While fear and tension spread across every corner of the Normadia Empire, everyone was waiting for any strange clue that might lead them to the mysterious assassin who had begun targeting the most powerful figures of the empire.
Amid this chaos, three figures secretly infiltrated the Kingdom of Salimar from the Kingdom of Sindaril.
They were not ordinary spies.
Each of them belonged to the elite Abyss Spirit level, masters of concealment whose presence was nearly impossible to detect. Their skills were so refined that not a single guard noticed them entering the kingdom.
However… one man sensed something unusual.
A commander from the Veradis family, a warrior who had reached the Body of Ruin level, was quietly observing the surroundings when he suddenly noticed a subtle disturbance in the wind.
His eyes narrowed.
"This… isn't natural."
He immediately realized that highly skilled individuals had passed through the area. Yet their abilities were so refined that he could barely sense their presence.
Fear crept into his heart.
If they discovered that he had noticed them… his life would be over.
So instead of confronting them, he chose to watch from a distance.
Carefully following their movements, he witnessed something that shocked him.
The three figures entered the Novera family's palace.
Unable to understand what was happening, he quickly retreated and rushed back to the Veradis family estate.
There, he reported everything to Serin, the Lady of the Veradis family.
She listened calmly, her expression unreadable.
"I will handle this," she said.
Without wasting a moment, Serin went directly to the palace of the King of Salimar.
The moment the king heard the report, his anger exploded.
His furious shout echoed throughout the palace.
"First the betrayal of Trido James, and now the Novera family as well?!"
But the situation was worse than he thought.
The news spread rapidly among the noble families, as their spies were everywhere.
Realizing that confronting the Novera family alone would be dangerous, the king decided to personally inform the Emperor of Normadia.
However…
Before he could reach the imperial palace—
He was assassinated.
The killer…
was the same unknown murderer who had been terrorizing the empire.
The news shook the foundations of the Normadia Empire.
Killing a king as powerful as the King of Salimar was no small matter.
The information spread rapidly across kingdoms all over the world.
As for the Emperor, his fury became terrifying.
While he was dealing with the crisis, one of his guards arrived carrying a sealed letter.
It was from the Court of Silence.
The emperor opened the message and read it slowly.
He was ordered to travel to Fidoria Island and explain the recent massacres that had taken place within his empire.
Without delay, the emperor departed for Fidoria.
The island served as the headquarters of the Union of the Eighteen Kingdoms, an alliance founded by the Court of Silence to maintain balance across the world.
When the emperor entered the council chamber, the members were already waiting.
The leader of the union, known as Archipel, looked at him coldly.
"It seems the Emperor of Normadia can no longer control his own empire."
The emperor replied calmly,
"What is happening is beyond my will. But I am doing everything possible to find those responsible."
He then requested another chance.
After a moment of silence, Archipel responded,
"You have one month."
His voice turned firm.
"If you fail to capture the criminals responsible for this chaos, the World Guardians will be sent to Normadia."
After the meeting, the emperor immediately returned to his palace.
Not long after, someone knocked on his door.
At first, he refused to see anyone, but the guards insisted that the matter was urgent.
The door opened.
Serin, Lady of the Veradis family, entered the chamber.
She bowed respectfully before speaking.
"Your Majesty… I know what the King of Salimar was coming to tell you."
The emperor looked at her sharply.
She explained everything she had learned about the Novera family.
The emperor slowly stood from his throne.
"Novera… so it is them."
Immediately, he issued new orders.
"Place the Novera family under surveillance… and investigate their connection with King Sindaril."
Not long after, an intelligence officer rushed into the room carrying several documents.
"Your Majesty… we discovered large financial transfers."
He placed the papers before the emperor.
"The money was transferred from the Kingdom of Sindaril… to the Novera family."
The emperor's eyes burned with anger.
"Send the imperial guards," he ordered.
"Bring everyone from the Novera palace."
Soon, the imperial forces surrounded the estate.
Standing at the palace gate was James Novera.
He stood proudly, a sinister smile on his face.
Looking at the soldiers, he laughed mockingly.
"So the emperor sends this trash to capture me?"
James Novera commanded a group of ruthless assassins and killers from various power levels.
Suddenly, one of his guards stepped forward.
With a single motion of his hand—
A violent wind burst forth.
The imperial soldiers were torn apart instantly, their bodies shredded like meat.
James turned to his men.
"Leave. All of you."
His followers quickly escaped.
Only a few remained behind.
His son Henry…
and his grandchildren Arsui and Clowie, the siblings of Tenibras.
After a brief conversation with his father, Henry took his children and left the palace.
James Novera remained alone.
He slowly sat upon his throne… looking at it one last time.
Meanwhile, imperial forces stormed the palace of King Sindaril.
But to their surprise, there was no resistance.
The king himself welcomed them calmly.
One of the commanders stepped forward.
"By order of the emperor… you are under arrest."
King Sindaril simply smiled.
"If this is the emperor's command… then I will obey the law."
Without resistance, he surrendered.
Soon after, he was escorted directly to the palace of the Emperor of Normadia.