Contents
CHAPTER 53: Sins and Compromises
Overview
Learning Zapunyo will travel to Port Massy for surgery, Anden seeks Dauk Losunyin’s help to execute a hit using Rohn Toro. Dauk first refuses on principle, then recounts his past sins and demands Anden give up Cory in exchange. Anden ends the relationship. Dauk agrees, enabling No Peak’s plan.
Summary
News arrives that Zapunyo will leave his island fortress for a kidney transplant in Port Massy. Seeing a rare opening, Anden approaches Dauk Losunyin to request help and access to Rohn Toro, explaining Zapunyo’s role in attacks on No Peak and the threat of global jade smuggling.
Dauk declines, citing his duty to protect his community in Espenia and avoid murder on foreign soil. Pressed, Anden admits he will not wear jade and cannot carry out the hit himself. Dauk then confides a formative story: as a young refugee, he abetted a shopkeeper, Ito, after a murder, helped dispose of the body, then later killed Ito with Rohn to prevent Ito from framing Rohn. The community shielded Rohn and elevated Dauk as a leader, but Dauk believes the gods punished him through his frivolous only son, Cory.
With this confession, Dauk names his own line: he will provide Rohn Toro if Anden gives up Cory and leaves the young man to an Espenian life and responsibilities. Stunned and angry, Anden refuses to answer in the moment and departs.
After a day of turmoil, Anden calls Cory and, under the weight of Dauk’s ultimatum and clan necessity, ends the relationship. Cory realizes his father’s pressure and responds bitterly before hanging up. Grieving, Anden wanders the city, then finally places a call to Janloon to confirm Dauk’s cooperation for the assassination during Zapunyo’s hospital stay.
Who Appears
- Anden EmerySeeks Dauk’s help to kill Zapunyo; refuses to wear jade; accepts Dauk’s ultimatum by ending his relationship with Cory to secure Rohn Toro.
- Dauk LosunyinPillar of Port Massy community; initially refuses murder, recounts past sins, then agrees to help if Anden gives up his son Cory.
- Dauk Cory (Coru Losunyin)Dauk’s son and Anden’s partner; unaware pawn in Dauk’s bargain; angrily rejects Anden after the forced breakup.
- Rohn ToroRespected local Green Bone; to be provided for the hit on Zapunyo; part of Dauk’s past confession.
- ZapunyoWealthy smuggler leaving his island fortress for a kidney transplant in Port Massy, creating No Peak’s chance to kill him.
- Dauk SanaDauk’s wife; quietly leaves to allow a private discussion between Dauk and Anden.
- ItoUnstable Green Bone shopkeeper from Dauk’s past; killed a Shotarian, then was killed by Dauk and Rohn to protect the community.
- Shotarian manVictim in Dauk’s past story; his death and cover-up catalyze Dauk’s rise and lifelong sense of sin.