Family system-Chapter 200: Joining in

Hana infiltrated a small Arbiter-controlled with the new information she had. It was a garrison near the city’s eastern gates. The garrison was responsible for distributing propaganda and suppressing dissent. Using forged documents to gain access, she sabotaged their printing presses, rendering them useless. Additionally, she assassinated the garrison’s captain, an Arbiter loyalist named Captain Grell, known for his brutal crackdowns on resistance sympathizers. She left a clear message written in his blood on the wall: "Freedom cannot be silenced."

Focusing on disrupting Arbiter supply lines, Hana targeted a caravan transporting mana crystals—a resource for powering constructs and Arbiter wards. She ambushed the caravan in transit, taking advantage of the narrow paths leading out of the city. With a small group of rebel operatives, she eliminated the guards, seized the crystals, and delivered them to the resistance for future use.

Hana turned her attention to undermining Arbiter’s loyalty among the population. She infiltrated a heavily guarded noble estate owned by Lady Saren, an Arbiter benefactor who hosted lavish parties to recruit informants and sway influential merchants. Disguised as a servant, Hana poisoned the wine served at a gathering, incapacitating many attendees. She left behind documents implicating Lady Saren in treason against the Arbiters, ensuring her removal from power and sowing distrust within their ranks.

On the eve of the rebellion, Hana delivered one final blow: eliminating an Arbiter strategist named Edran, known for devising defenses against rebel incursions. Edran operated from a secure tower overlooking the city. After scaling the tower’s walls under the cover of night, Hana took care of him swiftly and confiscated his maps and plans. These were handed over to Kael and Lysara, giving the resistance a critical edge in their upcoming assault.

…

The people of the rebellion moved forward after their strike on the eastern barracks, motivated by the dismantling of the Arbiter constructs and the destruction of the conduit. While the rebels regrouped and strategized their next move, Hana finally stepped out of the shadows to join their ranks openly. Her move into the rebel leadership went smoothly—she and Kael had exchanged intel for months, and Lysara and Amara had heard of her strikes against Arbiter assets.

The rebel camp buzzed with activity. Fighters stood ready with their weapons but were resting and waiting for the right moment. Scouts reported on Arbiter troop movements, and Lysara mapped out potential targets. Kael stood near the command tent, his arms crossed as he reviewed the intelligence from the barracks. When Hana approached, the camp seemed to hold its breath. Despite the chaos of preparation, every rebel knew her reputation—the shadow that struck fear into the Arbiters.

Kael noticed her first. He extended a hand in greeting. "About time you stopped hiding."

Hana smirked, shaking his hand. "I figured you could use more help in your operations."

"Help, yes," Lysara chimed in, stepping beside them. "But don’t get too comfortable. We work as a team here."

Hana’s gaze flicked between them, her smirk widening. "Teamwork’s nothing new to me. I learned a lot during the last few weeks and manage."

Kael gestured toward the tent. "Come on. We’ve got plans to discuss."

Lira stood beside Amara, both of them looking over maps and documents, while Lysara was placed near the table. Hana looked at them, her eyes scanning the room.

Kael pointed to a fortified Arbiter outpost on the map. "This is our next target. A supply depot feeding their remaining garrisons. If we can take it, we cut off their ammunition, rations, and mana reserves."

Amara frowned. "It’s well-guarded. Taking it head-on would cost us."

"Which is why we won’t," Hana interjected, leaning over the table. She pointed to a weak point in the outpost’s defenses, a narrow tunnel leading to its storage chambers. "They use this for waste disposal. With the right timing, a small team could infiltrate and sabotage their supplies from within."

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Lira nodded, her expression thoughtful. "It could work if we hit their reserves while keeping the main forces occupied."

Kael looked at Hana. "You’re proposing we split our forces?"

"Exactly," Hana replied. "A diversionary attack on the walls will draw their attention. Meanwhile, a team—including me—sneaks in through the tunnels and sets the charges."

Lysara crossed her arms, studying the map. "It’s risky. If the timing’s off, the infiltrators will be trapped."

Hana’s expression didn’t waver. "That’s why the infiltrators can’t afford to fail."

Kael nodded slowly. "It’s a gamble, but it’s one worth taking. We need to keep the Arbiters on the defensive."

…

The rebels moved under the cover of darkness, splitting into two groups. Kael, Lysara, and a force of fighters approached the outpost’s front, their weapons gleaming faintly. They launched a sudden assault, arrows, and bolts raining down on the walls. The guards scrambled to respond, their shouts echoing into the night.

Meanwhile, Hana led the infiltration team through the tunnel. The air was damp and thick, the smell of decay clinging to the walls. Her steps were silent, and the rebels following her mimicked her movements. They reached the end of the tunnel, where a rusty grate barred their path. Hana drew a small vial from her pouch, pouring its contents over the metal. The acid hissed and bubbled, eating away at the grate until it gave way with a soft creak.

They emerged into the storage chambers, lined with food barrels, weapons crates, and glowing mana crystals. Hana signaled the team to spread out, planting charges on key stockpiles. The rebels worked quickly.

As they finished setting the charges, footsteps echoed from the hallway outside. Hana motioned for silence, her hand on the hilt of her dagger. A patrol of guards entered, their torches casting long shadows.

