The desert winds swept arouhan as he neared Valeris, the city rising like an iron fortress against the barren horizon of Kynara's wastends. The steady hum of the hover truck apanied his thoughts as he approached the city gates, still uled by his enters with the Bck Sun Syndicate. The refugees he had dropped off earlier weighed on his mind. He had seen the fear in their eyes, a refle of the growing chaos spreading across Kynara.

  As he entered Valeris, the city's defensive barriers shimmered faintly, proteg its inhabitants from the harsh ditions outside. Valeris wasn't a stronghold, but it ce where meraries, traders, and survivors from across the p could find refuge. The streets were busy with activity, but there was an underlying tension in the air, a sehat things were getting worse.

  Ethan parked his hover truear the Guild headquarters, a blocky structure fortified by steel walls and surrounded by armed guards. Even here, in the heart of Valeris, the threat of bandit raids and Bck Sun attacks was ever-present. He made his way inside, passing through the heavy entrance doors into the bustling Guild lobby, where meraries of all ranks gathered to accept assigs or report on pleted missions.

  He spotted Kael behind the front desk, the Guild secretary busy as usual. Kael was older than most meraries, his graying hair and lined face evidence of years spent w in this dangerous line of business. His sharp eyes sed the ss in front of him, trag job requests and managing the chaos of the Guild's operations.

  Ethan approached, waiting for Kael to finish speaking with another merary before stepping forward. When Kael noticed him, he raised an eyebrow but didn't seem particurly surprised.

  "Back so soon?" Kael asked, his tone carrying a hint of sarcasm. "I thought that run would take longer. Did everything go smooth out there?"

  Ethan handed over his information tablet, transferring the mission data directly to Kael's sole with a tap of his fingers. "Had a detour. Ran into sees. Got the supplies delivered and helped them reach safety."

  Kael g the details on his s, his usual disied expression fading slightly. "You picked up strays along the way? Not a bad thing, but unusual for a low-level supply run like yours."

  "Things are getting worse out there," Ethan said, his tone serious. "I ran into bandits who were well-armed, ahey were with the Bck Sun."

  At the mention of the Bck Sun, Kael's expression darkened. He leaned ba his chair, rubbing his temple. "Yeah, you're not the first to mentiohe Syndicate's movements have beeing bolder, and it's not just the outposts they're targeting anymore."

  Kael tapped a few keys, finalizing the transa and processihan's payment. "You've been around long enough to know this, Ethan. When supply routes start getting hit like this, something big is going on. The attacks aren't random."

  "I need another missiohan said, cutting straight to the point. "Something more than a routine supply run and with a bigger pay."

  Kael raised an eyebrow, but there was a hint of respe his eyes. "You're a Rahan. ly the top dog around here, and most missions worth your time get snapped up by the higher ranks. But if you want something with more risk, I've got one for you."

  Ethan nodded, keeping his toeady. "What is it?"

  Kael tapped his sole again, pulling up a mission brief. "It's another supply run, but this one's different. Military-grade supplies for an outpost on the fringes of Kynara. Far from Valeris, and close to where we've lost tact with several outposts. Bandits and Bck Sun attacks are more frequent there. It's a high-risk route."

  Ethan sidered the offer. "Why hasn't a higher-rank merary taken it yet?"

  "Because it's a death trap," Kael said bluntly. "The st few supply runs didn't make it. The Syndicate's forces seem to be targeting that route specifically. But if you're looking to prove yourself, this is your shot."

  "I'll take it," Ethan said without hesitation.

  Kael nodded, his fingers dang across the sole as he logged Ethan's name for the mission. "You'll o upgrade that truck of yours, though. You're not going to survive this run without some serious firepower and defehe outpost is near rough terrain, and we've heard rumors of ambushes."

  Ethahe risks, but this was the opportunity he o move up the ranks. "When do I leave?"

  "Tomorrow m," Kael replied. "Gives you a little time to prepare. Check the guild's depot for a better fortified hover truck. And one more thing," he added, l his voice slightly, "word is, this isn't just about supplies. There's talk that the Syndicate's w with someone, maybe even some Federation official."

  Ethan's eyes narrowed. "Corruption? In the Federation?"

  Kael shrugged, but his tone was serious. "Could be. The way the Syndicate's beeing is too precise, tanized. It's starting to feel like they've got help from someone high up. But that's just rumor for now."

  Ethan nodded, abs the information. If the Bck Sun Syndicate was w with a Federation official, it could expin why they were able to move so freely, hitting targets with precision. It also meant that this mission might be more dangerous than anyone realized.

  "Thanks, Kael," Ethan said. "I'll be ready."

  "Stay sharp out there," Kael warned. "And don't get yourself killed. These kinds of missions have a way of getting messy fast."

  Ethan turned a, heading toward the depot where he'd rent an upgraded truck. As the sun began to set over Valeris, the city's defenses glowed in the fading light, a fragile shield against the growing chaos outside. Whatever the Bck Sun Syndicate nniha was only the beginning. And if Kael's suspis were right, things were about to get a whole lot worse.