The Silent Messenger

Sir Colin had agreed to the terms set by King Valentin. However, things were slowly changing. 

Despite King Valentin's efforts to disrupt communication among the imperial knights, they had managed to regroup and reestablish an efficient messaging system. To test this, the king devised an experiment.

"Spread word to the knights in the western region that there have been reports of suspicious activity near the western border. Tell those in the east that the suspect has been spotted in their territory. As for the central region, inform them that all these claims are false, and the capital is secure—there's no need for concern. In fact, tell them to rest easy and get some sleep."

The result was telling—the capital remained undisturbed. No sudden influx of knights at any border, no sign of urgent mobilization.