84 Shattered Foundation #84

Strategically positioned throughout the auction house, Puzzle's crewmates were well aware of the deal between Puzzle and Cedric. They understood their role in creating chaos and distracting the Marines to ensure the success of their mission. With a glance from Puzzle, they sprang into action, fully aware of the plan they had agreed upon.

As the marines engaged in combat with Puzzle's crew, the crewmates skillfully executed their part, fighting alongside Puzzle while maintaining the appearance of fierce resistance. Their goal was to divert the Marines' attention and keep them occupied, providing Cedric with the perfect opportunity to destory the auction house from within.

In the midst of the chaos, Puzzle's crewmates strategically targeted specific areas of the auction house, causing structural damage and disabling security systems. They set off smoke bombs and triggered alarms, adding to the confusion and chaos. The auction attendees, already on edge from Puzzle's earlier declaration, found themselves caught in the middle of a full-blown skirmish.

Meanwhile, Cedric capitalized on the distraction created by Puzzle's crew. He moved swiftly and gracefully, taking advantage of the disarray to disable guards and neutralize threats with none the wiser. With each strike of his spear, he dismantled security barriers and disabled surveillance snails, further facilitating their plan to damage the auction house.

As Cedric made his way deeper into the auction house, he couldn't help but admire Puzzle's crew's coordination and skill. Their actions created the perfect smokescreen, shielding Cedric from the attention of the auction attendees and the marine soldiers allowing him to focus on his ultimate goal — the destruction of the auction house.

In the midst of the chaos, Puzzle and Cedric locked eyes, a silent understanding passing between them. It was time to stage their ruse, a fight that would bring the auction house crumbling to the ground.

"I'll take care of the pirates..." Cedric exclaimed, addressing the marines following him as he raised his spear. "Hurry up and evacuate the nobles and civilians!" He added once he was sure the auction's security systems were gone.

Cedric's words echoed through the auction house, catching the attention of the Marines and Puzzle's crewmates. Puzzle knew that the success of their plan hinged on Cedric's ability to eliminate the marine presence. With a swift motion, he gestured to his crewmates, and the pirates obliged, disengaging the marine soldiers and allowing them to retreat.

As the marines slowly began their retreat, Cedric and Puzzle found themselves face to face amidst the chaos and destruction they had orchestrated. The remaining attendees and auction staff hurriedly made their way towards the exit, guided by the marines who had now turned into escorts, ensuring their safety.

Puzzle's crewmates, still in character, continued to engage in combat with the Marines, putting on a convincing show of resistance. Their movements were calculated and precise, showcasing their skill as fighters while ensuring the marines remained occupied and unaware of the true nature of their fight.

As Cedric and Puzzle clashed with their weapons, their strikes became more frenzied, and the auction house suffered the consequences. They swung and thrust, their attacks often missing their mark and hitting the surrounding structures instead. Pillars cracked, and ornate decorations crumbled, scattering debris across the floor.

With each missed strike, the force behind their attacks sent shockwaves through the auction house, shaking it to its core. The impact of their weapons against the walls and floors created new cracks and fissures, exacerbating the damage already inflicted by Puzzle's crewmates.

Meanwhile, Puzzle's crewmates executed their part of the plan flawlessly. They had been patiently waiting for the marines and the civilians to evacuate, ensuring their safety before proceeding with their mission to free the enslaved individuals.

Once the auction house was clear, the crewmates swiftly and silently moved through the chaos, searching for the keys to the explosive collars that enslaved the victims. They meticulously inspected each room, every corner, and every fallen guard, determined to locate the keys that held the captives' lives in their hands.

Their efforts weren't futile as they discovered a hidden room, its walls lined with rows of keys. Puzzle's crewmates acted swiftly, methodically testing each one until they found the ones that matched the explosive collars. Heading to the holding area, they unlocked the collars, releasing the captives from their life-threatening restraints.

The formerly enslaved individuals, now free, moved cautiously at first, disbelief and gratitude etched upon their faces. But as the realization of their newfound freedom sank in, their expressions transformed into ones of hope and determination.

They didn't know what was happening but were grateful and willing to follow the pirates' instructions if it meant regaining their freedoms, so they did without hesitation.

Back in the middle of the chaotic battle, Cedric and Puzzle continued to clash, their weapons scraping against the auction house's infrastructure. Their missed strikes sent splinters of wood and shattered fragments of glass flying through the air, adding to the destruction surrounding them.

