THE FATHER RETURNS

Sir Castro sat behind his ornate desk, his piercing eyes fixed on the man standing before him.

"It seems the Father has returned from his mission, sir," said an aide as he entered the room.

"Good. Call him in," Sir Castro replied, leaning back in his chair.

A moment later, Malik, known as the Father, entered the room. His presence was commanding, his aura heavy with power.

"Welcome back, Malik. I trust your journey back to Winko was uneventful?"

Malik gave a faint smile. "Well, I'm back in one piece, so I can't complain, Sir Castro."

"The other heads of the organization are currently attending a meeting elsewhere, so it's just the two of us today," Castro said, gesturing for Malik to take a seat. "Now, tell me about your mission. Was it a success?"

Malik nodded confidently. "Yes, it was successful. I managed to eliminate enough of the beast folk and drain them of their Inner. I've sealed it within an Inner Orb. The sacrifices should be sufficient to power a portal."

"Excellent," Sir Castro said, his voice calm but his satisfaction evident. "And what of Nordia? Did you uncover anything valuable regarding their secrets?"

Malik's expression darkened slightly. "Unfortunately, I couldn't gather much personally. I was compromised by members of the Beast Organization. I barely escaped with my life. However, some of the third-class mages I brought with me remain in that region. They weren't involved in the sacrifices and should still be operational. I plan to contact them soon to see if they've uncovered anything."

Sir Castro leaned forward, his fingers steepled. "Troubling, but manageable. Was there anything else of note?"

Malik hesitated for a moment, then said, "Yes. While I was in the region, I picked up some rumors of a brewing conflict between Nordia and Delria. Apparently, a Nordian representative was assassinated en route to a peace summit. The two nations are on the brink of war."

Sir Castro sat behind his ornate desk, his piercing eyes fixed on the man standing before him.

"It seems the Father has returned from his mission, sir," said an aide as he entered the room.

"Good. Call him in," Sir Castro replied, leaning back in his chair.

A moment later, Malik, known as the Father, entered the room. His presence was commanding, his aura heavy with power.

"Welcome back, Malik. I trust your journey back to Winko was uneventful?"

Malik gave a faint smile. "Well, I'm back in one piece, so I can't complain, Sir Castro."

"The other heads of the organization are currently attending a meeting elsewhere, so it's just the two of us today," Castro said, gesturing for Malik to take a seat. "Now, tell me about your mission. Was it a success?"

Malik nodded confidently. "Yes, it was successful. I managed to eliminate enough of the beast folk and drain them of their Inner. I've sealed it within an Inner Orb. The sacrifices should be sufficient to power a portal."

"Excellent," Sir Castro said, his voice calm but his satisfaction evident. "And what of Nordia? Did you uncover anything valuable regarding their secrets?"

Malik's expression darkened slightly. "Unfortunately, I couldn't gather much personally. I was compromised by members of the Beast Organization. I barely escaped with my life. However, some of the third-class mages I brought with me remain in that region. They weren't involved in the sacrifices and should still be operational. I plan to contact them soon to see if they've uncovered anything."

Sir Castro leaned forward, his fingers steepled. "Troubling, but manageable. Was there anything else of note?"

Malik hesitated for a moment, then said, "Yes. While I was in the region, I picked up some rumors of a brewing conflict between Nordia and Delria. Apparently, a Nordian representative was assassinated en route to a peace summit. The two nations are on the brink of war."

Sir Castro chuckled darkly. "A crafty move by the agency."

Malik frowned. "What do you mean, Sir Castro?"

"It's obvious," Castro said, his tone sharp and calculated. "The agency orchestrated that assassination. They have the most to gain from pushing Nordia and Delria into conflict."

Malik's brows furrowed. "Why would the agency want those nations to go to war?"

"For two reasons," Castro said with a wry smile. "First, it destabilizes two powerful nations, ensuring their resources and attention are diverted away from us. Second, it weakens Nordia's borders, making them ripe for infiltration."

Realization dawned on Malik's face. "Interesting. So, we're planning to take advantage of this?"

"Precisely," Sir Castro confirmed. "Once the other heads return, we'll begin strategizing. But I can tell you this now—I want you, Ember, and Bernard to lead the infiltration of Nordia. This mission must succeed at all costs. Their secrets are critical to our plans."

Malik gave a slight bow, his face calm but his mind already racing with possibilities. "Understood. I'll begin preparing immediately."

"Good," Sir Castro said, his eyes gleaming with cold determination. "This is just the beginning, Malik. Soon, the Gods will have their reckoning, and the world will finally kneel before us."

Sir Castro leaned back in his chair, fixing Malik with a steady gaze. "While you were in Delria handling your mission, something significant occurred," he began, his tone heavy with authority. "We launched a direct assault on the Assassin Organisation's headquarters."

Malik's expression darkened, his brows furrowing deeply. "You attacked the Assassin Organisation's HQ? That's a bold move," he said sharply. "What prompted such a risky operation?"

Castro's eyes narrowed. "The agency provided us with highly sensitive intel. They claimed the Prince of Nordia was present there. It was an opportunity we couldn't pass up."

Malik leaned forward, his voice edged with urgency. "The Prince of Nordia? If we'd succeeded in capturing him, it could've changed everything. Did we manage to get him?"

Castro sighed, his frustration barely concealed. "No. The mission didn't succeed as we had hoped. The assassins proved as relentless and skilled as ever. Their resistance was stronger than anticipated, and our forces were forced to retreat. The prince escaped."

Malik clenched his fists, his jaw tightening. "So, not only did we fail, but now they know we're actively targeting them?"

Castro nodded grimly. "Exactly. But not all was in vain. We inflicted significant damage. Their HQ has been left in ruins, and dealt some casualties. While they survived, they've been reminded of the power we wield."

Malik's fists remained clenched, his voice simmering with anger. "When are we going to deliver real justice for what they've done to us? For centuries, they've hunted and slaughtered our people."

Castro leaned forward, his voice firm. "Patience, Malik. Their time will come. And when it does, it will be more than just revenge—it will be divine retribution. The Gods will punish them first, and then we will finish what they started."

Malik exhaled heavily, shaking his head. "I just hope we don't wait too long. They deserve to suffer for what they've done."