The Tarnished, bearers of a returned divine mandate, outwardly represent the supreme Golden Order Dynasty and the revered Two Fingers.
Even when Godrick uses the Tarnished for grafting, he keeps it in the shadows, not daring to expose it openly.
The Tarnished he recruits often go missing. Even Nepheli's squad is aware of it.
To say the two had nothing to do with each other, Nolan wouldn't believe it in the slightest.
As these clues began to intertwine and confirm one another, suspicion took root in people's minds.
And once that seed took hold, it was not easily uprooted.
On top of that, Nolan's strong reputation made people more inclined to trust his words.
As for Godrick, he had no way to prove his innocence.
How could he explain those vanished Tarnished?
If anyone chose to investigate, everything would ultimately point back to him.
The only way to "prove" his innocence and uphold his dignity as a Lord was to kill Nolan, the one spreading these claims.
Several fast-riding horses sped toward Stormveil Castle, carrying two pieces of news that sent Godrick's emotions swinging wildly.
One filled him with delight.
The other drove him into a fury.
Limgrave had already fallen into complete chaos.
Some armies disbanded, some surrendered, others continued advancing.
The Tarnished, once feared by all, now clustered together in panic, avoiding Godrick's lands whenever possible.
Rumors spread everywhere like drifting snow.
Some claimed Miro Fortress had fallen. Others said Stormveil had become a graveyard for the Tarnished.
There were even reports that Miro Fortress was reorganizing its forces, preparing to march against the Golden Descendants who had defied the Greater Will.
With so many conflicting reports, it was nearly impossible to tell truth from fiction.
Godrick was delighted that the rebel leader had been struck from behind, but furious that Nolan had exposed his secrets.
Serving the Golden King was the highest honor.
Yet this ignorant and lowly Tarnished dared to reject it.
As Godrick hesitated between yielding and asserting his authority as a Lord, several mysterious figures suddenly appeared in the already pacified northern lands.
They emerged silently on the vast grasslands south of the Morton family's domain.
A Tarnished collapsed onto the grass, his body covered in countless fine cuts, as though he had endured brutal torture.
He clawed frantically at his own flesh, as if countless ants were crawling over him, biting and gnawing.
The agony lasted several seconds.
Then, with a sharp, desperate scream, his blood-soaked body convulsed violently before going completely still.
"Another attempt… failed?"
Standing nearby, watching with cold detachment, was a tall, slender figure.
He wore a gray-white cloak and a white mask that completely concealed his face.
Gloves covered his hands as well, sealing him from head to toe, leaving only a pair of eyes visible.
Eyes filled with madness.
"Varré, how are things?"
A tall figure emerged slowly from the blood pooling across the ground, hands clasped behind his back.
The white-masked man immediately turned to face him and bowed with practiced elegance.
"Honorable Lord Ansbach, Leonor is dead. The one who killed him was indeed Nolan Bethel."
"Is that so? So it was the Golden Needle Knight. How unexpected… that he would return as well."
Ansbach let out a quiet sigh.
There was no anger in his voice, only a trace of reflection and faint regret.
"A knight of Miquella has become a Tarnished seeking the throne. Should we spread this news?"
"What would that achieve? It's just a title. Would the Two Fingers even care? They don't care about the Golden Order."
Ansbach shook his head lightly, his tone calm and measured.
"Besides, don't forget, he knows we exist. The Dynasty has even more reason to stay hidden than he does."
"Since it involves that one, we should consult Lord Mohg before deciding anything. We can't act on our own."
"Let's go."
"Yes."
Varré inclined his head slightly, then sank into the blood along with Ansbach.
...
Far away, inside Count Luke's castle.
Nolan sat upright in a spacious, well-lit study, steadily processing reports coming in from all directions.
Alicia stood quietly at his side, efficiently helping him handle the pile of tedious administrative work.
Over the past few days, news of Godrick's mobilization had already reached Nolan.
The Tarnished, upon hearing it, grew increasingly fired up, their emotions surging.
Capturing Miro Fortress carried enormous significance. With it under their control, they finally had the strength to face Godrick's army head-on.
"Finish repairing the walls as soon as possible. And send all the gathered Tarnished to Vyke and Nepheli."
Nolan scanned the documents on his desk. Orders flowed out of this room every single day.
Some people ignored those "rumors." Others chose to believe them. Those who believed were already making their way here.
The Tarnished were little more than a scattered rabble, but under the shared threat of Godrick, they had begun to show some unity.
Quite a few soldiers wanted to slip away, but even more chose to stay.
After all, many had witnessed that disaster-like scene with their own eyes. Nolan single-handedly slaughtering Count Luke's knights had left a deep impression.
As for the Golden Descendant, though his reputation was grand, the stories surrounding him were underwhelming.
"It won't be easy for Godrick to take us."
Melina appeared in the room out of thin air, dressed in a maid's outfit, holding a stack of parchment.
"This place is tiny. If he just keeps it under siege, even an idiot could win."
Nolan paused, then looked at her. A faint hint of approval flickered in his eyes before he nodded.
It suits her well.
As partners, he had already shown his value. Naturally, Melina had to do the same.
Even if she really were a block of wood, Nolan would find a way to warm her up.
If not, he would just go argue the matter with Marika.
Her daughter. If she doesn't take responsibility, who will?
"But he doesn't have the time."
Melina pursed her lips slightly, already seeing through his attempt to lead her into a trap.
If she followed his line of thought, he would definitely tease her again, calling her something like "adorably slow."
But she wasn't the same Melina as before.
With a quick turn of thought, she understood why Godrick was rushing his advance.
That coward was aiming for a quick battle, then running straight back into his shell.