At the port of the Kingdom of Andorra, on a warm, early morning, several men were moving across the crime scene. One was trying to clean the area, while another gathered barrels into a designated cart. Meanwhile, a dark-skinned detective wearing a classic hat that covered most of his hair except for a few stray strands, gazed thoughtfully at the ancient imperial emblem engraved on the weapon with his brown eyes, trying to find anything that might lead him to the criminal.
"He is the new detective. Do you know him?"
"No, I have never seen him before. It seems he comes from another empire."
"Yes, yes, that is indeed how it looks. There are rumors saying so."
These rumors had emerged after the man appeared two days ago, leaving people astonished by his complexion and attire.
The detective heard them clearly, completely indifferent to what they were saying; his only concern was to fulfill his mission in the best possible way.
"Sir, we found this paper and this key."
One of the soldiers said, extending his hand to the detective, holding a piece of white paper.
He opened the paper slowly, slipped the key into his pocket, and then read the written words reflected on his circular glasses; the lines were not in the language of the Virtona Empire.
"Did you understand the message? What do we do now, sir?"
The standing soldier asked, looking at the detective's mustache and light beard, waiting for an order to execute.
The detective replied, touching the remains of the wheat on the ground:
"We will need to return to Genoa tomorrow. Have the carriages prepared for that."
In the distinguished Academy of Nobles,
Seroz was noting down what the professor was writing on a stone tablet using chalk to write a welcoming phrase in the language of the people of Kalahar.
The professor left the room, leaving a single word written:
"Arkeen."
A girl with dark brown hair approached Seroz, wearing an elegant dress that indicated her noble status. She was looking at the stone tablet with her brown eyes as she asked Seroz:
"Do you know the pronunciation of this word, Seroz?"
Seroz answered confidently, flipping through the pages of the book he was reading while eating:
"It is Arkeen."
The girl replied with a gentle smile:
"Wonderful, you pronounce the Arcavinian language perfectly."
She fell silent for a moment, then continued as she twirled a strand of her hair:
"So... do you know its meaning?"
Seroz replied as he finished what he was eating:
"That is what I am trying to find out right now."
The girl smiled and said, while letting the golden rings in her hand make a sound that annoyed Seroz:
"It means: Empire."
Seroz thought for a moment before replying, looking at the earring in her ear, which was much longer than what noblewomen of her age usually wore:
"This completes the translation of the phrase: Varnouk Arkeen Silvar."
The girl nodded in agreement, saying:
"Correct. War is the honor of the Empire."
Seroz said, his gaze never shifting from her:
"Your level is incredible for your age. Have you been training since childhood?"
The girl replied with a smile:
"I am originally from the Kingdom of Kalahar. I came on a scholarship established as part of the educational cooperation between both empires, and this academy has flourished thanks to Minister Michel, so I came here."
Seroz replied in surprise:
"From Kalahar? But those I know from Kalahar do not speak like you do."
The girl replied enthusiastically, as if she had been waiting for this question, sitting gently on the table next to Seroz's book:
"The commoners speak a simplified dialect, whereas the nobles speak the original Arcavinian."
Seroz said:
"There is one thing I want to know right now."
The girl responded quickly:
"What is it?"
Seroz asked as he closed the book:
"What is your name?"
The girl placed her hand over her mouth, saying politely:
"Oh, how rude of me, I forgot to introduce myself. I am called...
"Selena Arkan."
Seroz said as he stood up from his place:
"Miss Selena, this sitting posture does not benefit nobles."
At that exact moment, the detective entered the academy, then went to the hall where the two children were speaking.
As soon as he crossed the door, he hurried toward his daughter, saying:
"Silvar Theron?"
She replied:
"Father, I was speaking with Seroz about our mother tongue."
The detective looked at Seroz, saying:
"Seroz Brian?"
Seroz wiped the remains of food from his mouth, then said:
"Why haven't you gone home yet?"
"The guards haven't arrived yet," Seroz answered after returning to his place.
The detective replied with a smile:
"Shall I send my guards to take you?"
Seroz replied politely:
"Thank you for your generosity, sir, but I will wait for my father's soldiers. They do not come at this time anyway, and I finish my assignments at this hour so I can be at ease at home."
The detective was impressed by Seroz's response and way of thinking, then took his daughter's left hand, heading out of the hall, while Selena waved her right hand to Seroz.
