Rufas waited until the room’s tension thinned enough for everyone to breathe again, then closed the leather folder in front of him with a soft, decisive snap. The sound carried weight. It was the signal that the discussion had reached its end.

  “With that,” Rufas announced, rising from his chair in one fluid motion, “this meeting is officially concluded.”

  The words shifted the atmosphere immediately. Varik exhaled slowly, as if he’d been holding his breath for half the session. Kaela leaned back and crossed her legs, looking far too pleased with the idea that chaos had been successfully avoided, mostly. Maurien stood up with quiet composure, still alert. Ludger didn’t move at first, eyes fixed on Eldric like he was engraving every detail of the young noble’s face into his memory.

  Rufas lifted a hand, continuing in a calm but authoritative tone.

  “Until this investigation is resolved, neither party is permitted to leave the capital. This includes all representatives present.”

  Eldric stiffened, clearly thrown off. His mouth opened, but Rufas smoothly continued before he could interrupt.

  “In addition,” Rufas said, turning his gaze directly to him, “given what we’ve discussed today, House Roderick should demonstrate goodwill and good faith. Would your house be willing to release the detained Lionsguard members into supervised custody while the investigation proceeds?”

  Eldric froze. For a brief moment, the room went completely silent. Then, as he instinctively glanced toward Ludger, he flinched. Ludger’s glare hadn’t softened in the slightest. It remained cold, sharp, and heavy, an unspoken promise that the alternative to cooperation would be painful and very immediate.

  Eldric swallowed and forced a slow, controlled exhale. “…Very well. We can release them into temporary custody. Under monitoring.”

  Rufas gave an approving nod. “That is acceptable.”

  He then turned to Ludger, his expression easing only slightly.

  “And Ludger do you agree to remain within the capital until the investigation concludes?”

  Ludger finally stood, steady despite the fury simmering beneath his calm exterior.

  “Yes,” he said simply. “If my guild members walk out of that prison today, I’ll stay as long as needed.”

  The answer wasn’t polite, nor was it wrapped in courtesy. But it was solid. It was the truth. And Rufas accepted it with a firm nod.

  “Then we have an understanding.”

  The guards opened the doors, letting light pour into the chamber. Eldric rose stiffly, jaw tight, unable to hide how off-balance he felt. Varik looked relieved, exhausted, even. Kaela sighed dramatically, disappointed the meeting hadn’t erupted into a brawl. Maurien scanned every corner of the hallway before stepping out.

  Ludger didn’t look at Rufas. He didn’t spare Varik a glance either. His eyes stayed glued to Eldric. Because the formalities were done. The Lionsguard members would be released.

  And now that the official part was settled… Ludger could focus on the real problem: finding the people behind House Roderick’s schemes, and tearing their whole operation apart from the inside out.

  The group made their way back through the capital streets, slipping past lantern-lit avenues and overworked patrols until the familiar gates of the Torvares estate came into view. The moment they stepped inside, a weight lifted, not gone, but dulled. The estate wasn’t home, but it was safe enough to breathe.

  They gathered in one of the quiet sitting rooms near the eastern wing, a place where Viola usually handled overflow work when she visited the capital. Today, the room felt heavier than usual. The tension wasn’t sharp anymore, but it sat on everyone’s shoulders like a cloak they couldn’t remove.

  Ludger stood by the window, staring at the city lights while rolling mana slowly through his fingers to keep his thoughts from spiraling. His anger had eased, mostly, but anyone who knew him could tell something still coiled behind his calm. His eyes had that distant look he got whenever he started imagining how to cause the exact amount of chaos necessary to force people into honesty.

  Viola watched him for a moment before speaking.

  “Unexpectedly,” she said, settling into a chair, “it seems Rufas wasn’t supporting Eldric at all. If anything, he was dissecting their claims more aggressively than we were.”

  Maurien nodded, arms crossed. Kaela lounged on a sofa, flipping a knife between her fingers.

  Viola continued, “Either Rufas has his own suspicions about House Roderick’s recent , behavior, or he’s planning something else.” Her gaze narrowed slightly. “Perhaps he wants to weaken the Senate by undercutting the families manipulating it. He’s an imperialist his whole family is. Strengthening the Emperor’s direct influence would benefit him.” Ludger finally turned from the window.

