Sardias leaned back in his chair, his arms crossed.

“What about the conjured creatures? Are they tied to Distantias, or is there another player at work here?”

“That’s unclear,” Machivel admitted.

“While Distantias is our most obvious suspect, we must not rule out the possibility that another faction is attempting to sow chaos or test their capabilities.

The Frost Elves, the Dark Father’s followers, even the Sylind Family—they all have motives to disrupt the ship’s balance.”

Suntuzel looked pensive, then asked, “Do we have any information on the beasts themselves? Are they remnants of old magic, or are they uniquely conjured for this purpose?”

“Based on reports,” Machivel said,

“They seem to be freshly conjured, which points to a deliberate act. These creatures weren’t left here accidentally. They were summoned, likely with a specific purpose in mind.”

Redel, who had been silent until now, spoke up.

“If they’re conjured, that means they have a source—a mage or group of mages powering their existence. Could they be using a room like the practice room to summon these creatures undetected?”

Sylas’s eyes narrowed slightly. “It’s a strong possibility,” he said.

Sylas then added.

"But, I think whoever conjuring a creature to harm the ship itself for creating distraction would not be one of the big organizations."

He then continued.

“The practice room is one of the few places on this ship where mages can use their powers without triggering alarms. If someone is exploiting that space, Big Organization would not use the spell-casting chance they have to just harm the ship itself.

Gran grinned.

“I’ll take a team and investigate. If someone’s conjuring beasts to wreak havoc, they won’t get far once we’re on their trail.”

“Not so fast,” Sylas said, holding up a hand.

“We can’t afford to act recklessly. If we alert the wrong people or move too quickly, we risk exposing ourselves and losing the element of surprise.”

Machivel nodded in agreement.

“For now, we focus on gathering intelligence. Brofli’s findings have given us a head start, but we need more. Sardias, ensure that your mages remain discreet as they monitor the practice room. Suntuzel, coordinate with Gran to strengthen internal security.”

“What about Distantias?”

Sardias asked.

“Do we retaliate or do we wait?”

Sylas’s gaze hardened.

“We wait. For now, our focus is on defense and information. If we move against Distantias without concrete proof, we’ll make ourselves targets for every faction aboard this ship."

"At the same time, the small crime organization like Distantias showed having no problem with us, so there is no need to attack or have a problem with them right now.”

The room was silent again, but this time it was a silence of understanding. Each person nodded; their resolve strengthened.

Sylas stood, his presence commanding attention.

"This voyage is not just a test of strength but a battle of wits and patience. Trust in your roles and in each other. Together, we will not just survive—we will dominate.”

If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

-

Gareth leaned forward, his elbows resting on the table, his hands clasped together. His piercing gaze locked onto the young man’s, and he spoke with deliberate precision.

“Let’s not waste each other’s time. Did you kill Ferlo using a magic spell?”

The young man smirked faintly, shaking his head.

“Me? Magic? That’s a joke, right? I can’t even light a match properly, let alone cast a spell. You’ve got the wrong guy.”

Gareth’s lips curled into a small, knowing smile.

He reached into his bag and pulled out a folder, placing it on the table between them with a soft thought.

“You’ve got a sharp tongue; I’ll give you that,” Gareth said. “But humor won’t get you out of this. Before

"Ferlo was killed; we detected magic in the area—three to five minutes prior, to be precise. It wasn’t powerful, just subtle enough to avoid major alarms, but detectable nonetheless. Want to try explaining that?”

The young man’s smirk faltered, his eyes briefly glancing at the folder.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I was nowhere near there. Like I said, you’ve got the wrong guy.”

Gareth flipped open the folder, pulling out a report and sliding it across the table.

“Witnesses saw you near the area where Ferlo was killed. You were spotted loitering just minutes before the incident. And let me remind you.”

Gareth leaned in closer.

“Your organization had an argument with Ferlo and his people a mere three hours before he died. Coincidence? I think not.”

The young man shifted in his chair, his expression hardening.

“Arguments don’t equal murder. I didn’t like the guy, sure, but that doesn’t mean I killed him. Besides, you don’t have proof. This is all circumstantial.”

Gareth chuckled, the sound cold and sharp.

“Circumstantial, you say? Funny, because that’s what guilty people usually fall back on.

Let me paint a picture for you.” He pointed at the report.

“A magic spell was cast, subtle but deadly. Ferlo dies mysteriously."

"You’re seen in the vicinity. And you, a man who just had a heated dispute with him, claim it’s all a big misunderstanding?”

The young man crossed his arms, his face a mask of defiance.

“This ship has thousands of people. Anyone could’ve cast that spell."

"Why are you so sure it’s me?”

Gareth’s smile widened, his patience seemingly infinite.

“Because I was there,” he said, his tone darkening.

“I was the one who broke up your organization little altercation with Ferlo and his people. I saw the way you looked at Ferlo—the anger in your eyes. Don’t act like I didn’t notice. You had a motive, and now Ferlo’s dead. Care to explain that?”

The young man’s jaw tightened, but he said nothing.

Gareth sighed theatrically, leaning back in his chair. “Silent now, are we? That’s fine. Silence often speaks louder than words.”

The young man finally broke his silence, his voice steady but low. “I’d like a fair trial.”

Gareth burst into laughter, the sound echoing off the bare walls.

“A fair trial? Oh, that’s rich. You know, I was expecting you to ask for something like that. But let me tell you how this works. On this ship, justice isn’t about fairness—it’s about facts. And right now, the facts aren’t looking too good for you. I am saying it, Linfer Distantias.”

The young man maintained his composure, though his hands clenched into fists on the table. The fact that he is a Distantias makes everything hard for him.

“You don’t have enough to convict me. This is nothing but a witch hunt.”

Gareth leaned forward again, his voice dropping to a near whisper.

“You think I need a confession to get what I want? No, no, no. I already have enough to make your life very difficult. What I’m offering you is a chance to explain yourself, to tell me the truth.

"Help yourself, or let the circumstances do the talking for you.”

The young man’s eyes flickered with something—fear, frustration, or both.

He opened his mouth, hesitated, then shut it again.

Gareth observed him closely, his smile gone now, replaced by a cold expression.

“You see, I’ve been doing this for a long time. People think they’re smart, that they can outwit the system, outwit me. But let me tell you something—there’s always a crack, a slip, a detail they miss.”

“I didn’t do it,” the young man said finally, his voice quieter now but still firm.

“Then who did?” Gareth asked, his tone almost gentle.

“I don’t know,” the young man replied.

Gareth’s eyes narrowed, his patience wearing thin. He stood, leaning his hands on the table.

“Let me make this clear. If you didn’t cast that spell, then you’d better start talking about who did. Because right now, you’re the only one with a motive, an opportunity, and witnesses placing you at the scene.”

The young man stared at the table, his breathing shallow.

He seemed to be weighing his options, the silence stretching between them.

“You’ve got nothing,” he muttered, barely audible.

Gareth straightened, shaking his head.

“Wrong. I’ve got everything I need. And unless you start cooperating, this room is going to be the last friendly place you see for a very long time.”