Abyss System The Rise of the Lord-Chapter 126 open the door

---

The dawn had not yet fully broken.

A gray light lay over the city, a cold wind passed between the rooftops. This time — the time when the city is most truthful.

No merchants shout.

No soldiers give orders.

No politics appears.

Only the real city remains.

Zaber walked slowly down a narrow street.

The wound on his shoulder still hurt, but he paid no attention to it. Pain was not new to him.

He was thinking of something else.

Aurora.

The palace.

And the sword.

He stopped and looked at the sky.

The sun had not yet risen, but the sky was turning white.

— I have to go back there.

This was not a decision.

This was an obligation.

In Aurora's palace there were two things.

The first — his sword.

The second — his role.

If he stayed in the cabin again, questions would arise.

Aurora is not a fool.

Zaber took a slow breath.

— Once suspicion begins, the game ends.

That is why he had to return.

---

The road to the palace

Aurora's palace was located in the upper part of the city.

This place felt like another world.

Streets wider.

Houses taller.

People quieter.

Poverty was not visible here.

But fear was present.

Zaber felt it.

Two guards stood in front of the palace gate.

They looked at Zaber with familiar eyes.

One nodded his head.

— We didn't see you last night.

Ordinary words.

But also a question.

Zaber did not hesitate.

— I was seeing the city.

The guard raised an eyebrow.

— At night?

— At night the city is more truthful.

The guard looked for a moment.

Then gave way.

— Come in.

Zaber entered.

The air inside the palace was different from outside.

There was no smell of dust here.

Here everything was under control.

Servants walked slowly.

No one speaks loudly.

Zaber passed through the corridor.

One servant looked at him.

— Your room is ready.

That means Aurora's words still held power.

"You live here."

Zaber nodded.

— Thank you.

But he did not go to the room.

He turned the other way.

To the armory.

---

The sword

The room was cold.

Weapons hung on the walls.

Most of them for decoration.

Some of them real.

Zaber could distinguish immediately.

He went to the corner.

His sword was still there.

He took it in his hand.

The metal was cold.

But familiar.

He slowly drew the sword from the cloth.

The steel swallowed the light.

For a moment he stood silent.

As if meeting an old friend.

Then he put the sword back in its place.

Not yet.

— So you returned.

The voice came from behind.

Zaber did not turn.

He recognized the voice.

Aurora.

He slowly turned.

Aurora stood by the door.

White clothing.

Calm eyes.

But behind this calm something was hidden.

— Where were you last night? — she said.

Simple question.

But the tone was observant.

Zaber shrugged.

— I needed to study the city.

Aurora looked at him.

Several seconds.

— The city might be studying you, — she said slowly.

Zaber smiled faintly.

— Perhaps.

Aurora leaned against the wall.

— This palace is a safe place, Zaber.

Then she added:

— For most people.

This sentence had two meanings.

Zaber sensed it.

— So not for me?

Aurora smiled lightly.

— I have not answered that yet.

Silence.

Then she said, looking at the blood stain on Zaber's clothes and the wound on his shoulder:

— Who put you in this condition?

Zaber took his sword again and did not answer.

Aurora watched for another moment.

— So you chose.

Then she turned and walked out.

Zaber watched her leave.

This woman was not ordinary.

And she never said anything for no reason.

Near noon Zaber left the palace.

This time the purpose was clear.

The weapons market.

In the city every big game begins through weapons.

Weapons trade — this is not ordinary trade.

This is:

money

information

and loyalty.

Who sells weapons to whom — that is politics.

But this business was also very dangerous; to do it within the law required paperwork, and Zaber had neither the time nor the intention to do that.

Zaber turned into a narrow alley.

Here the shops were different.

Windows closed with iron.

Doors heavy.

Inside, words are spoken slowly.

He stopped in front of one door.

He saw the sign.

Two crossed knives.

This place.

He opened the door.

Inside was half darkness.

Swords on the walls.

Behind the table sat one man.

Eyes alert.

— What do you need?

Zaber did not answer.

He looked around the room.

The weapons were not low quality.

The merchant spoke again.

— If you want to stay silent, you can stay outside too.

Zaber approached.

— Trade.

The merchant laughed lightly.

— Everyone comes for that.

— Three cases of crossbows.

The room suddenly cooled.

The merchant narrowed his eyes.

— Three cases?

— Yes.

— Do you know how many that is?

— One hundred fifty.

The merchant tapped his finger on the table.

— Eight gold each.

— So one thousand two hundred.

— Correct.

Silence stretched.

The merchant leaned forward.

— Show me the money.

Zaber did not answer.

The merchant laughed.

— So no.

— It will come later

— everyone says that

Zaber looked at the merchant thoughtfully

If I say I'm not everyone I become the same as the rest but joining them is also not a good idea

— I'm not everyone

— everyone says that too

The merchant leaned back in his chair.

— If you don't trust, why did you come?

Zaber took a small pouch from his pocket.

Threw it on the table.

The sound of coins was heard.

The merchant opened it.

Inside there were one hundred gold.

The merchant raised an eyebrow.

— Is this an advance?

— Yes.

— An advance should be at least forty percent of the money

— Next time it will be like that

The merchant stared at him.

— Who do you work for?

Zaber looked coldly.

— Does who I am matter or what I'm buying matter?

The merchant laughed.

— Don't be so serious

Silence stretched again.

The merchant's thoughts became confused

This kid is strange

No money but refusing the delivery is also not smart

Finally the merchant said:

— When do you need it?

— Tomorrow.

The merchant placed his hand on the table

— This is fast.

— Yes

The merchant looked at the coins again.

— Good.

— But one condition.

— What?

— If the money doesn't come… I will find you.

Zaber nodded.