  “So he wasn’t helping us,” he said quietly. “He was helping the Empire.”

  Viola nodded. “Exactly. And the Empire benefits if the Senate stops being a puppet for one particular noble house or a group of people.”

  Kaela snorted. “Makes sense. Rufas doesn’t seem like the type to tolerate snakes playing politics in his territory unless he’s the one holding their leashes.”

  Maurien added, “He also didn’t like how fast Eldric answered certain questions. That much was obvious.”

  Ludger leaned back against the wall, arms crossed. “He’s dangerous. Smart. Patient. The type who plays clean only because it’s more effective for him.”

  Viola smirked faintly. “Which is why we should be careful. Just because he’s on the opposing side of Eldric doesn’t mean he’s on ours. Right now, our goals happen to align.”

  Kaela pointed her knife lazily at Ludger. “And you should stop glaring holes through people, boss. Eldric nearly lost a year of his life from fear alone.”

  Ludger didn’t deny it. “Good.”

  Viola exhaled with a tired smile. “Just… don’t explode anyone until your squad gets here.”

  Ludger didn’t promise that either, but he let himself relax a fraction. Because as long as his people were walking back through that door tonight… he could save the chaos for later.

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  Kaela flicked her gaze around the room, as if suddenly noticing an empty space where someone should have been. She sat up a little straighter and frowned.

  “…Where’s Luna?” she asked, scanning the doorway as though the woman might materialize out of the shadows at any moment.

  Viola didn’t look surprised by the question. She set aside the parchment she’d been pretending to read and answered calmly, though her tone carried a faint edge of concern.

  “She left early this morning,” Viola said. “Before sunrise. She’s monitoring House Roderick.”

  Kaela raised a brow. “Alone?”

  “She insisted,” Viola replied. “She doesn’t believe they’ll do anything too stupid until the investigation is over, but she wanted eyes on them just in case.”

  Kaela twirled the dagger strapped to her thigh, metal glinting under the dim lamplight. “And what if they do something the moment the investigation ends? What then? Should we start calling in our allies? Prepare a counterstrike? Maybe dust off some of Ludger’s ‘creative solutions’?”

  Ludger didn’t respond, but the slight tightening of his jaw was answer enough.

  Maurien crossed his arms, watching Viola carefully. He knew the political weight of the question Kaela had just thrown into the room. It wasn’t just about readiness. It was about escalation.

  Viola fell silent. Not the thoughtful kind of silence. The heavy, calculating kind. It stretched for several long seconds before she finally exhaled and looked up at the group.

  “…No,” she said quietly. “Making big moves right now would draw too much attention. It would make the Lionsguard look guilty. Worse, reckless. And that’s exactly the narrative House Roderick would love to spread.”

  She leaned back in her chair, running a hand through her hair.

  “If we mobilize allies, even discreetly, someone will notice. And once the Senate or the Guard catches the scent of aggressive positioning, they’ll assume we’re preparing for a confrontation. That would be disastrous for our reputation, and yours especially, Ludger.”

  Kaela clicked her tongue in frustration. “So we just wait?”

  Viola nodded reluctantly. “We wait. As much as I hate it. Until the investigation concludes, any sudden movement could make things worse.”

  Ludger didn’t speak. He didn’t argue. He didn’t suggest boulders or tunnels or “accidental” building collapses. But the cold, coiled look in his eyes said everything he didn’t voice aloud.

  Waiting didn’t mean doing nothing. Waiting meant preparing quietly, strategically, and choosing the perfect moment to strike back.

  It wasn’t long before hurried footsteps echoed through the estate’s front hall. A soft knock followed, measured, formal, unmistakably Varik’s.

  Viola stood to open the door, and the moment it swung inward, five familiar figures stepped into the warm light of the foyer.

  Derrin.

  Mira.

  Taron.

  Rhea.

  Callen.

  They looked exhausted, dark circles under their eyes, clothes slightly wrinkled, posture stiff from confinement, but none of them were injured. Relief washed over the room like a quiet breeze.

  Varik offered a small bow to Viola. “As promised. Released into your custody.”

  The squad members turned immediately toward Ludger.

  “Vice Guildmaster!” Taron said first, dipping his head. “Thank you for acting so quickly.”

