Reyon had long suspected that Berth was not the honorable leader he pretended to be, but his recent discoveries painted a far more sinister picture than he had imagined. The documents he had stolen from Duke Callius' estate not only implicated Berth in corruption but also revealed a much larger network of illicit dealings—Berth was selling classified information to the highest bidder and allowing certain corrupt nobles to remain in power in exchange for wealth and influence.
As Reyon pored over the evidence in his quarters, Julie sat across from him, her expression serious. The youngest princess of Elise Kingdom had already been working to expose her father's corrupt ministers, but even she seemed shaken by the extent of Berth's treachery.
"He's worse than I thought," Julie muttered, her fingers tracing the inked signatures of noble families that had been paying Berth for protection. "This isn't just about him pocketing money—he's actively deciding who gets to live and who gets to die."
Reyon nodded. "And as long as he remains in power, the Classers will never be what they were meant to be. They were founded to protect the people from tyranny, not to become its enforcers."
Julie glanced at him, her blue eyes sharp. "You're thinking of removing him, aren't you?"
Reyon exhaled. "I'd be lying if I said I wasn't. But it's not that simple. Berth has built his influence carefully. If we take him down without a plan, the entire organization could fracture. Worse, some nobles will retaliate."
Julie leaned back, deep in thought. "There's also the issue of who replaces him. If we don't have someone trustworthy to take his place, another tyrant will just rise in his stead."
Before Reyon could respond, a knock at his door interrupted their conversation. He quickly concealed the documents under a loose floorboard and opened the door to find a courier standing there, holding a sealed envelope.
"Message from Leader Berth," the man said before turning on his heel and walking away.
Reyon broke the seal and scanned the contents. His eyes narrowed. "Two new missions."
Julie raised an eyebrow. "And?"
Reyon tossed the letter onto the table. "He wants me to assassinate Count Ervane and retrieve a stolen artifact from the Blackfang Syndicate."
Julie frowned. "Count Ervane? I know that name. He's been vocal against Duke Callius and his allies. If Berth wants him dead, it means he's protecting someone powerful."
"Exactly," Reyon agreed. "This isn't about justice. It's about silencing a threat."
Julie tapped her fingers against the table. "And the Blackfang Syndicate?"
"They're a notorious mercenary group, but they don't usually get involved in politics," Reyon explained. "If they stole something important enough for Berth to want it back, it means it has significant value."
Julie smirked. "Sounds like you're about to make a few more enemies."
Reyon chuckled dryly. "Wouldn't be the first time."
The Assassination of Count Ervane
Reyon's first mission took him to the outskirts of Ardentia, where Count Ervane's estate stood tall against the moonlit sky. The Count had fortified his home with seasoned knights, aware that his defiance against Duke Callius had earned him powerful enemies.
Reyon, cloaked in his camouflage spell, slipped past the outer guards with ease. At the entrance, two seventh-circle mages patrolled the gates, their auras pulsing with power. He carefully timed his movements, disrupting the formation spells they had placed before slipping inside unnoticed.
As he neared the Count's chamber, he hesitated. Was he truly willing to kill a man whose only crime was standing against corruption? He needed to know more.
Instead of an immediate attack, Reyon stepped forward, deactivating his concealment spell. "Count Ervane," he announced, his voice steady. "We need to talk."
The Count, an older man with piercing gray eyes, stood from his desk, hand reaching for the sword at his waist. "Who are you?"
"A messenger," Reyon replied. "One who's been ordered to kill you."
The Count's expression remained unreadable. "And yet, here you are, speaking instead of striking."
"I need to know the truth," Reyon admitted. "What do you know about Duke Callius and Berth?"
The Count studied him carefully before sighing. "Everything."
Over the next half hour, Reyon listened as Count Ervane detailed Berth's alliance with corrupt nobility, his role in orchestrating assassinations, and his manipulation of the Classers. By the end, Reyon's conviction was solidified—he would not carry out this mission.
Instead, he faked Ervane's death, using his vector magic to create a scene convincing enough for Berth's informants. With the Count now officially "dead," he could work from the shadows against Berth's rule.
The Blackfang Syndicate's Artifact
Reyon's second mission led him to the underground stronghold of the Blackfang Syndicate. Unlike the noble courts, this was a world ruled by strength, where betrayal was currency and survival depended on one's ability to navigate the underworld.
The artifact Berth sought was heavily guarded, locked within an enchanted vault. The leader of the Blackfangs, a ruthless woman named Seraphis, was no fool—she had lined her fortress with protective spells that would have trapped any lesser intruder.
But Reyon was no ordinary intruder.
Using his knowledge of vectors, he bypassed the security measures and infiltrated the vault. As he laid his hands on the artifact—a small, rune-covered dagger—he felt a strange pulse of energy. This was no mere treasure. There was something ancient and dangerous about it.
His instincts screamed at him not to hand it over to Berth.
As he turned to leave, Seraphis herself appeared in the doorway, flanked by elite mercenaries. She smirked. "You must be the Classer prodigy I've been hearing about."
Reyon said nothing, tightening his grip on the dagger.
Seraphis chuckled. "If you were sent for this, then you already know it's important. Question is, do you even know what you're holding?"
Reyon's silence was answer enough.
Seraphis sighed. "I don't like Berth. He's a snake. But if you deliver that to him, you'll only be feeding his power."
Reyon considered her words. He had no reason to trust her, but his instincts aligned with her warning.
"I'll keep that in mind," he said before vanishing with a burst of vector magic.
Reyon and Julie's Next Move
Back at their meeting spot, Reyon presented the dagger to Julie. She examined it with a frown. "This isn't just a weapon. This is an artifact from the royal vault. Berth had no business knowing about it."
Reyon nodded. "Which means someone high up is feeding him information."
Julie sighed. "Taking him down won't be easy. He has too many allies."
"Then we cut them off first," Reyon said firmly. "One by one."
Julie smiled. "I was hoping you'd say that."
The game against Berth had begun.