The wind whistled between the high walls of the Arashi Estate, making the large reinforced glass panels protecting the property tremble.
Located on the outskirts of the capital, the mansion of this founding family looked more like a fortress than a home.
The thick walls, immense gates, and security systems reminded every visitor that the Arashis were not an ordinary family, but one of the most powerful bloodlines in the world.
Alaric Weiss, a professor of history and energy analysis at the Central Academy, pulled up the collar of his coat to protect himself from the cold.
His shoes sank slightly into the perfectly clean gravel of the main driveway as he made his way toward the entrance.
He knew the clan well enough to understand that a simple summons could hide a much more serious request, and that thought made every one of his steps feel heavier.
At the entrance to the enormous cedar gates, two heavily built men were already waiting.
Their elegant attire could have made them look like simple butlers assigned to welcome guests, but their demeanor revealed another reality.
They stood straight, silent, and alert, watching every movement with the efficiency of genuine bodyguards.
“Good morning, Mr.
Weiss,” one of the two men said in a polite but cold voice.
“Please present the document proving that Patriarch Okontek Arashi has indeed summoned you.” Alaric slipped a hand into his satchel and pulled out a letter bearing the Commission’s official symbol.
He handed it to the guard, and almost immediately, he felt the air around him change.
An invisible pressure weighed down on his chest and made breathing more difficult.
It was a method well known among the Arashis: increasing the air pressure to remind visitors that they were standing on territory controlled by their clan.
The guard passed the document in front of a small verification device.
A few seconds later, a green light appeared on the screen.
The pressure then slightly decreased, finally allowing Alaric to breathe normally.
“Very well.
The summons is valid.
You may enter.” The enormous gates slowly opened with a deep rumble.
Alaric crossed the entrance and discovered a property that looked more like a military facility than a family residence.
The gardens were impeccably maintained, but no part of the estate gave any impression of relaxation.
Even the areas intended for rest seemed to have been designed with the discipline and rigidity characteristic of the Arashis.
On the large gray stone slabs, several young clan members trained without interruption.
Their movements were fast and precise, but above all, extremely violent.
They concentrated the air around their arms, created powerful pressures, or formed currents sharp enough to slice through the dead leaves crossing their training grounds.
“Good grief…” Alaric murmured as he watched one of the young fighters spit blood before immediately resuming his exercise.
“Your clan really hasn’t changed.
Even outside times of war, you still push your children to their limits.” The butler continued walking without slowing down.
He seemed perfectly accustomed to seeing teenagers training themselves to exhaustion.
“That is Patriarch Okontek’s doctrine,” he replied.
“The Arashi family, like the Korolev, Nazari, Vane, and Kaneshiro bloodlines, prepares its children from an early age.
Every generation must learn to control its Spirit before being considered capable of representing the clan.” He briefly glanced at the young fighters.
“The Clan Succession War ended in 2052, but that does not mean the tensions disappeared.
The Five Families remain suspicious of one another.
The Investigation Commission prevented another open war, but it did not erase the rivalries that have existed for generations.” Alaric slowly nodded.
The guard’s words brought back many memories from his years of study and research.
The history of Spirit had always been intertwined with power struggles, wars, and attempts by the great bloodlines to establish dominance.
“My ancestors told me some of those stories,” the professor replied as he walked through the estate’s long corridors.
“Back then, Spirit had not yet reached the level we know today.
Before the famous rupture and before the 2054 laboratory incident, very few people were capable of using this force.
They were simply called the Awakened.” Alaric sighed softly.
“The Five Great Families controlled almost all known Awakened and eventually took control of that energy.
Governments were no longer capable of imposing their laws on them.
So they sought to capture the few users living among the population in order to create their own fighters.
Meanwhile, the Families continued their conflicts in secret, each one seeking to preserve its influence.” The butler allowed himself a small smile, as if he appreciated the professor’s historical knowledge.
“I see you know quite a bit about the history of those who employ you.
It was precisely during that period that a group of Awakened decided to oppose this situation.
They wanted to create an organization capable of bringing together the military strength of several regions and putting an end to the wars between the clans.
That organization eventually became what we now know as the Investigation Commission.” The guard eventually stopped in front of a large double door.
The dark wood was almost black, and the crest of the wind was engraved at its center.
The atmosphere in the corridor already seemed different, heavier and quieter, as if even the walls knew who was waiting behind that door.
