Chapitre 9: Whispers of the Underground
The city's hunter district transformed as night fell, cloaking its alleys in a patchwork of neon glows and shadows that slithered like living things. Felix moved with practiced nonchalance, his eyes flicking over the stalls and figures that lined the streets, each promising rare items or whispered secrets at a price. The system's subtle pulse guided him deeper into the district's maze-like heart, where the faintest glimmer of legitimacy ended, and the true game began.
The deeper he went, the more the atmosphere shifted—thick with tension and the scent of rain that threatened to fall. The street stalls became fewer and far between, replaced by hooded figures exchanging whispers in dark corners and rogue hunters who sized each other up with careful, calculating eyes. Here, the rules were different; respect was earned through blood or gold, and secrets were the most precious currency.
Felix's charm quirk thrummed beneath his skin, its subtle influence weaving through the crowd and planting unspoken thoughts that made others avert their eyes or ease their stance. He was a shadow within shadows, present yet unseen. His gaze landed on a stall adorned with trinkets—talismans, shattered relics, and maps etched onto cracked parchment. The man behind it had eyes like a hawk and fingers that tapped a silent rhythm on the wooden counter.
"Looking for something, friend?" The vendor's voice was rough, a rasp that sounded more like an accusation than a question.
Felix let a smile pull at the corner of his lips as he stepped forward, his fingers brushing the surface of an ancient compass marked with arcane runes. "I'm looking for information," he said, eyes meeting the vendor's without flinching. "Specifically about 'The Eye.'"
The vendor's fingers paused, the tapping silenced mid-beat. A muscle in his jaw tightened, and he cast a quick, darting glance over Felix's shoulder. "You don't speak of that here," he hissed, voice dropping to a near growl. "Unless you're ready to be seen."
Felix's heart thudded, a thrill of anticipation curling in his chest. He slid a few silver credits across the table, the coins catching the dim light and shimmering like promises. "Consider me ready," he said.
The vendor's eyes flickered, assessing the weight of the silver before pocketing it with a sigh. "The Eye isn't a thing, it's a force," he said, voice barely a whisper. "An entity as old as the Tower, perhaps older. They say it watches the watchers, guards the secrets no one should know. And if you're asking, you're already caught in its sight."
A shiver ran down Felix's spine, but he kept his smile steady. This was the confirmation he'd needed. The cryptic hints he'd gathered, now solidified, pointed to something bigger—a layer of control that governed even the guilds.
"What about those who protect it?" Felix pressed, leaning closer. "The ones who keep the secrets?"
The vendor's eyes darkened, the lines on his face deepening. "They call themselves The Veiled Watchers," he said. "Not hunters, not in the way you know. They don't fight for fame or treasure—they guard the Tower's soul." His voice trembled slightly as if uttering the name was enough to summon them.
System Notification: Skill Unlocked: Covert Charm (Passive)
Reputation Points: +25 (Gained underground network connections)
New Quest Initiated: "Uncover the Veiled Watchers"
Felix's eyes flicked to the system notification, satisfaction blooming as he processed the information. He kept his face neutral, nodding to the vendor as he straightened. "Thanks for the warning," he said, stepping back into the flow of the crowd.
As he moved, Felix could feel the shift in attention. The street's pulse had changed—what had been idle chatter was now laced with tension, eyes darting toward him and quickly away. He had stirred something, and now the district itself seemed to bristle with awareness.
"Whispers travel fast here," Felix muttered under his breath, keeping his pace steady as he navigated toward the district's dimly lit thoroughfare. Every instinct screamed that he was being watched, and not just by curious eyes. The air thickened, and the faint scent of iron lingered, unmistakable.
"You're in over your head, Felix."
The voice emerged from the shadows, rough and low, like a blade dragged across stone. Felix stilled, turning slowly to face the source. A hooded figure detached from the darkness, their cloak shifting like smoke. No details were visible beneath the hood, but their stance spoke of confidence—and warning.
"The Watchers already know you're looking," the figure continued, their tone edged with both menace and curiosity.
Felix allowed a smirk to surface, an expression that spoke of reckless defiance. "Good," he said, his voice soft but firm. "Let them watch."
The figure's silence was answer enough, the air between them humming with unspoken challenges. Felix took a step back, never breaking eye contact, before slipping into the crowd once more, the hooded presence seared into his memory. He needed to move quickly; the game had just escalated, and now the stakes were far greater than he'd anticipated.
System Notification:
Quest Update: "Uncover the Veiled Watchers" – Progress 5%
New Objective: "Survive the Watchers' Attention"
Felix's pulse thrummed as he wove through the bustling streets, every step calculated. He could feel eyes on him, shadowed figures tracking his path. But that was fine. He had planted the seed; now it was time to see how deep the roots would spread.
As he turned a corner, the neon lights cast jagged patterns across his face, and his mind worked relentlessly. The Veiled Watchers, guardians of the Tower's darkest truths—if he could find them, understand them, he'd have leverage unlike anything New York's hunter world had ever seen. But first, he had to survive being noticed.
He glanced at the system interface hovering just within his sight, its soft glow a reminder of his progress and the weight of the hidden quest now unlocked.
Felix's smirk deepened as he whispered to himself, "The game's only just begun."
Around him, the hunter district moved on, unaware that the tide had shifted, that the first stone in a far-reaching ripple had been cast. Felix's path forward bristled with danger, but he thrived in the spaces where risk met opportunity. And now, the Tower's watchers were watching him back.
Cadeaux
-- Cadeau
reçu État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone