POV:Argus

"I see," I murmured, gazing at the mesmerizing azure crystal sphere nestled in my palm. With my mana flowing into it, I closed my eyes, feeling the energy merge.

Suddenly, Casimir's voice echoed in my mind, distorted by the mana receptor. "Sooo, yeah, we've neutralized the enemy troops and managed to reclaim the Arminaria Fortress before it was destroyed completely."

Glancing at the map on the wall to my right, I inquired about the fate of the enemy magic user. "The Mag, what about him?"

"Well, uhh... he's probably dead by now," Casimir replied in a rather foolish tone.

I arched an eyebrow, my skepticism evident as I questioned his uncertain reply. "You mean to tell me you didn't even bother to confirm his demise?" I inquired, my voice tinged with slight tint of growing irritation.

"There was no need," he responded nonchalantly, his tone lacking any concern. I could almost picture that dumb expression on his empty excuse of a head. "He either drowned or bled out by now, and even if he by some stroke of dumb luck managed to survive, he'll be crippled for life."

I let out a sigh of frustration.

"Fine, but what about his magical abilities? What powers did he possess?" I asked, genuinely curious.

"Most likely fire magic, possibly explosion... though I can't say for certain wich one," he paused briefly before continuing. "Honestly, he was weak. His mana reserves were average, and his use of magic was basic. "

"I understand, I'll dispatch a construction team and additional soldiers to the fortress. You'll stay there and keep watch to ensure the Siriath Empire doesn't attempt anything suspicious," I informed him confidently.

"Got it, Boss. Oh, by the way, we're running low on medical supplies... There were more injured soldiers than I anticipated," Casimir mentioned with a chuckle.

"Understood, I'll send medical supplies and a team of medics along with the soldiers... Anything else you need?"

"No, that should cover it... I'll be ending the call now, Commander," he interrupted the connection to the mana receptors, concluding the report.

With that settled at Arminaria Fortress, I'll inform Rainham to handle the situation by sending supplies and troops to Arminaria... I have to attend to the reports that Sir Abel sent me.

'Screech'

"Rainham? I was about to call yo-!!!?" Something was not right.... I could feel it as all my instincts were screaming at me as my heart raced.. I sensed danger lurking in the shadows. Reacting swiftly, I leaped out of my seat, drawing the short sword that hung on the wall to my left. Just in the nick of time, I barely deflected a dagger aimed at my neck managing to avoid death.

My mysterious assailant, a figure concealed beneath a dark cloak, relentlessly attacked srrike after strike towards my neck and vitals organ each attack aimed ti guarantee my death, but I skillfully parried each strike, keeping him at bay.

Becoming more aggressive by the moment it was clear he realized he didn't have much time before my guards would be here and any chance of killing me would be turned null.

Growing desperate, he channeled his mana into powerful thrust towards my heart. With a quick pivot to the right, I narrowly evaded the blade.

Channeling my mana, I concentrated it into my left fist and delivered a powerful punch to his solar plexus, sending him crashing into the wall.

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Just as he was about to recover, a black blur streaked past me and collided with the assassin, delivering a devastating blow to his head. It was Rainham.

"My deepest apologies, sir... It seems a rat has infiltrated your office." His voice remained calm and composed, although his expression betrayed his tension. His muscles were taut, and veins threatened to burst on his neck as he glared at the assassin with pure hatred.

"Sir, this old man has failed to protect you adequately. Please allow me to handle this and accept a suitable punishment afterwards."

I let out a sigh.

"There's no need for punishments, Rainham. I'm perfectly fine, and my assailant is unconscious." I already knew that for him, the shame and anger he felt over the fact that an assassin breached my office was punishment enough.

"But si-"

"I said there's no need, Rainham!" I raised my voice at him

He looked down at the floor, his figure shrinking. "My apologies."

"No need for apologies, Rainham. Take care of our guest and send someone to clean up this mess... I need to speak with you later."

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.

.

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"Understood" Rainham swiftly exited the room, leaving me and my esteemed visitor alone in the interrogation chamber as he attended to the task of dispatching supplies and reinforcements to Arminaria. The room was dimly lit and sparsely furnished, with only a chair holding my captive and a table displaying an array of tools that I hoped would remain untouched.

As I removed the cloak from the assassin, a middle-aged woman with a petite frame and unremarkable appearance was revealed, her long black hair neatly tied up in a bun. I grabbed a glass of ice-cold water and poured it over her, causing her to gasp in shock.

As she regained consciousness, the woman frantically struggled against her restraints, her eyes darting around the room in a state of panic.

Feeling a tinge of amusement at her futile attempts to escape, I decided to break the ice and initiate the conversation myself... although I highly doubted she would be too talkative.

"Well... Look who's finally awake. My dear guest," I remarked, a smirk playing on my lips. Her eyes locked onto mine, a look of pure malice and fear etched across her face.

"Before we proceed any further, allow me to introduce myself," I continued, not bothering to hide my sarcasm. "I am Argus vi Harmonia, the third prince of Rhukadev and the Supreme Commander of the Alliance Army."

The woman seemed to have composed herself, her expression now blank and devoid of any emotion. It was as if she had retreated into a shell, refusing to reveal anything.

"Now, my dear guest, it's only fair that you introduce yourself," I said, expecting a response. However, she remained unresponsive, not even bothering to acknowledge my presence anymore... almost as she was in a daze.

"I see... So, this is how you wish to play," I muttered under my breath. Without hesitation, I reached for a knife on the table and swiftly plunged it into her thigh. A sharp gasp escaped her lips as pain coursed through her, but still, she refused to utter a single word.

Observing her defiance, I twisted the blade inside her thigh, scraping against the bone.

Her body convulsed in agony,

"Please... I beg you... stop," she pleaded, her voice trembling with fear.

Ah, finally, a crack in her armor. I leaned in closer.

"Now, now, my dear guest, it seems you've found your voice. How delightful."

I swiftly removed the knife from her thigh, causing her to wince in pain once again. However, she seemed to regain her composure remarkably quickly.

"Now, my dear, may I have the pleasure of knowing your name?" I inquired, noticing her hesitation. It was as if she contemplated not answering my questions. But her composure shattered when she caught sight of me twirling the knife around my fingers.

"Marian... Marian of Vanes," she replied, her voice cracking.

"...Marian of Vanes, how delightful. Now, if you don't mind me asking, why would someone from such a distant place be here, especially near the Skyforge Mountains? I doubt you came here for a picnic and apreciating the scenery.... Perhaps I should have Rainham investigate you. Who knows what he might uncover," I suggested, maintaining a practiced smile on my face.

Her expression turned to one of shock, her eyes desperately scanning the room for an escape route.

"Now, dear Marian, please do answer me. Who sent you?" I pressed, but she ignored me and resumed her futile attempts to free herself from the restraints. Observing this, I simply stabbed her other thigh with the knife and twisted it.

She let out a piercing scream of pain. "I... I..." she struggled to speak, but I twisted the knife once more. "Aaaugh!"

"Now, Marian, if you answer me truthfully, it will all end quickly without any further harm," I assured her. But before she could reveal anything, her eyes rolled back into her head, and she began to choke.

Confusion washed over me as I took a few steps back, watching in horror as a dark sludge emerged from her throat, covering her mouth. She went limp.... She was dead.

'Tck' I clicked my tongue in frustration. "What a waste of time."

"Guards!" I called out to the soldiers who stood ready outside the interrogation chambers.

The doors swung open, revealing three men clad in dark plate armor and green cloth

"SIR!"

"Clean up the mess and trow away the trash, i will be going back to my office" i stated to the guards and made my way out of the interrogation chabers