Chapter Twenty
Hours later, on the evening of that same day, an ordinary-looking man stood on the balcony of one of the city's inns.
Perhaps the only thing that distinguished him were his fox-like eyes. He gazed at the sky, thinking about his future.
"Should I do it? … I need deeper planning. I'm talking now about a very mysterious figure, even to me—and I've known him for years."
The man turned.
He wore only a long robe, leaving his chest and perfectly defined abdominal muscles exposed, marked with deep scars.
His gaze fell upon a black cat purring in its sleep, its tail hanging over the edge of the bed.
The man smiled, and his expression grew deeper.
He took long strides toward his bunk bed and sat on the lower level while the black cat rested on the upper one.
He sighed, clearing all plans and thoughts from his mind, beginning to sort through them.
"Anyway, I'm not much of a planner… Let me clear my head by charging my core."
That night was very quiet.
Yes, quiet… at least for the Lord of Shadow.
---
In contrast to the calm night of the Lord of Shadow, another's night was far more turbulent.
The moon was full, drifting through a sea of scattered clouds, bathing the land in shifting silver light.
There, on the farthest edge of the city, where the borders of the forest met the first Gates of Oblivion, the wind howled between weathered limestone rocks, producing an eerie whistle like the moan of wandering spirits.
At the heart of that wilderness lay a narrow valley with a small stagnant lake at its center. Its water was black as ink, reflecting the moonlight in a terrifying dance.
Around the lake stood white limestone rocks resembling skeletons, and a few ancient acacia trees whose twisted trunks and dry branches tangled together like broken hands.
Night insects filled the air with their broken rhythms, and from time to time the distant roar of a hyena or jackal could be heard.
On top of one large smooth rock overlooking the lake directly, the snake slept.
It was a massive black serpent, nearly blending with the shadows of the rock, were it not for the faint shimmer of its scales under the moonlight whenever it shifted in its sleep.
It lay coiled tightly in a spiral, its triangular head resting at the center like a guardian protecting a treasure even in slumber.
Its tongue occasionally slipped out involuntarily, trembling in the air as though tasting its dreams.
Suddenly, the silence was broken by the sound of stumbling footsteps over gravel, followed by a hoarse gasp of triumph.
"Finally… If I had taken any longer to find it, I would've had to move to plan B and head to the black market."
A man stood at the edge of the valley, sweat mixed with dust across his brow.
In his left hand he held a dim oil lantern, and in his right a thick tamarisk-wood staff.
His wide eyes stared at the sleeping serpent on the rock—not with fear, but with greedy curiosity and anticipation.
Shadows curled around him, yet his gaze was darker than the night itself.
"Finally…" he whispered again, taking a cautious step forward.
---
The night was calm, and the breeze gently brushed the leaves of the trees, carrying with it the scent of jasmine from a nearby garden.
Small tongues of flame danced inside the oil torches fixed upon iron pillars, casting their swaying shadows across the stone courtyard.
Vargas sat upon a wide wooden bench, his massive frame filling the space.
His broad shoulders rested beneath light cotton cloth, and his thick hands gently held yellowed papers.
The frown on his brow was split by torchlight each time he leaned slightly to read another line. A deep sigh left his chest before he lifted his head.
His sharp gaze swept the courtyard until it fell upon Sabed, who sat cross-legged on a bamboo couch in the corner, staring into the darkness.
"Sabed."
Vargas's voice was not loud, yet it carried a weight that cut through the rustle of the night.
Sabed sprang to his feet immediately.
"Yes, sir."
Vargas slowly folded the papers and set them beside him on the bench.
"Go and summon Ained. Tell him to come at once."
Sabed nodded and glanced for a moment at the papers, then at Vargas's face. He knew that look in his master's eyes—the look of someone about to make an unpleasant decision.
"I'll do it immediately, sir."
His footsteps echoed over the stones as he hurried out of the courtyard, disappearing into the darkness of the passage leading outside the house.
Vargas remained alone while the torches continued their dance with the wind, and the quiet breeze stirred the papers he had left beside him, as if trying to read the secrets written upon them.
---
The wait did not last long. Within a few minutes, Ained appeared at the doorway of the office.
The moment he stepped inside—before he could even open his mouth to greet him—Vargas spoke sharply:
"Do not play games, Ained. Forget that childish task of yours with the one called Karsu, and focus now on analyzing these papers."
Ained gasped, attempting as usual to object and stall, but the tone of the Supreme Captain of the Guard and head of the Intelligence Council was different this time.
Vargas was not in a mood for jokes.
Ained realized it quickly.
He nodded silently and approached the desk.
He sat in the chair opposite Vargas on the right side, while Sabed stood on the left.
Vargas cast a brief glance toward Sabed. The latter understood the signal immediately and nodded before leaving.
---
After some time had passed, Vargas quietly pushed open the door of his office and found Ained standing by the window, staring into the darkness.
