Maggie paused at one of the countless alleys leading into the Walled City. Wavering neon light from a nearby market painted twisted shadows across the pathway. She swallowed hard, the tightness in her chest unyielding as she stepped forward. The two plainclothes officers moved to flank her, scanning the murky surroundings.

  Exposed pipes and cables snaked overhead, forming a tangled canopy. The mingled stench of wet stone and decay collided with wafting aromas of sizzling street food—each inhalation overwhelming her senses. Puddles of stagnant water dotted the fractured ground, demanding careful attention with every step. Sodden papers and discarded packaging plastered the wet floor.

  Scattered bulbs cast feeble light ahead, their glow rippling across water-slicked surfaces. She pressed forward with steady deliberate steps.

  Hak Nam defied control, a domain the authorities abandoned, allowing chaos to thrive within its confines. Power here lay in the hands of those bold enough to seize it.

  Her footfalls whispered against the wet brick as the officers trailed behind. The passage kinked sharply ahead, its dim lighting and jutting walls promising fresh obstacles.

  The path opened into a courtyard, its features shrouded in shadow. Above, balconies stacked like shelves, draped with clothes lines and metal conduits that scaled the walls like jungle vines. The voices of the Walled City swirled around her—rapid Cantonese, children's shouts, the distant clang of metal. Life crammed every space, while wary eyes tracked her movements, mixing suspicion and curiosity.

  She signalled her officers closer, their expressions stern. The City of Darkness might follow its own rules, but they brought different mandate—one decreed beyond these lawless walls. Their contact waited near the centre of the enclave. She trusted him to keep to the plan. Trust, however, held shifting weight here.

  Leaving the courtyard, they continued deeper inward. The alleys twisted and constricted until the group moved single file between pressing walls that seemed intent on rejecting their presence.

  Passing a dim alcove, the sight of a man washing caught their attention. Stooped over a rusted standpipe, water spilled from the spout into his cupped hands. He scrubbed methodically, the bare bulb casting stark shadows. The wall's peeling paint and collage of faded characters suggested old warnings and notices.

  Their progress mimicked navigation through the forgotten artery of some archaic organism, the pulse of life intensifying as they ventured deeper.

  A figure emerged from the shadows, face obscured by a low cap. He gestured them forward, a cigarette dangling from his lips.

  “You're late,” Chen Kai muttered. Previous encounters left neither of them comfortable. His eyes darted between shadows, scanning for observers.

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  “Traffic,” Maggie replied, both knowing the excuse meant nothing. Their presence now mattered more than timing.

  Chen Kai led her to a secluded corner, away from her enterage. Unspoken tension hung between them. He stopped beneath a flickering lamp, his expression a mix of defiance and resignation. He motioned for silence as noise from the nearby dai pai dong masked their words.

  “You need to understand something, Maggie,” Chen Kai switched to Cantonese, his words holding a raw honesty. “The Colonial Government thinks this is simple. They think we want Liu Wei out of the way because it's good for business. But it's more than that.”

  Maggie kept her expression neutral, responding in Cantonese with a subtle edge of familiarity. “Then tell me. What am I missing here?”

  He allowed a bitter chuckle. “You think it's about money? That Triads chase only profit and control.” His eyes searched her face. “This is about people. We keep things running—the clinics, the food stalls, the security. You think the British care about any of that? You think the Party in Beijing does?”

  She considered his words. The Triads' role in maintaining order here wasn't news, but hearing it from Chen Kai, seeing the conviction in his eyes, it was harder to dismiss. “So Liu Wei's message— It threatens all of that?”

  “It threatens more than our control. It endangers everything we've built here,” he lowered his voice. “The British don't understand that. They think if they get rid of people like Liu, everything stays neat and orderly. But people need hope and stability—the kind we provide, not empty promises from Beijing or London's indifference.”

  The competing interests of this fractured place weighed on her. Power dynamics she understood, but Chen Kai's sense of duty—his determination to preserve this precarious ecosystem—shifted her perspective.

  “I'm not here to break your system, Chen,” she replied quietly. “But you have to know, the pressure isn't going to ease up. Beijing will keep pushing. The British grasp for control. Everyone wants to impose their will. My orders stand—”

  “And I have orders to ensure that none of this causes more trouble than it's worth.” Chen Kai's eyes met hers. “Nobody cares about these people. Not really. Beijing crushes dissent. London clings to its last semblance of power. But the people here? They just want to live. They don't care about symbols or politics. They care about having enough to eat, about keeping their families safe.”

  His words stirred something inside—was it regret? Understanding? The line between duty and conscience blurred as she pictured those caught between empires.

  “What do you want from me?” she whispered.

  He looked down the darkened alley. “Remember we're not just criminals and opportunists. We're trying to keep things from falling apart. When you find Liu— think about the cost. Not just to the governments, but to the people here.”

  She nodded slowly. “I will. But we both know our influence has limits.”

  Chen Kai offered a tired smile. “Limits, sure. But sometimes trying is enough to make a difference.”

  They stood in silence for a moment, the noise of the Walled City buzzing around them, the distant clatter of dishes, the low hum of voices, and the rustle of life continuing in the shadow of forces beyond their control.

  He indicated a narrow stairwell barely wide enough for one person, ascending into a crumbling apartment block. With a final glance at Chen Kai, she rejoined the two waiting officers.

  Signalling for them to follow, she started up the staircase, wood groaning underfoot. The air thickened, mildew mixing with something metallic she couldn't quite place.