The Sovereign System.

Luke had intended to discuss several matters with Kayson, particularly Pierce's presence among the assassins, but uncertainty loomed—another attack could be imminent. With no time to waste, he chose to break camp and make haste back to Clayton City.

The journey was long and grueling, worsened by the relentless throbbing in his thigh where he'd been stabbed. Each jolt of his horse sent fresh waves of agony through him, but he grit his teeth and pressed on. There was no other choice—the sooner they reached the city, the safer they would be.

Several times along the way, nausea threatened to overtake him, yet he forced himself to remain in the saddle. His persistence eventually paid off when, at last, Clayton City's towering walls came into view. Relief washed over him at the sight.

Half an hour later, they arrived at the city gates—only to be met by armed guards.

"Halt! State your purpose," one of them commanded, gripping his spear. Above, the twang of drawn bowstrings echoed as archers took aim at their small group.

Luke, too exhausted to respond, let Kayson take the lead. The latter quickly dismounted and stepped forward, explaining their situation. After a brief exchange among the guards, the heavy gates groaned open, granting them passage.

Despite his own pain, Luke couldn't ignore the deep frown etched across Kayson's face. Something was troubling him. Mustering what little strength he had, Luke asked, "What is it, brother?"

Kayson, who had remained largely silent throughout their journey, now looked visibly tense.

"The guards said no messages have been received since our departure nearly two weeks ago," he murmured, voice tight with concern.

"What?!" Luke's hushed exclamation barely concealed his shock. Hayden had sent multiple messengers and pigeons to keep the City Lord informed of their campaign's progress. Yet none had arrived? Something wasn't adding up.

"We need to go to my estate and inform my father immediately," Kayson said, his expression firm.

Luke nodded. Kayson was right—despite his exhaustion, they needed to act before the City Lord made any rash decisions.

"Brian, return to the Academy and inform the two Masters of everything that has transpired. Leave nothing out."

Brian gave a curt nod before departing. With that, Luke dismissed the remaining soldiers and spurred his mare forward, keeping pace with Kayson.

As they moved through the city streets, an unsettling atmosphere settled over them. Clayton City, usually alive with energy at this hour, felt subdued. Soldiers patrolled in sparse numbers, and many shops had already shuttered their doors.

Pushing aside his unease, Luke followed Kayson toward the latter's family estate. The guards at the entrance brightened at the sight of their young master, greeting him warmly. Luke, however, was met with cold indifference. Too drained to care, he simply waited

They were granted entry through the gates and rode along a stone path toward the estate. From a distance, the sight was breathtaking—an architectural marvel reminiscent of Ancient China.

The painted red beams, symmetrical buildings, and sweeping, upturned eaves created a striking composition. If this were any other time, Luke would have admired the intricate carvings and masterful wooden joinery that adorned the structures.

As they approached, a guard stepped forward and gestured for them to dismount.

Kayson swiftly dismounted and moved to help Luke off his mare. Luke was grateful for the assistance, though as soon as he found his footing, he reached for his spear, intending to use it as a makeshift cane.

"Guests are not permitted to carry weapons inside the City Lord's estate," the guard said coldly, extending a hand.

Luke sighed and handed over the weapon without protest. He should have expected this.

Kayson sent him an apologetic glance before ducking under Luke's arm, shouldering the weight of his injured leg. Together, they walked toward the main building, where they were immediately greeted by a group of maids.

"Where is my father?" Kayson asked without preamble.

"In the meeting hall, young master," one of the maids replied respectfully. "The Lord has ordered that he is not to be disturbed."

Kayson frowned. "Who is he meeting with?"

"The Lord is with the two Masters and several distinguished guests. I am afraid I am too insignificant to know their identities."

At this, Luke felt his heartbeat quicken, a sinking feeling settling in his gut. The City Lord had been without news from the fortress for nearly two weeks—was he already planning something drastic? He turned to Kayson, about to suggest they interrupt the meeting, but he could already see the resolve in his friend's eyes.

"I will see him now," Kayson declared, stepping forward.

"Ah—no, young master! You cannot!" the maid stammered, anxiety evident in her voice.

Kayson waved her off. "This is important. I will take responsibility for going against my father's wishes. Now, begone before I lose my temper."

The maid hesitated, clearly torn, but eventually, she bowed her head and stepped aside.

With Luke still leaning on him for support, Kayson led them through the hall until they reached a set of imposing double doors on the eastern side of the estate. Two guards stood stationed at either side, their posture stiffening as the pair approached.

Before either could speak, Kayson's voice rang out, cold and unwavering.

"Vincent, I will say this only once. Move aside now, or I will send you flying through that window."

A chill ran down Luke's spine at the sheer authority in Kayson's tone.

The guard hesitated, his expression shifting as if he were weighing which consequence would be worse—defying Kayson or disobeying his Lord's orders. Thankfully, he made the smarter choice, stepping aside and gesturing for his companion to do the same.

Without another glance at them, Kayson pushed the doors open.

Inside, a long table dominated the room, surrounded by high-backed chairs. The moment they entered, Luke felt the weight of numerous gazes falling upon them.

