The Drowned Crown
Chapter-1
The night was unnaturally quiet.
The kind of quiet that only existed when everything was moving exactly according to her plan.
Two guards stood at the entrance, rifles slung lazily over their shoulders, boredom weighing heavier than their weapons.
gaurd 1
“Hey,” Guard 1 yawned, rubbing his eyes. “I’m feeling sleepy. Think I can take a short nap?”
Guard 2 shot him a sharp look.
gaurd 2
“What? No chance. I’m tired too, but it’s our duty. Don’t dump your work on me. Focus—or I’ll report you to the boss for slacking.”
gaurd 1
“Tch. What a boomer,” he muttered.
“Whatever.”
They fell into silence again—until footsteps echoed faintly through the night.
Both guards straightened.
From the shadows emerged a young girl—Nyra.
She looked barely out of her teens—beautiful, confident, and oddly out of place. A tomboyish edge clung to her presence. She wore modern sportswear: a fitted jacket, sporty shorts, a cap pulled low over her eyes, and sneakers built for speed. There was something unmistakably sharp about her—like a gamer stepping into a real-world battlefield.
She paused, glancing around as if she’d lost her way.
gaurd 1
He frowned. “Hey, young lady. Where are you heading? Need some help?”
For a moment, he genuinely thought she had lost her way.
As a guard, it was his duty to help—guide her out, make sure she reached safety.
After all… he was a guard.
That thought hit him late.
A guard.
On duty.
At the main entrance of the bank.
So what exactly was a young girl doing here—in the middle of the night?
His brows knitted together as doubt crept in. Maybe exhaustion was finally getting to him, fogging his judgment, dulling the sharp instincts he usually trusted.
But Guard 2 wasn’t fooled.
From the very first glance, something felt wrong. Too calm. Too confident.
This girl wasn’t lost.
She was exactly where she wanted to be.
His hand slowly tightened around his weapon.
Before either of them could react—
Nyra moved in a blur. One precise strike to the back of Guard 1’s neck, and his body collapsed before the sound even registered. He hit the ground, unconscious.
She didn’t even look back. Wasting time wasn’t allowed—not on 'her' missions.
A shadow rose behind him.
？？？
“Now you can sleep as much as you want,” a cheerful voice said.
Nyra turned, unimpressed.
Behind her stood a tall guy with an easy grin, chips in hand—clearly enjoying himself far too much for a mission like this.
Nyra
She shot him a sharp look. “Save it. If she hears about this, you’re dead.”
Jax paused—just for a second.
Jax
Then shrugged. “Worth it.”
He opened his packet and started munching.
She rolled her eyes and crouched beside the guards, swiftly retrieving the ID card. One swipe later, the door unlocked with a soft hiss.
The corridors twisted like a maze, lights dim, air heavy with silence. After several turns, they reached their target—the main server room, the heart controlling every locker in the building.
She plugged a pen drive into the system.
She checked the time once. Everything was unfolding exactly as she had predicted.
Nyra
“All set,” she said, tapping the Bluetooth in her ear. “Your turn, hacker boy.”
Cipher's voice responded instantly.
Cipher
“Alright,” he said, excitement clear in his tone. “Let the show begin.”
Miles away, in a dark room glowing with neon light, he clicked a single button.
Screens ignited around him—dozens of floating displays suspended in midair. A holographic keyboard shimmered beneath his fingers as he typed rapidly, eyes sharp, movements precise.
Firewall alerts flared red, one after another.
He broke through them effortlessly.
Back at the bank, a massive steel door slid open behind Nyra and Jax.
They stared at it, momentarily impressed.
Jax
“Less than a minute,” Jax muttered. “Show-off.”
Nyra
“That’s the standard,” Nyra replied calmly. “Anything slower wouldn’t meet her expectations.”
They moved forward, reaching the final chamber—the locker containing the enemy’s hidden files, proof of every corrupted deal and illegal act.
Nyra reached for the handle—
A gunshot tore through the air.
Pain exploded across her hand as the bullet grazed past.
Before she could react, Jax shoved her aside. They both hit the ground hard.
Jax
“Are you okay?” he whispered urgently.
Nyra
She clenched her teeth. “Damn it… they found us.”
For the first time that night, she hesitated—not out of fear of the guns, but of explaining failure to her.
From the shadows emerged several armed bodyguards, guns raised, eyes cold—barrels pointed straight at them.
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