Ace's POV
The wooden table creaked as I leaned forward, my palms pressing into its rough surface. The morning light streaming through the windows illuminated the serious expressions around me - Ray's calculating gaze, Philip's furrowed brow, Chief Gareth's clenched jaw. The scent of freshly brewed tea mingled with the tension in the air.
"Just as we discussed last night," Chief Gareth began, his calloused fingers tapping a steady rhythm against his mug, "we'll interview the bandit victims today. What then?" His voice carried the weight of a man who'd seen too much suffering in his village.
I straightened my shoulders, feeling the fabric of my tunic pull tight across my back. "We gather information first," I said, meeting each of their eyes in turn. "Then we become the bait." My fingers curled into fists at my sides. "We'll draw the bandits out and capture them."
