The forest had finally grown quiet.
Smoke from the dying campfire drifted lazily into the afternoon sky.
The cries of battle had faded.
Now...
Only the sounds of ropes tightening around captured bandits and injured merchants receiving treatment remained.
Kael slowly walked across the clearing.
His boots stopped beside Rogan's unconscious body.
The former sergeant was beginning to stir.
Blood trickled down the side of his face where Kael's pommel had struck him.
His fingers twitched.
Then...
His eyes opened.
He blinked several times before realizing his hands were tied behind his back.
His sword was gone.
So was his freedom.
Rogan looked up.
Kael stood before him.
Not smiling.
Not angry.
Simply watching.
"You..."
Rogan laughed bitterly.
"...I underestimated you."
Kael folded his arms.
"You underestimated everyone."
Walter finished wrapping the wounded merchant's shoulder before joining them.
"The old man will live."
"Good."
Kael nodded.
He looked back toward Rogan.
"I have questions."
The bandit smirked.
"And if I don't answer?"
Kael crouched until they were eye-level.
"Then you'll answer them before an Imperial judge."
The smile disappeared.
"You know what happens to organized bandits?"
Silence.
"They're executed."
Another pause.
"But..."
Kael continued calmly.
"Men who cooperate with an Imperial investigation often receive lighter sentences."
Rogan looked away.
"I've heard enough promises from nobles."
Kael stood.
"I'm not asking you to trust me."
"I'm asking you to decide whether the man who hired you deserves your loyalty."
That sentence...
Made Rogan hesitate.
The system quietly appeared.
"Interrogation Assistance Activated"
Subject Emotional State:
Fear: 62% Loyalty: 18% Regret: 47%
Recommendation:
Continue applying psychological pressure.
Kael dismissed the notification.
He already knew what to do.
"You were an Imperial soldier."
Rogan's eyes widened slightly.
"I can tell."
"You still sharpen your sword like a military man."
"Your camp rotates guards every four hours."
"You placed archers above the clearing."
"Those aren't habits common thieves learn."
Rogan remained silent.
Kael continued.
"So..."
"What happened?"
For the first time...
The bandit's expression changed.
Not anger.
Sadness.
"The war."
His voice was barely above a whisper.
"When the northern campaign ended..."
"They discharged us."
"No pensions."
"No land."
"No work."
He laughed bitterly.
"We were heroes one week..."
"...beggars the next."
Walter quietly lowered his head.
Even Bram looked uncomfortable.
"We tried farming."
Rogan continued.
"The drought came."
"We tried guarding caravans."
"No one could afford us."
His hands clenched behind his back.
"So..."
"When a noble offered gold..."
"We took it."
Kael narrowed his eyes.
"What, noble?"
Silence.
Rogan slowly smiled.
"There it is."
"The real question."
Kael didn't answer.
He simply waited.
The former sergeant looked toward the forest canopy.
"You know..."
"I never wanted to rob farmers."
"I never wanted to hurt children."
"But hungry men stop caring about pride."
His eyes returned to Kael.
"You want the truth?"
Kael nodded once.
"Yes."
Rogan laughed softly.
"The man paying us..."
"...isn't the Baron."
Everyone froze.
Walter frowned.
"What?"
Kael's expression remained calm.
"Continue."
"The Baron's steward."
Rogan answered.
"Lord Halwen never met us."
"He never needed to."
"A man named..."
He hesitated.
"...Marcus."
"He delivered food."
"Weapons."
"Coin."
"And names."
"What names?"
"Merchants carrying tax records."
"Villages refusing new taxes."
"Travelers asking too many questions."
The clearing became deathly silent.
Edwin's face turned pale.
"I know that name."
Everyone looked toward him.
"Marcus Vayne."
"The Baron's chief administrator."
"He controls the tax offices."
"He signs collection orders."
Walter's fists tightened.
"So the Baron keeps his hands clean..."
"...while Marcus does the dirty work."
Kael slowly nodded.
"Exactly."
Before anyone could speak again—
A whistle echoed from the trees.
FWEEEET!
Bram turned immediately.
"Movement!"
Three crossbow bolts shot from the forest.
THUNK!
One struck a nearby tree.
Another buried itself in a wagon.
The third...
Pierced Rogan's chest.
His eyes widened.
Blood filled his mouth.
"No!"
Kael rushed forward.
Walter immediately pressed both hands against the wound.
"Stay with us!"
Rogan coughed violently.
"...They..."
Blood spilled across his lips.
"...always..."
"...silence..."
"...their own..."
His breathing became shallow.
He looked directly at Kael.
"...don't..."
"...trust..."
"...Marcus..."
Then...
His head slowly fell to one side.
The forest became silent once again.
Walter removed his hands.
"...He's gone."
No one spoke.
Even the captured bandits stared in horror.
One whispered,
"They killed him..."
Another slowly backed away.
"It wasn't supposed to happen..."
"They promised..."
Kael stood.
His face had become unreadable.
He looked toward the tree line.
"They're still here."
Bram gripped his shovel.
"I'll hunt them."
Kael raised a hand.
"No."
Everyone looked confused.
"We don't know how many."
"We don't know where."
"And that's exactly what they want."
The system appeared.
"Quest Updated"
Broken Chains
✔ Capture the Bandit Leader
❌ Leader Eliminated
New Objective:
Identify Marcus Vayne.
Progress:
1%
Reward Updated
???
Kael stared at the screen for a moment before dismissing it.
His first real lead...
Had just died.
That evening, as the group escorted the rescued merchants back toward Blackwood, no one celebrated.
They had won.
The prisoners were safe.
The bandits had been defeated.
Yet something about the victory felt incomplete.
Someone powerful had just reached into the forest...
...and erased a witness.
Miles away...
Inside Baron Halwen's estate...
A man in expensive gray robes quietly removed a pair of leather gloves.
Marcus Vayne.
Unlike the Baron, Marcus wasn't charming.
He wasn't loud.
He wasn't even particularly memorable.
That was precisely why he was dangerous.
A hooded assassin knelt before him.
"The target is dead."
Marcus nodded once.
"No survivors among our men?"
"None."
"Good."
He walked toward a large map hanging on the wall.
His finger rested on one location.
Blackwood Manor.
"So..."
He smiled faintly.
"The prince has finally stepped onto the board."
He picked up a black chess piece shaped like a dragon.
Then placed a white pawn directly in front of it.
"Let's see..."
"...whether you know how to play this game."
The candlelight flickered.
Outside, thunder rolled across the distant mountains.
A storm...
Was coming.