As night descended upon Iskar City, a deceptive calm veiled the impending massacres unfolding within its shadows. Within one of the grand mansions, appearing serene at a glance, a closer inspection revealed an unsettling stillness.

Lifeless bodies of guards, servants, and knights lay strewn across the premises, while ominous silhouettes stealthily navigated the mansion's corridors.

In the opulent main bedroom, an elderly man lay in a deep slumber, flanked by three young women. The tranquillity of the room masked a chilling reality.

Abruptly, the elderly man awoke to a frigid sensation on his skin – a cold metal pressed against his throat. Panic gripped him as he confronted a dark figure, only the piercing eyes visible above a raised sword.

"...!!" A scream died in the old man's throat as the blade swiftly severed through his thick neck, unleashing a torrent of blood that stained the surroundings.

The three young women, awakened by the gruesome spectacle, found themselves surrounded by crimson horror as the room emptied, leaving behind the lifeless form of the old man.

"Ahhhhhh!!!" The horrified screams echoed, marking the beginning of a night plunged into darkness.

As screams reverberated through the affluent streets of Iskar city, chaos unfolded in various mansions. The scene was not confined to a single dwelling; rather, it unfolded across multiple estates within a few short hours.

Simultaneously, in one of the city's largest storage facilities, a scene akin to the mansions played out, with dozens of guards lying lifeless on the ground.

Inside the facility, Fray and Adam stood on a platform, overseeing a coordinated effort by hundreds of villagers from Eldrom lands. They toiled together, swiftly transporting bags and boxes of crops and farm products towards a massive portal at the facility's centre.

Fray turned to Adam and asked. "This is just the first storage facility. We still have another four. Are you sure you can keep up?"

Adam's gaze remained focused as he responded, "Yes, don't worry. Although I'm not as strong as I once was, I'm not that weak. Plus, with all the villagers pitching in, I'm confident we won't take long."

. . .

In another expansive facility on the opposite side of the portal, under the watchful eye of Anass, Elisa stood alongside him, observing the villagers efficiently transporting goods through the portals.

Anass, his excitement tinged with worry, turned to Elisa. "Elisa, are you sure of this?"

"Don't worry, Anass. I will send knights I trust to help you protect the facility if they decide to attack it," Elisa reassured calmly.

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

Anass expressed a deeper concern, "I'm not talking about that. Oliver isn't stupid enough to attack the city storage. But he won't sit without a reaction. What will you do if he decides to take the problem to the Family head or the international court? I don't think he'll find it difficult to prove your massacre."

Elisa, confident in her stance, responded, "No, Oliver isn't that kind of person. He prefers to deal with his problems with force. I'm sure he will want to take his revenge with his own hands."

Anass, sceptical, questioned further, "You talk like that's better. Even you don't have a chance against Oliver if he decides to attack you with all his power. Are you sure Fray will make a difference?"

Elisa held her ground, "Yes since he took Oliver seriously, I'm confident Fray will defeat him." She continued to watch the villagers below, her confidence unwavering.

While Anass fell into contemplative silence, pondering Elisa's trust in Fray, Elisa harboured her own concerns. (Yes, he will win, but I'm not sure what cost will come with it.) Her eyes betrayed a hint of uncertainty.

. . .

The dawn in Iskar city brought about unprecedented upheavals, shocking its citizens. Overnight, numerous mansions were found soaked in blood, their inhabitants mysteriously slain in gruesome manners. Simultaneously, storage facilities controlling the city's food resources were laid bare.

Citywide rumours proliferated, attributing the chaos either to the head of the Dalma family or criminal activities extending beyond the city limits. Yet, what captivated the citizens most was the abrupt affordability of goods, crops, and food resources. Prices plummeted, and abundant quantities made once-unattainable necessities accessible to all.

A prevailing notion took hold, suggesting that Rafael Dalma, their perceived saviour and the solitary benevolent member of the Dalma family, might be responsible for the events. However, these were merely rumours, and the truth behind the previous night's occurrences remained unconfirmed, disclosed only to a select few.

In the opulent room, Oliver unleashed a crushing aura, obliterating everything around him. With a vehement shout, he declared, "Those bastards!! I will kill them both!"

Liam, fueled by equal anger, vowed, "Fray that bastard! Don't worry Oliver; I'll take care of him now. I'll make him beg for death," advancing toward the door.

Jared, maintaining composure, positioned himself in Liam's path, stating, "Hold on. This isn't the right time."

"Jared, move! Do you want us to stay silent? Do you want us to become a joke for everyone?" Liam retorted, his anger unabated.

Acknowledging the difficulty of reasoning with Liam, Jared turned to Oliver, who, for the first time in a while, had lost his usual calmness. "Oliver, we can't act hastily. We just lost a third of our power. Rafael might be stronger than us now, and we know nothing about Fray's abilities, or how he killed hundreds of knights and guards in just one night. Attacking blindly could cost us even more. Even if we win, facing Rafael afterwards would be impossible," Jared explained.

Oliver, still seething with anger, clenched his hands, his eyes burning red. "Liam, stop, we will go talk to Elisa first," he commanded.

Jared sighed softly as he observed the infuriated Oliver, thinking, (This is the first time in a long while that I've seen him like this. Fray, you've truly exceeded my expectations. Not only do you know how to strike the right place at the right time, but you execute it flawlessly without leaving a trace. Even I underestimated you.)

. . .

Rafael sat with Erma and a new addition, a girl with an air of mystery about her. As they discussed the recent turmoil, the girl, Livia inquired, "So who do you think did this?"

"I'm not really sure. The ability to kill so many people and move massive quantities of goods in just a few hours at night, not many possess such capabilities," Erma added, her expression pensive.

Rafael, his expression tinged with sadness, remarked, "Despite the positive impact on the food in the city, I can't help but feel for those who lost their lives yesterday."

"You're too kind, Rafael. All those people were corrupt, contributing to the city's troubles," Livia calmly stated. "Moreover, Oliver's significant power loss brings us one step closer to the throne."

" Maybe you're right," Rafael his expression sincere said.

. . .

Seated across from Elisa at her desk, Oliver's calm eyes hid the simmering rage beneath. In a cold voice, he remarked, "It was a nice trick you pulled with Fray."

Elisa remained silent, her expression unwavering as she met Oliver's gaze.

"That kid has crossed the line. Regardless of the cost, I will kill him. This is your chance to choose your side," Oliver continued, leaning in. "Stay with Fray, and I'll send him the video of what you did that day. You'll become an enemy to both of us. Alternatively, join me, and I'll handle him."

Oliver, having stated his ultimatum, rose from his seat. "Think about your decision carefully. After the next opening of the Old Continent, I will use all my power to come for you."

Oliver exited the room with Jared in tow. While Elisa, her expression calm, turned her gaze to the window. The tree outside rustled its branches.

"..." Elisa

. . . . . . . . . . .