It was our third day on this mission.
We still hadn’t found any solid leads to report back to the Academy.
But the one thing we were certain of was that the attacks were definitely happening.
However, we couldn’t seem to locate the Spirit Beasts responsible for them.
And why was that? Because the Knights and the police were effectively erasing any evidence of the attacks.
Since the city authorities wanted to keep those incidents secret, it was becoming increasingly difficult for us to uncover the truth behind them.
As a result, our group decided that it was finally time to pay a visit to the Overlord of this region.
And from what we had heard, Lord Everan was a man of influence and infamy.
His reputation was as murky as the waters of the nearby swamplands.
If there was anyone who might know about the Spirit Beast attacks — and had a vested interest in keeping them hidden — it was him.
The decision to confront him had been unanimous. The approach, however, was far from it.
“Should we really just walk into his mansion and start asking questions?” Alexia asked suspiciously as we moved through the cobblestone streets.
“Do you have a better idea?” Lily retorted. “It’s not like we can just waltz up to the Knights’ barracks and demand a confession.”
“Besides,” Michael cut in smoothly, “Lord Everan already knows the Academy sent Cadets into his territory. The protocol requires us to greet him sooner or later.”
Alexia folded her arms across her chest. “And like I said before, nobles thrive on power plays. If we want him to give us clear answers, we need something on him — some kind of leverage to force his hand.”
Michael’s brow furrowed. “What exactly are you suggesting?”
Alexia shrugged casually. “We should take our time and keep investigating. And only confront him when we’ve got something concrete to use against him.”
Michael blinked, momentarily at a loss for words. “You’re suggesting we blackmail the Overlord of this region?”
Kang let out a low chuckle. “Blackmail is such a vulgar term. What my mistress means is that we find something useful to negotiate with him.”
“Yeah, aside from being ethically wrong, there’s one glaring problem with that brilliant plan,” Lily said flatly. “We don’t have time. What happens if another attack occurs while we’re busy digging for blackmail material? More people could die.”
“She’s right,” Michael agreed. “The simplest and most direct approach is to confront the Lord and figure it out from there.”
“Sure,” Alexia said with a nonchalant wave of her hand, “but don’t start crying when it turns out to be a complete waste of time.”
And just like that, they started fighting.
I wanted to join the argument too, but honestly, I wasn’t in any condition for it. My head throbbed so badly it felt like it was going to explode.
My eyes were bloodshot and in agony.
The light was too bright, every sound too loud, and everything around me just made me irritated.
Yes, I was suffering from a hangover.
As an Awakened, I was supposed to be able to handle more alcohol than any ordinary man my age. But even I had my limits.
And last night, as it turned out, I drank way too much.
Way too much.
So, groaning and grumbling under my breath, I kept walking behind my team while they kept shouting at each other.
Every word they yelled felt like an axe splitting my head in two.
I wanted to strangle them, one by one, just to get them to shut up. But since that wasn’t an option, I made a mental note to make them pay for it later.
Soon enough, something else caught my attention, pulling me away from the headache of their bickering.
As we moved deeper into the city’s heart, the streets widened, the cobblestones smoothed, and the air became a bit cleaner.
It wasn’t much different from the ramshackle outskirts we’d left behind, but it was enough to make the disparity obvious.
The buildings here stood taller, and some shops and businesses seemed out of place in a city so plagued by unrest.
The people also changed. Their clothes were finer, their postures straighter, and their expressions cooler.
These were the elites of the city — the ones who could afford to turn a blind eye to the chaos surrounding them.
Not much later, the Lord’s mansion came into view.
The estate’s towering walls of white stone gleamed in the afternoon sun, reflecting hues of gold and crimson. Its huge gates were wrought iron, the tips sharpening into vicious spikes.
The guards clad in gleaming silver armor at the entrance were statuesque. Their spears crossed as we approached.
One of them, a towering man with a jaw that looked carved from granite, stepped forward.
“You’re expected,” he said, his voice as rough as the cobblestones beneath our feet.
Michael nodded, offering a curt but polite smile, “Lead the way.”
The gates groaned open, and we stepped inside.
•••
The interior of the Overlord’s mansion was as opulent as the exterior promised.
The floors were polished marble, the walls adorned with tapestries that likely cost more than what this city could afford.
Chandeliers dripped with crystals, their light refracting into a thousand tiny rainbows that danced across the walls.
But it wasn’t the wealth that caught my attention.
It was the people.
Yeah, apparently, the Overlord had prepared a feast.
Not for us.
For one of his Knights who had successfully apprehended a group of bandits causing trouble in the region.
The moment we stepped inside the mansion, the servants brought us to the banquet hall.
And there were so many nobles here, dressed in silks and velvets, faces painted with false smiles.
There were also tables full of exotic dishes and drinks.
At the center of it all stood the man himself.
