The Imperial Reaction and the News Reaching the Capital
Deep in the sewers, among the ruins of the criminal organization, everything slowly fell silent.
The trickling of water, the faint crackle of torches, the bodies of the fallen mercenaries… all signaled that the battle was over.
Andras and Vanessa stood over the unconscious body of the imperial high councillor, Lord Arcturus Veldran.
The man was still alive — but he would not enjoy freedom for much longer.
Vanessa slowly removed her mask.
In the moonlight, Andras saw her real face for the first time:
young,
beautiful,
angry,
and determined.
Her eyes were red from crying, but her gaze was steel‑hard.
"This man… destroyed my family," she said quietly. "He killed my father. And he nearly started a war between the guilds."
Andras nodded.
"And now he will stand before the Emperor."
Vanessa looked up at him.
"The Emperor… will he really believe it? Against a high councillor?"
Andras pulled out the parchment he had taken from the official's pocket.
"This seal… this is the proof. And the Emperor does not tolerate treason."
Vanessa nodded slowly.
"Then let's send it. Now."
Sending the Evidence – The Imperial Courier
After leaving the sewers, the two masked figures retreated into an abandoned warehouse by the harbor.
Andras summoned from his ring a magical sealing box — a small crystal glowing blue, capable of sending long‑distance messages to the capital.
Vanessa stared in shock.
"This… is a magical communication device?"
"Yes. We use it in the Kingdom," Andras replied. "The Empire doesn't know about it yet."
Vanessa smiled.
"Then we have the advantage."
Andras held the parchment over the crystal.
The crystal scanned the document with a beam of light, then glowed brightly for a moment.
"The message is on its way," he said. "The Emperor will receive it within an hour."
Vanessa took a deep breath.
"And then… it will be over."
Andras nodded.
"It will."
The Imperial Palace – The Message Arrives
In the Emperor's palace, the torches burned even at night.
Two elite guards stood before the throne room when the air suddenly vibrated.
The magical crystal's message materialized before the throne.
The Emperor — a tall, grey‑haired man with a cold gaze — slowly picked up the parchment.
As he read it, his face darkened.
"Veldran… a traitor," he said quietly.
His voice was like ice.
The guards tensed.
"Bring him to me. Now. Alive."
The guards bowed.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The Emperor crushed the parchment in his hand.
"Whoever betrays the Empire… deserves death."
Back to the City – Andras and Vanessa on the Surface
Leaving the sewers, the city was quiet.
Moonlight illuminated the two masked figures.
Vanessa slowly put her mask back on.
"So… what now?"
Andras smiled.
"Now we wait. The Emperor will act."
Vanessa stepped closer.
"And… you? Going back to the inn?"
"Yes. My team will be worried."
Vanessa nodded.
"Then… we meet tomorrow?"
Andras hesitated for a moment.
"Tomorrow. At the city gate."
Vanessa smiled.
"Then… good night, Wolfwood."
"Good night, Raven."
The woman vanished among the rooftops, moving so lightly it was as if the wind carried her.
Andras headed back toward Wolf Lodge.
The city's night was quiet.
But in the background, politics, revenge, and justice were already in motion.
And this was only the beginning.
Andras Returns to Wolf Lodge
The city was deep asleep when Young Wolf stepped out of the harbor alley.
The stench of the sewers faded behind him, replaced by cool, clean night air.
Moonlight shimmered on the cobblestones, and for the first time that day, the city looked peaceful after all the chaos.
But Andras knew:
this peace was only the surface.
Beneath it, politics, revenge, and justice were already moving.
The Black Raven — Vanessa Dolermo — had vanished across the rooftops like a shadow.
Andras walked alone toward Wolf Lodge.
The Quiet of the Inn – The Moment Before the Storm
The door of Wolf Lodge creaked softly as he entered.
The inn was dim, only a few candles burning.
The daytime bustle had been replaced by silence and slow, steady breathing.
In the common room:
Ironclaw was curled up beside the couch, snoring softly.
