The Valeris guild branch was quieter than usual, a solemn tension hanging in the air after Ethan and Zyrix returned from their mission. In the Branch Master's private office, Ethan pced a datapad on the polished metal table, his fingers lingering for a moment before stepping back. The data it tained, gathered at great risk, felt heavy, even intangible.

  Zyrix leaned against the wall, his psma sniper rifle slung casually over his shoulder. His calm demeanor was a sharp trast to Ethan's simmering tension. The Branch Master, a grizzled Ex-k veteran named Darrik Voss, studied the data on the holographic dispy. His scarred face betrayed ion, but the tightness in his jaw spoke volumes.

  "This is troubling," Voss finally said, his gravelly voice breaking the silence.

  Ethan nodded, folding his arms. "The Syndicate isn't just holding ground, they're building something bigger. The Federation-marked crates are proof they've got powerful allies."

  Kael, seated nearby with his sleek information tablet, tapped a few keys and brought up additional data. "The factory's produ schedules and supply lines align with our earlier suspis. They're prioritizing shipments to three maiories, all trolled by high-ranking warlords. Xelthar was small-time pared to these operators."

  Voss zoomed in on the hologram, highlighting the areas Kael mentioned. "Rath Zorrek, Ve Drasik, and Kaelus Ryn," he said, his tone grim. "These names have been on our radar for a while, but this firms they're the Syndicate's lins on Kynara."

  Voss brought up profiles of the warlords, their images imposing aailed with known intel.

  "Rath Zorrek," he begauring to the hulking figure on the s. The image depicted a t man with cyberihas and brutal armor. "A fdiator turned warlord. He trols the mines in Kynara's mountains, supplying raw materials critical to the Syndicate's alloy produ. His base is a fortress carved into the cliffs, guarded by turrets and drones. He got a legion of bandits among his ranks, he rules through fear and brute strength."

  Kael added, "He's known to lead raids personally. If we're going after him, expect him to fight like he's still in the arena."

  Voss switched to the profile. "Ve Drasik. A strategist and ons developer." The hologram showed a sharp-featured woman with calg eyes and a anding presence. "She oversees a manufacturing hub in Kynara's former industrial belt, which has been abandoned for decades by the Federation. Her factories out ons, drones, and other tech for the Syndicate. The plexity of her operation makes it difficult to pinpoint vulnerabilities."

  "She's not just building ons," Kael noted, scrolling through additional data. "She's experimenting. Some of the drones we've entered retly are prototypes from her hub. We o shut her down before she scales up produ."

  Finally, Voss brought up the st image. "Kaelus Ryn." The hologram depicted a shadowy figure, his features partially obscured by a hood. "Ryes from a yon plex in the southers. His base is a maze of traps, hidden defenses, and decoy structures. He's a master of psychological warfare, using the terrain and experimental mind-trol alloy prototypes to disorient aroy his enemies."

  Ethan frowned, his grip tightening on the back of a chair. "Mind-trol prototypes? That's worse than what we saw ihar's pound."

  Kael nodded grimly. "Ryn has perfected teiques Xelthar barely uood. His forces are small but exceptionally disciplined, and his base is almost impossible to infiltrate without precise intel."

  Voss leaned forward, steepling his fingers. "The Syndicate's activities on Kynara have escated. They're digging in, anticipating our moves. But if we hit them hard and fast, we disrupt their pns and force them onto the defensive."

  He expahe hologram, showing a map of Kynara's major Syndicate-trolled territories. "We'll divide our efforts across three fronts. Each warlord represents a critical piece of the Syndicate's operations. Taking them down will require precision and coordination."

  Ethan straightened, his focus sharpening. "What's my role?"

  Voss met his gaze. "You'll lead operations targeting Ve Drasik's supply lines and smaller bases. You've proven your skill in sabotage and reaissance, and this will weaken her ability to arm the Syndicate's forces."

  Kael tapped his tablet, highlighting a series of supply depots and transport routes. "These are your targets. Disrupting these lines will force Ve to redirect resources, making her factories vulnerable ter strikes ter."

  Zyrix spoke up, his tone even. "I'll assist on key missions. Le support and re will be critical if we're hitting multiple fronts."

  Voss nodded approvingly. "Good. The rest of the guild will hahe other warlords. I'll assign meraries to Zorrek's mines and Ryn's yon, but those missions will o be carefully pnned. Both targets are heavily fortified."

  After the main briefing, Kael turned his attention to Ethan. "We've retly received additional intel on Syndicate movements. Zorrek and Drasik are mobilizing forces to fortify their territories. Ryn, however, remains quiet which makes him even more dangerous."

  He hahan a datapad. "We're also deploying more resources to D-Rank meraries. Advanced onry and upgraded cloaking modules. I reend taking advantage of these before your mission."

  Ethan took the datapad, gng over the avaible upgrades. "I'll make sure I'm ready."

  Kael's expression softened slightly. "Ethan, you've done well. But remember, the Syndicate thrives on chaos. Stay focused, stay sharp. We're ting on you."

  As the meeting cluded, Ethan lingered in the office, staring at the map of Kynara. The task ahead was daunting, and the weight of responsibility pressed heavily on him.

  Zyrix approached, his tone surprisingly supportive. "You've got this, Walker. You've proven you handle yourself and now you've got the ce to do even more."

  Ethan nodded, his resolve firm. "The Syndicate's cruelty won't stop unless we push back. I won't let what I've seen go unanswered."

  As he exited the offid made his way to the guild's armory, Ethan's mind was already rag with pns. The Syndicate was vast and dangerous, but every step he toht him closer to dismantling their operations piece by piece.