New Target.

The director of the RBA and Queen Charlotte had moved to a safe house just outside the capital. 

For the past week, the two of them had been working to find possible leads in the plot to incite a rebellion.

The director was standing in front of a large corkboard, which was plastered with photos of suspects, locations, and events.

Several red threads ran through each piece of evidence, with all leading to a central, unknown person or group.

"Currently we know that several high-profile figures are laundering funds and displacing military assets." 

The director spoke with a thoughtful expression, "This includes several individuals from the eight major houses and Pathfinder Houses." 

Charlotte, who sat in a leather chair behind a desk, sighed. "Everything I've built is on the verge of collapsing, and we still don't know who's behind it."

The director frowned as his eyes studied the corkboard. His eyes followed every red thread, hopping from picture to picture.

He then crossed his arms as his gaze landed upon the picture of an older noble. 

He was a man by the name of Arthur du Camille, of the sixth major house. 

The director didn't have much information on Arthur, but the evidence he did have was damning.

The director pointed his finger against the picture of Arthur.

"Arthur du Camille, known for running the treasury and trade of the sixth major house. There's evidence of him duping records and altering receipts, at first, I suspected it to be low-level corruption, but…"

Charlotte looked up, her expression curious, "but?" She repeated an expectant look in her eyes. 

The director pressed his lips together as he pulled back his finger. "He might be working with our mystery rebels, providing funds, or maybe even building his army."

Charlotte nodded as she crossed her arms. "Interesting, and you figured I should learn this now?"

The director sighed as he turned to face Charlotte, "I had his crimes recorded for future charges, but I didn't think it was connected at the time."

Charlotte frowned as she leaned back, "I appointed you to find corruption in my court, I didn't know that meant letting it fester."

The director tightened his jaw, "Your majesty, if I got rid of every single fraudulent noble you wouldn't have a court left, not that it matters."

Charlotte sighed, "I know," she admitted, "so what's your plan?"

"To find Arthur and take him into questioning." The director answered, "If I can get a lead out of him, we could get ahead of this rebellion plot." He then frowned, "But as to what we do after we get our answer, I don't know."

"We can't just kill him?" Charlotte asked.

"Not necessarily, if we kill him now the others may go into hiding." He explained, "No, we'll have to assassinate him, then question him."

Charlotte smirked, "a cover-up?"

The director nodded, "Exactly, and I have the perfect event." 

He then turned back toward the corkboard and pointed at the picture of a festival. "A month from now, the François Academy of Excellence will host its annual autumn festival."

"Parents and students alike will be on academy grounds." The director then pointed back at Arthur, "That includes Arthur, who'll be there to support his daughter, Lady Chloe."

Charlotte nodded as she leaned forward, "I see, you intend to kill him during the festival, by poisoning or kidnapping?"

The director let off a rare, confident smirk. "I intend to put a warrant out for his arrest." He replied.

Charlotte tilted her head slightly as her brow furrowed. "Are you serious, that wouldn't work would it?" She asked, her tone skeptical, "he'd just run away."

The director nodded. "I hope he does run, but even if he doesn't, as long as we take him into custody we can control the narrative."

"Explain."

The director nodded. "If he runs, that gives us the ability to lead him somewhere secluded, if he surrenders then we can take him somewhere secluded."

He then crossed his arms, "either way, he doesn't get away, especially since we're dealing with a public festival."

Charlotte finally began to nod in understanding. 

"I see, if we attempted to arrest him in private he'd just go into hiding, but in public, he can either run or surrender."

The director smirked, "Exactly, we'll announce the investigation privately, but list no names.

Then on the day of the festival, we'll have Arthur arrested on charges of fraud, but omit everything connected to the rebellion."

Charlotte returned the smirk. "They'll think we're just lucky, or that Arthur was sloppy." 

"Exactly." The director replied. "But we'll need to be careful as we'll only get one opportunity. If we fail here, he will go into hiding for good."

— — —

Meanwhile, with his fate unknown and his future dimming. Arthur was going over his latest ledger.

"This is getting harder by the day." He grumbled, scribbling on a piece of paper, "I'm running low on time, money, and patience."

A low chuckle crept through the air behind Arthur. "Oh, should I tell our mutual friend you're refusing to pay this month's fee?"

Arthur narrowed his silver eyes as he looked over his shoulder. 

There a man stood behind him, draped in a hooded black cloak, with only his golden eyes radiating through.

The man sent a shiver down Arthur's spine, his aura like that of a cold blizzard. 

His voice was smooth and silky, and his eyes, his golden eyes stared into Arthur's soul like daggers. 

Arthur gripped his pen as he gulped, his jaw tightening as he averted his gaze. "Look, just saying that this is getting out of hand." Arthur said with a shaken voice, "I can't keep doing this, the RBA will notice."

The man let out a cold, mocking laugh as he leaned over Arthur. "Oh don't you worry about our friends in the RBA, I have eyes everywhere, we'll know if they're catching on."

Arthur shivered as his grip tightened around his pen, sweat pouring down his forehead.

The man let out another slow laugh. "But In case you need a little more motivation, I'm sure little Chole likes having her organs tucked nicely in her body… "

Arthur snapped his pen in half, ink spilling through his fists and dripping on the page of his ledger. "Don't bring her into this, please."

There was a moment of silence between the two men, filled only by Arthur's heavy breathing.

Eventually, the golden-eyed man spoke. "Then up this month's amount to a hundred thousand golden Embers."

Arthur trembled but nodded. "Okay." He replied, "I'll get it to you."