Lord Everan.
He was tall, and his presence was commanding without needing to raise his voice.
His dark hair was streaked with silver, but his eyes burned with the intensity of someone who had clawed his way to power and wasn’t about to let go.
He wore a simple black coat, its high collar giving him a regal air.
His eyes locked onto our Squad as soon as we entered the banquet hall. After a few minutes, he walked up to us.
“You all must be the Cadets sent by the Academy,” he said, his voice smooth and low, like the purr of a predator. “Welcome to my mansion.”
Michael inclined his head in greeting, keeping his expression neutral. “We appreciate the invitation, Overlord Everan. Your city is… impressive.”
Everan’s lips quirked into a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “Impressive, yes. That’s one way to put it. I really appreciate you all finding the time to help us with our little problem.”
Michael didn’t flinch, but I saw the subtle tightening of his jaw. “Except the problem isn’t little, is it? Overlord Everan, I heard the people are dying in the outskirts and the authorities are covering it up.”
Everan’s smile widened ever so slightly. “Ah, Cadet. Such boldness. I admire that. But one must tread carefully when making accusations, especially in a city one barely knows.”
Michael’s gaze didn’t waver. “I’m not making accusations. I’m stating facts. Spirit Beast attacks are happening regularly, and your Knights seem more focused on scrubbing evidence than protecting your citizens.”
The room seemed to chill, though the faint clinking of goblets and murmured conversations carried on in the background.
Everan’s gaze swept over our group, pausing briefly on each of us before settling back on Michael.
“Protection?” he said softly, almost to himself. “You think I don’t want to protect my citizens? I’ve done everything I can. But we don’t have enough Knights to patrol every corner of the city while also guarding the Portals at the same time.”
Lily interjected, “That still doesn’t explain why you’re silencing victims and covering up evidence. From what we’ve heard, your Knights are even taking the bodies of the deceased. That’s crossing the line.”
Everan’s eyes flicked to her, and for a moment, his mask slipped and he seemed frustrated. “You speak of matters you don’t understand, young one. Running a city this size is a delicate balancing act. If news of these attacks spreads, the city will descend into chaos. You know what will happen? Riots, hysteria, mass panic! Not everything is as black and white as the Academy might teach you.”
Alexia scoffed. “Delicate or not, letting Spirit Beasts roam unchecked isn’t balance — it’s negligence. No matter your excuses, Overlord, the Academy sent us to investigate, not play politics. So don’t expect us to follow your rules.”
Everan chuckled, sounding both amused and dismissive. “I’m not your enemy, Cadets. You won’t solve this city’s problems by pointing fingers. So why don’t you get to work — or is talking all you’re good at?”
Kang, who had been silent until now, tilted his head with a smirk. “No, but we’re good at finding who’s to blame. And right now, that looks like you.”
Everan’s smile vanished, replaced by an icy glare.
He stepped forward, towering over Kang, and locked eyes with him.
“Careful, boy,” he said, his voice sharp as a blade. “I don’t take kindly to baseless threats. The only reason you’re still breathing is because you’re a Cadet — and because tonight, I’m meant to celebrate my Knights’ accomplishments.”
Kang held his ground for a heartbeat before a crushing pressure crashed upon his shoulders and made him stumble.
It was Everan’s overwhelming presence that forced him to step back.
There was no doubt about it.
Lord Everan was a [B-Ranked] Awakened.
Kang looked unsettled for a moment, but the suffocating pressure receded as quickly as it had come.
No one else at the party seemed to notice.
Except for us.
Because the threat was meant only for us.
Alexia stepped forward, placing herself in front of Kang. And for the first time since I’d known her, she looked furious.
“How dare you speak like that to my Sha—” but her words cut off as she clenched her jaw, biting back whatever she was about to say.
Alexia, Lily, and I were still in disguise.
Even Michael and Kang hadn’t given their names, which was why Everan was referring to us only as ‘young ones’ or ‘Cadets.’
Everan’s frown deepened as the silence stretched.
Then, with a sneer, he broke it. “Whatever. Talk to the Knights if you must. But don’t expect anything that will make your lives easier.”
He then spun around and walked off. “Come to me when you’ve solved this problem. If all you want is to assign blame, don’t bother coming back at all.”
Michael rolled his eyes and turned to us. “Well, we got what we needed. Permission to interrogate the Knights. Listen up. Lily and Kang, you two question the locals. Alexia, Samael, and I will handle the Knights.”
“Sure,” Lily said with a nod. “But Michael, there’s a problem.”
Michael scowled. “What problem?”
Lily shifted her gaze, her voice hesitant. “It’s Samael.”
Michael’s scowl deepened. “What about Samael?”
“…He’s gone.”
Michael swept the room with his eyes, his face darkening when he realized the truth.
Sure enough, I was nowhere to be seen. I’d already slipped out of the party.