In the vast expanse of Avalor, the vibrant city-state of Pinecrest boasted a sprawling landmass of neighborhoods and districts. As one of the more prosperous city-states among the thirty-three in Avalor, it held its ground as a bustling metropolis, each corner weaving its unique narrative into the nation's tapestry.
At the core of this lively metropolis stood the Central District, the epicenter of power and influence. Shielded by formidable defenses, this area of undeniable importance stood as a fortified stronghold within the metropolis.
Encircling the heart of Pinecrest were imposing electric fences, laced with barbed wire, creating an impenetrable barrier against unwanted intrusion. The streets within the Central District were a labyrinth, interconnected by military-grade roads, designed for efficiency and security.
Access to this crucial zone was guarded with utmost vigilance. The main gate, a massive entry point, stood as the sole gateway into the central district. Heavily guarded by the city's elite military forces, the gate became a formidable checkpoint where every entry was scrutinized and monitored.
This district resembled a militarized stronghold, where bunkers and watchtowers punctuated the landscape, each manned by dedicated troops. The very air resonated with an air of discipline and surveillance, emphasizing the importance of maintaining control and safeguarding the core of the city.
Amidst this militaristic citadel, the Octagon building loomed as one of the more prominent structures. The towering structure was a behemoth of steel and reinforced glass, located in the heart of the downtown area. It was a symbol of authority and security, a fortress of law and order.
Inside, hundreds of agents, analysts, technicians, and support staff worked tirelessly to protect the city-state from all kinds of threats, both internal and external. The building housed various departments, such as intelligence, operations, forensics, cybercrime, and counter-terrorism. It also had several facilities, such as labs, armories, training rooms, and interrogation cells.
One of the most important rooms in the building was the meeting room, where the directors of various districts and their senior team held their briefings and discussions. The meeting room was located on the top floor, with a panoramic view of the Central District's skyline.
The room was spacious and elegant, with a large oval table, comfortable chairs, and a wall-mounted screen. It was also equipped with the latest technology, such as cameras, microphones, speakers, and computers. The room was also secured with the highest level of encryption, biometric access, and surveillance.
Beeps sounded as members of the city's defense force assembled in the room, their expressions a mixture of concern and anticipation. They had all being briefed about the reason for the meeting: the alarming spike in criminal activity in Pinecrest.
The meeting room was tense and silent as they waited for the director to speak. Seeing that mostly everyone had arrived, he cleared his throat and looked at the screen behind him, where a series of graphs and charts showed the grim statistics.
Director Mercer, a stern faced man, leaned forward, his hands steepled, and addressed the room. "Thank you all for coming on such short notice," he began. "I'm sure you are all aware of the situation we are facing. Over the last two months, there has been a massive surge in criminal activities." He gestured to the screen behind him, where graphs and charts illustrated the alarming statistics.
The room was silent, each participant absorbing the gravity of the situation. Murders, kidnappings, and the sudden influx of firearms had escalated beyond what Pinecrest had seen in recent years.
"We've narrowed down the causes and patterns," Mercer continued, his tone firm. "It's becoming evident that this is another ploy orchestrated by a cell of the Cultivation Liberation Group to disrupt social order."
He paused, allowing the weight of his words to settle among the attendees. The hushed tension in the room spoke volumes about the shared understanding of the imminent danger.
"Pah! Those fucking Liberation dregs have been a thorn in our side for far too long." General Rodriguez, a stern figure in military uniform, interjected with a measured tone.
Director Mercer nodded gravely at General Rodriguez's assertion before continuing. "You are right General. But you know that the whole group isn't something that our city-state can tackle alone. Take this recent development for example."
He gestured to one of the charts displaying alarming increase in the illegal distribution of weapons around Western district. "These arms are not only flooding the streets of our cities but also slowly making their way into the hands of organized crime syndicates. If left for too long, the threat might escalate to unprecedented levels."
«Beep Beep»
As the discussion was about to continue, the fingerprint verification device sounded with a clear prompt as the door slid open soundlessly. All eyes turned to see a young man in a sharp suit enter, his expression determined yet composed.
"Director Mercer, apologies for my late arrival," he said, his voice unwavering. "I've gathered some crucial information that could turn the tide in our favor."
This man, Haag, was the individual in charge of the intelligence department. His swift rise through the ranks was attributed to his proficiency in uncovering and analyzing data. Holding a tablet, he seamlessly linked it to the screen. With a tap, a map depicting the entire city-state materialized, highlighting the western district within a conspicuous red circle.
"We've learned that a high-ranking member of the Cultivation Liberation Group is currently in the Western District for business," Haag continued. "Though we haven't pinpointed his exact location or who he's dealing with, this presents a unique opportunity."
A ripple of anticipation spread through the room. Capturing a high-ranking member could provide valuable intelligence and potentially unravel the network's operations.
One of the senior analysts, seated near the screen, interjected, "We can leverage our surveillance and cyber assets to monitor communications and financial transactions within the city. It might give us a lead on who the high-ranking member is meeting with."
"Our agents have been working tirelessly, but we've hit a dead-end. Even with the help of adepts with foresight-type abilities, it's still a challenge to pinpoint the member's exact location."
