Before any of them could respond, a young woman appeared from within the gate. She possessed soft features and eyes filled with tenderness and wisdom, but they widened in astonishment upon seeing Eugene.
With a voice heavy with emotion, she said, "It cannot be... You... look exactly like him..."
Her words remained incomplete, yet their impact was undeniable. Her gaze carried memories of the past and secrets not yet revealed.
Eugene stood frozen in disbelief as the woman remained on the threshold, her expression a mix of surprise and longing. She approached with slow steps, her eyes fixed on Eugene's face as if searching for an answer.
"I cannot believe it," she said with a trembling voice. "You look just like him, but you are not him... How is this possible?"
Eugene replied in a low voice, as if he could barely speak: "Do you know my father? Did you know William?"
The woman stepped closer until she was right beside them, placing her hand over her chest, trying to suppress her flowing emotions. She said, "William... was more than just a friend. He was the brother I never had, and the teacher who taught me the meaning of peace. He used to come here often..."
She was interrupted by the little girl, who grabbed her hand and said excitedly, "Mother, isn't he the uncle? Didn't you tell me that Uncle William would come soon??"
The woman looked at her daughter with affection, then returned her gaze to Eugene and said, "I am sorry if I caused you confusion, but... your face looks exactly like his, except for your eyes. Those eyes carry a rage that was never present in William."
A moment of silence fell over everyone before Kayden stepped forward and said firmly, "It seems William had a close connection to this kingdom. Could you tell us more about that? We are here for a matter related to him."
The group sat inside a simple house near the gate as the woman served them cups of warm tea. They learned that her name was Caeline and that she had lived in this kingdom for many years.
Caeline said, looking down at her cup, "William was an exceptional man. He saw in this kingdom an example of the world he wanted to build. He came here from time to time to escape the corruption of the Empire, always speaking of changing the world. He believed that peace begins here."
Rein asked with a hint of curiosity after finishing his drink, "But if he came here, do you know anything about the books he left behind?"
Caeline shook her head and said, "He spoke of his books, but he left nothing here. He once told me that the books carry a heavy burden, and that they are not for peace, but for war."
After a long conversation, the four decided to stay in the kingdom for a while to explore its secrets and understand the relationship William had with it.
The following day, Eugene went out to walk through the streets of the kingdom, trying to absorb everything he had heard. Everything here felt different from the Empire, as if this place held a memory of his father in every corner.
Meanwhile, Kayden and Rein were searching for clues that might lead them to the next step of their journey.
As for Elias, he seemed drawn to the stillness of the kingdom, as if finding a comfort he had long lacked.
While the four were planning their next move, an old man approached Caeline in the market and whispered something to her that made her expression change completely. She returned home quickly, gave Kayden a serious look, and said, "There is someone who wants to meet you. He says he knows something about the books... and about William."
In the Emperor's Palace
The Emperor sat on his throne, scowling as he followed military preparations on a map. Reports from various fronts indicated that rebels and insurgents were preparing to rise against his rule. He knew they had to act quickly to prevent the collapse of his authority.
"We need a precise war plan," the Emperor said in an angry tone, throwing the cup he was holding until it shattered. "We will not allow these rebels to overthrow us. Seraphin, do you have something to tip the scales?"
Seraphin, the Emperor's brilliant strategic advisor, replied as he adjusted his glasses: "Your Majesty, we have several options, but we need a precise strategy to disperse their ranks. It requires creative thinking and the efficient use of our armies. I will focus on a psychological and military attack simultaneously."
The Emperor smiled, resting his hand on his cheek: "I want to see it executed on the ground, Seraphin. Present your plan."
The War Plan: "The Iron Fist"
Seraphin stood before the map, explaining the details of his military plan. He sighed slowly and then spoke:
"First, I will establish a network of rapid maneuvers to paralyze the rebels' movements before they can unite. We will have small factions infiltrating territories where they believe they are safe, attacking them suddenly. At the same time, we will wage psychological warfare by spreading rumors of counter-attack plans, making them believe the Imperial Army is gathering massive forces in places they never expected. This trick will make them hesitate to attack directly."
Seraphin continued, focusing on the map: "Simultaneously, we will send reconnaissance units to trap the primary rebel leaders. The strike must be directed at the leadership, not just the small armies. What matters is paralyzing the command capability at the decisive moment."
He added, "We also need to hide our movements until the last second. We will rely on units the rebels know nothing about, such as disguised forces. We will mobilize all our elements near areas the rebels expect to be safe for them, like forests and mountains, and then, the strike will be fatal."
As the military plan was being executed, Baron Declan and Fiona were working in the shadows, coordinating with some rebel ranks. They had their own goals: spreading rumors about conflicts surrounding the Emperor and tarnishing his reputation before the ordinary soldiers.
Declan said with a hidden smile, looking at Fiona: "The Emperor does not know I am setting this trap. I know how to sow discord among them."
At the same time, Fiona was moving through the corridors of secret kingdoms, trying to gather more information about the Empire's movements.
Kingdom of Peace
The man pointed at each person, mentioning their names until his hand lowered: "Eugene, son of William, and Kayden the Noble—who would have thought you would come alone without William one day? In any case, I know some things about the books, and I would be happy to help you, of course."
Eugene began speaking rapidly, gesturing with his hand as he opened Aaron's book: "When I saw the map of the legacy in Aaron's book, I couldn't find the location of the treasure in any part of the Empire. Where could it possibly be?"
The man grew silent for a moment and then said, "Of course, you won't find it in the Empire, because William's great legacy is in the Kingdom of Peace."
Eugene said with a sense of reassurance, "That explains a lot. It would have been difficult for Aaron to find the legacy anyway."
Kayden interrupted them, glancing between them: "Then let us go to it quickly. Freeze says we don't have much time; the Emperor is planning something."
Everyone nodded in agreement, then headed to the location specified on the map.
Upon arrival, they found nothing, but they began digging at the spot mentioned in the book. After a few hours, they found a large chest. When they opened it, they were surprised to find vast amounts of money that could rebuild an entire kingdom and more.
Everyone rejoiced greatly; this would help them significantly. Kayden, placing his hand on the treasure, said, "Now we want to know how we will use this money to help us win."
Eugene said, "If my father were here, he would have set a precise strategic plan and given us some advice."
The man then looked surprised and said, "Did you think William was the one who set the plans?"
The two said in unison, astonished: "Wasn't he?"
The man, Rein, and Elias laughed. The man said, gesturing with his hand: "Hahaha, no, it wasn't him. It was Valerian, the advisor of the Kingdom of Peace."