Herald of death

"It's itchier than I remember," Ethan comments from the back of the rental truck. He rubs his neck lightly through the mask covering his head. "Did you change something?"

"I did, but it should be both more realistic and easier to wear. This new material lets sweat and air through," Kate says. "It's that suit I should complain about. Whoever their employer is has no notion of quality. Dressing your employees in those skin-sanding fabrics should be a crime."

"I'm glad Cyrius stained his. I wouldn't want to wear those scrubs," Kyle mocks as he parks the truck. He exits his seat and moves to the back door, opening it to let Ethan unload the bomb's crate. He hands Ethan a sword in a modern black leather sheath. "Could you store that for me? I'll probably need it if our guns turn out to be inefficient."

Ethan lowers the crate to the ground on a dolly. He takes Kyle's sword and reenters the truck to hide the light of his abilities. He unsheathes it by a centimeter. The blade shimmers with a silver-green glow, its surface etched with Eldorian runes. 'Identification, Inventory,' he thinks.

Phantom Reaver (Long sword)

This blade made of Wraithsilver can damage incorporeal creatures. When this weapon is fed Ether, it creates an aura that weakens and slows incorporeal creatures.

This weapon has been enchanted with [Sharpness (C)] and [Durability (C)].

"This is a remarkable weapon. I guess you found it in a high-level dungeon," Ethan comments.

"It was another D-ranked dungeon, a gigantic cemetery filled with undead," Kyle says. "The sword belonged to the boss. We guessed that he was an adventurer who came before us."

"This seems like the entrance to the real party," Kate says, showing the live feed of a guarded door. "Tombstone hacked the hotel's security, but it seems like the inside's network has been shut down or isolated."

"Then we made the right decision to take the place of official attendants," Kyle comments. He checks the chamber of the Glock hidden in his suit. He pulls out his phone. "Are the exploitation guys finished with their work?"

"Five minutes ago," Kate says as she swipes on her own phone. "The cargo is going to an auction starting in an hour. We are supposed to arrive in a few minutes."

"Good," Kyle says. He locks the truck, leaving a front window open for Russ to jump out if needed. He passes his arm through, cranking up the air conditioning. "What does the Russian bulletproof bodyguard look like?"

"One eighty something, blond, with the physique of a wrestler, not shredded or unnatural, just bulky," Ethan describes as he pets Russ. He shows him a picture on his phone, sent earlier by Tombstone. "She seems to always braid her hair; it's been like that in every picture Tombstone found."

The team exits the garage towards the guarded door. The hotel resembles a hive, with attendees discussing the latest innovations and technologies. Booths line the hallways, showcasing new gadgets and software. The setting sun beams through the outside portions of the hotel, reflecting off its pool. Ethan unfolds a pair of sunglasses and hides his eyes behind them. 'Prescience,' he thinks. His eyes take on a golden hue, allowing him to foresee everyone's movements a fraction of a second before they happen.

The meet-up bustles with demonstrations of innovative projects in AI, cybersecurity, and biotechnology. 'I wonder how long it will take for the common world to see Ether-based products,' Ethan thinks. The three of them scan the environment for any signs of their targets or threats. Their attire blends seamlessly with the investors that peruse the stands.

Kyle leads them towards the guarded door. The two burly guards scrutinize them before one starts scrolling on his tablet. The guard holding the tablet nods at his coworker and pushes the door open without saying a word.

Inside, Ethan cancels his ability and removes his now-conspicuous glasses. The atmosphere shifts from the bustling convention floor to a more exclusive and secretive ambiance. The main room, accessible via multiple open doors, exudes an air of dark opulence. The attendees are clad in a mix of bespoke suits, exotic leathers, and enigmatic masks. Each person radiates an aura of danger and is flanked by personal guards. Muted conversations hum with conspiring undertones as they eye the goods already on display.

The guard who opened the door follows them. "This way, please," he says, motioning towards a door. He opens it and guides them to the backstage area, where several other crates rest, guarded by his colleagues.

Ethan scans the room, searching for Valeria Vex. 'No luck,' Ethan thinks. 'Is she elsewhere? Is she late? Or is all of this running without her while she's doing something else?'

"You can place it there," the guard accompanying them says. Ethan unloads the crate and drags the dolly to the side. The guard opens the crate, revealing the shimmering bomb. He moves towards Kyle and asks, "Do you wish to change the starting price for this item?"

"No," Kyle says, mimicking Cyrius' voice as best he can. "When will it be auctioned?"

"Lady Vex will decide that," the man answers. He closes the lid and motions towards the main room. "Our bar has a new selection, enriched by findings from the other world. Do not hesitate to ask any of my colleagues if you need anything."

As the man leaves them, Kyle whispers, "So she is, or will be here. But we don't know how long we can disappear before they start asking questions."

Kate briefly follows a man to an elevator with her gaze. "He's one of Valeria's new employees," she whispers. "What are the chances that she's upstairs?"

Ethan glances around to check that no one is watching him and blinks predator's sight on and off. "There are three people above, including a woman. Two of them, potentially including Valeria, are in a suite. And there's a man in an isolated room with a lot of computers."

"According to the blueprints, the hotel's security room is not in this building," Kyle whispers. He glances around, searching for cameras. "Even if Valeria isn't up there, neutralizing that guy would make our job much easier."

"Agreed," Ethan says. He looks inside the elevator as the man enters it. "There aren't any cameras in the elevators, but they may be checking if the elevators are moving."

"There is a service hatch," Kyle says. He moves around and spots an isolated elevator at the end of a corridor. "This one seems unguarded."

"It is," Ethan confirms with predator's sight. "Six, can you play it off if they come to see why the elevator came down?"

"Yep," Kate says. They move towards the elevator, blending in with the other attendees and avoiding the cameras' fields of view. Kate leans her back on the elevator's calling button, faking to scroll on her phone.

The doors open, and Ethan double-checks that there are no cameras. Ethan enters and reaches up, feeling for the edges of the service hatch. He finds the latch and opens it. He boosts himself up, then extends a hand to help Kyle. They close the hatch behind them. 'Inventory,' Ethan thinks, exchanging his fragile suit for his mantle. Ethan activates predator's sight once more, scanning the floors above. "They're on the third floor," Ethan whispers.

Two guards approach Kate. She maintains a cool demeanor, feigning a smile.

"Ma'am, the upper floors are a restricted area," one of the guards says, suspicion evident in his tone.

"Oh, I'm so sorry!" Kate says, putting away her phone. "I just leaned back on the wall and called it by accident."

The guards exchange a glance, their heart rates hastening at the sound of her voice. "We'll escort you back to the main area. Please refrain from wandering off."

Inside the elevator shaft, Ethan and Kyle start their ascent, moving silently and with ease.