The city's undercurrent hummed with secrets, and Spectre's shadow stretched far beyond your last encounter. The data you'd gathered hinted at a handler — someone orchestrating these enhanced operatives from the shadows.
You couldn't let that figure slip away.
Following the Thread
Your investigation began with subtle moves: tapping into black market contacts, digging through encrypted chatter, and hacking security cams around the last known sightings. Your system tracked your progress:
[Investigation Skill +400 XP]
[Hacking Skill +300 XP]
The trail was faint but persistent, leading you to a rundown nightclub in the Meatpacking District — a place known for drawing the city's less savoury characters.
Inside the Nightclub
You slipped through the door, senses sharp. Neon lights flickered, casting a haze over murmured conversations and clinking glasses. Somewhere in this chaos was the lead you needed.
You spotted a familiar face — a low-level Echo Protocol courier known for handling sensitive deliveries. Quietly, you tailed him into a back room.
The Exchange
Inside, the courier exchanged a small, encrypted package with a woman clad in sleek tactical gear. She exuded calm menace, her eyes cold and calculating.
You caught snippets of their conversation:
"The new Ghost isn't performing to standard."
Adjustments are underway. The handler demands results."
Your system alerted:
[Intel Acquired: Handler's Code Name 'Viper']
Narrow Escape
Before you could get closer, a sharp voice echoed behind you.
"Looking for something?"
The woman Viper stood just feet away, a deadly smile playing on her lips.
You reacted instantly, ducking behind a crate as guards flooded the room.
Fight and Flight
Your martial arts skills surged forward — precise, fluid, and efficient — as you dispatched attackers with the Daredevil style you had honed.
Your system chimed:
[Combat XP +1100]
[Adaptation Progress: 19% → 22%]
Breaking through a side door, you disappeared into the night, clutching the encrypted package you had snatched during the chaos.
New Mission
Back at your safehouse, you examined the package. It contained schematics and files on experimental upgrades for operatives like Spectre — proof Viper was pushing their limits.
Your system is updated:
[Quest Updated: Uncover Viper's Identity and Stop Echo Protocol's Experimentation]
[Level Up Achieved]
[Stat Points Earned: 6]
You allocated the points again, with a slight boost to Luck — it was becoming a key factor in your survival.
Looking Ahead
The web was tighter now. Viper was real, and she was dangerous. But so were you.
Your Adaptation talent pulsed quietly, ready to evolve once more.