The Rusty Cog Conspiracy

The flickering neon sign of 'The Rusty Cog' sputtered and died, plunging you deeper into the grimy alley. Rain slicked the cobblestones underfoot, reflecting the sickly yellow glow emanating from the back door. You pull your threadbare coat tighter, the cold seeping into your bones despite the lingering heat from the recently extinguished cigarette stub mashed between your fingers. This isn't where you pictured yourself, not after the academy, not after earning your credentials. But the gilded halls of the Neo-Alexandrian Library, with their endless archives and dusty tomes, didn't pay the bills, and more importantly, they couldn't answer the question that gnawed at you day and night: What happened to Professor Anya Petrova? She vanished without a trace six months ago, her meticulously organized research notes the only clue left behind. The Library dismissed it as a mid-life crisis, a spontaneous holiday. You knew better. Anya Petrova didn't "go on holiday." She was obsessed with her work, driven by a singular, almost unsettling, passion for the history of forgotten technologies. And her last project… well, that's what brought you here. The Rusty Cog is a haven for mechanics, scavengers, and purveyors of questionable salvage. Anya frequented this place, often buying up obsolete clockwork components and discarded proto-computers. Word on the street is, the owner, a hulking grease-stained behemoth named 'Grinder,' knows more than he lets on. You grip the worn handle of the back door, the metal cold and rough against your palm. Taking a deep breath, you steel yourself. This city, Neo-Veridia, thrives on secrets. Unraveling them is your only hope. Grinder isn't going to give you information for free, and the secrets he holds are undoubtedly dangerous. But Anya Petrova was more than just a professor; she was your mentor, your friend. You owe her the truth. This is where your investigation begins. This is where you descend into the mechanical underbelly of Neo-Veridia. This is where you decide what kind of truth you're willing to uncover, and what price you're willing to pay to find it. Are you ready to open the door?