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."

darkly behind the

‘That guy.’

of

him during the

had not left a good impression. Maharana was one

back of

of the Maharana clan? Last I heard of him, he was a Master.

later, effortlessly pulling the information out of

has seen or heard of him in the last six months. He could have challenged the Third Nightmare

few moments,

can tell you who is behind the

certain before, but now,

of them looked at him, waiting for

forward a

was indeed Morgan... well, or at least Clan Valor. Of course, they never really intended to kill

Nephis nodded.

No one who would want to kill me is stupid enough to try so half-heartedly. But

grimaced behind

know your schedule, They also had to know that the Nightmare Gate would lure you into the open. Of course, the sniper could have tried to hit you on a crowded street, or even through several walls... but that park was too convenient 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 -

paused for a moment, then

that she wanted both. The Princess of War is very efficient, after all...

Effie frowned.

"Why do it, though?"

her silently for a

now. It is to discredit the government and gain leverage against

Jet chuckled.

that much leverage won't

Sunny nodded.

that is only because discrediting the government is merely a secondary goal of the entire

frowned, then

the primary goal,

sighed behind the

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 the Skinwalker. How

back and

of such rumors are spreading about Clan Song in the Sword Domain, as well. The Queen of Worms is a rotten fiend, she kills innocent people to enslave them into her undead army, the Song sisters feed on human blood stuff like that. All these rumors

remained silent

“...Justification."

Sunny nodded.

who will be fighting on the frontlines. I am sure there is a version of it for the vassal clans, as well, not that

faces of several people in

of course. But to those

tell her to ask her husband for an explanation, but held

war. An assassination of a royal is more than enough reason to drown the world in blood.

He chuckled coldly,

before the war. lіght~nоvel~world~c`о/m. In any

Sunny sighed.