“Calling me?” Alia’s heart sank sharply at the words. Her thoughts wandered far, and in that instant, she was almost certain of what Marcellus was referring to—the ‘Holy Grail.’
The car continued forward, the scenery outside the window retreating in a blur. Marcellus’s voice, tinged with nostalgia and a faint sigh, broke through the hum of the engine.
“Back then, Edgar thought the area near the graveyard was too challenging to develop—too remote, with little value. But you insisted there was ‘something about the place,’ something worth exploring. After some discussion, it was decided we’d symbolically turn some soil and plant greenery to improve the environment. However, it was explicitly agreed that the graveyard itself would remain untouched to avoid offending the departed.”
He paused, his gaze clouded by a tinge of complexity. “But no
Night fell like ink.In the depths of the forest, the wind hissed through the trees, occasionally pierced by the distant growl of wild beasts—each sound only making the surrounding silence heavier, more suffocating.Jim moved soundlessly through a thick layer of fallen leaves.His figure blended seamlessly into the shadows, like a drifting wraith among the trees. He didn’t take the shortest path—instead, he circled through three alternate routes, checking from various angles to confirm there were no ambushes.With every step, his eyes scanned the bark, branches, ground—even the sky.He was like a cunning leopard, alert to the slightest anomaly.At last, at the edge of a remote forest clearing, he saw it:The hunter’s cabin.Just as Livia had said, it was deeply hidden—its back pressed against the rocky slope, wooden walls covered in moss and dead vines.Had he not been looking for it, he might’ve missed it entirely.The windows were shut, but a faint line of candlelight leaked through
Night had fallen.Heavy clouds blanketed the sky, choking off even the faintest starlight. The entire city seemed to hold its breath, waiting for some unseen undercurrent to stir quietly into motion.Beneath a dilapidated eave not far from the castle, Jim stood alone, fingers brushing lightly over a slightly yellowed note.The ink was still fresh. The handwriting was clean and sharp—yet with the distinct elegance and subtle edge only a woman’s hand could produce.He had discovered it while slowly making his way toward the castle, and it was clear Livia had sent someone to plant it there on purpose. Jim had no doubt there were other such notes scattered along the path—each one serving only one purpose:To lead him to their meeting place.—“Midnight tomorrow, at the hunter’s cabin. Come alone.”There was no signature.But he knew—it could only be her.“Hunter’s cabin…” he murmured, folding the note and tucking it away. His gaze was dark and unreadable, deep as the night sky.Of course h
And so, a perilous plan quietly set in motion—like a dice cast into the dark, its path uncertain, guided only by fate.At last, the day arrived when Eryx was to lead his legion out of the city.The morning sun had not yet fully climbed over the city walls, but the inner square was already filled with a perfectly assembled military formation.Regimental banners snapped sharply in the wind. Everything was so orderly, so precise, it felt more like the prelude to a grand ceremony than a military departure.Yet Eryx did not appear before the soldiers.He stood at the high window of the governor’s residence, overlooking the troops lined up below.His brows were furrowed with deep thought as his gaze passed over each face—soldiers he had personally trained. Their steps were firm, their eyes resolute, and their aura overpowering.But his heart felt heavy.He wasn’t a man who trusted instinct easily, but the unease in his chest now was undeniable.“The men are chosen, and there’s no shortage o
“Yes, we still need a proper setup.”Livia slowly withdrew her gaze, her voice low and composed, yet carrying firm resolve.“Jim is a prideful man—highly attuned to shifts in power. If I want to deceive him, I must make it look like I have control over this castle. Words alone won’t do. He needs to see people behind me—people who follow my command.”She paused, her eyes sweeping coldly over the tactical sketches on the table, her tone sharpening.“So I won’t bring soldiers from the First or Seventh Legions, and I won’t use any of your men either. That would raise his suspicions.”“Hm?” Elias frowned slightly, looking at her in surprise.“Then who are you planning to bring?”Livia raised her head, calm and unshakable.“Red and his companions.”“Red?” Marcellus blinked, clearly puzzled.“Who’s that? You’ve never mentioned him to me.”Elias, on the other hand, showed a flicker of recognition, quickly followed by concern.“That kid is clever, sure, and he’s got a good head on his shoulder
Livia gently patted the back of Marcellus’s hand, her tone warm but unwavering.“Alright, but you really don’t have to worry too much. Last time was his best chance to hurt me—when I was alone, trapped by him in that cave, with no one around and barely a way to escape. And he let it pass. It wasn’t that he lacked the chance—it was that he… didn’t want to.”Her gaze dropped slightly, as though recalling the danger of that moment. Yet, despite herself, a flicker of complex understanding surfaced in her expression.“Someone who truly wanted to kill me wouldn’t have hesitated. But he did. That means he has reservations—it means he has other plans. Besides, I played my part well last time: I showed fear when I needed to, humiliation when it served, leaked just enough detail, and fed him a few ‘useful’ pieces. He’s not stupid—he knew I was lying. And because of that, he’s more likely to believe I’m not truly aligned with any of you.”She paused, then fixed her eyes on Marcellus.“As long as
The three sat around the bedside, the flickering firelight in each of their eyes revealing a mix of unease and unwavering resolve.“We need to go over the details one more time,” Elise was the first to break the silence. She had always been the one who valued preparation above all else before taking action.“Livia’s safety is the top priority. After that—Jim must not discover the secret chamber, especially not realize that we’ve already found part of the Holy Grail’s trail. If he even suspects the existence of anything hidden within the castle, it’s all over.”“In other words,” Livia added softly, “we need a location that can lure him in, but is far enough from the chamber—or any of the castle’s secrets. Somewhere that, even if he tears apart every stone, he’ll find nothing.”It was then that Marcellus, who had remained silent for a long while, suddenly spoke. His voice was lower than usual, as if he were dredging something up from memory.“Actually… there’s a place near the depths of