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Chapter 852  Hunting for Shade (9)

This operation, fraught with danger and high stakes, was started at his behest, weaving his personal vendetta and strategic objectives into a single thread.

The eyes of his comrades turned to him, their expressions a mix of anticipation and readiness, all too aware that the window of opportunity was closing as the meeting drew to an anticipated close.

"Anything to say?" Erik asked to Ramon.

The man, usually more reserved with his thoughts, seemed to carry an unusual weight behind his face this time.

Erik already knew what he was thinking. Erik\'s decision to prompt Ramon wasn\'t without purpose. He knew the value of Ramon\'s insights, and that was why he asked that question. He prompted him to talk, because the others needed to know.

"Yes. A lot, indeed."

Rebecca and Camille turned to look at him. "You know something?"

"I do. The man they called Gabriel, the one who appeared to be the leader… I know him."

The group turned to look at Ramon with surprise and curiosity etched across their faces.

It was unexpected. His reputation had always preceded him; known across Etrium for his formidable prowess in battle and his membership in the esteemed Band of Giants, Ramon was a figure many looked up to.

The idea that he might have a deeper connection to the underworld, or possess insider knowledge about gang activities, had never crossed the people\'s minds.

"Gabriel is an informant, like Vincent, but he is apparently much more powerful than him."

"That explains why he talked about sending his people to the other gangs." Camille said. "I bet he wants to control the gangs, since they messed up somehow."

"Right."

"But that was clear to everyone. What do you know we are not aware of?" Erik asked.

"Hmm…" Ramon had a pensive look on his face, his brow furrowed in concentration as he delved into the recesses of his mind.

Ramon furrowed his brow, straining to dredge up as many details as he could from the recesses of his memory. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Time had a way of blurring the edges of recollections, and it had been quite a while.

Some pieces were clear as day, while others seemed to fade into the background, making it a challenge to piece everything together accurately.

He sifted through his thoughts, determined to provide as much useful information as possible, despite the fog that time had cast over certain memories.

The dim light of the room cast shadows across his thoughtful expression, highlighting the effort he was putting into piecing together the past.

His lips moved, murmuring inaudible words to himself as he sifted through the fragments of his past encounters with Gabriel, searching for better clues that might help the group understand more about the man who seemed to hold significant influence within the underworld.

He started with this: "Me and Gabriel started out at the same time, in the same place," he paused.

"We worked at the same warehouse I brought you this morning. Back then, Gabriel was an information broker. He had a good net, but he wasn\'t as powerful as he is today." Ramon said, capturing everyone\'s attention.

"He had this unique ability to stay a shadow among shadows, gathering secrets that allowed him to manipulate events to his advantage, and that is not even his brain crystal power."

Ramon racked his brain, searching for the right words to shed more light on Gabriel\'s character.

He knew it was crucial to paint a clear picture for his teammates, to help them grasp the essence of the man they were dealing with.

As he sifted through his memories, he sought a detail, a story, or an anecdote that would bring Gabriel\'s role into sharper focus for them.

"Even though he wasn\'t leading the \'Night Whisperers\' at the time, his influence in the underworld was already significant. He was building what would become the continent\'s largest network of spies and informants, positioning himself as a key player in the criminal power game."

Of course, Gabriel started doing that when Ramon was still in the underworld, but since he had many friends there, even when he left, he got words about what was happening.

"How did he build such a network without drawing attention to himself?" Erik asked, but he could already see the reply in Ramon\'s mind.

"Gabriel was exceptionally good at staying out of the limelight, using others to gather information while he remained in the background."

"Like Shade," Erik said.

"Like Shade."

Rebecca thought for a second. There were things she couldn\'t understand.

"But if he was that exceptional, why join a criminal organization?" she asked.

"Family reasons, for what I remember." Ramon\'s answer didn\'t come late.

"His life was full of tragedies. But it wasn\'t just about revenge for him; it was about control. To know everyone\'s secrets gave him leverage over friends and foes alike. That allowed him to achieve both his goals."

"For sure he came a long way," Camille said, smiling.

"Indeed. It looks like he\'s at the top of the food chain now. Forgive me for not having known this."

Erik nodded, piecing together the information. "This still doesn\'t explain how he could be of help to us. Shade remained hidden for decades. No one knows about him, and as much as we know, not even Gabriel might know about his existence."

"That\'s a reasonable thought, if it wasn\'t for…" Ramon paused.

"For what?"

"For something that happened years after we both joined the underworld."

The group fell silent, each one waiting for Ramon to talk.

The man gathered the group closer, his voice dropping to a whisper as he recounted a pivotal moment from his past.

"During my years in the underworld, I worked as a middleman in a smuggling operation for my gang. One night, while waiting for a shipment of goods inside the warehouse, I found myself accidentally behind some crates when Gabriel and another individual entered." Ramon let the memory wash over him.

"At that time, Gabriel was already an influential information broker. He didn\'t have the power he holds now, but he enhanced his already impressive network of contacts and spies, and was an important figure within the organization."

He paused for a moment, the memory vivid in his mind. "That night, I overheard Gabriel talking about Shade, describing him as an emerging entity in the criminal landscape of Frant, whose cunning and ambition were unmatched. Believe me when I say that, if Gabriel thinks so highly of someone, it means it\'s true." He looked at his companions with focused eyes.

"Gabriel discussed the importance of monitoring this Shade, predicting that his rise might reshuffle the power dynamics in the underworld. Not even him could keep the man under control, or spy on him for all that matter. Can you believe it?"

Erik, intrigued, leaned in closer. "So Gabriel knew about Shade from the beginning. He saw him as a threat, or perhaps an opportunity?"

Ramon nodded. "Yes, it was clear that Gabriel respected Shade\'s capabilities. He saw him like an opportunity, most likely."

"If he knew about him, it means he likely reached this level by siding with him," Camille said.

"Ok, assuming he works with Shade, we have found a concrete lead. But if that is true, it means that messing with him will be an enormous problem, and I doubt he will talk."

Camille flashed a knowing smile. "True, but it\'s not about getting him to talk. We just need to ask the right questions," she said, her eyes sparkling with a blend of mischief and expectation as she turned towards Erik.

Her grin widened, acknowledging the ace up their sleeve. The rest of the group followed her gaze, their expressions mirroring her sentiment.

Grins appeared on their faces. For sure, Erik\'s ability to read minds was going to come in handy.

"Can you do it?" Rebecca asked.

"Who do you think I am?" Erik said with a confident smirk. His assurance was infectious, and the group felt a surge of optimism.

"We need a plan, though," Rebecca said, capturing everyone\'s attention. "What do you suggest?" she turned to look at Erik. "This is your operation, after all."

Erik thought for a second, but there wasn\'t much they could do, actually. "The best approach is to wait for Gabriel to be alone. Once we have him isolated, we can ask our questions."

Rebecca nodded in agreement. The others concurred. It wasn\'t like they could barge in, kill everyone and then see.

"Alright, let\'s find a good spot to hide and wait for our chance."

The group scanned their surroundings, looking for the ideal hiding place. It was crucial they remained unseen until the perfect moment.

"Let\'s move," Erik said, leading them to a secluded area where they could wait for their opportunity to confront Gabriel alone.