The freight depot sat in eerie silence under the moonlight, its rusted walls and skeletal beams shrouded in shadows. From his vantage point on a ridge overlooking the scene, Marcus surveyed the activity below. The information extracted from Khalid and Reza had brought him here, to this remote meeting point outside Zahedan.
Three trucks idled inside the depot, their dim headlights barely piercing the darkness. Twelve men moved between them, unloading crates and stacking them near the center of the space. At the heart of it all stood Abbas Darvishi, a wiry, sharp-eyed man barking orders at his men. He moved with nervous energy, scanning the area, though not sharply enough to sense the predator watching him.
Marcus adjusted his Glock, checked the suppressor, and began his descent toward the depot. His movements were silent, methodical. The guards at the perimeter were first, their deaths swift and unnoticed. The first man crumpled soundlessly to the ground as Marcus’s knife slid across his throat. The second followed moments later, a silenced shot dropping him where he stood.
As Marcus advanced, the depot’s outer defenses fell one by one. He dispatched two more guards near the rear entrance, their bodies slumping into the shadows. By the time he reached the depot’s interior, half of Abbas’s men were already dead.
It was then that he felt the familiar hum in his mind. He froze for a moment as the System flickered to life, a notification appearing in his vision.
Skills Updated: Mid-Tier Potency Unlocked. Skills Available for 5 Minutes.
The surge of energy that coursed through him was stronger than anything he’d felt before. His senses sharpened to a razor’s edge, every sound and movement in the depot amplified. His focus became absolute, his body humming with raw potential. At this level, his Interrogation skill would be nearly impossible to resist. Abbas Darvishi didn’t stand a chance.
Marcus allowed himself a grim smile. The men in the depot didn’t know it yet, but their fates were sealed.
---
The remaining guards were clustered near the trucks, their postures casual as they unloaded crates. Marcus moved through the shadows, silent as death. The first man to notice him barely had time to shout before a silenced shot took him down. The others turned, panic breaking out as Marcus darted between the stacks of crates, taking them out one by one.
A burst of automatic fire rang out, but Marcus was already behind the shooter. His blade flashed, slicing cleanly through the man’s throat. Another guard tried to run for cover, but Marcus’s Glock barked twice, dropping him instantly.
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The last two guards huddled near the trucks, their weapons trembling in their hands. Marcus stepped out from the shadows, his cold gaze freezing them in place. Two quick shots ended their fear forever.
Silence fell over the depot, the echoes of gunfire fading into the stillness. Marcus’s breathing was steady as he surveyed the carnage. Only one man remained.
---
Abbas Darvishi stood frozen near one of the trucks, his eyes wide with terror. His pistol hung limply in his hand, his fingers too unsteady to aim. Marcus approached slowly, his Glock raised and steady.
“Drop it,” Marcus said coldly.
Abbas hesitated, his mind racing for options that didn’t exist. With a shudder, he let the pistol fall to the ground.
Marcus closed the distance in two quick strides, grabbing Abbas by the collar and dragging him toward a chair near the trucks. He shoved the man into it with enough force to make Abbas yelp in pain. The wiry man gasped for breath, his sweat-soaked face pale.
“You’re Abbas Darvishi,” Marcus said, his tone as sharp as a blade. “You’re going to tell me everything you know about Al-Ra’ib.”
“I don’t know anything!” Abbas stammered, his voice trembling. “I’m just a courier! I deliver money and messages. That’s all!”
Marcus stared at him, his expression cold and unreadable. Then he activated the System, the surge of power returning with an intensity that made Abbas flinch.
**Skill Activated: Interrogation (Mid-Tier Potency). Duration: 5 Minutes.**
The air seemed to thicken around Abbas as the full force of Marcus’s presence bore down on him. His defiance crumbled instantly, his fear overwhelming any resistance he might have had.
“There’s a camp!” Abbas blurted, his voice trembling. “In the mountains near Al-Qaim, close to the Syrian border. That’s where Al-Ra’ib’s men gather. His lieutenants run operations from there.”
Marcus’s gaze didn’t waver. “How many men are there? What kind of defenses?”
“Dozens,” Abbas gasped, the words spilling out uncontrollably. “Maybe more. They have heavy weapons—anti-vehicle, patrols around the perimeter. But Al-Ra’ib doesn’t stay there long. He moves constantly.”
Marcus leaned closer, his voice a deadly whisper. “Where is he now?”
“I don’t know!” Abbas whimpered, tears streaming down his face. “I swear! Only his closest lieutenants know where he is. But the camp is the nerve center. If you want to find him, that’s where you start.”
The timer on the skill ticked down as Marcus stepped back, the System’s influence fading but the information already burned into his mind. Abbas slumped in the chair, his chest heaving as he looked up at Marcus with desperate, pleading eyes.
“Please,” Abbas begged. “I told you everything. Let me go.”
Marcus’s face remained impassive. “You’ve been helpful,” he said flatly.
The silenced shot echoed faintly, and Abbas’s body slumped forward, lifeless.
---
Marcus moved quickly through the depot, rifling through the crates and papers scattered near the trucks. He found maps, supply logs, and coded communications, all confirming what Abbas had said. The camp near Al-Qaim was a critical hub for the network. If he wanted to find Al-Ra’ib, it was the next step.