The confirmation of Rudolf Steiner's elimination reached Zion and Jeremiah without delay.
With that final piece in place, both units understood that the true dismantling of Ephor could now begin.
This was the moment to play the last cards.
According to the plan, Zion and his unit were given a clear order: eliminate the high-profile criminals embedded within Ephor's society. Nobles, officials, anyone who formed the rotten core of the system none were exempt.
There was only one condition.
The safety of women, children, and the elderly was to be secured first. Only after that would the operation proceed at full force.
Chaos was necessary but it had to be controlled chaos.
Zion already had an advantage.
For a long time, he had been in contact with several resistance leaders within Ephor. Among them was a former Ephor knight named Andrew.
Andrew had once sworn an oath to protect the people.
But the Ephor knights had long abandoned that oath. They extorted, abused, and murdered under the protection of corrupt nobles and judges. Unable to tolerate the decay any longer, Andrew resigned from the knighthood.
Alone at first, he began resisting.
Over time, his resolve drew others to him. His resistance force grew to fifty to eighty members, all driven by the same hatred toward Ephor's corruption.
When Zion contacted him, Andrew did not hesitate.
Everything was already in place.
Now, the waiting was over.
Zion moved.
Disguised as beggars, Zion and his twenty knights blended into the streets of Ephor. One by one, they targeted criminals who had once walked free after bribing Ephor's judges.
Men who had destroyed lives.
Men whose victims were either dead or had taken their own lives out of despair.
Justice came swiftly.
Silent blades.
Clean strikes.
No screams.
No civilian casualties.
Bodies fell in alleys and shadowed corners, their deaths unnoticed by those who slept comfortably under the illusion of order.
Zion stood atop a rooftop, watching the city shift.
Now, he waited.
Once Jeremiah's unit succeeded, Andrew's resistance would ignite the city. Riots would erupt, not blindly but precisely where they were needed.
A perfect stage.
A city already collapsing.
A city ready for its ruler to arrive.
Near the Magic Tower of Ephor, tension thickened the air.
Jeremiah's mage unit observed from a distance as the tower's defenses shimmered faintly.
A mage beside Jeremiah spoke carefully.
"Captain Jeremiah… the tower's defensive and offensive mechanisms are extremely strong. We cannot directly attack or enter."
He hesitated. "Even your spatial magic will be affected by those barriers."
The situation was grim.
Another mage, tasked with surveillance, rushed forward.
"Captain, the tower master is present. His name is Damon Jerom."
Jeremiah's expression hardened.
"He's known for his mastery over all elemental magic," the mage continued. "And his personality… they say he's insane. A maniac obsessed with magic. Many have died in the name of his experiments."
Jeremiah fell silent.
Then he made his decision.
He contacted Velkan, the Magic Tower Master of Presia, and reported everything.
After a brief pause, a response arrived.
Roman will send Velkan immediately through spatial magic.
Velkan will handle Damon Jerom.
Jeremiah exhaled.
Moments later, space distorted.
A familiar figure stepped forward.
Velkan had arrived.
Jeremiah bowed deeply. "Greetings, Tower Master Velkan. I apologize I could not fulfill the task you entrusted to me."
Velkan waved his hand dismissively.
"No problem," he said calmly. "You made the right choice by briefing the young master."
His eyes narrowed as he looked toward the tower.
"I know Damon Jerom. I know his power and his madness. If you had confronted him, your entire unit would have perished."
Velkan's voice hardened.
"You chose wisely, even under pressure."
He turned back to Jeremiah.
"After sending me here, the young master is already preparing to move. Simon and two hundred Presia knights are assembling as we speak."
Time was short.
"We proceed according to plan," Velkan continued, "with a slight change."
His gaze sharpened.
"I will deal with the tower master."
"And your unit," he said to Jeremiah, "will be responsible for capturing the Magic Tower itself."
Jeremiah bowed again. "Yes, Master."
The pieces were finally aligned.
In the distance, the Magic Tower loomed.
Two tower masters.
Two philosophies.
And a battle that would decide Ephor's magical authority.
The stage is set.