— Try it

The merchant smiled.

— I always find people.

Zaber turned and walked out.

The merchant stared at the door for a long time.

— Interesting kid.

The street was ordinary again.

But Zaber felt it.

Someone is watching.

He did not show it.

He continued walking.

---

On the rooftop

In the distance a silhouette stood.

The wind moved his cloak.

He watched the entire scene.

The merchant.

The money.

The trade.

Everything.

He said slowly:

— Good.

He narrowed his eyes.

— You're rushing, kid, the price of rushing won't be small

But then he added:

— if you had acted to get Aurora's help, your affairs would have ended easier instead of trade

He looked at the city.

This city was not easy.

And Zaber had not yet understood this.

Larden said in a low voice:

— independence is also good if you can stand when the fuel runs out

The wind grew stronger.

The silhouette melted into the shadow.

In the old part of the city, among narrow streets, stood an ordinary-looking three-story building. From outside it looked like a simple warehouse or trading house.

But inside there was another world.

This place was the meeting place of the Gray Wings.

They were not a faction.

They were not a clan either.

They called themselves an independent group.

But people who knew city politics understood one thing well:

The Gray Wings were not a small force.

--- 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

In the large room on the upper floor, about twenty people sat around the table.

Candlelight burned inside the room.

Windows were closed.

Walls were covered with thick cloth so no sound would go outside.

In this place words were spoken with caution.

The man sitting at the head of the table slowly tapped his fingers on the table.

— So let's begin.

His name was Marvek.

The current leader of the Gray Wings.

Age close to fifty, but his eyes were still cold and calculating.

He looked at those around the table.

— In the last two months the city is changing.

No one spoke.

This was known to everyone.

A new wind was blowing over the city.

And the name of that wind was Aurora.

---

One woman leaned forward.

— This is not news, — she said. — The question is different.

— Which side do we choose?

The room became silent.

This question was not simple.

This question was the future.

---

Marvek joined his hands.

— We all know the last ten years.

He continued:

— Control of the city slipped from the state's hands.

No one denied this statement.

Ten years ago this city was in the state's hands.

But then factions grew stronger.

Trade. Weapons. Money.

Everything gradually passed into the hands of factions.

The state only watched.

---

One person laughed.

— Not just watched.

— They were weak.

Marvek shook his head.

— No.

— They were cautious.

He tapped the table slowly.

— What happens if the state starts an open war?

No one answered.

Marvek continued himself.

— They would be starting a war against their own people.

This would be political suicide.

Soldiers would walk in the city streets.

Houses would burn.

People would die.

And other states would see it.

— "Here is their true face," — Marvek said in a low voice.

— "A government that kills its own people."

This would be a big blow for the state.

---

A younger man sitting on the other side of the table spoke.

— That's why Aurora came.

This time most nodded.

Aurora was not an ordinary governor.

She was a tool.

The state itself will not start a war.

But if someone from inside the city breaks the factions…

then everything will look natural.

---

One person said coldly:

— If she wins.

The room became silent again.

Here the main question was this.

Will Aurora win or not?

---

One of the women spoke.

— If she wins…

— the factions end.

She continued:

— Their remnants will not survive either.

This was known to everyone.

In city politics the losing side does not survive.

If Aurora wins:

factions will be destroyed.

If factions win:

the same fate awaits the state's people.

---

One person leaned on the table and said:

— But if the factions win…

He laughed.

— nothing changes.

The city remains in the hands of factions again.

But the state's people will be allowed to live.

The reason was simple.

Factions were not the government.

They do not want to play the role of government.

They prefer to be shadow rulers.

---

Marvek took a deep breath.

— So we have two paths.

He raised his fingers.

— First path.

— The state's side.

This path was dangerous.

If Aurora wins — they win.

If she loses — they die.

---

— Second path.

— The factions.

This path was safer.

If factions win — they survive.

If the state wins…

they become enemies too.

---

Whispering began in the room.

The Gray Wings had never entered a big war.

They always adapted.

But this time the decision was not simple.

---

An old man spoke.

— There is a third possibility.

Everyone looked at him.

— The state will not accept defeat.

He continued:

— This is their territory.

Even if Aurora loses…

they can find another excuse.

He spread his hands.

— Rebellion.

— Disorder.

— Criminals.

Then they send the army.

And clean the city.

---

A cold silence fell in the room.

This possibility was known to everyone, but no one liked to say it.

---

Marvek said slowly:

— But this will cause noise.

If the state drowns its own city in blood…

other states will see it.

— This shows their weakness.

That is why this possibility exists.

But it is the last possibility.

---

A young fighter hit the table.

— So what do we do?!

He said angrily:

— Do we wait?

— Do we watch?

---

The room split in two again.

Half said:

— The state's side.

If they win, the Gray Wings will rise to the next level.

They can become a legal force.

---

The other half said:

— The factions.

The reason is simple.

One can live with factions.

With the state… no.

---

The argument grew stronger.

Voices rose.

Candles flickered.

But no one could make a final decision.

---

Finally Marvek raised his hand.

The room became silent again.

— We are not deciding yet.

He said slowly:

— There is still time.

Aurora has not started acting yet.

The factions are silent too.

So the game is just beginning.

---

He said the last words:

— We will see who wins.

— Then we choose a side.

This was the habit of the Gray Wings.

They waited for the most correct moment.

---

The meeting ended.

People slowly began to disperse.

No one hurried.

But everyone felt one thing.

A big game was beginning over the city.

And in this game those who are late…

do not survive.

---

Outside the city the wind rose.

Shadows moved over the rooftops.

Without anyone noticing, the political game came into motion.

And in this game many names have not yet been spoken.

But very soon…

the whole city will hear one name.

Zaber.

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