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Chapter 77
Marcus stood beside the archive’s open cabinet while Rowan’s men searched the rooms for a second exit.The intruder had escaped through the rear of the building. Two soldiers had followed him toward the canal, but the narrow streets offered too many places to disappear. By the time they reached the water, the man and his satchel were gone.“Search the nearby warehouses,” Rowan ordered when his men returned. “Check the boats and speak to anyone who was working along the canal. Don’t make arrests without a reason.”The soldiers departed in pairs.Lord Stephan remained near the basement stairs, reading the notes they had recovered. His expression grew more severe with each page.“They knew this place was being investigated,” he said.“They may have been watching it before we arrived,” Marcus replied. “The repairs, the new locks, the register being removed. Someone has been preparing for us.”“Or preparing for whoever came before us.” Stephan folded the paper. “We still don’t know whether
Chapter 76
The archive team returned shortly after noon with the name of the property's last registered owner.Lord Edric Vale had purchased the land twenty-three years earlier, six years before the current king took the throne. He had served in the royal research office but resigned after a dispute over restricted mana experiments. Three years later, he died without a recorded heir.The property had remained in his estate until the crown transferred it to a private holding company. That company had dissolved twelve years ago.“Who owns it now?” Marcus asked.“The registry lists no current owner,” Stephan replied. “The building was marked for demolition, but there is no record that the work was completed.”“Where is it?”“Near the eastern district, beyond the old canal. The archive team found a maintenance report from four years ago. Someone repaired the roof and replaced the locks.”Marcus glanced at Rowan. “Who requested the repairs?”“The report names a contractor, but the payment came from a
Chapter 75
Marcus returned to the council room after the physician allowed him to leave the infirmary.The pain in his side had settled, though each deep breath reminded him that the wound was not ready for another fight. He kept his movements measured and took the chair nearest the table rather than stand through the briefing.Rowan had spread the copied report beside the notes recovered from the scarred man's walking stick. Oren stood at the opposite end, examining a diagram with a magnifying lens. Stephan was speaking with two officials from the royal archives.“Have you found anything about the title?” Marcus asked.“One possible reference,” Stephan replied. “The royal archives contain a register of restricted projects from before the current council was formed. Most entries concern military research, defensive structures, or experiments involving mana cores. One section was removed from the register.”“Removed by whom?”“The record says the section was transferred to a separate archive unde
Chapter 74
The crossbowman's finger tightened around the trigger.Marcus moved before he fired.He threw himself sideways, knocking the edge of the table into the second man's legs. The bolt struck the wall where his chest had been. Wood splintered beside his shoulder, and pain pulled sharply at the wound along his side.He ignored it and drove his dagger toward the crossbowman's wrist.The man twisted away. Marcus caught his sleeve instead, dragged him forward, and struck him across the face with his forearm. The crossbow clattered to the floor.The second attacker recovered his balance and swung a short sword.Marcus ducked beneath the strike. His injured thigh protested when he pivoted, slowing him just enough for the blade to catch his coat. He retreated around the table, keeping the furniture between them.“Alive,” the swordsman ordered. “We were told to bring him back alive.”Marcus recognized the significance of the command. They needed him for the same reason the records had repeatedly i
Chapter 73
Stephan rejected Marcus's suggestion of going to the old tollhouse alone before Marcus had finished explaining what he intended to do.“No,” Stephan said. “We don't know who that man works for, whether the tollhouse is watched, or why he wants you there before sunrise.”“He has information about the original report.”“He claims to have information. He also knew enough about our investigation to arrange a meeting at the western gate. That makes him a potential source, not someone we should trust.”Marcus leaned against the edge of the desk. His side hurt whenever he stood for too long, and the walk back from the western district had aggravated it.“If we wait until the city wakes up, he'll disappear.”“Then we make sure we reach the tollhouse before he does.”Stephan spread a map across the desk. The old tollhouse stood beyond the western wall, near a disused road that had once carried supplies to the military grounds. The route passed through open land before narrowing between two low
Chapter 72
Marcus refused to leave the palace without a plan.The letter had given them until midnight, but that did not mean the sender controlled the schedule. If the western gate was being watched, approaching it openly would expose their movements. If the message was intended to draw Marcus away from the king, leaving without securing the infirmary would give the conspirators another opportunity.He told Stephan as much when they met in the guard commander's office.“We need to know whether the courier came from inside the city,” Marcus said. “And we need to find out if anyone has been moving through the western gate under a false identity.”“Rowan is checking the gate records. The guards have also started questioning the night watch.”“What about the king?”“Orven says his condition is holding. The irregular readings haven't stopped, but they haven't worsened since the last examination.”Marcus nodded. It was not good news, but at least the king was not deteriorating while they argued over
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