“I’ll leave you here,” the butler announced, slightly bowing his head.
“The Patriarch is waiting for you behind this door.
It was a pleasure speaking with you, Mr.
Weiss.” “The pleasure was mine,” Alaric replied courteously.
The professor took a deep breath before placing one hand on one of the doors.
He knew he was about to meet a man whose reputation extended far beyond the walls of the estate, and he forced himself to maintain a calm demeanor despite the tension already tightening his stomach.
Then he pushed the doors open and entered.
The office was enormous, but plunged into almost complete darkness.
The heavy curtains allowed only a faint gray light from the windows to enter, while an unsettling silence filled the room.
Behind a large dark wooden desk, a figure sat with his back turned, staring at the clouds above the capital.
The man did not need to turn around to make his presence felt.
Okontek Arashi.
The Patriarch slowly turned his chair.
His face was hard, marked by years of war and difficult decisions.
His gray eyes settled directly on Alaric, and the professor immediately felt the invisible pressure of the air increase slightly around him.
“Professor Alaric Weiss,” Okontek said in a deep voice.
“I have studied your report concerning the attack on the Central Academy and the theft of the artifact.
If I understand your timeline correctly, this object disappeared exactly three days ago.” Alaric discreetly swallowed.
Every breath required slightly more effort under the Patriarch’s pressure.
“Yes, sir.
That is what the server records show.
The system indicates that an A-level access authorization was used less than seventy-two hours ago.
Someone therefore prepared this operation before carrying it out.” Okontek clasped his large hands together in front of him.
An expression of disgust crossed his face.
“Such a serious error on the part of Mazen Nazari and the Academy’s security is hardly acceptable,” he declared.
“An object this important should not be able to disappear right under the noses of those supposedly responsible for protecting it.
This is a humiliation for all the Families.” His voice became colder.
“But the Arashis will not remain idle while the Commission is still searching for a direction.” Alaric felt his heart begin to race.
Whenever the Five Families decided to take part directly in an investigation, the consequences often went far beyond the original problem.
A simple search for a culprit could quickly become a political matter, or even lead to another confrontation between different powers.
“My nephew will handle what comes next,” Okontek announced.
“A complete inspection must be carried out at the Academy as well as within the Commission’s ranks.
Through my contacts on the Council, I have ensured that he receives immediate special authorization to join Captain Thiago Vane’s division as an external agent.” Alaric’s eyes widened slightly.
He understood the decision, but not the identity of the person chosen.
Yet he already suspected that this appointment would complicate Thiago’s work more than it would help him.
“You will relay this information to the Academy Director as soon as you return,” Okontek ordered.
“I do not want any objections when he joins the next seminar.
Everything must be settled before operations begin.
Dismissed.” “Understood, sir.” Alaric quickly bowed before leaving.
The door closed behind him with a heavy sound, immediately cutting off the pressure that had filled the office.
As soon as he reached the corridor, the professor took a long breath.
He had waited until he was far enough away before relaxing his shoulders and returning to a normal breathing rhythm.
He then continued toward the estate’s exit, but his mind was still turning over everything he had just heard.
That old fool clearly wants to stick his nose into this matter, Alaric thought as he wiped a small bead of sweat from his forehead.
He wants to impose someone on the Commission’s investigation, both to monitor what’s happening and to defend the Arashis’ honor after what happened to Goman.
A bitter smile appeared on the professor’s lips.
But out of all the members of the clan capable of filling that role, he had to choose the one most likely to make the situation even more complicated.
Alaric already knew the name.
Jin Arashi.
He thought back to the young nobleman, his constant smile and the way he spoke as though he were always mocking the rules.
Yet Jin possessed a formidable intelligence and an ability to understand situations quickly, which made him even harder to control.
A nobleman with an arrogant smile, always ready to bend the rules whenever it suits him.
A true fox who enjoys playing with authority far too much.
Exactly what Thiago needed to make his investigation even more of a nightmare.
Alaric raised his eyes toward the gray sky visible beyond the estate’s enormous windows.
The wind was still blowing around the walls, but the professor paid it no attention anymore.
His thoughts were now focused on Captain Vane, who still had no idea that a new member was about to join his team.
Captain Vane… you already thought you had enough problems with this case.
Alaric gave one final smile.
This time, you’re really going to have your work cut out for you.
Good luck.