As soon as the door opened, a tall man with a massive build stepped inside the room. He was wearing a white shirt with the top three buttons left open, exposing part of his chest. A huge scar stretched across it — fully healed, yet still leaving behind a deep mark that instantly caught attention.
The moment he entered, his eyes landed on Chris.
Chris immediately stood up and bowed respectfully. Seeing that reaction, Leo and Ray instantly understood who the man was.
This was Vortan Wells.
Without wasting another second, Leo and Ray bowed as well.
Vortan didn't say a single word at first. He simply walked toward his chair and sat down calmly. After that, he opened one of the drawers and started searching for something inside while the room remained completely silent.
As he continued searching, he finally spoke.
"Chris… you've grown quite a lot."
Chris, who had been staring at him nervously the entire time, still managed to answer.
"Well… I've become a Captain now. And along with that… there's a huge responsibility on my shoulders too."
A few seconds later, Vortan finally found the cigar he was looking for. He lit it up, took a long drag, and slowly released the smoke into the air.
"When you were a kid," Vortan said with a faint smirk, "you were nothing but trouble. Always causing chaos and fooling around. Honestly… it's hard to believe you've actually grown up."
Chris laughed softly after hearing that.
Vortan then took another long drag from his cigar before speaking again.
"I read in the newspaper that some unknown people attacked your base."
Chris nodded before replying.
"Those were cultists."
The atmosphere inside the chamber instantly became serious.
Chris slowly looked directly into Vortan's eyes before continuing.
"There have been many murders happening in Norvia recently. I investigated them myself and eventually found out that those cultists were behind everything."
Vortan quietly listened while holding the cigar between his fingers. Smoke slowly drifted through the room as he asked calmly,
"And how are you so sure that the cultists are behind all of this?"
Chris's expression didn't change at all.
"I'm sure because every murder started happening near the eastern side of Norvia. Then suddenly the murders stopped for a few months… but after that, they began again. And every single new murder happened in the same town where their base was hidden."
He paused for a second before continuing.
"I sent my Vice Captain, Skye, there for investigation. Eventually, we discovered their base. When we entered, we found three cultists inside and a fight broke out."
Leo and Ray silently listened from behind while Chris continued explaining everything.
"But during the battle, one of the cultists suddenly killed his own companions. After that, we managed to capture the last surviving cultist alive."
Vortan quietly took another drag from his cigar while Chris continued.
"And the reason the 6th Division base was attacked… was because those cultists came to retrieve the bodies of their dead comrades. Unfortunately, I wasn't at the base during the attack."
The room once again fell silent for a few moments.
"And the reason I'm certain they committed all those murders," Chris said firmly, "is because every victim was killed in exactly the same way. First, the head was cut off… and then the other body parts."
Vortan silently listened to everything before speaking again.
"I understand your reasoning. But if all of this happened in Norvia… then why have you come all the way to Greyrock?"
Chris answered immediately.
"Because during the interrogation of the last surviving cultist, we forced him to drink a magic potion that prevented him from lying. That's how we found out that the cultists are planning to attack Greyrock."
Vortan's eyes narrowed slightly after hearing that.
"But our squad members are spread all across Greyrock. None of them have seen or heard anything unusual. Honestly… I don't think any attack will happen here."
"No," Chris replied instantly. "An attack is definitely coming. And there are only a few weeks left before it happens."
For the first time, Vortan's expression became slightly serious.
"I see… so you came here for Greyrock's safety."
After that, Vortan leaned back into his chair and remained silent for a while, seemingly lost in thought. The orange sunset light coming from the window reflected across the smoke-filled room.
Finally, he spoke again.
"I can't help you directly."
Chris's eyes slightly narrowed, but he remained silent.
"There have been murders happening here in Greyrock as well," Vortan continued. "Recently, even people from influential families were killed. Because of that, the King of Morveth personally ordered me to investigate the case myself."
He slowly exhaled smoke before continuing.
"That's why I won't be able to help you directly. However… you're free to investigate on your own. And if you need any assistance, you can ask me anytime."
After saying that, Vortan took another long drag from his cigar before speaking once more.
"And… forgive me for not helping you earlier when you sent that letter asking for support. I received it. But the murders in Greyrock have become too frequent, so I had to assign most of my men to protect the city."
Chris simply smiled faintly.
"It's alright. I understand."
After that, Chris slowly stood up.
"Then we'll take our leave now, Sir Vortan. We still need to prepare for the investigation."
Vortan looked at Chris for a few seconds before smiling lightly.
"Alright. Stay careful."
Chris nodded before leaving the chamber along with Leo and Ray.
The heavy wooden door slowly closed behind them.
Now, only Vortan and Ken remained inside the room.
For a few moments, silence filled the chamber once again before Ken finally spoke.
"Captain… may I ask why you lied to Chris?"
Vortan quietly looked toward him.
"You told him that you couldn't help because murders were happening in Greyrock… but there haven't been any murders here recently."
Hearing that question, Vortan slowly closed his eyes.
And then…
A memory resurfaced inside his mind.
The very same day Chris's letter had arrived… another letter had also come from the King of Morveth himself.
Inside that letter was a direct order.
Vortan was forbidden from helping Chris in any way.
And to hide the truth… he was ordered to fabricate the entire story about the murders in Greyrock.
The memory disappeared.
Vortan slowly opened his eyes again before speaking in a low voice.
"You don't need to know about that, Ken."
Ken immediately lowered his head.
"Prepare a carriage for me. I need to meet the King of Morveth urgently."
"Yes, Captain."
Meanwhile, on the other side of the city…
Chris, Leo, and Ray had already left the 9th Division base.
Chris walked ahead of them with a faint smile on his face. Even after so many years, he still seemed genuinely happy that he had finally spoken with Vortan again.
Behind him, Leo and Ray quietly followed.
After walking for a while, Leo suddenly looked toward Ray and spoke softly.
"Doesn't it feel like Vortan was lying to us about those murders?"
Ray looked at him.
"Why do you think that?"
Leo crossed his arms while thinking carefully.
"Vortan said that he assigned most of the 9th Division members throughout Greyrock for protection… but we barely saw any division members in the city. Especially around the market area."
Ray stayed silent for a moment before replying.
"You're right… but we don't have any proof."
"And we can't tell Chris either," Leo muttered quietly. "He respects Vortan like an older brother."
Ray simply nodded in agreement.
A few moments later, the three of them entered a carriage and left the 9th Division headquarters behind.
As time passed, evening slowly turned into night.
Back inside the chamber of the 9th Division…
Vortan stood near the window while smoking another cigar. Outside, the sun was slowly disappearing beyond the horizon, painting the sky in dark orange and crimson colors.
Knock. Knock.
A voice came from outside the chamber.
"Captain, a letter has arrived from the King. There's also a box with it."
Ken entered the room and carefully placed both the letter and the small box on the table before quietly leaving again.
Vortan extinguished his cigar before slowly picking up the letter.
For a brief moment, his eyes shifted toward the box resting beside it.
It was small… ordinary… nothing special about it.
Vortan then opened the letter and began reading.
And the moment he finished…
The color drained from his face.
His hands slightly trembled.
A heavy tension instantly appeared in his eyes.
He swallowed nervously before slowly reaching toward the box.
Then…
He opened it.
Inside the box were five platinum coins, shining brightly under the fading sunset light.