Frontier Territory, 2027.  
The youngest Federal Territory in the Veridian Federation. Official stats say fifty people went missing last year. Nobody asked questions. Nobody dug deeper. Until the whispers reached VEISD.

Lieutenant Ezra Vallen wasn’t a field officer. For seven years, he sat behind a desk, analyzing other people’s reports, writing summaries for senior officers who probably never read them. He’d accepted that fate—until Director Murni from Division Alpha threw a file onto his desk.

"Rumors in the capital. Investigate."

So Ezra went to Frontier Territory under a fake identity: Alex Tan, a freelance journalist chasing a story about “life in Veridia’s youngest Federal Territory.” But what he found was darker than anything he imagined.

A black market for slaves.  
Hidden underground.  
Protected by the territorial government itself.

And in the middle of that market, a girl named Maya was waiting to be sold. Kidnapped two months ago, dragged from her normal life into this brutal world. Her eyes still burned with defiance—but that fire was fading fast.

Ezra didn’t know Maya. His mission was intel, not rescue. But when he saw her on the auction stage, buyers laughing like she was just merchandise… he snapped.

"50 million IGE."

He bought her. Not to own her—but to save her.

Now Ezra wasn’t just a desk analyst anymore. He was a hunter. And in Frontier Territory, hunters don’t stay hunters for long. They become prey.

Territorial Administrator Razlan bin Hamid and Mayor Jamal bin Kassim had been shielding this market for over a decade. They had guards, weapons, and powerful allies across Veridia. Ezra had nothing but a folding knife, reckless courage, and a tour guide named Ben—whose father died after uncovering the same secret.

One question:  
How many are willing to die for the truth?  

One answer:  
Ezra Vallen.

Ezra spent the entire day in his hotel room, studying maps of Frontier Territory and reading old reports.


Fact 1: Frontier Territory was established in 2010 after a border agreement between the Federation of Veridia and two neighboring states (Republic of Meridian and Sultanate of Pasir).


Fact 2: Before 2010, it was known as "No Man's Land" — an ungoverned buffer zone.


Fact 3: From 2010 to 2015, it was under temporary ATV administration. In 2015, it was handed over to civilian governance.


Fact 4: The first Territorial Administrator was General (Ret.) Razlan bin Hamid — a former high-ranking ATV officer who "retired early" for undisclosed reasons.


Fact 5: Razlan remained in position for 12 years. Typically, administrators rotated every 4–5 years.


Ezra woke up. Someone was knocking softly.


A girl — maybe 19 or 20 — stood in the hallway. Long black hair, tired face, red eyes like she had been crying.


"I'm... Lina. I help my mother sell vegetables at the market. Old Man Caleb sent me."


"He said... he can't meet you tonight. Something came up." Lina bit her lip. "He told me to pass a message."


Lina looked around nervously. Then whispered, "He said... don't go to the old graveyard. They know you're coming. They've... set a trap."


"I... I don't know anything, sir." She shook her head. "I just deliver the message. I... I have to go."


She hesitated. Then, without turning, "He said... find the Old Blackridge Mine. But don't go alone. And..."


She walked away, disappearing at the end of the corridor.


Blackridge. Old mine. 2010–2015: arcane crystal mining operation. Closed in 2015. Reason: unprofitable. Location: 30 km from Blackridge town, on the slopes of Death Hill.


"Death Hill," Ezra muttered. "Charming."


Chapter 4 - Chapter4:Room 307