The death of Wáng Shūfēn and the three thousand two hundred forty-seven victims in the northern territories went almost unnoticed by the wider continent. A tragic contamination incident, thoroughly investigated by the Eternal Guardian herself, attributed to unknown factors in experimental herbal treatments. The physician responsible had mysteriously vanished—probably fled in shame after realizing her mistake had killed thousands.
The official report was filed with the Council of Elders and archived without further scrutiny.
No one suspected it was murder. No one imagined their beloved Guardian was a Devil wearing stolen flesh. No one understood that the incident was merely one operation among dozens occurring simultaneously across Tiānlù.
Thirteen months remained until the false flag attack that would trigger continental war.
