The room fell into a deep silence, as though everyone had agreed to hold their breath. Luke, Theo, and Kalon, standing guard behind them, all focused intently on the crystal orb.
Benji swallowed hard, carefully channeling his mana into the orb at a deliberately slow pace. Luke had warned him earlier that rushing could cause the orb to crack, so he was taking no chances. Slowly, a dark spot began to erge within the orb, responding to Benji’s mana with a concentrated intensity.
“There it is…”
Luke murmured under his breath. Theo’s pitch-black eyes fixed on the even darker spot in the orb. Before long, small cracks started to spiderweb across its surface, and the faint sound of splitting glass filled the air. Benji quickly pulled his hand back just in ti.
Although the orb managed to retain its shape, it was clear that it had reached its limit and was now unusable.
“…Commander.”
Kalon’s voice broke the tense silence, calling Theo’s attention. Theo stroked his chin, his expression grim. He didn’t seem to be deliberating but rather trying to process the shocking revelation the orb had presented.
“What? Where is it?”
Benji asked cautiously, his eyes darting nervously. He had no idea where the location pinpointed in the orb was, and his gaze flitted awkwardly around the room.
“The western empire, Welharun,” Luke answered.
“A neighboring nation to Heinharn, currently an ally,” he added, casting a wary glance at Theo.
“Why would an ally do sothing like this…?”
Benji muttered, his voice low. Luke sighed heavily and ran a hand through his hair. The boy was still young, clearly naïve about how the world worked.
“Why else? They were probably planning to stab us in the back.”
Benji’s jaw dropped as realization dawned on him. He nodded hesitantly, finally piecing it together.
“Luke,” Kalon called, his tone heavier than before. His furrowed brow and slight shake of his head were clear warnings to choose his words carefully. It was evident he didn’t want to escalate the tension any further, and he kept a wary eye on Theo’s reaction.
“Hey.”
Unable to stand Theo’s ominous silence any longer, Luke reached over and pressed a finger against the back of his hand. The veins bulging under Theo’s skin looked like they might burst.
“This is… an unexpected developnt,” Theo finally said, his voice steady but cold.
It was a sentint everyone in the room, save for Benji, could agree with.
The empire of Welharun, situated along the western border of Heinharn, was one of the few nations maintaining a friendly relationship with them. The two empires were bound by a peace agreent, a rarity in these turbulent tis.
Peace treaties usually fell into two categories. One type involved a powerful nation subjugating a weaker one, forcing them into an agreent for the sake of appearances. These so-called peace treaties were often little more than facades, as exemplified by the recent agreent between Heinharn and mbern.
The other type occurred between nations of similar strength, where neither could easily dominate the other. Such treaties were genuine efforts to avoid unnecessary conflict, promoting mutual respect and cooperation. The current relationship between Welharun and Heinharn fell into this category.
Historically, the two empires had been on the brink of war, their diplomatic tensions escalating to the point of no return. At that ti, however, Welharun’s newly enthroned emperor—a staunch pacifist—had taken an extraordinary step. His foreign policy was rooted in the absolute rejection of violence and war, and he had reached out to Heinharn to broker peace.
This bold move led to the establishnt of a treaty, and the two nations had maintained friendly relations ever since.
“Sothing about all this peace lately felt off,” Theo muttered, his voice hard as stone.
After their victory over mbern, Heinharn had entered what could be considered another golden age. Though monster activity had increased, the empire’s exceptional military forces had it well under control.
There was an old saying: when soldiers and knights have too much free ti, it ans the nation is stable and at peace.
No one could have imagined that such covert sches were unfolding beneath the surface.
“Isn’t the current emperor of Welharun known as an exceptional pacifist? A wise and virtuous ruler?”
Luke asked, his tone skeptical.
Luke tilted his head, baffled by the situation. The emperor of Welharun, who had played a pivotal role in forging the treaty with Heinharn, had ascended to the throne at a very young age. Even during Luke’s ti in the military, he’d occasionally heard stories about how well the emperor managed his nation, even into his later years.
