"Report, Your Majesty. The logistics warehouse in the western district was burned… this is the third one in two weeks."
Emperor Eldia rubbed his temples. "Any witnesses?"
"No. But… this symbol was carved on the back wall. With blood."
The general handed over a piece of cloth. On it, a thorned rose and the letter "M" were drawn.
The nobles sitting on the right side of the hall started whispering in panic.
"This can't be…" "He's supposed to be dead, right?"
"Three warehouses. Twelve nobles dead. And now that symbol… This isn't random."
"We can't just let it go!" Duke Davens exclaimed, clutching his teacup until it shattered.
"If the military can't handle it, then we have to take action ourselves!" added Duchess Lerna with trembling hands.
"Enough!" shouted the Emperor. "I want all of you to keep an eye on everyone! Citizens! Soldiers! Nobles! Everyone!"
But the whispers didn't stop:
> "Moriarty... brings a new world to the Empire."
The Emperor just sat quietly on his throne, eyes turned towards the window.
"If 'M' does return... then the old shadow will rise," he muttered.
---
Ashtar sat in his office, staring at the chessboard on the old wooden table. One black piece had fallen.
He hissed softly. "It's like… a chess game."
His aide turned to him. "Sir, what do you mean?"
"Every victim… every move… it's not random chaos. It's pieces being sacrificed to trick the king."
He opened some old reports, and his finger stopped on one document.
"Look at this," he said, pointing at a signature. "A report from Fort Luthen… They found a strange letter after the field burning and mass poisoning."
The aide read it slowly. "Is there something strange?"
Ashtar threw a red-labeled letter onto the table. "Compare this… to the one left at the murder of Grand Duke Barforia."
His eyes narrowed. "The writing style… even the letter M… looks the same."
The aide swallowed hard. "You think… he's in Luthen?"
Ashtar stood up. "I think… he never truly left."
---
Secret Base
"Ashtar must've figured out I'm in Luthen," Moriarty smiled.
Rion asked "You're going to kill her?"
Moriarty replied "No, she is too... Attractive."
He handed a neatly folded letter to Rion.
"Take this to Ashtar Lebrian. Make sure he reads it with his own hands."
Rion looked at him for a moment. "Isn't this too risky?"
Moriarty smiled. "This isn't a trap to kill him. This is… an invitation to the real game."
---
That Night – Old District
Ashtar walked down the narrow street, followed by two hidden guards. The clock showed 01:58.
"According to the letter… empty house number 7. At exactly two," he whispered.
When he entered, the room was dark. Only one candle lit the center. There was a table.
A chessboard.
On it: one black pawn… covered in blood.
On the wall: a cracked mirror.
And carved on the glass, written with something like charcoal:
> "A genius like you… will only understand when it's too late."
Ashtar clenched his fists. "Damn… bastard."
---
"Your Majesty… people are gathering at the palace gate."
"A protest?"
"More than that. They're carrying the 'M' symbol. And… this letter."
The Emperor read:
> "If a king stays silent while evil happens… then the fire will burn his throne first."
His hands trembled.
"Is this… a rebellion?"
---
Underground room – Fort Luthen.
Leonhardt stood to Moriarty's left. Lysa to the right. Rion was drawing a map on the wall.
Moriarty wrote in his black notebook.
> "When fire burns the capital… only ashes and fear will remain."
"And from that fear… I will be born again, not as a prince."
"But as a shadow… that can never be destroyed."
Leonhardt looked at Moriarty for a while. "Next step, sir?"
Moriarty stared at the chessboard.
He dropped the white king piece with a tok.
> "Let's send a gift to the palace. Recreate… the Night of Fire in Aldia."