Only a few days after King Nalvon's visit to Kazien's mansion, an unprecedented political storm struck the heart of the kingdom. Not a thunderstorm or a gale, but a storm of law sweeping away the "filth" that had long hidden behind the nobles' cloak of luxury.
That morning, the sky above the capital of the Kingdom of Garveon looked bright, yet the atmosphere on the streets felt gripping. The birds that usually chirped noisily on the rooftops seemed reluctant to make a sound, sensing the tension creeping into every corner of the capital.
The news exploded like gunpowder ignited by fire.
In the squares, markets, guilds, and taverns across the capital, everyone was talking about one name: Samuel Eldebrands. The Minister of Finance, long known to be slippery and untouchable, now had his announcement as a high-level state prisoner displayed on notice boards in several corners of the capital.
His list of crimes was clearly written by royal officials, making all the capital's residents shudder yet cheer in their hearts.
Embezzlement of state funds, forgery of permit documents, extortion of small merchants, to heavy cases like kidnapping village girls to be sold as slaves and the premeditated murder of his political rivals. All his crimes were revealed without a trace left hidden.
However, Samuel Eldebrands was merely the tip of the iceberg that had already melted. Once the ice melted, it revealed the rocks hidden behind it for a very long time. And that is what happened next.
The arrests spread immediately like a plague. Anyone who had ever accepted bribes from Samuel Eldebrands, anyone involved in his kidnapping or murder plots, or anyone involved in his dark business network, was dragged one by one from their luxurious residences. No negotiations, no bail. The royal special forces moved with terrifying efficiency, breaking down the doors of corrupt nobles' mansions in the dead of night and broad daylight.
The impact was not only felt among high officials but also struck the pillars of the kingdom's future: The Royal Magic Academy.
That morning at the academy, the teaching and learning atmosphere turned into total chaos. The sound of iron boots echoing in the usually quiet stone corridors. Dozens of royal soldiers in full uniform, accompanied by six royal mages, stormed into the classrooms, shattering the students' concentration.
"By the direct order of His Majesty King Nalvon!" shouted a captain of the soldiers in the center of the main hall, his voice thundering.
One by one, student names were called. These were no ordinary students. They were the children of the nobles entangled in the Samuel Eldebrands case. Not only that, but new evidence also revealed their involvement in cases of sadistic bullying, misuse of forbidden magic, and threats against scholarship students until they withdrew.
And their charges were akin to treason against the kingdom, for hindering the Kingdom of Garveon's development process in education and magic. And the punishment for traitors to the kingdom is the death penalty, regardless of their age or social status.
Almost 40% of the total noble student population at the academy were herded out. Arrogant faces that usually looked down on others were now pale, filled with fear and tears. Their screams of protest: "Do you know who my parents are?!" were answered coldly by the soldiers: "Yes, we know! Your parents are waiting in the underground prison, awaiting execution."
The academy was in an uproar. This was the largest mass arrest in the history of the educational institution. Corridors once filled with the mocking laughter of bullies were now silent, leaving behind scholarship students and clean nobles staring at the scene with a mix of shock and immense relief.
This wave of "The Great Purge" did not stop in the capital. Like ripples spreading in water, the arrest orders spread to all regions of the Kingdom of Garveon without exception.
From the northern regions to the south, all nobles who felt themselves kings in their own territories and abused their power were rounded up. The royal prisons were packed. The people witnessed with their own eyes how the law was finally enforced indiscriminately.
It was as if King Nalvon was conducting a total reform. He was cutting the rotting flesh from the kingdom's body to save the rest. In everyone's eyes, "This is not just law enforcement. This is a stern warning to anyone who still dares to play with power. That in Garveon Kingdom, there is no longer a place for rats dressed in luxury."
In a corner of the academy cafeteria, which was now much emptier, Kazien sat with his three fiancés and Erica. The five of them never expected King Nalvon to move so quickly to exterminate all corrupt nobles after that meeting.
"This... this is crazy." muttered Allen, disbelieving what had just happened. "Almost half the noble class is empty today. I didn't think His Majesty would act this extremely."
"Not just extreme, but effective." chimed in Alvin casually. "His Majesty is truly conducting a 'mass cleansing' in this kingdom."
Arken looked at Kazien, who was enjoying his drink relaxedly. "My Huby, are you surprised?"
Kazien put down his glass, then smiled thinly. "Honestly, I am a bit surprised by the scale. I didn't think His Majesty would move this fast and this fiercely. But..." Kazien leaned back in his chair relaxedly. "To me, this is a very significant help. Imagine if I had to deal with those trash one by one like when I destroyed the Delfilian family. That would be very tiring and a waste of my time."
"You're right, My Dear." agreed Alvin. "At least now the academy will be a more worthy place to study."
However, behind that relief, one big question hung in the minds of all Garveon Kighdom's people, from farmers in the fields to merchants in the market. They all felt confused and curious.
'Who is the figure behind the scenes capable of moving the King? Arresting nearly half the kingdom's nobles was a massive political risk, a risk that could trigger a civil war if not calculated carefully.'
'Who gave such courage or pressure to the King?'
In taverns, people whispered, speculating about a mysterious advisor or foreign power that might be involved. Yet, no one knew the answer. That secret was locked tight within the palace walls.
Only a handful of people knew the truth. They knew that behind the King's sudden action, there was the shadow of a silvery-white-haired boy holding the invisible reins. A boy whose name was not written in the official history of this purge, but whose influence was felt in every strike of the royal judge's gavel.
And that silvery-white-haired boy was now sitting relaxedly in the academy cafeteria, finishing his drink while joking with his three fiancés and a younger sister, as if he were just an ordinary student who knew nothing about the storm he had just created.