“There have been rumors for so ti now that the emperor’s health has been deteriorating significantly,” Theo said, his tone steady. “It’s said that his firstborn son, the crown prince, has been handling internal affairs in his stead. Of course, they haven’t made any official announcents yet.”
As the commander and heir to the Redrick ducal house, Theo had access to a wealth of information, both officially and through whispers from trusted networks.
“For now, let’s wrap things up here.”
Theo swiftly collected himself, his mont of visible unease fading as he rose to his feet.
“What’s your plan, sir?” Kalon asked, stepping closer to Theo.
“Kalon, you’ll remain focused on retrieving the monsters spread across Calum. Report any anomalies to headquarters imdiately.”
“Does that an…?”
“I’m returning to headquarters in the capital.”
The events in Calum had already revealed a vast conspiracy. Theo had gathered all the information he could here and now needed to formulate a course of action with the resources and authority available to him at headquarters.
“Prepare Benji for transport to the capital as well.”
“Yes, sir.”
Kalon gave a curt nod, then turned to escort Benji out of the interrogation room, taking the half-shattered crystal orb with him. The two left quietly, their figures swallowed by the dimly lit hallway.
Once they were alone, Luke spun lazily in his chair, his gaze settling on Theo, who stood in silence, shadows casting across his face.
“What’s your next move?” Luke asked, his tone curious but tinged with familiarity.
“First, I’ll report to the palace,” Theo replied, his voice calm and asured. “Then I’ll convene with the generals to determine the best course of action.”
“Based on what Benji said, the mastermind behind this seems like a real piece of work.”
The figure Benji had described was the kind of person who would sever all ties and abandon their pawns the mont things didn’t go as planned. They had exploited children with no families or places to go, using them for criminal activities while ensuring there were no loose ends to trace back to them. It was disgusting in its ruthlessness.
“I know it won’t be easy. The evidence is lacking. But it’s the military’s duty to address threats to the empire’s safety.”
Luke found himself admiring Theo’s composure. This was a different kind of crisis compared to the betrayal by mbern. Yet Theo was thodically assessing the situation and determining the next steps, his rationality unwavering. It was impressive, even to soone like Luke.
“Well, congratulations, Commander. Looks like you’ve got your first big headache since taking the role. You’re in for so rough days ahead,” Luke said with a sarcastic grin, stretching as he stood.
The two locked eyes in the dim light, their gazes eting in the space between them. Theo’s dark eyes seed even deeper now, and Luke felt a strange intensity in the way Theo looked at him.
“Luke.”
Theo’s gaze lingered on Luke’s silver hair, shimring even in the faint light, before slowly drifting downward. His steady voice finally broke the silence.
“Have you ever thought about returning to the military?”
The words sliced through the air, leaving Luke montarily stunned. It took him a mont to process the question, its casual tone belied by the weight it carried. Luke’s eyes widened in surprise.
“What did you just say?”
“Exactly what you heard,” Theo said evenly. “Have you considered rejoining headquarters?”
“You’re asking to re-enlist? ?”
Luke jabbed a finger at his own chest, letting out a disbelieving breath. It was a bold proposition to make to a retired soldier. But the fact that it ca from Theo, of all people, made Luke’s heart pound unexpectedly.
This was the sa Theo who had been his rival, who had clashed with him at every turn, and who had ultimately surpassed him to claim the top position. And now, that sa man was asking him to return.
“I…”
Theo’s gaze faltered for the first ti, dropping to the floor. His voice, quieter now, sounded almost hesitant. Was Luke imagining it, or did Theo seem genuinely vulnerable in that mont?
Theo didn’t continue right away, leaving Luke to wait in silence. Whatever Theo wanted to say, it seed important.
“I need you,” Theo finally said, his voice steady but softer. “I want you to co with , Luke.”
Luke’s lips parted, but no words ca out. He couldn’t find a response. Theo’s eyes, now lifted to et his again, carried an unfamiliar weight that made Luke’s chest tighten.
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