Nerar returned with a smile on his face for the first time in days, piloting a semi-automatic "Crystal Vehicle" whose silver paint shimmered under the dim light of the City of Silence. The vehicle emitted a low, steady hum, the result of raw crystals reacting within its engine.
Nerar (leaping from the driver's seat):
"Friends, this beauty will turn a week's march into a two-day journey! She cost me a fortune, but she's twice as fast as any Royal Guard transport."
Ortinus (examining the vehicle with admiration):
"Fine work, Nerar. We need every second now."
Miron (looking into the distance, his features clouded by a troubling mystery):
"We must head to the 'Palace of Silence.' His last words to me were as clear as day, despite the fog in my mind back then. Ajax told me with an eerie coldness: 'If you want the truth, Miron, find me at the Palace of Silence... I am always there, waiting for those with the courage to truly see.'"
Pecos (clutching a wrap of prime meat bought with their new funds):
"Palace of Silence? What a bleak name. But, since we've eaten well and shared a few laughs in this city, I'm ready to face any silence! Darius, are you riding shotgun or are you going to keep counting your crystal shards?"
Darius (with a playful laugh as he hops inside):
"I'm riding next to you, Pecos—just to make sure you don't eat my share of the rations on the way! Father, are you ready for this mad trek?"
Old Nikos (smiling calmly):
"As long as you hold your bow steady and don't run out of jokes, I am fine, my son."
The vehicle roared to life, cutting through the unknown. But while the companions shared their tales...
Ajax, disguised as General Cassio, stood with dignified poise before High Commander Rakion. He wore his official military uniform, adorned with medals, his eyes gleaming with a sharp and terrifying intelligence.
Rakion (slamming the table in a fit of rage):
"The Insurrection Council is gaining momentum in the Northern Provinces, Cassio! They are plotting to destabilize the government. I want their heads before the month is out!"
Ajax (in a calm, reassuring voice that dripped with venom):
"Lord Commander, excessive force creates martyrs, and martyrs strengthen resolve. My plan is more surgical; I have planted spies in the deepest layers of their council. We don't just know their steps; we are the ones directing them. I will make them believe they are on the verge of victory, then I shall spring the trap from where they least expect."
Rakion (with a satisfied grin):
"You are a mastermind, Cassio. If not for you, I would have burned those provinces to the ground. Proceed with your plan."
Meanwhile, Antoine stood among his men, his face flushed with fury as he gripped a leaked secret letter.
Antoine (screaming):
"He betrayed us! Ajax! He's dealing with Midon—he is General Cassio himself! All the blood spilled was for nothing! Prepare yourselves; tonight, we assassinate the traitor in his own lair!"
Antoine's squad moved swiftly toward the hideout where they believed Ajax was located. They breached the doors with weapons drawn, but found nothing... only a heavy silence and a strange scent of sulfur.
Antoine (whispering in horror): "Fall back! It's a trap!"
Before he could finish, the entire place erupted. Booby-trapped crystals and chemical charges shattered the walls, incinerating everyone inside. Amidst the smoke and rubble, Antoine crawled out, his body scorched and his face bleeding, only to see a polished military boot standing before him.
Antoine raised his head with great effort to see Ajax standing elegantly, surrounded by darkness like a shroud.
Ajax (in a cold, mockingly disappointed tone):
"Tsk, tsk, tsk... poor Antoine. You were always far too emotional. Did you truly think you could surprise the man who taught you how to hold your sword?"
Antoine (coughing up blood):
"Why...? We trusted you... You were our hope..."
Ajax (leaning down to eye level, whispering with a horrific smile):
"Hope? How naive. Humanity doesn't need the truth; they need 'false hope' to keep them moving. I gave you that hope so you could be puppets in my grand play. You aren't revolutionaries; you are merely tools to clear my path to the top. I used your rebellion to prove to Rakion that I am the only one capable of stopping it. In doing so, I got exactly what I wanted."
Antoine (in a fading voice): "You... are a monster..."
Ajax (slowly drawing his blade):
"No, I am a realist. And now, I shall 'officially' end your life as General Cassio, the man who thwarted a treacherous assassination attempt. Farewell, Antoine... your role was entertaining."
With one swift strike, Ajax executed Antoine in cold blood. He wiped his blade with a silk handkerchief, then turned to his soldiers emerging from the shadows.
Ajax (coldly):
"Clean up this filth. Tomorrow, we announce a 'Great Victory' for the state against the saboteurs."