Cedric wiped the sweat from his brow and glanced around at the decimated auction house. "It's a shame Disco wasn't here," he remarked, his voice laced with a hint of disappointment. "This would have been the perfect opportunity to get rid of him and cripple the slave trade for a while...." He added, raising his spear and decimating the stage with his newly perfected technique.

Puzzle merely shrugged as he knew little about Disco or the slave trade. "If you say so..." he replied, his voice carrying satisfaction as he swung his chain and broke one of the few supporting pillars still standing. "But any more of this and the auction house will come crashing on our heads..." He added, looking around and taking in the destruction.

With a sense of accomplishment in their eyes, Cedric and Puzzle allowed the ruse to fade away, dropping the charade they had maintained for the benefit of the others. Puzzle had fulfilled his end of the bargain, and now it was Cedric's turn.

Cedric turned to Puzzle with a smile. "Can't argue that, friend. I suppose it's time for us to part ways..." he said, his voice tinged with gratitude. "Go ahead. Take your crew and escape through the secret tunnels beneath the auction house with the slaves..." He added as he watched Puzzle's shipmates walk into the auction's grand hall, followed by the freed slaves.

Puzzle nodded, sighing in relief at Cedric's words. "I honestly didn't know whether you'd keep your word... but I'm glad you did..." he replied, his voice filled with appreciation. "What will you do now...?" He asked as he gestured for his crewmates to go ahead of him.

"I'll stick around and search for clues..." Cedric said with a shrug. "And when the branch's soldiers get back inside, I'll explain how you managed to injure me and run away..." He added, calmly raising his spear and burying it into his own gut, much to Puzzle's horror.

"I know you're a pirate, but didn't your mom teach you not to ambush people, you underhanded bastard?" Cedric said with a grim smile as he wiped the blood leaking between his lips.

Puzzle's eyes widened in shock and disbelief at Cedric's self-inflicted wound. "What are you doing?" he exclaimed, rushing towards Cedric's side, much to the young marine's surprise.

Cedric coughed, maintaining his bloodied smile. "Don't worry about it," he said, his tone somber. "It's just a ruse, like everything else we've done today. It's the only way to make this plan work..." He added with a shrug, waving off the pirate captain's concerns.

"Besides... I'm a doctor. I made sure not to hit anything important. It won't take me more than a day or two to recover from this wound..." Cedric carelessly added. "Now go, escape through the tunnels and ensure the safety of your crew and the freed slaves..." He concluded, pushing the pirate captain away.

"And they say us pirate folk are crazy sons of bitches..." Puzzle said with an exasperated sigh as he shook his head. "You're not that bad for a marine, friend. I'll see you later..." He concluded as he turned around and sprinted behind his crewmates.

Cedric watched as Puzzle and his crewmates disappeared into the secret tunnels, their escape route secured. The weight of his decision settled upon him, but he knew it was necessary for the success of their mission.

Alone in the midst of the wreckage, Cedric focused his attention on the task at hand. He gathered himself, unphased by the pain of his self-inflicted wound. It wouldn't be long before the Marines returned, and he needed to act quickly to maintain his cover.

Cedric walked toward Disco's office, bandaging his abdomen with his coat to slow the bleeding. The pain was intense, but he had endured much worse before. As he reached the door, he noticed the chaos outside had spread even further, with more sections of the auction house crumbling under the combined assault of Puzzle's crew and the marines.

Pushing the door open, Cedric entered the office. Opulent furnishings adorned the room, a stark contrast to the destruction outside. Papers were strewn across the desk, and shelves overflowed with more documents. In the center of the room, placed deliberately, sat a small ornate wooden box.

Cedric knew he had little time, so he quickly scanned the room, searching for any valuable information that could aid their cause. He began sifting through the stacks of documents, flipping through page after page, looking for anything that could expose Disco's operations or the extent of his involvement in the slave trade.

As he meticulously inspected each document, Cedric's smiled as he discovered evidence linking Disco to various criminal activities. The documents detailed connections to other illicit organizations, secret dealings with corrupt officials, and even hints at the involvement of high-ranking Marines turning a blind eye to his operations.

Realizing the potential impact of this information, Cedric quickly gathered the most incriminating documents, placing them in his backpack. He knew that exposing Disco's crimes wouldn't necessarily stop him, but it should cripple the slave trade network for some time.

With the valuable documents secured, Cedric turned his attention to the ornate wooden box. He wanted to open it to see what was inside, but the racket outside caused him to stop as the marines reentered the human auctioning house.

Cedric took a deep breath, throwing the ornate box into his backpack before exiting Disco's office to meet the soldiers.