Adrian leaned closer to Eleanor, his voice low and steady. "How are you holding up? Anything you've noticed—guard routines, how they treat you, even the food—could help us get out of here."
Eleanor hesitated, then nodded. "They're careful. Never the same guards twice in a row. They barely talk to me, just bring food and water. But… every morning, around five, they tape my mouth shut. They leave it on for about an hour, then take it off. I don't know why."
Adrian's eyes narrowed. He logged the detail in his case board, the System's interface flickering as it catalogued her words. His mind raced, deduction kicking in. Why silence her at that specific time?
The System flashed a prompt:
[Searching case board… Cross-referencing with uploaded ledger…]
A highlighted entry appeared:
[Ledger: 5:00 AM – 6:00 AM, Coast Guard jogging route passes the pier. Building is adjacent to jogging path.]
Adrian's lips curled into a grim smile. "They're silencing you so the coast guards won't hear you. That's our window."
He didn't share the full plan with Eleanor—she wouldn't believe the System, and he needed every advantage. Instead, he simply said, "If something happens tomorrow morning, be ready."
The next morning, at 4:40 AM, Eleanor sat on her cot, resigned to the routine. She braced herself as the guards entered, tape in hand. But this time, Adrian moved first.
With a sudden burst of energy, he lunged, cuffed hands swinging. He caught the nearest guard off-guard, kicking him hard in the knee. The guard crumpled, and Adrian grabbed Eleanor, pulling her toward the door.
Shouts erupted. More guards appeared, blocking the exit. Guns were drawn, barrels glinting in the harsh light.
Adrian shielded Eleanor, heart pounding. He counted at least six men, all armed. Then, a new figure stepped forward from the shadows—Raphael DiAmmo himself, his presence commanding silence.
"You've got some guts, detective," Raphael said, a hint of admiration in his voice. "You amaze me again. Before we shoot you—and don't worry, the coast guard won't be here yet, it's still early—do you have any last words? I'm giving you a chance, as a sign of respect."
Adrian straightened, meeting Raphael's gaze. "Can I smoke a cigarette before you kill me?"
Eleanor stared at him, incredulous. "What? We're about to die and you want a smoke?"
Adrian gave her a reassuring look. "Trust me. I said last night—I assure you, we will escape."
Raphael smirked. "Enough talking. Okay, give the man his cigarette."
Adrian shook his head. "No need. I have one." He pulled the Cigarette of Focus from his pocket and lit it. The System, for once, stayed silent—no warnings, no distractions. It was as if it understood the gravity of the moment.
He inhaled deeply. Instantly, his mind sharpened, every detail snapping into focus. The guards' stances, the angle of the guns, the tension in Raphael's jaw—he saw it all.
A minor notification blinked in the corner of his vision:
[Cigarette of Focus: Increases mental acuity and reaction speed. Drains 1 MP per minute. Maximum duration: 30 minutes. Warning: MP below 10 leads to mental exhaustion and rapid stamina loss.]
[MP: 44/64]
Raphael nodded to his men. "Shoot him. Leave the girl."
Adrian's hand flicked through the System shop.
[Wick's Coat – 100 CP. Confirm purchase?]
He confirmed. The coat materialized on his body—a heavy, brown trench coat, classic detective style.
Gunfire erupted. Bullets slammed into Adrian's back and chest, but the Wick's Coat absorbed the impact. Pain radiated through his body, his HP ticking down, but he stayed on his feet.
[HP: 50/100 | Stamina: 41/50 | MP: 36/60]
"Eleanor, get in the corner!" Adrian shouted.
He spent his newly earned skill point, boosting his Boxing skill to Level 2. Instantly, new techniques flooded his mind—footwork, counters, the perfect jab.
He charged the guards blocking the door, weaving through gunfire. He landed a solid punch, knocking one out cold. Another guard tried to tackle him, but Adrian ducked and countered, sending him sprawling.
But the bullets kept coming. His HP dropped, MP draining with every passing minute, and now his stamina was slipping too.
[HP: 50/100 → 44/100]
[Stamina: 41/50 → 38/50]
[MP: 36/60 → 32/60]
He activated Rational Concentration, burning through another 20 MP.
[MP: 16/60]
The System flashed a warning:
[Warning: MP below 20. Dropping below 10 will cause mental exhaustion and rapid stamina loss.]
Adrian's vision blurred at the edges, dizziness threatening to overwhelm him. But he gritted his teeth, holding on. He just needed to last five more minutes—until the coast guards would be close enough to hear the commotion.
He glanced at Eleanor, who watched him with wide, terrified eyes. "Stay down!" he called, voice hoarse.
The guards regrouped, but Adrian pressed forward, every move calculated, every second precious. He could feel his body failing, but his mind—sharpened by the cigarette and the System—kept him going.
Five minutes. That was all he needed.
The next five minutes blurred into a desperate, brutal brawl. Adrian fought with every ounce of strength and skill the System could muster. His fists flew, landing blows with the precision of a seasoned boxer, but the thugs kept coming—shouting, swinging, firing wild shots that ricocheted off the battered walls and the Wick's Coat.
Eleanor stayed low, dodging debris and dragging an unconscious guard out of Adrian's path. Blood pounded in Adrian's ears. His vision tunneled, the System's interface flickering as his statsdropped with every hit he took and every ounce of energy he spent.
Suddenly, an alarm blared from outside—sharp, urgent, echoing through the warehouse. The guards froze, panic flashing in their eyes.
"Coast Guard!" someone shouted.
In the chaos, several guards grabbed Raphael DiAmmo, hustling him toward the back door. Adrian caught a glimpse of the crime boss's furious face before he disappeared into the shadows, escaping justice once again.
The front doors burst open. Coast guards in uniform stormed in, weapons drawn. They took in the scene: battered thugs sprawled across the floor, Eleanor helping a bloodied Adrian to sit upright, and the unmistakable signs of a fierce struggle.
One of the officers recognized Eleanor immediately. "That's her—the missing girl!"
The coast guards rushed to help. Eleanor clung to Adrian, tears streaking her face as relief washed over her. The officers quickly secured the remaining guards, cuffing them and reading their rights. But the mastermind, Raphael DiAmmo, was gone.
Adrian slumped against the wall, barely conscious. He glanced at his stats, the numbers swimming before his eyes:
Health Points: 20/100
Stamina Points: 15/50
Mental Points: 10/60
The System's interface popped up, its tone triumphant:
[Congratulations, Adrian! Quest Complete: Escape the Pier.]
[Reward: 200 CP, 5 Stat Points.]
Adrian felt a wave of gratitude and relief—but it was quickly drowned by a crushing wave of exhaustion. His vision darkened, the world spinning as his battered body finally gave in.
He heard Eleanor's voice, distant and worried, and the shouts of the coast guards as they called for a medic. But Adrian was already slipping into unconsciousness, the System's congratulatory message echoing in his mind as everything faded to black.