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Lately, Violet had been accompanying her whenever she ventured out, never allowing her to be alone. Sophie had stopped going to both the workshop and the women’s academy, fearing that her presence might attract trouble.
For safety’s sake, Cynthia and Bun took on the task of overseeing the academy. It wasn’t only to teach the students martial arts but also to keep an eye out for any disturbances.
As for the workshop, with Alana and Leah there, there were no major concerns.
On the other hand, Michael had been watching the city gates closely, scrutinizing everyone who entered. Recently, there had been some forged documents circulating, and once the gate guards slack off, it was easy for people to slip past.
In the past few days, Michael had noticed several martial artists entering the city. While this wasn’t unusual, they typically avoided confrontation with the gate guards. So, a simple document check was all that was needed to allow them entry. But now, he would personally question anyone dressed as a martial artist.
Just today, for example, there had been a group with an air of arrogance. To be precise, only one person was arrogant-a middle-aged scholar, with a silk scarf. His beard was meticulously groomed, each strand combed with care, and his demeanor was cold and aloof. When asked for his papers, he ignored the question. He didn’t even bother to meet Michael’s gaze, as if Michael wasn’t even worth a glance.
Fortunately, one of the men with him quickly explained that they were from a household registered in the capital, presenting their residence papers as proof. He kept apologizing and bowing, trying to smooth over the situation.
The group didn’t look like typical martial artists, nor did they seem to be merchants. They resembled wealthy travelers, more likely aristocrats on a journey. Michael felt they looked familiar, but he couldn’t place their names. Looking at their address, which was in one of the wealthier districts of the capital, he guessed his suspicion was probably right.
After checking their documents and confirming there were no issues, Michael allowed them to pass.
After the group entered the city, Michael was momentarily distracted by another merchant caravan arriving at the gates. He made sure to inspect them thoroughly, confirming that there were no issues before allowing them to pass.
As he turned back, he noticed the merchant caravan was following closely behind the group he had just checked. Among them, a familiar figure caught his eye-a figure whose silhouette seemed unmistakable. It resembled Sophie’s martial uncle from the Pathfinders Guild.
The man’s name was Everett, if Michael recalled correctly. But then again, the face didn’t match. He thought about it for a moment, but the resemblance was only in the figure. The features-absolutely not. Still, Michael felt uneasy and decided it was worth investigating further.
He instructed a few men to follow the caravan and watch for any unusual activity. An hour later, they reported back that the group had settled in a manor on Eastland Avenue. That area was known for being home to powerful lords and nobility. Even a wealthy merchant couldn’t easily buy property there. After having his men check, Michael discovered that the house had once belonged to a distant royal relative, an honorary prince from a different family. The place had been vacant for some time, with no one living there. It was rumored that the former owner had moved away years ago.
Though nothing seemed to connect them directly to anything suspicious, Michael couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. He tried to put it out of his mind, but found himself unable to. His thoughts felt muddled, and he realized how exhausted he was. Days of endless checks and duties had left him with a foggy mind, crammed with information he could hardly keep track of anymore.
“That manor is next to Willowbrook Estate,” one of his men mentioned.
Michael’s eyes narrowed immediately. “Keep an eye on it. Or better yet, pay them a visit.”
He recalled Sophie’s advice anyone connected to Willowbrook Estate should be watched carefully.
Later that evening, after further inquiry, it was confirmed that the manor did indeed belong to the distant royal family’s heir. After losing the hereditary title, he had been doing business outside. With the chaos in the outside world, he decided to return to the capital for a while to hide.
Michael recalled the goods he had seen when checking the merchant caravan earlier-rich silks and jewels. It seemed they were returning with their treasures to seek refuge in the city.
A quiet sigh escaped him. The outside world was in chaos, and while the capital appeared safe, it was hardly peaceful. Only the outsiders remained unaware of the brewing trouble.
Given that nothing alarming had come up, Michael didn’t report the matter to Sophie.
Meanwhile, inside Russell Estate, the caravan unloaded their goods. Beneath the silks and treasures, hidden in secret compartments within each chest, lay their true cargo-hidden weapons.
The estate had been abandoned for so long that weeds had overtaken the yard, and the furniture was covered layers of dust. They hadn’t yet removed their disguises, their faces still hidden beneath the false beards they wore to blend in.
They weren’t hiding from Michael, but Nicholas’ men.
