The rustling of pages filled Dale’s office as he sat behind his fragile wooden desk. Wooden boards covered the bookshelves lining his walls, displaying the Order’s ongoing operations. Twenty different missions were being carried out by watchmen and rangers alike. All of them crucial to the Everheart Kingdom’s war efforts.

  Outside his door stood ten of his most trusted guards, constantly safeguarding the secrets that were hidden within his office. Besides him, his personal Nightfall Ranger, and the other Administrators, no one could enter the office. That was the current law enforced within their ranks, and the reason for it was simple.

  By keeping their operations centralized in one area that only the most trusted members of the Order could enter, they could increase their response time and limit the chances of a breach. If anyone other than the cleared individuals entered the room, every single board would burst into flames within seconds. An extreme but efficient method. Should such a situation occur, it would be simple to restore all the boards as the leaders of the Order would assemble once more and create the contents.

  The only way for everything to be lost was through the assassination of all the Administrators. A feat that would require the enemy to breach their headquarters. Something that should be close to impossible with the many security measures installed within the fortress.

  Dale sat there in his leather chair and sighed deeply while reading the report Tucker created. There were many gaps in his plan, but the initial amount of watchmen he requested wasn’t merely a number he threw out at a whim. It was a calculated amount that increased the likelihood of survival. But even with a higher chance of success, that margin of error left a sense of dread within his heart.

  They couldn’t afford to make the same mistake as their predecessors.

  A suicidal operation that involved the entirety of their force haunted him. Dale shut his eyes and leaned back in his chair. He didn’t want to be put into a position where that choice had to be made. How could he sacrifice all the men and women they had trained throughout the years?

  How could he throw away the legacy that his friends had worked so hard to build?

  The choice shouldn’t be his, but the more he read about what Tucker discovered—a pain tightened in his chest. Each book stacked on the floor seemed to look down on him. As if it were taunting him for not seeing the bigger picture in this bloodstained war of grudges. For the first time since he had taken office, Dale felt like everything had become a blur.

  Why was he so hesitant about the matter?

  If Alex were here, could he really consult with his friend to see what the veteran would have done? The answer was no. Even if Salamander defended Tucker’s case, the other leaders of the Order wouldn’t stand by it. They would push back with a ferocity unlike anything else. Like a wounded beast driven into a corner with that last bit of desperation to live.

  There were hundreds of reports, far too many for them to read through. Even with Tucker’s recent achievements, he was still a fledgling. A man whose track record had one blemish that ignited his records.

  Dale didn’t need anyone to spell it out. A division within their ranks would occur. It would be him against his comrades all to defend a rookie whose heart was too great for his own good. Yet, a doubt still existed. What if Tucker was right? Suppose there was an artifact within the Empire’s arsenal. One that could wipe out armies or cities in the blink of an eye, a weapon of mass destruction that killed regardless of friend or foe.

  Then how much would he regret not listening?

  Would it haunt him for the rest of his life?

  He placed the loose pages to the side while rubbing his eyes with his thumb and index finger. The amount of watchmen they needed for the operation wasn’t a number that could be easily obtained. Ironmarch County possessed three garrisons, fully stocked with militiamen plus knights.

  With fifty watchmen positioned on the routes. They could delay reinforcements while the others besieged the Emerald Tower. If they assumed it was just a simple tower. The matter would take two to three hours for them to settle. Then, they could all run toward the dwarven realms to escape pursuit.

  But they couldn’t just assume that.

  Two months wasn’t enough time. Verifying all the necessary information required skilled operatives and proper planning. Ironmarch County was a fairly new region of development. They simply didn’t have enough Nightfall Rangers stationed there to gather intel before the war began.

  “What a predicament…” he muttered in exhaustion.

  “What’s the matter?” A gentle voice asked from several steps away.

  Dale opened his eyes and gazed at the shadow that lingered before the desk. “I take it you’ve returned without trouble, Alexis?”

  The woman nodded. “It wasn’t easy attaching my companion to Salamander without him knowing, but the job has been done.”

  “I’m sure that puts your mind at ease now that your grandfather has set sail for Elarindor,” Dale said with a tired expression. “Now that he’s away from the war, you’ll be able to focus on other tasks.”

  Stolen novel; please report.

  “Yes, Head Administrator,” Alexis answered. Her black hair swayed as she dipped her head. “I appreciate your consideration of my family matters.”

  Dale stared into her black eyes and shook his head. “There’s no need for your appreciation. It was for the good of the Order. If Salamander proves spirits can evolve, then we can drastically increase our fighting potential.”

  “Nevertheless, I owe you my gratitude for arranging his transportation and assigning him capable teammates.”

  “Capable teammates…” Dale repeated those words and exhaled. He took the report from the corner of his desk and held it toward Alexis. “Read this.”

  She stared at the pages with curiosity until Tucker’s name surfaced. “Him?” she asked in disgust. “That rookie shouldn’t be capable of writing something worth your time.”

  “You’d be surprised; now give it a read.”

  Alexis grumbled to herself and took the report. She scanned the contents from top to bottom with her gaze widening with each sentence. “This… this is madness.”

  “Yes, but is it feasible?”

  “Not within the time constraints,” she answered. “But if we were to judge it solely based on execution with all the requirements being met, then it would definitely be possible.”

  “And the risk if we don’t?” Dale asked.