"Tell me… what is your analysis of the incident?"
Ained turned slowly. His piercing eyes met the commander's for a moment, then lowered in feigned humility.
"The reports appear consistent and correct on the surface, sir."
He paused, then added in a lower voice:
"But something is wrong."
Vargas raised an eyebrow.
"What do you mean?"
"The withdrawal of three Qaz Lords after the death of the Lady of Radiance… it's unusual. Extremely unusual."
Ained stepped closer.
"Qaz Lords, sir—especially those ones—are known for their arrogance and greed. To withdraw so quickly, without trying to exploit the situation, without shouting or accusations… that is not like them."
Vargas fell silent for a moment, then said sharply:
"You're suggesting there is a gap in the incident, and that they saw something either too valuable to tell me about—or too dangerous, like a collective betrayal among them?"
Ained raised his head quickly.
"Yes, sir. I believe you should interrogate them, especially the Lord of Shadow. He is known to do anything for money.
Perhaps in that chaotic situation he reached an agreement with the Lord of Threads—perhaps even gave him something—to break apart the group."
He took a breath and continued:
"And we know the relationship between the Lord of Shadow and the Lord of Mist. Perhaps the two cooperated to allow the Lord of Threads to escape by withdrawing from the battle."
"And what about the Lord of Transparency?" Vargas interrupted.
"Perhaps, because of the Lord of Transparency's nature and his love of attention, he decided to exploit the situation and follow the Lord of Threads alone to claim all the credit for himself.
Maybe he overheard their conversation and chose to take advantage of it instead of sharing it with the others, and then pursued the Lord of Threads by himself."
Vargas nodded, listening carefully to Ained's words.
"Go on. Did you notice anything else?"
"Yes, sir." Ained said, lost in thought.
"There is a clear similarity between the killer from the previous incident—the one called Karsu—and this Lord of Threads. In my opinion, I believe they might—"
Vargas interrupted calmly:
"You are suggesting that Karsu is the same person as the Lord of Threads?"
"I didn't say that, sir."
"But you're thinking it."
Ained admitted it with a slight bow.
"I consider all possibilities. I dealt with Karsu personally. There is a strong resemblance between his behavior and that of the Lord of Threads:
the way they speak, the way they think—even that cold gaze that never blinks…"
Vargas cut him off with a thunderous voice:
"Are you a Qaz Lord or not?"
Ained fell silent.
"Did you not learn the simplest information about the Qaz?!"
Vargas stepped forward, his voice rising.
"The Rock Qaz and the Metal Thread Qaz belong to the same category—the Flexible category! It is difficult—no, impossible—for two Qaz of the same category to exist within one body.
This miracle has occurred only once, a hundred years ago, and its bearer was the wonder of the age! He was the one who opened the path for humans to live in inhabited lands."
He exhaled sharply, then continued:
"And do you think someone with such genius would commit a childish act like killing a marginal noble… for money?"
He shook his head angrily.
"We know that genius Qaz Lords—those whose essence has stabilized at the highest stages—are influenced by their Qaz far less. Their minds are steadier. Wiser."
He looked at Ained with piercing blue eyes.
"If someone like that came to me—if I learned that a Qaz Lord possessing two Qaz of the same category, both at the third level, existed in my city—I would offer him the finest care
. I would give him whatever he wanted before he even asked. Do you understand why?"
Ained did not answer.
"Because he is a treasure! A real treasure! He could allow us to overcome the other two Gray Cities.
He could—even within a few years—make us surpass the Seven Great Clans themselves!"
He stepped closer, his voice lowering slightly.
"A third-level Qaz Lord today… tomorrow becomes fourth. This is no joke.
This is wealth beyond price. And with all that—all that—you think he would resort to deceitful tricks?"
Silence followed.
A heavy silence filled the room.
Ained stood with his head lowered, his eyes fixed on the floor. He did not look at his furious commander.
When Vargas finally calmed, Ained slowly raised his head and said quietly:
"Yes… sir. You're right. I overlooked the fact that they belong to the same category."
—
But in his heart he said words that, if Vargas had heard them, would have had him flogged naked in the city square for an entire week:
"He's always calm and diplomatic with everyone! Except with me… that bastard."
—
Ained raised his voice slightly and continued:
"I didn't mean they were the same person, sir. I only meant that the similarity in their methods might indicate that they are allies, cooperating for years.
Perhaps their temperaments have merged after working together for so long."
He paused, then added:
"And if they are allies… that means there is a connection between them. Perhaps—"
—
Knock. Knock. Knock.
The sound of the door interrupted him.
The knocks were rough, urgent.
"Commander Vargas! It's Sabed!"
Ained looked at the door. Vargas looked at him.
"I have urgent news! Regarding the investigation file about the previous assassin… the Lord of Threads!"
The two men exchanged a quick glance.
"Enter!" Vargas commanded in a booming voice.