When the detective and his daughter stepped outside, he heard a familiar voice he never expected to hear at this specific point in the entire empire.
Freeze was talking to his son about the nobles and asking him about his first day, looking at him:
"Look, Clark, these nobles are highly spoiled. You will surpass them, I am confident of that."
Freeze was walking down the stairs, and the first thing he saw was a little girl with wavy hair. He raised his hand, greeting her sarcastically:
"Hello to the person on the first floor. Are you in your first year, or are you still in kindergarten?"
Freeze went silent as he continued down the steps when he noticed the man standing beside the girl, and upon completing his descent, he stopped completely.
A short silence fell, until the detective spoke his name:
"Freeze Allenster."
Freeze looked at the clothes the detective wore during investigations, then said:
"Loran Arkan."
Then Freeze continued in a playful tone:
"Did you see me while I was suppressing injustice and imprisoning the oppressor?"
Loran replied with a sarcastic smile, cleaning his glasses:
"I didn't believe those words until the Emperor told me. I never expected to see someone like you in a place like this."
Freeze replied:
"The feeling is mutual. Seeing you in the Empire means the Emperor has already moved against the organization that operates in the dark. His speed in making the right decisions is terrifying..."
Loran put on his glasses while leaving Freeze to finish his speech, keeping his gaze fixed on his clothes, noticing a small, faint bloodstain.
Loran interrupted Freeze in a hurry:
"It seems... it seems you were torturing someone."
Freeze sighed and then said:
"Here we go again. You analyze things and then say something shocking as if you were with me in that place. Yes, yes, but do not worry, he is corrupt to the core. Kayden and his soldiers noticed him."
Loran asked, as if connecting things together:
"Was he... in the Kingdom of Genoa?"
Freeze looked with a mock expression of fear, then said:
"Stop it! ."
Loran laughed a laugh of surrender.
Then Freeze said:
"Why are you laughing?"
Loran replied:
"I have been appointed to discover who sits on the throne of that organization and its mastermind by the Emperor. He has already reached the first thread, and yet I am still here."
Freeze patted Loran's shoulder:
"Kayden needs you. That man was clear, and our soldiers are everywhere, but you..."
He fell silent for a moment, then continued:
"You are the one who connects events together and finds the hidden secrets, you charlatan."
Loran laughed, saying:
"I didn't expect these words from a former enemy."
Freeze replied with a smile:
"We have become on the same side now. Those words no longer hold any value."
Loran said after some thought:
"So, where is Hawk-eye?"
Freeze replied, the smile fading from his face:
"He is away on a mission outside the country."
Loran said:
"It is good to hear that he is well. That person will be a treasure to us."
Freeze laughed, pointing to himself:
"Haha, I am the one who discovered this treasure."
Loran replied, leaving the academy while holding his daughter's hand:
"True, Silvar Four."
Freeze said, waving his hand left and right to bid Loran farewell:
"Silvar Four..."
"In reality, we will need a lot of metals to forge this weapon; you must inform the Emperor of these words, Eugene."
Arthur Francis, the former king of the Kingdom of Andorra, said it.
Eugene replied, looking at the book:
"Did Maxwell know about the weapon?"
Arthur replied with sadness, his eyes looking downward:
"No... I do not know."
At that time, the messenger entered to them, wearing a hat, with an old-styled brown bag hung around his neck, saying:
"Mr. Eugene, Emperor Kayden requests your return to the palace, saying that those who work in the dark have already made their move."
Eugene looked at Arthur as he stepped away from the book, then said:
"It seems I must go. Continue researching how to manufacture this weapon and studying it. This weapon will change the world."
Arthur looked at the sky while Eugene and Luyen were leaving, saying:
"Maxwell... why did you do that, my son?"
On a dark path, Eugene walked alone after letting Luyen return to his family, until he reached a house at its end. He knocked on the wooden door slowly with his right hand.
He felt a pang of sadness when the woman with long yellow hair and beautiful green eyes opened for him. He looked at her intently as he said:
"It seems I will leave tomorrow."
Lilia replied, standing in front of the door:
"To the capital?"
Eugene sighed and then said:
"Yes. I must meet Kayden and see what he needs. There are matters in the Empire that must be arranged."
Lilia said:
"Then the matter is important."