  She narrowed her eyes at the one section marked in red. “If what he discovered turned out to be true, then it would be catastrophic. But that’s where the problem begins,” she said in a grave tone. “His word alone isn’t enough to instill confidence.”

  “I know, but I can’t help but wonder if it’s truly alright for us to ignore him.” Dale pulled out another page from his desk and flipped it around so she could see. “These are the names of six watchmen who volunteered for this supposed suicide mission.”

  Alexis read the contents and frowned. “They’re all greenhorns.”

  “Yes, greenhorns that Stormbearer saved,” Dale replied. “If I were to take a guess, more would likely join his cause if they knew about it.”

  The Nightfall Ranger didn’t utter a word. She simply stood there while holding the report. Dale wouldn’t have brought up the topic unless he had something in mind. But the fact that she was seeing the report now instead of with the other Administrators meant there existed a disconnect.

  “Why have you brought this up?” she asked.

  “Because a certain red-haired watchman has been going around recruiting others for their cause,” Dale replied.

  “And you want me to remove him?”

  “No, far from it.” Dale stared at the many operations taking place. He slowly clenched his hands while gazing off into the distance, thinking about the value behind each one. “I want you to assist him.”

  “What…?” Alexis slowly glared at him. “Have you lost your mind?”

  “Who knows? War seems to have that effect on people the longer it drags out,” Dale pointed out. “But sadly, I am very much in the right state of mind.”

  She scoffed in disbelief at his words. Ever since she became his personal ranger, there was a lot of bullshit she had to accomplish, but this task easily put all the others to shame. From Dale’s calm expression, it was clear they didn’t plan to send any more watchmen to help Tucker. So why was it she had to get involved?

  “I don’t get it,” Alexis said. “Didn’t you and the other Administrators put a stop to this entire operation?”

  “Officially within the Order, yes,” he replied. “But that doesn’t seem to have stopped those two watchmen. Stormbearer went to the capital and arranged a closed door meeting with the Commander of the Wyvern Knights, while Ray has rallied allies from different military organizations.”

  Her eyes sharpened. “What is this, some kind of joint coalition?”

  “That’s right.”

  “Why the hell would they do something like that?” Alexis said with a frown, but soon followed Dale’s gaze to the report in her hand. “No, wait—you don’t mean they still intend to pull this shit off without the Order’s help. Are they insane?”

  “Some would put it like that.”

  “So, despite knowing this, you still want me to help them.”

  Dale nodded. “That indeed is the case.”

  Alexis rubbed her eyes with her index finger and thumb before releasing a long, drawn-out breath. “With all due respect, sir, but have you gone senile? Shall I call a priest to perform an examination?”

  “That wouldn’t be necessary; I’m just giving you the option to see why Salamander holds that young watchman in such high regard,” Dale answered with a grin. “After all, you’re the only Nightfall Ranger with the ability to use Shadow Step. If the situation takes an unexpected turn, you could easily evacuate from any unknown danger.”

  Alexis stared at Dale’s smug expression with a hint of anger flickering across her eyes. There was some truth in his words, but that didn’t mean he was right. As the Head Administrator’s personal ranger, her responsibilities extended beyond simply fulfilling missions. It was her duty to protect Dale from all external and internal threats. If she disappeared for a few hours, then his safety could be compromised even with the Order’s guards by his side.

  “I know you’re skeptical of the other Administrators, but need I remind you I’ve known them for the majority of my life?” Dale asked. “They aren’t the type for betrayal, especially when the fate of our nation is at stake.”

  “If I took part in his operation, I would be gone for a while.”

  “That shouldn’t be a problem; it’s not like I would leave the Keep in the foreseeable future.” Dale brushed the matter aside with a light laugh. “Besides, if what he’s doing is sound of mind, then having one ranger dedicated to his cause wouldn’t hurt.”

  “You’re always such a nosy bastard,” Alexis pointed out.

  “It comes with age.”

  A feeling of annoyance crept through her mind. She placed the report back on the wooden desk and brought her hand to her temple before giving a sharp cut down. In seconds, a dark mist rose from her shadow and cradled her body, and in an instant, she was gone without a trace of aura or essence in sight. Not even a breeze flowed through the area as Alexis vanished from the office, leaving Dale to himself.

  He tapped the surface of his desk, eyes falling to the report. Even though Dale had already read the contents in the chamber with the other Administrators and judged it on the spot, he never would have imagined that Charles would step forth, demanding an audience with him. Rarely had the scholar interfered with matters beyond his reach, but their meeting behind closed doors struck a chord.

  Dale swore he would help Tucker if his actions didn’t endanger the Order. If he planned to form a coalition of forces to strike the Emerald Tower, then the least he could do was allow the watchmen who volunteered to take part. It wasn’t much, but having some was better than none, even if the other Administrators protested.

  If the other leaders threw a fit, then his reasoning would be to protect the integrity of the Order. If Tucker was right, and the kingdom found out that they had dismissed his claims. Blame would fall on their shoulders. However, if he allowed a team to join the coalition, then that would mitigate that.

  Dale stared at the names of the greenhorns on the table. Giving his men the freedom to make their decisions was the least he could do. He just prayed that it was enough.

  Return of the boys.

  https://discord.gg/SRDJGnRFtA.

  Thanks for reading, and I'll see you in the next one.