“You’re making a mistake, Elijah.” The voice echoed through the grand hall of the Thompson estate. Elijah stood before a tall, broad-shouldered man with graying hair and piercing eyes—Victor Thompson, the head of the family. The scent of burning wood filled the air from the torches lining the marble walls. Elijah’s grip on his sword tightened. “The only mistake was letting your family rule this city for so long.” Victor chuckled, leaning back in his ornate chair. “I’m offering you a choice. A truce.” He spread his hands. “You want justice? Fine. The Warden is your real enemy, not me. Help me take him down, and I’ll give you power.” His lips curled into a smirk. “You could be more than a Marshal, Elijah. You could rule.” Doug shifted beside him. “Sir, we can’t trust him.” Elijah didn’t blink. “You think I’d ever join you?” Victor sighed, shaking his head. “Shame. I was hoping you were smarter than this.” The doors burst open, and armed guards poured in. The trap was sprung

“They were waiting for us.” Doug’s voice was grim as he laid out the latest reports before Elijah. The Quinn family’s forces had been tightening their grip, reinforcing key positions throughout the region. Unlike the Thompsons, who relied on fear, the Quinns controlled everything through wealth, influence, and alliances within the military. Elijah studied the maps. “They’ve planned for this moment. They knew someone would come for them eventually.” Lando leaned back against the wooden table, arms crossed. “And they have enough power to crush anyone who tries.” Sophia frowned. “Then what do we do? We can’t fight an entire army.” Doug nodded. “A direct assault would be suicide, Marshal.” Elijah remained silent for a moment. He knew they had come too far to stop now, but this wasn’t a simple fight. The Quinns weren’t like the other families. Their control ran deeper. Even if Elijah wiped out their warriors, their political ties would ensure someone else took their place. La

“The Quinns are moving!” Doug’s voice was sharp as he rushed into the command tent. “Scouts spotted their forces heading straight for us. They’re coming in full strength.” Elijah stood from the table, his jaw tightening. “How long do we have?” “An hour at best,” Doug said. “They’re fast.” Lando let out a low whistle. “They don’t waste time. They must’ve figured out Sophia’s deception faster than we thought.” Elijah glanced at the map spread out on the table. “We hold them at the eastern ridge. It’s narrow, and they won’t be able to send their whole army through at once.” Doug nodded. “Yes, sir. I’ll get the men ready.” Before he could leave, a messenger ran inside, panting. “Marshal! There’s someone outside the camp. Says he wants to talk.” Elijah exchanged a look with Doug. “Who?” The messenger hesitated. “It’s… The Warden.” Silence fell over the tent. Lando let out a short laugh. “Well, this just got interesting.” Elijah’s expression darkened. “Bring him in.” M

"Marshal, it's over," Doug said, his voice low but firm, as he stood beside Elijah, looking out at the chaos unfolding before them.Elijah’s eyes scanned the battlefield, his expression unreadable. The Quinns, once a powerful and dangerous family, now lay in ruins. Their stronghold had crumbled, and their forces had been defeated. The last of their leaders had been captured, and the resistance against Elijah’s army had come to an end.“It doesn’t feel over,” Elijah muttered, his voice heavy with something more than just the weight of victory. His hand rested on the hilt of his sword, but he made no move to unsheathe it. It was as if the battle had drained him of more than just his energy.Doug turned to him, concern flickering in his eyes. “You’ve won, Marshal. The Quinns are finished. They won’t threaten us anymore.”Elijah remained silent, his gaze still fixed on the ruins. He could hear the shouts of victory from his soldiers, the sounds of men cheering as they cleaned up the remna

“Sir, we’ve got a problem,” Doug said, his voice tense as he approached Elijah. “Something’s wrong.”Elijah’s gaze shifted from the map spread out on the table to Doug, his expression already darkening. “What is it, Doug?”“There’s been a breach. A leak,” Doug said, his eyes narrowing with suspicion. “Someone’s been feeding information to the Warden. They knew our plans, our movements.”Elijah’s heart sank. He had always trusted the men and women under his command, but now, doubt crept in like a shadow. “Who?” he asked, his voice tight with anger.“I don’t know yet,” Doug replied, his voice steady. “But we’re working on it. We’ll find out who’s behind this.”Elijah clenched his fists. “They betrayed us. They’ve been working for him all along.”Doug nodded grimly. “Yes, Sir. The Warden knew exactly when to strike. It’s too perfect.”The sound of heavy footsteps echoed through the camp, and Elijah’s attention shifted. Sophia appeared, her face pale and her eyes wide with worry. “Elijah,