The room was cramped with so many people. Gygy squeezed through the window with some effort, being the last to enter. Naomi had asked Guilhermina to deliver the message to Martha as soon as possible, but she hadn't expected everyone to gather the next morning. Cecília sat cross-legged beneath a painting of cats, while her partner perched on the bed, grumbling to himself next to Martha. Gygy claimed the windowsill as her spot, the atmosphere thick with anticipation.
Gabriel stood in the hallway, taking one last look to ensure no one was eavesdropping behind the door. Satisfied, he closed it and turned to face the others. His eyes were sunken from lack of sleep, but at least he smelled clean.
"This last attack," Mateus began, surprising everyone around. "It was strange."
"Beyond the completely mutilated bodies?" Gygy asked. "One head just disappeared, Mateus."
"Exactly," Cecília chimed in, hugging her legs and swaying slightly. "That's never happened before. At most, we'd see bodies with long slashes."
Naomi was already aware of this. Gabriel had told her about the strange cuts, which would require a long blade and immense strength.
"Was it not as brutal before?" Gabriel asked.
"Never," Martha replied with a stern expression. "It even feels like a message, as if someone's trying to halt any investigation."
"How would they even know?" Gygy questioned. "And aren't all the Nests conducting investigations?"
Martha nodded in agreement. The mention of a warning against investigations reminded Naomi of why they were there. Could the Corvos themselves be involved? Perhaps someone high up had let something slip. Pushing aside those grim thoughts, she spoke.
"Did you find anything, Mateus?"
"Unfortunately not. The rain made things difficult," he replied, his pale chin the only visible part of his face as he spoke. "Some people mentioned a monster."
"That story again," Cecília scoffed, shifting in her seat.
"The half-machine person?" Martha asked, rolling her eyes when Mateus nodded.
"It could be a weapon or some kind of suit," Gabriel suggested.
Everyone agreed. Fear had a way of creating illusions, something they all understood well. Gabriel continued.
"I think I've found a lead—or two, actually."
"Leads?" Martha echoed, intrigued.
"Last night, I explored the city's nightlife," Gabriel said.
"Such depravity," Gygy muttered, frowning.
"Indeed," Gabriel agreed, pressing on. "I spoke with several people, and it turned out to be much more fruitful than I'd expected."
"Stop beating around the bush!" Cecília exclaimed impatiently. "What are these two leads?"
"Names! Two names," Gabriel explained, recounting his nocturnal journey to the group, omitting details he deemed irrelevant, such as the things he witnessed. Wrapping up his story, he added, "Apparently, Marcelo works on the Storm Tuna fishing vessel."
Everyone in the room stared at him with disdain. Mateus then spoke.
"Those fishermen tread a fine line between sanity and madness."
"They're suicidal, that's what!" Cecília interjected, shifting positions yet again. "Why do you think it's called Storm Tuna? They throw themselves into storms at sea just to fish!"
Gabriel hadn't considered that, but he recalled overhearing a man during the whale show on his first day in the city, dismissing a raging storm as nothing more than a drizzle.
"If you have better information, I'm all ears," Naomi cut in, coming to Gabriel's defense.
No one else in the room said a word. Cecília lowered her gaze, seemingly embarrassed for the first time by her rudeness. They were ashamed, Naomi realized—they weren't able to protect their own city and had to rely on outside Corvos. Their pride was wounded. She understood the feeling well and didn't judge them. Gabriel's account of the city's hostility toward them and the lack of cooperation, which had left the Nests' investigation at a standstill, would frustrate anyone.
— I don't mean to undermine what you heard, Gabriel, — Gygy said, — but this Marcelo guy mentioned the 'monster.'
— Gygy, — Gabriel replied indifferently, leaning against one of the walls. — It wasn't his words, but those of a homeless man. Still, I understand your skepticism. I'll handle this personally, don't worry.
— The other name? — Martha asked, cutting off the conversation about the fisherman.
— This one I heard in the Pleasure Alley: Andreir.
As soon as he mentioned the name, the four Ravens exchanged glances, visibly concerned. It didn't take much intelligence to realize the man was being scrutinized.
— Do you know him? — Naomi asked, noticing the group's reaction, just as her partner had.
— A scumbag who uses people like pieces of meat to make money, — Cecília said, her face red with anger.
— What she just said isn't wrong, — Martha added with a serious expression. — He's a pimp in the city, the wealthiest one.
— If he's as awful as you're making him sound, — Naomi began, — why would anyone work for him?
— He pays well, — Mateus replied. — Very well.
— Many of those people have families to support, — Cecília added, running her hand through her blonde hair. — Or they need to eat, and this is the only decent way to earn something without resorting to theft.
— The man I saw last night, — Gabriel remembered, referring to the guy who had been dragged into the Buraco da Glória. — What might have happened to him?
— He's probably being used as a doll in someone's sick fantasy, — Cecília replied.
— Andreir being responsible for the disappearances doesn't seem far-fetched, — Gygy remarked thoughtfully. — His methods seem barbaric; it's worth investigating. Any ideas?
Naomi remained silent like the others, but something about Cecília had been drawing her attention for a while. The blonde had seemed uneasy ever since Pleasure Alley was mentioned, and the way she talked about the night workers was different. Then, Cecília spoke up.
— I have two alternatives, — she said, standing carefully to avoid bumping into the cat painting above her head. — Mateus is a Raven from the Shadow Circle, so he can infiltrate the place and look for information.
— Fine by me, — Mateus responded, his voice slightly louder than usual, though still subdued.
— Or, — Cecília continued, — I could talk to an acquaintance who works in one of the brothels. I don't want to involve her in this, but if necessary, I will.
— An interesting friendship, — Martha said, shooting the other woman a piercing look.
— I had to find food somehow before becoming a Raven, — Cecília replied indifferently.
Martha fell silent, lowering her head a bit, embarrassed. This meeting was turning out to be more heated than the last, Gabriel thought. His information had proven useful—at least the second piece had—but he wouldn't give up on the first. He felt it could lead to something significant with the fisherman. The group began to disperse, having been in the room for quite a while. Gygy, sitting on the windowsill, simply swung both legs outside, preparing to jump.
— Meet me tonight in front of the central Nest, — Cecília said to Naomi. — It'll be a busy night.
— Sure, — Naomi replied promptly.
— We'll keep investigating through our Nest, — Martha said. — Once you find something, we'll set up another meeting. Are you sticking to the fisherman's trail?
— Of course, — Gabriel said.
— Very well. The same goes for you; let us know if you find anything important.
With that, Martha and Gygy climbed out the window, leaving only the four of them behind. Cecília and Mateus moved toward the exit, positioning themselves to leave the room. Naomi managed to overhear Mateus mutter irritably under his breath:
— Who put her in charge?
The pair were alone in the room again. The space felt larger now that it was almost empty. Feeling a bit tired, Naomi sat on the bed, knowing she'd have to go out that night. Gabriel, meanwhile, moved to the wardrobe and began rummaging through his bag.
— Get up, Naomi! — he said hurriedly while hiding a few throwing knives under his clothes. — The fishermen are setting sail tonight. I need to talk to this Marcos guy.
The young woman got up with some effort, standing beside her companion, who was firmly strapping a small knife belt around his calf.
— Where are we going?
— I know a bar, — Gabriel said, heading for the door. — Really interesting.