Noelle slept in an armchair, a romantic book half‑slipped from her hand.
Ersi sat beside her, head resting on Noelle's shoulder, both sleeping peacefully.
Andrea and Eris lay on the other couch, tangled together, Andrea's arm resting around Eris's waist, while Eris — even in her new armor — slept like a cat.
Anita sat leaning against the wall, arms crossed, but her head had fallen forward — she had dozed off despite trying to stay awake.
Andras stopped in the doorway.
"This… is my team. My family. The chaos I brought with me… and yet they're still here."
He quietly closed the door.
The Team Wakes – And Reacts
Ironclaw was the first to sense him.
The wolf‑girl lifted her head, ears twitching, then jumped up.
"Master!" she whispered, careful not to wake the others. "You're here! I thought you fell asleep somewhere, and then I would've had to eat the leftover dinner…"
Andras laughed softly.
"I'm glad you missed me too."
At the sound, Noelle woke up.
The book slipped from her lap and fell to the floor.
"Young Wolf…? You're home?" she asked sleepily, then saw his face. "What happened to you? You look exhausted."
Ersi also lifted her head.
"What happened?! Were you attacked?! Did someone set something on fire?! Did you set something on fire?!"
"I didn't set anything on fire," Andras sighed.
Andrea and Eris woke as well.
Andrea sat up immediately.
"Young Wolf! Report! What happened at the bathhouse?"
Anita jerked awake too, rubbing her eyes grumpily.
"If someone died, I told you we should've sent a bodyguard."
Andras took a deep breath.
"The head of the Dolermo family was killed. A chameleon beast assassin. And behind the criminal organization… stood an imperial high councillor."
The room fell silent.
Then everyone spoke at once:
"What?!" — Noelle
"An imperial official?!" — Andrea
"They killed one of the leaders…" — Eris
"This is war!" — Anita
"Master, that sounds really bad…" — Ironclaw
"And you went there alone?!" — Ersi
Andras raised his hand.
"Calm down. I sent the evidence to the Emperor. The high councillor will be arrested. We dismantled the criminal organization."
Andrea slowly nodded.
"So… you solved it."
"Not alone," Andras said. "I had help."
Eris's head snapped up.
"Who?"
Andras smiled.
"A masked vigilante. The city's secret protector. The Black Raven."
Ersi's eyes sparkled.
"Romantic! A mysterious woman helping you at night!"
Noelle began to smile too.
"It's just like in the books…"
Anita snorted.
"Great. Another woman hovering around Young Wolf."
Andrea looked aside, a hint of jealousy in her voice.
"And… is she pretty?"
Andras shrugged.
"I didn't see her face. She wore a mask."
"I'm lying. But better to keep this to myself for now."
The Team's Reaction – And the Next Step
Andrea stood up.
"Young Wolf. The city is unstable now. The guild leaders are grieving. The political situation is fragile. What do you plan to do?"
Andras took a deep breath.
"Tomorrow I'm meeting the Black Raven. We'll continue the investigation. There are still threads that need cutting."
Eris lifted her head.
"I'm coming too!"
"No," Andras said firmly. "This isn't the Hero's task. This… is personal."
Vanessa's father was dead.
The city was in danger.
And Andras knew:
this fight had to be carried out by the two of them.
Noelle slowly stood and took Andras's arm.
"Please… be careful."
Ersi stepped beside her.
"And if something happens… call me. Fire will always be there."
Andrea nodded.
"The knights of the Wolfwood House stand behind you."
Anita sighed.
"And so do I. Even if I don't like it."
Ironclaw jumped onto Andras's leg.
"I'm coming too! I want to bite someone!"
Andras laughed.
"Now we rest. Tomorrow is a new day."
The team slowly drifted back to sleep.
Fireburp hadn't even woken up at all.
The candlelight cast a peaceful glow across the inn.
And Andras knew:
tomorrow, a new chapter would begin.
With the Black Raven.
With the city's dark secrets.
And perhaps… something more.