Contents
Chapter 61: Old Tigers
Overview
No Peak and the Mountain meet at the KJA to forge peace and exchange moon blades. Hilo anticipates an ambush and exposes GSI mercenaries posing as penitents; gunfire kills Sando Kin and fatally wounds Hilo, who saves Niko. Ayt Mada’s conspiracy is uncovered and she surrenders. Hilo returns home to die, and No Peak gathers as Wen mourns.
Summary
Hilo, Shae, and Niko meet Ayt Ato, Koben Opon, and Sando Kin at the Kekon Jade Alliance to negotiate peace. Hilo announces plans to step down for Niko, positioning the talks toward the future. Secretly, Hilo signals Lott Jin to execute a parallel strike on Ayt Mada’s safe house.
Lott’s team assaults Ayt Mada’s townhouse but finds it empty; a dying guard reveals an escape tunnel from an old CFM safe site. Realizing Ayt has slipped away, Lott races to the KJA.
Inside, the clans agree on Euman as neutral and to a joint venture to repatriate Anorco’s jade, plus mutual tolerance in overseas markets. Ato proposes a family alliance, and he and Niko exchange moon blades, pledging friendship. Hilo, sensing danger, suddenly shoots a faux penitent, revealing armed GSI mercenaries planted by Iwe Kalundo for Ayt Mada.
The mercenaries open fire. Sando shields Ato and is killed; Opon is critically wounded. Hilo deflects rounds into Niko to knock him clear but takes bullets that sever his spine and ravage his insides. No Peak rushes Hilo home at his insistence. Anden stabilizes him temporarily; crowds of Green Bones assemble at the Kaul estate in vigil.
Lott reports the plot: four ex-GSI gunmen, hired by Iwe with Ayt Mada’s money, intended to slaughter both delegations after the pledge, frame the Kobens, and let Iwe seize the Mountain. Ayt Mada is found and surrenders. Hilo, lucid, charges Shae to guide Niko. Through the night, family keeps vigil; at dawn, Hilo dies. Wen emerges in mourning white to grieve in the garden.
Who Appears
- Kaul Hiloshudon (Hilo)No Peak Pillar; anticipates ambush, saves Niko, is mortally shot; returns home to die, entrusts Shae with guiding Niko.
- Kaul Shaelinsan (Shae)Weather Man; co-leads negotiations, witnesses ambush, rushes Hilo home, manages crisis, vows to help Niko lead.
- Kaul Nikone (Niko)Heir apparent; leads peace talks, exchanges blades with Ato, survives thanks to Hilo’s Deflection, keeps vigil at Hilo’s deathbed.
- Ayt AtoNew Mountain Pillar; negotiates peace, offers familial alliance, survives assassination attempt; loses his Horn, Weather Man wounded.
- Lott JinNo Peak Horn; leads failed strike on Ayt’s hideout, rushes to KJA, organizes response, opens Kaul gates for citywide vigil.
- Ayt MadaDeposed Mountain leader; engineers massacre via ex-GSI mercenaries; escapes through tunnel, later surrenders when plot fails.
- Koben OponMountain Weather Man; helps negotiate terms; critically wounded in the KJA shooting.
- Sando KinMountain Horn; shields Ayt Ato during ambush and is killed by gunfire.
- Anden Emery (Kaul Anden)Healer and council candidate; Channels to stabilize Hilo temporarily and manages his final hours.
- Kaul WenHilo’s wife; arrives as Hilo is brought home, keeps vigil, later emerges in mourning white to grieve.
- Vin (the Sniper)First Fist; assists Lott at Ayt’s townhouse, tracks the tunnel, joins the citywide hunt.
- Hami YasuSenior Fist; leads assault team at Ayt’s townhouse and secures the perimeter.
- Iwe KalundoFormer No Peak Weather Man allied with Ayt; finances and arranges mercenary hit squad for the KJA massacre.