Blackmoon City

Some time ago, a battle witch returned to the city lord's castle and reported, "Eartha here, ready to report some findings regarding Lady Isabelle's death!"

Boom!

The wooden door to the city lord's office splintered apart as City Lord Istana stormed and shot the battle witch a fierce look.

"Speak! What have you found out?" City Lord Istana questioned.

"Yes, my Lord!" Eartha answered before reporting her findings, "During the day, Lady Isabelle killed Senior Witch Eniwse's servant and caused her berserk transformation, leading to Lady Isabelle nearly getting killed on the spot."

"Fortunately, Senior Witch Gwena arrived in a timely manner and saved Lady Isabelle with her healing magic before sending Lady Isabelle to the infirmary for further recovery."

"This subordinate's investigation led this subordinate to look further into the servant that Young Lady Isabelle had killed. This servant was called Vaan, and he was very popular among the students for his pleasure skills."

"However, this subordinate found it strange that his body would be dumped in the wasteyard instead of receiving a proper burial when so many young witches favor him. Thus, when this subordinate went to check the wasteyard, there was nothing to be found."

"There was no body, no waste, no nothing. Everything in the wasteyard had been cleared, which normally happens once every month or two. But, according to the students' testimonies, they also found it strange that the wasteyard was cleaned a few days ahead of schedule."

"This subordinate found this point to be especially suspiciously. It was as if the academy had purposely pushed forward with the waste removal schedule to remove the evidence. Thus, this subordinate couldn't confirm if the servant is dead with this subordinate's own eyes."

After the battle witch finished her report, City Lord Istana silently contemplated.

"There should be any witch brave enough to devour another witch's mana source. However, it's a different story if a devouring spell was inscribed on a weapon of murder. Then, anyone would have been able to use it to kill my daughter—even if it's a supposedly weak servant."

City Lord Istana's expression darkened as she arrived at this point.

"My Lord, I was told that Servant Vaan is a witch descendant," the battle witch mentioned before saying, "However, according to the testimonies, his body is far below the standard strength of other witch descendants."

"Could this have been an intended disguise to hide his identity as a member of a dark organization? This subordinate can't think of anyone else who would have the courage to murder a city lord's daughter."

The battle witch made a bold assumption.

Including the seven witch kingdoms, several dark organizations existed throughout the continent.

Although their strengths and scale of operation varied, their modus operandi was all the same. Whether it was espionage, subterfuge, or assassination, they will accept any task for the right price.

"I've recently heard a rumor that the Assembly of Silent Night was active in the area," City Lord Istana mentioned before narrowing her burning gaze, "If it was their doing, then it wasn't murder but a commissioned assassination!"

City Lord Istana clenched her fists with growing fury.

"There aren't many people who can commission the Assembly of Silent Night to assassinate a city lord's daughter without paying a hefty sum and having a high status…" the battle witch frowned with doubt before wondering, "But who would do such a thing?"

Although her lord, Istana Gleriath, had a headstrong personality, which easily caused other noble witches to dislike her, it shouldn't be severe enough that they would pay a high price to have her daughter assassinated.

"Someone who must be eyeing my territory! My precious daughter got implicated because of my position! Arghh!" City Lord Istana gritted her teeth with tearful sorrows before she vowed, "I will make sure they pay, no matter who they are!"

"All the regional lords neighboring Blackmoon Region are my suspects! The Assembly of Silent Night will also pay! Even if it is just one insignificant agent from their organization, they can forget about having him back!"

"But how do you plan to catch the assassin, my Lord?" the battle witch furrowed her brows with a questioning look.

"If Servant Vaan had been a hidden chess piece the Assembly of Silent Night placed in the academy, he wouldn't stay within the city after completing the task. Instead, he would have most likely left the city during the night."

"I have my ways." City Lord Istana stated gloomily.

With a pair of black eyes that looked like they wanted to swallow everything, City Lord Istana flew out of her castle before summoning fiery fist gauntlets the size of whales and shooting them at the eastern and western cliff walls.

Boom! Boom!

The giant fiery fist gauntlets repeatedly struck the cliff walls, causing wanton destruction on the face of the cliff walls as enormous chunks of earth fell apart.

Dozens of homes by the foot of the cliffs were devastated as the entire city of Blackmoon shook and alarmed everyone.

Battle Witch Eartha quickly flew over in a hurry before crying to her lord, "My Lord, please stop this madness! You're killing your own people, and the vibration of your attack will ripple throughout the Blackmoon Region's cliffs and drive the Dark Hellhounds crazy!"

"That's is exactly what I want! If the hounds don't make such good hunting pets, why else would I keep such pests around to trouble the travelers passing through my territory?! No one can escape from the Blackmoon Region!"

City Lord Istana roared madly.

…

…

…

Awroo!

The angry howls of powerful Dark Hellhounds were heard as Vaan's group rushed to leave the Blackmoon Region.

Numerous shadowy figures could be seen drawing closer in the dark of the night.

A battle is imminent.

"Hurry, men! Abandon the wagons! They can't keep up with our pace!" Captain Rhys quickly gave the order after seeing the wagons slowing them down.

But even without the wagons, they were not much faster than the nimble hounds, and before long, they locked into battle with a group of Rank-1 Dark Hellhounds.

At that moment, Vaan stood up from his spot on the Earth Salamander and drew his twin fang daggers.