chapter 19.3

A few days after the successful mission at the ruins, Alcard was summoned once again to Oldman's chamber. The moment he stepped inside, he was met with the sight of a desk buried under a sea of letters and official documents, some of which still bore the fresh wax seals of various noble houses. The air in the room felt heavier than usual, and though Oldman remained seated with his usual composed demeanor, there was an undeniable edge to his gaze—one laced with unspoken concern.

Without any unnecessary preamble, Oldman pushed several letters toward Alcard, his fingers tapping idly against the wood. "Interesting news from Tanivar's stronghold," he muttered, his voice carrying the weight of something significant. "The ruins where you and your team operated have suddenly become the center of attention across Middle Earth."

Alcard furrowed his brows as he picked up one of the letters, scanning its contents. The words were laced with barely restrained fury—Tanivar had sent out urgent messages to his allies and vassals, demanding answers about a 'treasure' that had been taken from the ruins near the elven border. Other reports detailed how Tanivar had begun pouring considerable resources into hiring mercenaries and investigators to uncover the identity of the culprits responsible.

"He's furious," Alcard muttered under his breath, flipping through more pages. The sheer volume of correspondence indicated that Tanivar was not simply angry—he was desperate.

Oldman let out a quiet, almost amused chuckle, though his eyes remained sharp. "Of course he's furious. He believed himself to be the only one aware of the significance of that place, and now someone has beaten him to his prize. He's chasing shadows now, trying to piece together what happened, but all he has are theories and paranoia."

He gestured toward another document, one that bore the names of several noble houses Tanivar had reached out to for assistance in his investigation. "He's looking everywhere for answers. And the best part? He doesn't have a single solid lead."

Alcard crossed his arms, his mind rapidly analyzing the situation. "And you've already sent people to monitor the situation?" he asked, noticing another set of reports that seemed to contain field observations.

Oldman nodded casually, his tone as nonchalant as if they were discussing the weather. "Naturally. I've dispatched a small team to infiltrate his little investigation."

Alcard's expression darkened slightly. "A small team? That's dangerous, Oldman. If they're caught, it won't just be a minor inconvenience—it'll expose everything."

Oldman simply smirked, the glint of experience in his gaze. "They're fresh recruits, Alcard. No one would think twice about them. Nobody will consider them a real threat. Their mission is simple—gather information and return before anyone realizes they were ever there."

Despite his skepticism, Alcard couldn't deny the logic behind it. A high-ranking outcast would attract suspicion, but fresh blood? They were beneath notice. Still, something about this plan unsettled him.

He exhaled slowly before voicing the thought that had been gnawing at him. "Are you absolutely certain there's no trail leading back to us?" he asked, his tone firmer than before. "Even the smallest trace could give Tanivar an excuse to come after us."

Oldman leaned back in his chair, assessing Alcard with a satisfied look. "That's the kind of thinking I like to hear," he said, as if pleased by the caution. "But as long as your team was thorough, we still hold the upper hand."

Alcard nodded, though the tension in his posture didn't ease. "We covered our tracks well. Every bandit was eliminated, and we left no evidence that could connect the site to us. Even the golem remains looked like nothing more than collapsed debris."

That seemed to reassure Oldman, though his guarded expression remained. "Good," he said, nodding approvingly. "But that doesn't mean we can afford to get complacent. Stay clear of Tanivar's domain for the time being. You know how he operates—if he catches so much as a whisper, he won't hesitate to retaliate."

Alcard agreed without hesitation. "I'll keep my distance," he affirmed. "But what if he does find something? What if he starts getting too close to the truth? What if one of the outcasts we sent gets caught?"

Oldman's smirk returned, though this time there was something almost predatory about it. "I've already accounted for that," he assured him. "Tanivar has too many enemies. If he starts sniffing too close to us, all it takes is a little push in the right direction. A rumor here, a forged letter there—before he knows it, he'll be chasing after a completely different target."

Alcard clenched his jaw slightly, still uneasy about the situation. He knew Tanivar wouldn't let this go, and the more obsessed he became with uncovering the truth, the greater the risk of exposure. Oldman was confident, but Alcard had seen firsthand how unpredictable these power struggles could become.

But for now, there was nothing more to be done. He would have to wait and watch how things unfolded.

Rising from his seat, he gave Oldman a final nod before turning toward the door. As he made his way back through the corridors of the central headquarter, his mind churned with possibilities. He knew that Tanivar's wrath would not subside easily, and as long as the nobleman remained convinced that something valuable had been stolen from under his nose, he would not stop searching.

Alcard's fingers unconsciously tightened around the hilt of his sword as he stepped out into the open air, the cool breeze doing little to ease his tension. He knew this was only the beginning.

If Tanivar continued to dig, the secret of the fragment would not stay buried forever.

And when that secret came to light, Middle Earth would never be the same again.