SV
The apprentices moved around, clearing the place out, while Adrian and Everett took a seat.
Everett spoke first. “Why not just stay at Hell Monarch Estate? This place is a ruin-everything needs to be replaced, from food to furnishings.”
Adrian’s fingers brushed over his false beard as he settled into his seat with an air of quiet dignity. “One’s doghouse is still better than someone else’s gilded palace,” he replied smoothly. “Besides, we’re here to stay hidden in the capital. Staying at Hell Monarch Estate would make us too obvious, don’t you think?”
Nicholas must have a hidden, mysterious force working behind the scenes. If he had one, then Sophie needed one too. She might lose in other ways, but she couldn’t afford to lose her imposing presence in the capital.
“But the city’s gate guards seem utterly incompetent,” Adrian muttered, a frown creasing his brow. “We have so many chests with secret compartments, yet he couldn’t find them. His name’s Michael Brown, right?”
Everett nodded. “Yes, that’s him. He’s with the Capital Guard.”
“This is dangerous,” Adrian continued, still displeased. “One small slip-up could mean disaster for all of us. He’s inexperienced. Does she have anyone competent around her?”
Everett gave him a side glance. “It depends on your standard. By your measure, there’s no one fit for the task. Even Kyle wouldn’t be good enough.’
Adrian’s expression soured. “You can’t be serious. Kyle’s capable enough. He’s better than Rafael, at least.”
“Nonsense! Who can compare to
Rafael?” Everett snapped, his temper flaring. “But this isn’t about who’s stronger right now. Since she
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doesn’t have reliable people by her side, we’ll just have to put in the extra effort. Once the guild leaders and clan heads arrive in the capital, we’ll take turns keeping watch.”
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“Alright, we’ll do it your way. They should all be arriving within the next day or two, Adrian said, pausing briefly before giving his orders. “Have the Skywing Spire members all entered the capital yet? Tell them to keep an eye on the riverworks and Willowbrook Estate. If there’s the slightest sign of movement, report back immediately.”
–
Adrian had also brought a cannon with him, though it had to remain outside the city for now. It couldn’t be transported in just yet. This cannon, an improvement on the red canon of Nerathia, was the same one that had destroyed Everett’s courtyard back then.
In a few days, nearly all the martial factions that had been invited to Adrian’s birthday banquet would arrive, each disguised in various ways. Knowing that martial artists would be thoroughly questioned at the city gates, they all decided to change their appearances completely.
Adrian had specifically chosen people from Coldmoon Guild to keep watch at the Capital Guard headquarters and Hell Monarch Estate in shifts.
There was a reason for this. The people from Coldmoon Guild rarely moved within the martial world, and they seldom visited the capital. Nicholas’ men likely had never encountered them, which made them perfect for keeping Sophie safe without drawing suspicion.
Adrian was certain that Nicholas’ next move would be to target Sophie’s life. His predictions had always been accurate-aside from the rare misstep.
At the Glimmering Tower, Adrian hosted a banquet, offering food and drink to all. The serious discussions, of course, would take place privately.
“We won’t concern ourselves with anything else for now,” he began, addressing those at the table. “First, we must ensure the safety of my apprentice. As for what happens next, we’ll just have to wait and see.” He knew the martial world had little interest in getting involved with the royal court’s affairs. He wasn’t eager to do so either, but when he had taken on such a restless apprentice, he had no choice but to deal with it.
Sophie had no idea that she was being carefully protected by her mentor’s people. She moved daily between the Hell Monarch Estate and the Capital Guard, occasionally visiting the palace.
The issue of the crown prince still stirred unrest in the court. Salvador had already issued orders to punish several individuals, even reprimanding the Quinton family. Despite these efforts, there were still those who repeatedly brought up the matter.
At this critical juncture, Salvador and the court ministers were inevitably distracted, especially as some ministers, influenced by the situation, began to emphasize the importance of the kingdom’s succession. A few irrational individuals even stepped forward in support of naming Connor the crown prince.
Davis was frantic and agitated, stomping all the way to the Capital Guard headquarters and shouting at Sophie, “The kingdom’s succession is important, but isn’t the current crisis even more pressing?!” Sophie understood his frustration and responded calmly, “We’ve been discussing it for so long without resolution. Let them continue arguing among themselves. Let them shout all they want. We should stay steady in our resolve.”