Contents
CHAPTER 49: Cleaning out the Rat House
Overview
Eiten delivers a bitter ex-rockfish who points No Peak to Soradiyo and Zapunyo’s network. Hilo secures limited Mountain cooperation through Nau Suen and leads coordinated raids, smashing new-green dens. Iyn captures Soradiyo, whose interrogation reveals Zapunyo ordered the bombing with Mountain encouragement. Hilo executes Soradiyo and commits to destroying Zapunyo’s operation.
Summary
At the Double Double, Eiten presents a destitute former rockfish claiming he was betrayed by the barukan Soradiyo. Juen and Lott lay out corroborated sites tied to Soradiyo’s recruiting and Zapunyo’s scrap-picking routes. Hilo recognizes the informer as a dock thief once spared by Lan and decides to use the lead to hunt Kehn’s killers.
Needing reach into Mountain districts, Hilo sends Juen to Nau Suen. The Mountain publicly condemns the bombing yet agrees to allow No Peak operations in its territory with shared intelligence and oversight. Hilo, impatient but pragmatic, accepts the terms and moves quickly.
Hilo leads a strike on the Rat House while Juen, Vuay, and Iyn hit other dens. Hilo’s crew subdues untrained new green, confiscates illegal jade, and demands Soradiyo’s location and other hideouts, sparing lives in exchange for information.
Two days later, Iyn Ro finds Soradiyo attempting to flee by sea; his jade aura betrays him. Tar’s interrogation yields names of the bomb planters, Zapunyo’s logistics, corrupt officials, agents, and defenses. Crucially, Soradiyo explains that Nau Suen approached him as intermediary; Zapunyo ordered the bombing with Mountain encouragement to remove Hilo and ease smuggling pressure.
Hilo confirms the account, then personally executes Soradiyo, honoring the request to send the body to a cousin in the Uwiwas. He silences Tar’s demand for further cruelty, framing Soradiyo and Maro as expendable pawns. Hilo resolves to dismantle Zapunyo’s entire enterprise.
Who Appears
- Kaul Hiloshudon (Hilo)Pillar of No Peak; orchestrates raids, secures Mountain cooperation, interrogates Soradiyo, executes him, and vows to destroy Zapunyo.
- SoradiyoBarukan smuggler; hid after the bombing, captured fleeing, reveals Zapunyo’s network and orders, then is executed by Hilo.
- Maik TarPillarman; fights brutally in the Rat House raid and oversees Soradiyo’s interrogation, demanding harsher retribution.
- JuenNew Horn; compiles intel, negotiates access with the Mountain via Nau Suen, and coordinates simultaneous raids.
- Iyn RoCaptain leading searches; detects and captures Soradiyo as he tries to flee by boat.
- EitenAlly and casino owner; brings in the ex-rockfish informant and assists Hilo.
- LottSenior Green Bone; helps process intel and disarm new green during the Rat House raid.
- Informant from the Twice LuckyBitter ex-rockfish previously spared by Lan; betrays Soradiyo and points to Zapunyo’s operations.
- Nau SuenMountain enforcer; grants conditional cooperation and is implicated as go-between encouraging Zapunyo.
- Ayt MadaMountain Pillar; publicly condemns the bombing while benefiting from a strategy that encouraged Zapunyo.
- VinGreen Bone; assists in the Rat House raid and confiscation of weapons and jade.
- VuayCaptain; leads parallel raids on other new-green hideouts in the city.
- PanoFinger; records details from Soradiyo’s interrogation.