Eugene said:
"When these matters are concluded... nothing will remain to delay our marriage."
She smiled a calm smile and said:
"Then I wish you a safe journey."
Eugene said:
"I will not be long... I hope so."
Ilya replied, holding Eugene's hand tightly:
"I hope your affairs go perfectly well."
Eugene tilted his head slightly and said:
"Thank you."
On a dark night, in a majestic palace in the Kingdom of Andorra, Adrian and his son sat eating at a luxurious table illuminated by tall candles.
Adrian was eating a plate of meat as he asked:
"Where is your mother?"
Seroz replied, slicing the meat expertly:
"Sleeping for an hour now."
The atmosphere quieted down a little, then Adrian asked again:
"So... how was your first day at the academy?"
Seroz replied:
"It was good, full of information. At the end of the day, we took lessons on the Arcavinian language, and I met a girl from the Kalahar Empire; she taught me some things as well."
Adrian smiled, cutting his second slice of meat, then said:
"A girl, you say... Is she beautiful? What is her name? These are things that must be known, my son, before you fall in love."
Seroz laughed a gentle laugh and then said:
"She is... beautiful. She spoke spontaneously and kindly, but she was wearing a lot of gold, and there were bracelets on her hand that made sounds that annoyed me."
Adrian interrupted him, as if knowing the customs of that land:
"Yes, I understand you. The women of Kalahar are famous for this matter."
Seroz completed his words:
"Her name was..."
Seroz placed his hand on his head, trying to remember, then said:
"Selena Arkan."
Adrian's eyes widened for a moment, then he spoke as if he hadn't heard her first name:
"Arkan? It seems her father is a noble from the Kalahar Empire."
Seroz finished his meal and then said:
"Yes, he knows Uncle Freeze, Clark's father."
Adrian took the plates and gave them to the servant to wash, then said:
"Knows Freeze? Loran? If he knows Freeze, then get close to that girl."
He fell silent for a moment, contemplating Seroz's features, then laughed, saying:
"She is suitable for you."
Seroz's face turned red, and he went to his room.
Meanwhile, Adrian stood on the balcony, contemplating the calm sea.
After several days, in the Kingdom of Genoa,
deep underground, the gang leader was speaking with Sheron as usual.
Sheron said:
"Sir... Mark has been exposed and kidnapped, and we do not know his location until now."
The leader crossed one leg over the other, saying with indifference:
"It does not matter. He will not speak of anything anyway."
Sheron replied tensely, strands of his hair covering his eyes as he bowed:
"The problem, my lord, is that the one who had the key..."
The leader was shocked, straightening up in his seat, and then said:
"Good news never comes from you. You always come late with your news."
He struck his hand against the edge of the chair and then said:
"Order the soldiers to burn the Boss's tavern, and burn the chest along with it."
Sheron replied:
"Your command, sir."
Above the land of Genoa, in the Boss's tavern, Detective Loran's entrance into the tavern was a surprise to everyone.
Loran sat down and ordered a drink other than wine.
Ben came eagerly, unable to run due to his weight, his eyes shocked, and then said:
"What brought the famous detective to our empire?"
Loran replied while drinking:
"An order from Emperor Kayden. But do not worry, I did not come here to stir up trouble. In fact, I came to ask you something."
Ben asked, cursing Elias in his secret thoughts:
"What does the most famous detective in the world want?"
Loran wiped the traces of the drink from his mouth and then showed him a certain symbol, saying:
"What a flatterer you are. Have there been any suspicious dealings, or has anyone made a request of you using this emblem?"
Ben kept thinking for a moment and then said:
"The old emblem of the Empire? Not really. There was only a man who gave me a chest and said that someone would come tonight with a key, and he is the only one you give the chest to. Is it you, sir?"
Loran replied quickly:
"Yes, Ben, lead the way."
Both Loran and Ben went to Ben's room. Ben revealed the chest, but before Loran could open it, Ben said:
"Four gold coins, sir."
Loran placed the coins with complete ease, then inserted the key into the chest.
Loran rejoiced upon opening the chest, but he hid that feeling from his face.
Then he found many papers, so he took the first paper to read, shocked by what he read:
"William has been killed, Joseph. Let the armies prepare to occupy Valdra and to display our strength to the world."
From the Supreme Commander, transmitted via Sh.