Shadow Slave

After Sunny was Introduced to the general shape of the plot, more technical details had to be discussed. The war was approaching swiftly, and at least three of the six conspirators would have to participate in the bloodshed directly.

The other three could be drawn into the deadly game between the two Sovereigns, as well. Both the government and the House of Night were desperately trying to maintain neutrality... but it was unknown if the Great Clans would cross the line in exerting pressure, thus making at least one of the neutral sides an accomplice in the Domain War.

Jet seemed a little troubled.

"Our position was more or less stable before. But now, with that damned assassination attempt... I don't know. The situation is unclear."

She glanced at Cassie and raised an eyebrow.

The blind seer seemed distracted for a moment, then said quietly:

"The news is spreading like wildfire, both in the waking world and in the Dream Realm. By now, it's all people are talking about. Everyone is outraged, of course... even the Legacy Clans are incensed. The situation is much more fiery in the Sword Domain - incendiary, even - but the Song Domain is reacting badly, too, Neph's influence transcends borders.”

Jet frowned.

"That was fast. Too fast, even"

Cassle nodded.

"Someone has been prepared. They are adding oil to the fire."

As everyone fell silent, Nephis said in an even tone:

"I wonder... who is responsible, this time."

Jet looked at her, lingered for a few moments, and smiled crookedly.

"It wasn't your own performance?"

Nephis frowned slightly, not exactly offended by her words, but seemingly displeased. Her answer was short:

"No."

Sunny listened with interest.

Actually, he had considered that the whole thing was staged by Cassie, as well. That would be in line with both her goal and her cunning. However, a few things didn't add up.

Nephis leaned back and sighed.

"My first thought was that it had been planned by Morgan. But it's not really her style... if Morgan was behind the assassination, there would have been countless victims among the government soldiers. She is always thorough, after all."

Jet crossed her arms, considering. Eventually, she simply shook her head and said with a hint of frustration in her volce:

"Then who the hell did it? It couldn't have really been Song, could it?"

Kai seemed troubled, as well. He remained silent for a while before saying cautiously;

"Actually, it could have been. Princess Morgan was right when she said that there aren't a lot of archers in the world who can pull off something like that. The two prime suspects, coincidentally, are from the Song Domain. One is Silent Stalker. The other is Dar of the Maharana clan."

smiled darkly behind the

‘That guy.’

Dar of

to boot. Sunny had brushed sides with him during the Dreamscape Tournament, almost catching a few of those arrows

impression. Maharana was one of the

the back of

clan? Last I heard of him, he was a Master. Where is he

pulling the information out of her

presumably still a Master. Although... no one has seen or heard of him in the last six months. He could have challenged the Third Nightmare and

moments, then spoke in his usual aloof

can tell you who is behind the assassination

been certain before, but now,

looked at him,

forward

Nephis. It was indeed Morgan... well, or at least Clan

Nephis nodded.

is stupid enough to

grimaced behind the

of a location for that kind of attack to be a coincidence. I am pretty sure that Morgan knew about the Gate in advance and chose the location of our meeting accordingly - 1 assumed that she wanted to gauge my power, but she simply wanted to deliver you to the Impact

paused for a moment, then shook his

that she wanted both. The Princess of War is very efficient, after all... her actions rarely pursue only one

Effie frowned.

"Why do it, though?"

her silently for

fellow government representatives are suffering the outcome right now. It is to discredit the government and gain leverage against it. Soul Reaper mentioned that your position has been destabilized...

Jet chuckled.

won't be enough. Well... most

Sunny nodded.

the government is merely a secondary goal of the entire

then asked him

is the

behind the

Domain about Clan Valor. How people from the Sword Domain are monopolizing resource shipments from the waking world to make their lives more miserable. How most of the elders of Valor, including the King of Swords himself, have been taken by

back

undead army, the Song sisters feed on human blood stuff like that. All these rumors are false, naturally... well, except that last one. That one might actually be true. In any case,

He remained silent for a few moments,

“...Justification."

Sunny nodded.

sure there is a version of it for the vassal clans, as well, not that those have a lot of choice when it comes to obeying

several people in

know it, of course. But to those of

tempted to tell her to ask her husband for an explanation, but held himself back. Instead, he

There is not much to explain. Casus belli is just a fancy term for justification. An official reason given when starting a war. An assassination of a royal is

He chuckled coldly,

would have expected Valor to actually kill one of their Saints in order to have a more solid claim. But either someone among them is growing soft, or they can't allow themselves to lose even a single Transcendent before the war. lіght~nоvel~world~c`о/m. In any case... someone attempts to kill Changing Star, humanity's favorite Saint, and both of

Sunny sighed.