deduced, “Su lost his pistol and likely sought a replacement. We’ll check nearby settlements.” Kang Wen, Oberon’s tech expert, pulled up a map showing three enclaves within 100 kilometers.

“Search these in order,” Lekona ordered, drawing a semicircle on the screen.

The biochemist interjected, “We should first confirm the invaders aren’t native to this jungle.”

Splitting tasks, Lekona’s group left to hunt Su while Oberon stayed to investigate. They’d regroup in two days.

Meanwhile, Su stared at a brimming glass of potent liquor in the Hawk Mercenaries’ ramshackle headquarters. The drink reeked of radiation and burnt his throat like molten lead—a vintage poison only wasteland survivors could stomach.

Twelve scarred mercenaries surrounded the table, their leader a mountainous man in his forties. The meal consisted of roasted mutated meats; the lone bottle of liquor half-empty in Su’s cup.

Hawk Mercenaries were legendary—efficient, loyal, and broke. They sheltered disabled veterans, draining their coffers. Su had come seeking short-term work, but the desperate hope in these men’s eyes (and the women and children peeking through cracks) anchored him.

“I’m a third-grade sniper,” Su finally said.

The room erupted. Third-grade skills were mythic here. The leader’s face fell—they couldn’t afford such talent.

Su downed the liquor in one gulp. Fire seared his throat. “I owe Hawk one mission.” He gestured to the empty glass. “Payment’s settled.”

Before the leader could react, Su collapsed face-first onto the table, out cold.

Near dawn, Su jolted awake in darkness, hand instinctively grasping for absent steel. He levitated to the ceiling, ceramic shard ready, before recognizing the room. His gear lay neatly folded—Hawk had honored his privacy.

A primal unease gripped him—the same dread he’d felt at ten, stalked by**. This wasn’t Li. Something deadlier pursued him now.

Silent as shadow, Su vanished into the night. Behind him, the Hawks’ fragile idealism glowed like a moth-drawing flame in the wasteland’s darkness.

The wilderness awaited—a chessboard for hunter and prey. Su would learn what wolves trailed him, then outlast them through patience... or luck.