Mercer leaned back, considering the information carefully. "If we focus our efforts on disrupting the smaller networks first—the firearms suppliers, their contacts—it might force the mastermind to reveal himself," he suggested, his voice steady yet resolute.
Haag adjusted his glasses and nodded, his fingers flying across his tablet as he pulled up a detailed network analysis. "We already thought of that, sir. Despite the cunning efforts of the suppliers to obscure their activities, our operatives have successfully narrowed down the source of the firearms to various crime lords within the district," he replied, displaying a map dotted with red markers indicating areas of interest.
"However," he continued," Without concrete evidence to corroborate these suspicions, launching a raid would only tip off the actual masterminds."
Mercer nodded in approval. "Good work. Let's focus our efforts on these smaller networks first. Assemble a team of hackers to intercept any news leading to the mastermind's trail and gather intel from within without alerting them. With each link we find, we'll be one step closer to uncovering the source."
A seasoned field agent, Captain Reyes, spoke up, ""Director, with all due respect, we must consider the urgency of the situation. Each passing day allows these criminals to entrench themselves deeper into our city-state. We cannot afford to lose momentum."
Mercer regarded Captain Reyes thoughtfully before responding, his tone measured yet resolute. "Captain, I share your urgency, but rushing in without a clear plan risks exposing our operations prematurely. Our main goal is not just to eliminate the immediate threat but to dismantle the entire criminal network," he clarified, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive approach.
"That is why I propose a covert mission," he declared. Turning to Haag, Mercer asked, "Do we have any leads on the identities of the suspected contacts?"
Observing Haag's affirmative nod, he nodded in return." Good. Keep monitoring their movements. We need eyes on them at all times but no direct engagement until we have a clearer picture."
General Rodriguez leaned forward, his voice resonating with authority. "Director, may I suggest we also reinforce our patrols and checkpoints in the Western District? Increase our presence without drawing unnecessary attention. It could deter further criminal activities and aid in gathering additional intel."
Mercer nodded in agreement. "Agreed, General. Coordinate with local law enforcement. Let's make it clear we're stepping up security measures without alarming the public."
As the meeting progressed, the room buzzed with activity as plans were refined and responsibilities assigned.
"Alright, everyone," Mercer concluded, his voice commanding attention. "We have our directives. While the current situation is still within our control, it can spiral escalate unpredictably at any moment. Time is of the essence, and Pinecrest's safety relies on our success in dismantling this threat. Dismissed."
* * *
Meanwhile, back in the Western district, in the midst of the humming machines and the acrid scent of metal, Rion was busy producing guns in his workshop located at Cobra's garage.
He hummed a current trending song to himself as he used the pressing machine to shape metals into shapes and parts for the gun. The core material he used for the gun's case were some type of zinc-alloy as it was light, affordable yet sturdy and easy to shape.
Unaware of the brewing storm, the past few weeks had included him coming to the workshop everyday in order to produce guns for Cobra. He was paid in cash after each session and was able to salvage quite a number of spare parts for his personal use.
In this fashion, he had accumulated more than 120 thousand kila, an amount that should have been more than enough to alleviate the financial worry that had plagued him for so long. However, one of the incentives he gained from working with Cobra was access to his piddling black market network of resources, materials, and knowledge.
Seizing this opportunity, he had used this connection to procure essential materials for his numerous blueprints and most importantly, knowledge on adept abilities. It was here that he had satisfied his curiousity and learnt a lot of information about cultivators in general.
One of the things he learned was that adepts possessed a wide range of abilities, each unique to the individual. Some had elemental powers, capable of controlling the forces of fire, water, earth, or air. Others delved into the mysteries of force control, manipulating objects with the power of their mind. There are those that exhibited some form of mind control ability, and some specialize in crafting illusions that could deceive the senses.
What's more, each adept ability was distinguishible from others of the same type. In fact, even if two people were to possess seemingly similar abilities, there would be inherent differences in how they were used and manifested.
It was different for strykers, who all awakened the same ability to utilize qi. The qi was a very versatile ability that could be used to temporarily bolster their physical ability. The stryker could also coat their weapon in qi, holistically enhancing it. However, the volume and properties of the qi were dependent on the talent of the stryker.
Apart from that, he also learned that upon awakening, the body of a cultivator would most times gain natural adaptations to protect itself from any damage the ability might do to them without these natural defenses. This way, a person with lazer eyes would not burn their own retina when using their ability.
Further exploration into the cultivator community revealed an intriguing dichotomy: free roaming cultivators like him and cultivator belonging to guilds. Free roaming cultivators enjoyed freedom but lacked proper training and resources, so they often remain at a basic level. Without advanced support, they could not progress much.
On the other hand, guilds were like training centers for skilled cultivators. They had lots of resources and offer comprehensive training, helping cultivators reach their full potential. These guilds were the strongest force in the cultivator world, with some even having branches in different countries.
However, the most valuable knowledge Rion acquired was about Origin Techniques. These techniques were deeply rooted in origin energy research, full of mysteries that couldn't be explained by modern day science.
If the process of origin cultivation was compared to turning mud into steel, then origin techniques could decide whether the steel was to be made into knives and guns or simply left as a piece of metal.
Training one's adept abilities or qi was merely acquiring the material, while origin techniques taught one the versatile ways to use the material.