His eyes immediately landed on two familiar figures—the Masters from the Academy. Next to them sat Minister Chao, the king's proxy. However, the rest of the individuals in the room were strangers to him.

"Kayson? What are you doing here?"

A voice rang out in shock, laced with a hint of relief.

Luke turned toward the source and saw a man clad in a fitted blue robe. His black hair was pulled into a topknot, wrapped in a dark cloth that matched his short-cropped beard. The man was strikingly handsome, his sharp blue eyes identical to Kayson's—there was no mistaking his identity. This was the City Lord, Viscount Diego.

"Father, we have just returned from Xiu Fortress and bring urgent news," Kayson announced.

The moment his words echoed through the chamber, Luke noticed a visible shift among those present. The lack of immediate reactions confirmed his suspicions—none of them had received any messages from the fortress.

"Speak now," Minister Chao commanded, his tone sharp and authoritative.

"May we sit first?" Kayson shot the minister a pointed glance.

"Come, sit and share your report," Master Gale interjected, standing and gesturing to a nearby chair. His tone, though impatient, was far less dismissive than the minister's.

With Kayson's help, Luke eased himself into a chair, exhaling a quiet sigh of relief. His injured leg throbbed with renewed pain, but at least he was off his feet.

Once they were settled, Kayson launched into a concise yet thorough account of their campaign—the capture of Xiu Fortress, the brutal siege that followed, and the unexpected assassination attempt during their return journey.

He spoke plainly, relaying only the facts without embellishment. Yet, when he mentioned the assassins, Luke caught the flicker of shock crossing most of the faces in the room. All except for one.

Minister Chao's expression remained utterly indifferent, as if he hadn't just heard the revelation that their messengers had likely been intercepted and their lives targeted.

Luke clenched his fists beneath the table, disgust creeping through him. 'How could a man in his position remain so unmoved?' His mind flashed to the memory of Arthur bleeding out in his arms just a day ago, the light fading from his friend's eyes. Anger boiled beneath his skin, but there was nothing he could do—not against someone like Chao.

"So, we have successfully taken Xiu Fortress…" Viscount Diego murmured, exhaling a deep breath. His gaze lingered on Kayson for a moment, his expression unreadable, but laden with something between pride and concern.

"Given the assassination attempt on Kayson and Luke, it is reasonable to assume our messengers and pigeons were either intercepted or eliminated," Master Gale stated gravely, stroking his long gray beard.

"Intercepted by whom?" Minister Chao scoffed, his voice like nails scraping against stone. "The very enemy we have allegedly crushed at Xiu Fortress? That makes no sense."

Kayson's eyes narrowed. "Are you suggesting I'm lying, Minister?" His voice was cold as ice.

"No, he is right, Kayson."

Viscount Diego's voice cut through the tension, his expression thoughtful as he placed a hand to his chin.

"Why would the Qin Empire go to such lengths to disrupt our communications after losing Xiu Fortress? Their priority should be regrouping, not assassinations. We're missing something."

A heavy silence settled over the room as everyone pondered Viscount Diego's words. Luke, however, felt as though he held pieces of the missing puzzle—he just hadn't had the time or energy to fit them together properly.

Victoria's warning about a possible Lhair infiltration within Valand City echoed in his mind, hinting that the western state was moving in the shadows. And then there was Captain Pierce—one of Valand's own—attempting to assassinate them during their return. The connection was too glaring to ignore.

Luke's thoughts churned despite the dull, persistent throb in his injured leg. If Lhair had indeed infiltrated Valand City, and if Pierce was one of their agents, then their motives needed to be examined.

'If I were Lhair, why would I want to keep Clayton City in the dark about Xiu Fortress?'

"City Lord, may I ask what you were discussing before we arrived?" Luke finally spoke, keeping his tone as respectful as possible.

The Viscount frowned, irritation flashing across his face. "Who is this boy, and why does he speak here?"

"He is Luke Drakon," Kayson interjected, rising to his feet. His voice carried quiet defiance. "This man was instrumental in capturing Xiu Fortress and later breaking the siege against thirty thousand Qin troops."

A small flicker of satisfaction warmed Luke at Kayson's defense. It was oddly amusing to see the City Lord momentarily taken aback as if surprised by his son's assertiveness.

Master Boyd cleared his throat, cutting through the tension. "We were discussing when to send our remaining troops to reinforce the capture of Xiu Fortress."

Luke nodded, lifting a hand to his chin in thought. Then, suddenly, the pieces of the puzzle clicked into place—not with a sense of gratification, but with sheer dread.

'If their goal is to have Clayton City send out its troops, then there's only one reason for it…'

His pulse quickened. 'They're planning to attack Clayton City.'

"What is it, Luke?" Master Gale asked, his sharp gaze narrowing in concern.

Luke fought to steady his breathing, but the weight of the realization was overwhelming. Everyone in the room was watching him now, their gazes expectant. He needed to say something—but how could he explain without exposing Victoria or risking suspicions about his own identity?

Tension stretched the air thin. Impatience flickered in the eyes of those present. He had no choice but to speak.

"I believe Clayton City is the true target," Luke said gravely. "Lhair is coming."