Contents
CHAPTER 50: Patience
Overview
No Peak unleashes a city-wide purge of new-green and smuggling dens, winning public backing as allies hand over the bombers. Hilo, bent on killing Zapunyo, is checked by Shae and Juen, who warn of political fallout. Hilo postpones an overseas strike and issues Ven Sando an ultimatum to depose Ayt Mada within a year.
Summary
No Peak leads a relentless, city-wide crackdown on illegal jade dens tied to new green and barukan operations. Criminals are beaten, stripped of jade, jailed or killed. The two bombers funded by Soradiyo are captured in Toshon by the Jo Sun clan and handed to No Peak, as minor clans, police, and even the Mountain avoid opposing Hilo’s fury. Public sentiment favors the purge after the dishonorable foreign-directed car bombing.
Hilo fixates on assassinating Zapunyo, reviewing surveillance and sketches of the Uwiwan’s fortified compound with Shae, Juen, and Tar. Juen outlines daunting security and travel barriers; Tar volunteers to lead, even to go alone. Shae agrees Zapunyo must die but argues an overseas raid would kill local police, invite Espenian backlash, and damage No Peak’s foreign standing and business aims.
Juen underscores that No Peak cannot spare elite Fists with the Mountain still a domestic threat. Tar, near tears, pleads for permission; Hilo refuses, citing wasted sacrifice and Wen’s stake. Acknowledging Shae’s cooler judgment and Ayt’s likely desire to overextend No Peak, Hilo decides to wait for a better method, vowing patience despite his desire for vengeance.
Days later, Hilo confronts Ven Sando aboard the Inheritance. He accuses Ven of stalling on promises to move against Ayt Mada. Ven cites factional tensions and political timing; Hilo rejects the excuses, threatens to expose Ven to Ayt if he wav ers, and delivers an ultimatum: within a year, Ayt must be dead—or Ven will face both Ayt and No Peak. Hilo departs, leaving the pressure squarely on Ven.
Who Appears
- Kaul HiloNo Peak Pillar; leads Janloon purge; restrains a Zapunyo hit after counsel; threatens Ven Sando to depose Ayt within a year.
- Kaul Shaelinsan (Shae)Weather Man; argues against an overseas assassination to avoid international fallout; steers Hilo toward patience.
- Maik JuenHorn; details Zapunyo’s compound security and resource risks; supports delaying a direct strike.
- Maik TarPillarman; urges an assault on Zapunyo, even alone; overruled by Hilo’s decision to wait.
- Ven SandoK-Star Freight president; wavers on moving against Ayt; receives Hilo’s ultimatum to act within a year.
- Dau ZapunyoUwiwan smuggler and target; heavily guarded abroad; his assassination is postponed pending a subtler plan.