The storm over Greyscale Island loomed ever closer, the air thick with tension like the mouth of a volcano on the verge of eruption. On the surface, Rugo's forces still held control, but the cracks within were widening, ready to collapse at any moment.
Barron stood once again atop the abandoned bell tower, overlooking the chaos of the port below.
His sharp eyes seemed capable of piercing the shadows, revealing the secrets hidden within. His plan was unfolding piece by piece—and now, the time had come to rally the forces of rebellion.
Kane ascended the stairs, a fresh intelligence report in hand. He moved swiftly to Barron's side and handed him the document.
"This list includes all the faction leaders within the port who are dissatisfied with Rugo," Kane said, his tone slightly hurried. "But they're still on the fence. They need to see something concrete."
Barron took the papers and scanned them quickly. A cold smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.
"They will," he replied firmly. "Besides, they don't have many choices left."
That same evening, Barron gathered Hall, Gale, Nick, and two newly-recruited captains. They met in a hidden underground warehouse, dimly lit by the flickering glow of oil lamps.
Barron laid a map across the table and began to speak.
"Rugo's power is unraveling, but we can't wait for it to fall apart on its own. We have to strike the final blow—to shatter his rule completely."
Hall frowned. "You're talking about a direct assault on his headquarters? That place is heavily guarded. We don't have the strength for a frontal assault."
Barron smiled faintly, tapping a point on the map with his finger.
"Exactly. That's why we won't go in head-on. We'll cut him off at the roots—break his defenses from within, and turn his allies against him."
Gale leaned in, studying the markings on the map.
"What's the plan, specifically?"
Barron pointed to one of Rugo's key storage depots.
"First, we destroy this warehouse. It's where he stores weapons and vital supplies. If we make enough noise during the operation, his allies will start questioning his competence."
Nick scoffed. "Sounds simple. But the guards there aren't weak. How do you plan to pull it off?"
Barron's gaze cut toward Nick like a blade.
"We won't storm the place. We'll exploit the discontent within Rugo's own ranks. According to the intel, one of his guard units is already unhappy. We'll stage an incident to make them look like traitors."
Hall's eyes lit up. "If Rugo starts purging his own men, his defenses will only grow weaker."
Barron nodded.
"And that's not all. We'll forge letters suggesting that Rugo's lieutenant has been secretly dealing with the Blackfin Alliance. That'll shake the trust among his followers even further."
Gale fell silent for a moment, then gave a slow nod. "It's a solid plan—but the execution needs to be precise."
Barron looked up, his gaze razor-sharp. "Precision is our strength."
The operation began the following night.
Barron personally led a small team through the narrow alleyways near Rugo's warehouse. They carried fire oil and several makeshift explosive devices.
Meanwhile, Hall and a few others disguised themselves as Rugo's patrolmen, infiltrating the warehouse perimeter.
They deliberately acted suspiciously, ensuring a few guards saw them lingering. At the right moment, they planted the forged letters.
The fire oil ignited, and flames quickly engulfed one side of the warehouse. Guards rushed to douse the blaze, panicked and disoriented, while Hall's men vanished into the night.
Explosions rocked the night sky, the sound echoing across the island. All of Grey Scale Island stirred in alarm.
By morning, the island's atmosphere had grown taut with anxiety.
Merchants whispered in fear, doubting whether Rugo could still maintain order. Inside his own ranks, chaos erupted—captains blamed one another, and the guards grew fearful that they might be the next ones purged.
Within Rugo's headquarters, his top men argued furiously over the night's events.
"This has to be Hall's doing!" one captain roared, his face red with rage. "We should launch a full assault and wipe them out!"
Another captain sneered. "Assault? With what men? Haven't you noticed how reluctant our patrols have become? Another rebellion and we're finished!"
Rugo sat silently in the corner, listening to the shouting. His expression was grim, fingers tapping rhythmically on the table.
At last, he slammed his palm on the wood and rose to his feet.
"Enough!" he bellowed. "Arguing makes us look like losers. I want solutions, not finger-pointing!"
The room fell silent. Everyone lowered their heads.
Rugo's gaze swept across them all, then he spoke in a cold voice.
"I want to know who's behind this. If it's Hall, he'll pay. If it's someone inside, I won't spare them either."
Elsewhere on the island, in a hidden shelter, the guard unit accused of treachery had gathered. Their captain was bandaging a wound on his arm while his deputy stood nearby, face grim.
"What now? Rugo's lost all trust in us," the deputy whispered.
The captain looked around at his weary, frightened men. Despite the exhaustion on their faces, a fire of defiance still burned in their eyes.
"We have no choice," the captain said quietly. "Either we get picked off one by one… or we find a new backer."
The deputy hesitated, then nodded slowly. "But… can we really trust Barron?"
The captain gave a bitter chuckle.
"Trust? We don't need his trust. We just need a chance—to prove our worth."
At the bell tower, Barron received the messenger from the accused guard unit. Kane handed him the letter, his expression cautious.
"What if this is bait? A trap from Rugo?"
Barron unfolded the letter and read quickly. A cold smile curved on his lips.
"It's not bait. It's desperation. Rugo's pushed them to the brink. Now they have no one else to turn to."
Kane nodded. "So what do we do?"
Barron placed the letter down, eyes resolute.
"Take them in—but keep our distance. Let them prove where they stand with action."
Kane seemed thoughtful and nodded again.
A while later, Barron and Kane met with a few merchant representatives in another hidden safehouse. The merchants looked anxious, but there was a flicker of hope in their eyes.
"Lord Barron, we know Rugo's situation is deteriorating fast. But we need stronger assurances," one of them said.
Barron smiled calmly.
"I understand your concerns," he replied. "But Rugo's fall is just a matter of time. He's lost his grip, and we can offer the stability and safety you need."
The merchants conferred in hushed voices. Eventually, one of them gave a slow nod.
"Very well. We'll support you—but we expect you to honor your promise."
Barron rose to his feet, voice steady and full of certainty.
"You've made the right choice. The future of Greyscale Island belongs to us."
Night once again cloaked the island in uneasy quiet, but everyone knew it was merely the calm before a greater storm.
From the bell tower, Barron gazed down at the flickering lights of the port. His plan was reaching its conclusion, and the balance of victory was tipping in his favor.
"The final battle is about to begin."
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