Valmere did not panic.

  It adapted.

  That was worse.

  By mid-afternoon, the Argent Veil banners had been planted in the central plaza like they belonged there. City guards stood beside them, not opposing them. Not welcoming them either. Just… allowing.

  Neutral city.

  Grey stood on the rooftop across from the plaza, Lyra beside him.

  Below, Commander Selric Thorne addressed a gathering crowd.

  Level 32.

  Emotion: Controlled authority.

  Grey activated Appraisal.

  Name: Selric ThorneAffiliation: Argent Veil – Inner CircleClass: Suppression ArchitectPrimary Skill: Arcane Dampening Grid

  Lyra's jaw tightened slightly.

  "He's not a duelist," she said quietly. "He controls environments."

  As if summoned by the explanation, Veil operatives began placing crystalline pylons at the plaza corners.

  This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

  Grey felt it instantly.

  His storm core dimmed.

  Not suppressed.

  Muted.

  Selric's voice carried clearly.

  "Citizens of Valmere. We are not here to disrupt trade. We seek only two individuals connected to unstable atmospheric anomalies."

  Murmurs.

  Carefully framed.

  Not criminals.

  Unstable.

  Lyra's emotional state sharpened.

  Anger.

  Grey touched her wrist lightly.

  "Not yet."

  Below, Selric raised a small silver shard.

  "We have reason to believe the anomaly is escalating. If left unchecked, the storm will not remain contained to the outskirts."

  Subtle manipulation.

  He was turning the city into leverage.

  Grey inhaled slowly.

  "So he wants us to move publicly," he murmured.

  "Yes," Lyra replied.

  "Good."

  She looked at him.

  "You have a plan?"

  "Not fully."

  That was honest.

  Then something changed.

  The dampening grid pulsed stronger.

  Storm Sense flickered violently.

  Selric's gaze lifted.

  Not toward Lyra.

  Toward Grey.

  Even at this distance.

  Their eyes met.

  And Selric smiled.

  He knew.

  Grey felt it.

  The grid wasn't targeting storm energy generically.

  It was tuning.

  To him.

  The status window flickered.

  [Environmental Interference Detected]Stormbound Efficiency: -18%

  Grey exhaled slowly.

  "So that's how you want to play it."

  Selric turned back to the crowd.

  "Should the storm-marked individuals reveal themselves peacefully, this matter ends cleanly."

  A pause.

  "And the bounty remains active."

  There it was.

  Greed + fear.

  Lyra's voice was low.

  "If we do nothing, opportunists will swarm."

  "If we reveal ourselves recklessly, he activates full suppression."

  "Yes."

  Grey's eyes shifted to the pylons.

  Four active.

  One central conductor.

  He smiled faintly.

  "You said he controls environments."

  "Yes."

  "Then let's break the environment."