The underground archive felt smaller after the truth had been spoken aloud.
Candles still burned.
Old records still rested quietly on shelves.
But the room no longer felt like a place of history.
Now it felt like a battlefield.
No swords had been drawn.
No blood had been spilled.
Yet everyone present understood something had changed.
Knowledge had entered the room.
And knowledge was often more dangerous than war.
Aldrich rolled the scroll carefully and tied it closed again.
He looked at the old handwriting one final time before placing it inside his coat.
His father's final instruction remained in his mind.
Do not seek revenge first. Seek the truth.
For a long moment nobody spoke.
Then Michael turned and pushed open the archive door.
"Enough for tonight."
His voice was calm.
Too calm.
That usually meant he was thinking.
Everyone followed him back upstairs.
Stone became polished floors.
Cold air became warmth.
History became life again.
Servants moved quietly through the estate.
Guards stood at attention.
The evening sun painted the courtyard gold.
For anyone outside—
it looked like an ordinary evening.
But those inside knew better.
The world had shifted.
—
They gathered inside one of the estate halls.
Large windows overlooked the distant sea.
Tea had been brought but untouched.
Aldrich stood near the center.
Lephisto leaned against a pillar silently.
Ellistra remained beside Aldrich.
Michael poured himself tea.
Krishna sat quietly listening.
Varren stood near the window.
Looking out.
Watching the horizon.
Aldrich broke the silence first.
"They should know I'm investigating by now."
He looked toward everyone.
"If they're intelligent—and I assume they are—they'll move."
His eyes shifted toward Varren.
"They'll likely try to assassinate me."
Then—
"They'll target witnesses."
Nobody argued.
Because nobody believed otherwise.
Varren stared outside quietly.
His expression remained strangely peaceful.
Then he smiled.
Small.
Tired.
"I'm getting old."
Nobody interrupted him.
He kept looking toward the horizon.
"It doesn't matter."
Michael immediately clicked his tongue.
"Old friend."
He stood and walked beside him.
"You stay here."
Varren looked at him.
Michael met his eyes.
"I assure you they'll have to kill you while I'm dead because there ain't no way I'm letting that happen."
Varren looked at him quietly.
Then smiled.
There was gratitude there.
But also acceptance.
"No…"
He looked outside again.
"I have no family, Michael."
His voice remained soft.
"I'm old."
"I have no one to go to."
His eyes lowered.
"And I won't put your family at risk protecting me."
He turned slightly.
"So I'll go about my business."
His shoulders rose and fell.
"Let them do what they must."
The room became quiet.
Aldrich looked at him for several seconds.
Then stood.
He walked forward.
Stopped beside him.
And spoke calmly.
"If I hear the news that you're killed…"
Varren looked at him.
Aldrich's eyes remained steady.
"I will avenge you, Senior Varren."
A pause.
"You have my word."
Varren looked at him.
Really looked at him.
Then smiled.
Not sadly.
Not emotionally.
Just… warmly.
Like he was looking at someone worth believing in.
He nodded once.
"Good."
Then he walked.
No dramatic farewell.
No speeches.
Just an old man leaving through the front doors.
His footsteps gradually disappeared.
Everyone watched.
Nobody stopped him.
—
Lephisto finally spoke.
His arms remained folded.
"I'll help you fight the Executors."
The room looked toward him.
Lephisto looked annoyed immediately.
"Don't misunderstand."
His eyes moved to Aldrich.
"You still stand in my way."
Aldrich smiled faintly.
Then nodded once.
"Understood."
Michael stood.
Krishna rose beside him.
Michael's expression shifted.
No longer father.
No longer host.
Clan Head.
"Double patrols."
He looked at nearby attendants.
"Guard rotations every three hours."
"No unnecessary movement."
His eyes narrowed.
"And if Civil Law approaches…"
He smiled.
"…they'll announce themselves properly."
The guards bowed.
At once.
And moved.
Krishna followed him out.
Already discussing logistics.
Already preparing.
That left—
Aldrich.
Ellistra.
Lephisto.
—
Aldrich walked toward a large table.
Unrolled a map.
The continent stretched across the paper.
His eyes moved carefully.
Scarm.
Home of Hollowdene Forest.
The place where he became who he was.
To the east—
Vallery.
Home of the city of Stan.
The place he first passed through years ago.
Between them—
Land of Solomon.
Territory of the Scarlet Clan.
Beautiful.
Prosperous.
Strategic.
And vulnerable.
Aldrich stared quietly.
Lephisto approached.
"That Civil Law branch that visited…"
He pointed.
"…came from Vallery."
Aldrich nodded.
"That's right."
Ellistra stepped closer.
She placed one hand on the map.
"They have two ways in."
She pointed.
"The sea."
Then—
"The Great Bridge."
Aldrich looked at it.
The Great Bridge.
Massive.
Ancient.
A structure large enough to connect continents.
Used by merchants, Travelers and Armies.
If someone wanted to avoid ships they crossed there.
His fingers rested against his chin.
Thinking.
Then he spoke:
"We'll set a trap."
The rest of the day became work.
No servants or commanders. Just them.
The three of them Aldrich, Lephisto and Ellistra.
Together. Axes rose and fell, Tall trees crashed. Wood was dragged.
Measured.
Sharpened.
Lephisto worked silently.
Ellistra complained occasionally.
Aldrich ignored both.
By evening long sharpened timber barriers stretched beneath the sea.
Driven deep into the ocean floor.
Placed far enough out that large vessels couldn't approach unnoticed.
Hidden.
Simple.
Effective.
If ships attempted landing they would break.
Both coastlines secured.
South Sea.
North Sea.
Done.
Night approached.
Aldrich looked at both of them.
"Ellistra."
She looked over. He pointed south.
"Watch the South Sea."
She nodded with no complaint.
"Lephisto."
Lephisto glanced over.
"North."
Lephisto smirked.
"Try not to die before I return."
Then he left. That left Aldrich alone.
At the entrance of the Great Bridge.
Mist covered everything.
Heavy.
Cold.
The bridge disappeared into white emptiness.
Massive stone beneath his feet stretched endlessly forward.
No birds.
No wind.
Only silence.
Aldrich stood with one hand resting on his katana.
Waiting.
Watching.
His breathing remained steady.
Then something changed Not sound but Presence.
Footsteps Far away, Slow and Measured.
Each step echoed across the stone.
Aldrich opened his eyes fully One step. The mist moved slightly. Then a red glow appeared.
Single.
Motionless.
A red eye.
Visible through the opening of a helm. Then another step.
Metal..Heavy and Disciplined. Approaching. Aldrich remained still. His hand moved lightly to his sword.
The figure stopped Inside the mist And a voice reached him Calm. Completely emotionless.
"…Interesting."
Silence.
Then a voice said:
"So you were waiting."
Aldrich looked forward And answered.
"Yes."
The red eye remained fixed on him. The mist shifted But the figure still didn't reveal itself.
Then another step echoed And another Coming closer.
The night suddenly felt much quieter And far more dangerous.