Hana moved first, slipping behind the nearest guard and silencing him with a swift strike. The rest of the team also sprang forward, their blades flashing in the dim light. The skirmish was brief but brutal, and when it was over, the rebels dragged the bodies into the shadows.

"Time to go," Hana whispered, her voice calm but firm.

They retraced their steps through the tunnel, the distant sounds of Kael’s diversionary attack still ringing. As they emerged into the night, a deafening explosion rocked the ground. The charges had detonated, sending plumes of fire and smoke into the sky. The supply depot was reduced to rubble.

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The rebels regrouped in the forest outside the outpost. Cheers erupted as the infiltrators returned, their success clear from the distant glow of the fires. Kael and Lysara approached Hana.

"That was clean," Kael said simply.

"Almost too clean," Lysara added, her lips forming into a small smile. "I might get used to having you around."

Hana shrugged. "Don’t get too comfortable. There’s still work to do."

.

While Hana and the rebels had a good time somewhere else in the city, some people didn’t share her happiness.

The Arbiters were gathered once again inside the grand council chamber, their lavishness contrasting greatly with the chaos brewing outside their heavily guarded walls. The remnants of their feasts were cleared away, but the sour stench of wine and excess lingered even the night after. The central Arbiter, flushed and bloated from a mix of drink and frustration, leaned forward in his chair, glaring down at the trembling messenger before him.

The messenger, a wiry young man in the standard gray uniform of Arbiter couriers, shifted nervously on his feet. His eyes darted between the Arbiters, his voice faltering as he delivered his report.

"My lords, the rebels have... have struck again," he began, his voice barely above a whisper. "The supply depot near the eastern ridge has been destroyed. Reports indicate that their infiltration team sabotaged the storage chambers while a diversionary force attacked the walls. The depot is... gone, my lords."

The chamber fell silent, the weight of the news sinking into the room. Then, the central Arbiter slammed his cup onto the table, spilling wine across the polished surface. His voice erupted, a mix of rage and disbelief.

"How is this possible?" he bellowed, his jowls quivering with fury. "We fortified that depot! It was supposed to be impenetrable! Who is responsible for this incompetence?"

The other Arbiters exchanged uneasy glances, their insecurities bubbling to the surface. The skeletal Arbiter spoke to the right of the central figure.

"This is the third major loss in as many days," he hissed. "The rebels are daring, striking at our assets with impunity. And what have our forces done? Nothing! They’ve failed at every turn!"

"Failed?" The central Arbiter shot back, his tone dangerously low. "No, the problem isn’t failure—it’s sabotage. Someone inside our ranks must be aiding the rebels, feeding them information."

A heavy silence followed his accusation. The Arbiters shifted uncomfortably, each silently wondering if they were the target of his paranoia. The central Arbiter’s gaze fell back on the messenger, who stiffened under the weight of his scrutiny.

"Who was in charge of the depot?" the central Arbiter demanded.

The messenger swallowed hard. "Captain Veltran, my lord. He was overseeing operations at the time of the attack."

"Captain Veltran?" The central Arbiter’s voice dripped with venom. "Another useless fool in a long line of useless fools. Have him arrested and brought before us immediately."

"My lord," the messenger interjected cautiously, "Captain Veltran... he perished in the attack."

The central Arbiter’s face darkened further, his knuckles white as they gripped the table’s edge. "Then find someone else to take the fall!" he roared. "I want heads for this! Do you hear me? Heads!"

Another Arbiter, round-faced and still nursing the aftereffects of their previous night’s indulgence, cleared his throat nervously. "Perhaps we should consider reinforcing our remaining outposts—"

"Reinforce with what?" the skeletal Arbiter snapped, cutting him off. "The rebels have cut our supply lines. We’re running low on mana crystals, weapons, and rations. And our constructs are useless without the conduits they destroyed."

"Enough!" the central Arbiter shouted, silencing the room. His voice was shaking now, his anger barely masking the fear creeping into his expression. "We are the Arbiters! The gods themselves choose us! These... these vermin dare to challenge our authority? They must be crushed, annihilated, wiped from existence!"

"But how my lord?" a timid Arbiter asked from the far end of the table. "Every plan we’ve devised has failed. The rebels are growing stronger, and we are..."

"We are what?" the central Arbiter snapped, his glare silencing the man.

The timid Arbiter hesitated, then whispered, "We are losing, my lord."

The words hung in the air, a stark truth none wanted to acknowledge. The central Arbiter’s face turned a deep shade of red, his hands trembling with rage. He stood abruptly, towering over the table.

"Losing?" he spat. "We are not losing! This rebellion is nothing more than a flicker—a nuisance! They cannot stand against us and will be crushed beneath our heel!"

He turned back to the messenger, who flinched as the Arbiter’s furious gaze bore into him.

"Send word to all remaining garrisons," the central Arbiter barked. "Double their defenses—triple their patrols. I want every citizen watched, every whisper of rebellion silenced. And bring me a list of every officer whose loyalty is in question. We will root out the traitors among us."

The messenger bowed quickly, eager to escape the volatile atmosphere. "As you command, my lord."

The central Arbiter sank back into his chair, his earlier rage giving way to a cold hatred. "Let the rebels think they’ve won a victory," he muttered, more to himself than to the others. "They will pay for their insolence. Every last one of them."