"Ashes of the Unseen."

Riven, Lirian, and Seren managed to track down Juno Kaesin, a former Echelon officer. She agreed to help them but warned that the answers they seek may lead to something far darker.

---

The dim light from the desk lamp cast sharp shadows across Juno's worn face. She sat down, grabbing a weathered map from the pile of papers on her table.

Juno: "You really have no idea what you've stumbled into, do you?"

Riven's gaze was unwavering.

Riven: "Enlighten us."

Juno traced a line on the map.

Juno: "Echelon operates in layers. The people you fought were low-level suppliers. The real players stay hidden—behind corporations, underground alliances, and shadow councils."

Seren leaned forward, her curiosity sharpening.

Seren: "So who are we really after?"

Juno's hand paused on a location marked as Crimson Abyss.

Juno: "There's someone you need to find. He was once considered dead, but his name resurfaced in this data."

Riven's heartbeat quickened.

Riven: "Who is it?"

Juno hesitated, then finally said it.

Juno: "Cain Avelore."

Silence.

Lirian scoffed.

Lirian: "Cain Avelore? That's impossible. He's been gone for years. Everyone thought he died in the war."

Riven's blood ran cold. The name echoed in his head like a haunting whisper. His fists clenched involuntarily.

Riven (coldly): "Where did you last hear about him?"

Juno didn't miss the shift in Riven's tone.

Juno: "The Crimson Abyss. It's an abandoned territory now, but… something's still happening there. Movements. Unmarked deliveries. High-tier weapons. All linked to Cain."

Seren typed quickly on her device.

Seren: "If this data is accurate, Echelon's entire supply chain converges there."

Lirian: "So we head there, find Cain, and shut it down."

Juno shook her head.

Juno: "No. You don't understand. If Cain Avelore is really alive… you don't just 'shut it down.' You either disappear or you die."

Riven's voice was colder than before.

Riven: "Then we'll take our chances."

---

Later That Night

The group prepared to leave. Juno handed Riven a folded note.

Juno: "If you reach the Abyss and things go south, find the man listed here. He's the only one who might still oppose Echelon."

Riven took the note but didn't open it. His mind was clouded. The name Cain Avelore stirred something within him—a feeling of dread and… something deeper.

As they walked out, Seren noticed Riven's silence.

Seren: "You okay?"

Riven (faintly): "Yeah."

But his heart screamed otherwise. He needed to know the truth—no matter the cost.

---