  “We’re really sorry,” Mira added. “We… didn’t even realize the book was planted until the guards were already searching us.”

  Rhea clenched her fists, frustration simmering. “We combed through everything again and again, but the schematics were there. We couldn’t even tell where they hid it.”

  Callen looked guilty, though he hadn’t done anything wrong at all. “We failed you. If we’d been more careful,”

  Ludger held up a hand, stopping the apologies immediately.

  “Forget about it,” he said, voice steady. “That wasn’t your fault. Someone planted that book to have an excuse to take you.”

  The squad stared at him, surprised, but visibly relieved. Kaela, who had been lounging in the corner, suddenly bounced to her feet with a grin far too mischievous for the situation.

  “You should’ve seen him,” she said loudly, pointing at Ludger. “He was ready to unleash absolute hell on the entire capital. I swear, if they hadn’t released you, he would’ve dropped the Senate building into its own basement.”

  The squad blinked in shock. Maurien sighed. Viola closed her eyes briefly. Even Varik pinched the bridge of his nose.

  Ludger narrowed his eyes at Kaela. “Don’t exaggerate.”

  But the damage was done. Derrin’s eyebrows shot up. Mira covered her mouth to hide a smile. Rhea looked like she wanted to laugh but wasn’t sure if she was allowed. Taron’s eyes went round as coins. Callen glanced at Ludger with a mix of admiration, confusion, and mild fear.

  Kaela leaned in conspiratorially toward the recruits. “Exagerate? Oh no, that was the tame version.”

  Ludger groaned quietly and rubbed his temples.

  Still… Watching his recruits smile again, seeing the relief in their eyes, hearing the laughter breaking the tension, He didn’t mind Kaela’s theatrics quite as much this time. His people were safe. And that was all that mattered.

  Ludger waited until the squad’s relief finally settled into something calmer, shoulders lowering, breath evening out, tension bleeding from their expressions. Then he straightened, the familiar firmness sliding back into his voice.

  “Get some rest,” he told them. “All of you.”

  They nodded immediately, no argument, no hesitation.

  “There’s still work to do,” he continued. “And for the next few days, you’ll need to stay inside the estate. No wandering off, no sneaking out, no talking to anyone from outside unless Viola or I say so.”

  Rhea winced. “House arrest… got it.”

  “Think of it as a vacation,” Kaela chimed in.

  Derrin muttered, “Prison was quieter…”

  Kaela threw him a glare that promised violence.

  Maurien stepped in before the banter turned into another skirmish. “You’re safe here. Let the others handle the rest.”

  Ludger nodded once. “Exactly. Leave everything else to us.”

  At that, some of the estate servants stepped forward and guided the exhausted recruits toward the guest rooms. The group bowed once more before leaving, each one visibly relieved to finally be someplace warm and quiet instead of a cold cell. When the last of them disappeared down the corridor, Viola turned to Ludger.

  “What now?” she asked. “We can’t move openly until the investigation ends. So how do you want to proceed?”

  Ludger exhaled, a slow, controlled breath, but there was a trace of something else in his eyes. Not fear of the Senate. Not worry about the Imperial Guard. Something far more personal… and somehow much more dangerous.

  “I just hope,” Ludger said, rubbing the back of his neck, “that the investigation finishes before my family hears about any of this.”

  Maurien blinked. “You’re worried about your parents?”

  Ludger’s expression tightened. “I’m worried about my mother showing up in the capital.”

  Kaela snorted. “What, afraid she’ll scold you?”

  “No,” Ludger said flatly. “I’m afraid she’ll level the Senate.”

  Kaela whistled. “And you were ready to turn half the capital into rubble.”

  Ludger groaned softly and leaned back against the wall.

  “I can handle the Senate. I can handle the Rodericks. I can even handle the Imperial Guard.”

  He pinched the bridge of his nose.

  “But I cannot handle my mother storming into the capital.”

  Viola laughed under her breath. Maurien only nodded like he deeply, deeply understood.

  And Kaela? She grinned.

  “Well then,” she said, stretching her arms, “let’s hurry up and solve this before Luds Mama brings the apocalypse.”

  For once, Ludger didn’t argue.

  Because the terrifying part was, she absolutely would.