chapter 21.5

After an exhausting journey across Middle Earth, Alcard finally reached the towering gates of the central headquarter of The Wall. The dust of the road still clung to his cloak, and his body ached—not just from the distance he had traveled but from the heavy burden that had been weighing on his mind since he left the Steelhammer stronghold. Despite the fatigue, his steps were firm and unrelenting as he passed through the guards and strode directly towards Oldman's office.

Inside, Oldman was already waiting. He sat behind a massive wooden desk, now cluttered with scattered maps, reports, and documents. His expression was sharp, though the lines of worry on his face were more pronounced than usual. As soon as Alcard entered, he wasted no time in delivering his report on everything that had transpired within the halls of the Steelhammer clan.

His voice was cold, laced with restrained fury as he detailed how Tharvin Steelhammer, the leader of the clan, had wielded his position as the primary supplier of metal and weaponry to The Wall as leverage for extortion. Through the threat of cutting off their supplies, Tharvin had backed Alcard into a corner, forcing him to hand over the green fragment he had fought so hard to safeguard.

"He knew exactly how much we rely on their resources," Alcard growled, his fists clenching at his sides. "And he had no hesitation in using that against me."

Oldman's reaction was immediate. His hands, which had been resting on the desk, tightened into fists before one of them slammed down hard on the wood, the force causing a small crack to splinter along the surface. His eyes burned with an anger that rarely surfaced.

"Those damn Dwarves!" he thundered, his voice shaking with rage. "After everything we've done to maintain our alliance with them, this is how they repay us? Their greed knows no bounds!"

For a long moment, the room was thick with tension. Oldman took a deep breath, trying to calm himself, before motioning for Alcard to continue.

Without hesitation, Alcard recounted what had happened on his way back. He told Oldman about the ambush in the heart of the forest, the sudden emergence of over twenty mercenaries, and how they had been lying in wait, fully prepared for battle. Their formation, their discipline, and their tactics—it was clear they weren't just random bandits. They belonged to a well-organized force, one that had the resources and intelligence to track him down.

"The real question is who sent them," Alcard continued. "It could have been Tharvin, Tanivar, or perhaps someone with even more influence than either of them."

Oldman fell into silence, pacing across the room as he processed the information. His mind was piecing together the puzzle, trying to connect the fragments of the larger picture. After several moments, he stopped and turned to Alcard, his gaze sharp as steel.

"If they were bold enough to attack you outright," he said, his voice grim, "then one thing is certain: the information about the fragment has already spread. Someone out there knows that we had it."

Alcard gave a slow nod, acknowledging the reality of the situation. "They know the green fragment exists. They know we were involved in moving it. And I'm certain this is only the beginning."

Oldman exhaled deeply, the weight of the situation pressing down on him. His face, already lined with years of responsibility, darkened further with concern.

"We cannot afford to let this happen again," he declared finally. "The fragment isn't just a danger to us—it's a threat to the entire world. And if The Wall falls, there will be nothing left to stop the chaos that follows."

He rubbed his temples, the exhaustion evident in his posture. "I can only hope Tharvin isn't foolish enough to try and use the fragment."

Alcard didn't respond, but deep down, he wasn't optimistic. If there was one thing he had learned over the years, it was that greed made men reckless. And if Tharvin truly possessed the fragment now, then disaster wasn't a possibility—it was an inevitability.

With little else to say, Oldman sat back down, already formulating a new strategy to address the unfolding crisis. Meanwhile, Alcard turned toward the door, his mind racing with thoughts of what was to come. As he stepped outside, the cold night air greeted him, tugging at his cloak as if whispering a warning—a harbinger of the greater storm that was approaching.

In his heart, Alcard made a solemn vow.

No matter how powerful the forces moving in the shadows, no matter how many enemies came for him, he would not allow them to break The Wall. He would not allow them to take what little he had left to protect.

And he would do whatever it took to ensure that.