Back in their hidden maintenance level, Valerius and Elara waited. Valerius used a small, stolen data-slate to access the hidden address he had created. For the first day, there was nothing. Then, the messages started to arrive. They were just simple things at first: schedules for meetings, orders for lunch, boring daily chatter. But Valerius was patient. He and Elara read every single one, learning the names of assistants, the times of meetings, and the secret language of the Council's staff.
Then, after three days of waiting, they found it. A message from Master Corvus's personal assistant to the head of city security. It was about a special event.
"Master Corvus requires maximum security for the upcoming Aetherium Expo," the message read. "The centerpiece of his presentation, the 'Corvus Regulator,' must be protected at all times. This will be his greatest achievement."
Valerius's blood ran cold. The Aetherium Regulator. That was the name of the machine he had been building, the machine that would have provided limitless, clean energy. The machine that had been stolen from him. Corvus was not just taking credit for his idea; he was planning to show it to the entire city, to make it the cornerstone of his legacy.
The Aetherium Expo was the biggest event of the year in Aethelburg. All the important Artificers, Magi, and wealthy patrons would be there. It was a celebration of progress and invention. For Corvus to unveil the Regulator there would make him the most famous and powerful man in the city.
Elara looked at Valerius. She could see the cold anger in his eyes. "What is it?" she asked softly.
"He's going to show my invention to the world," Valerius said, his voice a low growl. "He's going to call it his masterpiece."
But in that moment, Valerius did not feel despair. He felt an opportunity. Corvus was about to stand on the biggest stage in Aethelburg and present a stolen treasure as his own. There could be no greater, more public place for that masterpiece to fail. The humiliation would be absolute. Corvus was not just planning a celebration; he was building the stage for his own downfall.
"We need to know more about this Regulator," Valerius said, his mind already working. "We need to know exactly how it works. We need to find a way to break it." The whispers on the wires had given them a target. Now, they needed to find the tools to build a perfect storm.