Chapter 68

The two stones Rian threw began to send blood-stained ripples across the vast lake called the continent.

Kailus, the capital of the Kairos Empire. Beneath the imperial intelligence bureau, a secret office where not a single beam of light reached.

Walter ‘Iron Blood’, head of the intelligence bureau, read the anonymously leaked report from Argos and stroked his bristled beard with calloused hands. True to his nickname, he was cold-blooded, swayed by neither feeling nor rumor, believing only in facts and evidence.

“Valerian Empire… forbidden ruins of the Eastern Continent… cursed relics… biological weapons…”

Each word on the report chilled his heart. At first he thought it was a common smear intended to frame a rival empire. But the report was far too detailed and concrete: the movements of the Valerian spy ‘Cypher,’ the characteristics of the crystal shard he carried, even the location of the sealed secret laboratory. This was not mere conjecture. It was living intelligence only an insider could know.

Walter headed straight to the imperial palace. As expected, Emperor Alberto exploded in rage upon hearing the report.

“How dare the old fox of the Valerian Empire! He was plotting such a monstrous thing behind my back! Issue an emergency alert to every legion on the border at once! Before they complete that abominable weapon, we must show the might of the Empire!”

The throne room grew cold with the Emperor’s fury. Then the Crown Prince Julian stepped forward cautiously, with Kaion standing beside him in a stern expression.

“Your Majesty, please calm yourself. The source of this intelligence is unclear. Isn’t the timing also too convenient? We cannot rule out the possibility that someone who wishes for us to go to war with the Valerians deliberately leaked this information.”

At the Crown Prince’s measured tone, Kaion spoke as well.

“Your Highness is correct, Your Majesty. If we move the troops rashly, we may fall into an unseen enemy’s trap. First, let our intelligence service verify the authenticity of this information and secure incontrovertible proof; it won’t be too late to act after that.”

The Emperor listened to the two young men for a moment, letting his anger subside. He finally made a decision.

“Very well. Walter, deploy every shadow of the Empire to watch the Valerians. Confirm with your own eyes whether they are truly creating a monster, and report back. But do not relax the border legions’ vigilance. A serpent will be ready to strike our ankles at any moment.”

The spark of war had been pulled. Kairos’ shadows began to move in unison, and along the border between the two empires the smell of powder that could explode at any moment filled the air.

Meanwhile, on the continent’s darker underside, another bloody play was beginning.

The enormous bounties placed on those marked with the Ashen Worm cult’s emblem sent every assassin’s guild and mercenary band across the continent into a frenzy. That the source was said to be the remnants of the Marquis of the Reinhardt family and Valua lent the rumor credibility.

“Heh heh heh, the dogs that lost their masters seem to be throwing their last bones in revenge.”

The new master of the notorious Night’s Claw guild grinned greedily as he examined the bounty list.

From that day on, low-ranking priests of the Ashen Worm cult hiding across the continent began meeting mysterious deaths. They were killed by poison needles in back alleys, secret meeting places were stormed and massacred by mercenaries. The cult fell into chaos. They assumed it was the attack of their longtime enemies—the Holy Kingdom or the mage tower—but the traces left at the scenes were the vile, brutal methods used by the shadow guilds.

“There is a traitor inside!”

“No, another dark power is trying to encroach on our territory!”

The cult began to suspect and guard against one another. The seeds of distrust sown by Rian were sprouting at the core of their ranks.

At the center of all that turmoil: the Aster estate.

Rian sat in his study reading the letter Kaion had sent from the capital. The letter conveyed the imperial palace’s tense atmosphere and concerns about the two empires being set in motion by unseen hands.

Rian put the letter down and gazed out at his peaceful estate. His face held neither guilt nor joy—only cold calculation.

Knock, knock.

“Brother, can I come in?”

Lily poked her small head in and asked. In her hands she held a small bouquet of pretty wildflowers, as if freshly picked from the garden.

“Yeah, come in.”

Lily trotted over and placed the flowers in the vase on Rian’s desk. The bleak study brightened with a sudden cheer.

“Brother, maybe because you’ve been reading only difficult books lately, you don’t look well. I don’t think I’ve seen you smile.”

Lily looked up at Rian with worried eyes. Rian stared into his sister’s clear gaze for a moment, then couldn’t help but let out a small, genuine smile—the first since Hector’s death.

He stroked Lily’s head.

“Sorry, you were worried about me? I’ve been preoccupied thinking about a new tree to plant in the garden. One that’s big and sturdy, so our Lily can run and play happily in its shade for her whole life.”

“Really? Wow, I’m excited!”

Lily beamed and cuddled into Rian’s arms. Feeling his sister’s warm body, Rian swore once more with grim resolve.

For the sake of this peace, I will gladly become a demon—even if it costs me burning this entire continent.

Deep in his eyes, amid a cold winter wind, the flames of vengeance burned ever fiercer.