The Daqian Empire. The Eighth Year of the Mingjing Era, ninth month, sixth day.
At noon, the sky was overcast. Lead-gray clouds hung low, so oppressive it was difficult to breathe.
Outside Yunze City, a grim, murderous aura hung over the wide-open plains.
Figures clad in uniform black martial robes converged from all directions.
The occasional clang of scabbards against armor plates rang out, crisp and cold.
In the blink of an eye, a dense, dark mass of over a thousand people had assembled.
This was nearly every mobile elite the Jingwu Bureau could muster, now gathered in one place.
Within the ranks, some whispered among themselves, speculating about the reason for this large-scale mobilization, their faces etched with confusion and unease.
A few tried to probe the Captains they knew for information, but were met only with cold glares or a harshly whispered reprimand:
"Silence! Await your orders!"
