The Drake Blood Tales

As over two weeks passed, while the group was still recovering, an urgent meeting was held at the League of Shadow headquarters in Namrud Kingdom, just past Mard City. It was a small village with an underground fortress, deep beneath the surface. Despite its seemingly empty appearance, every shadowy corner echoed with whispers, as members of various professions—assassins, thieves, bounty hunters, and many others—conversed quietly.

At the deepest level of the fortress, a long rectangular table stood, surrounded by ten chairs, decorating a small room. There, the ten top members of the League of Shadow gathered.

A tall, brutish man with black skin, long hair, and a beard: Wagela Storm Hawk, Rank 10 member of the League of Shadow.

A bald, pale blue-skinned orc with a scar across his face: Muz'Nasr, the leader of the Ten Daggers Guild, Rank 9 of the League of Shadow.

A tall female elf with ruby-like short hair: Tindara CraveMoon, the legendary Storm Chaser and mentor of the Shadow Messenger Guild, Rank 8 of the League of Shadow.

A short, wavy-haired tan woman with her eyes covered by a blindfold: Cintya Latufa, leader of the Magalic Desert Watchers, Rank 7 of the League of Shadow.

A dark, pale-skinned tall male elf with a beard and mustache covering his face: Makoda of Numen, the wise sage of the Mage Society Mahgad Country Branch, Rank 6 of the League of Shadow.

A black-haired male goblin with a burn scar covering his forehead: Gob'Goro Lel, the Harvester of Trade, leader of the Arkhari Black Market, Rank 5 of the League of Shadow.

A red-haired female goblin with ponytails: Chen Mei, the Eyes of the Storm, leader of the Arkhari Bounty Hunter Guild, Rank 4 of the League of Shadow.

A buff man with long black hair, his right eye covered by an eye patch: Aguila, the Night Talon, co-founder of the Night Raven Mercenary Guild, Rank 3 of the League of Shadow.

A lizardman with green scales and red eyes: Dultz, leader of the Eastern Pirate Alliance, Rank 2 of the League of Shadow.

A pale-skinned man with white hair and visible fangs: Malik, the Warbringer, leader of the League of Shadow, Rank 1.

"I see, so we lost four extraordinary members in such a short time," said Dultz, his tone heavy.

"Quite unexpected, but considering the Night Raven was involved twice, it's just misfortune on our side," added Gob'Goro Lel.

As the tension in the room rose, Chen Mei broke the silence. "Well, I guess it's best to rethink our decisions, especially hearing that Yarinaga and Utakata are forming a truce to address this cultist problem. Moreover, it seems that Sawabe's boy was implicated as part of the cultists."

Malik nodded, seemingly in agreement. "All Utakata contracts involving the Crow, Yarinaga, and their guest will soon become ineffective—for the time being," he stated calmly.

"But there's a catch, isn't there?" Wagela asked, narrowing his eyes at Malik.

"It's no secret that certain plots are in motion, whatever they may be," added Cintya, her blindfolded gaze unwavering.

Malik nodded once more. "Utakata wants us to take care of the Crow and his siblings after the cultist problem is resolved."

This revelation sent a wave of shock through the room. "That would mean war with the Night Raven," Aguila said slowly, his voice tinged with unease.

Dultz grinned, his sharp teeth glinting. "As bad as it gets, that means you'll have your rematch, right, bud?" he said, taunting Aguila.

"Stop it, you overgrown crocodile," Muz'Nasr snapped, clearly irritated by Dultz's provocation.

Tindara and Chen Mei cast cold, disapproving glares at Dultz, but he simply shrugged, unbothered. "What? He definitely wants it, doesn't he?" Dultz said with a mocking laugh.

"That's enough," Malik said firmly, his voice cutting through the tension like a blade. "I need all of you to focus our resources. Ensuring the elimination of our target is the priority, but our challenge lies in doing this swiftly and discreetly, without drawing the attention of the Night Raven."

Malik continued, "Fighting the entire Night Raven would be like putting a knife to our own throats. If we intend to face Raven Beak, we must be at full strength."

Everyone in the room nodded in agreement, fully aware of Raven Beak's reputation—a legendary figure said to be as powerful as the Demon King himself.

"But there's one thing I've heard," Tindara spoke up, drawing every gaze toward her.

"The Crow and his brother... they're the sons of Katheryne Sherwood, aren't they?"

A heavy silence settled over the room, and glances were exchanged. It was as though an old, buried secret had been unearthed, one that none of them wanted to confront.

Breaking the silence, Makoda's calm voice cut through the tension. "What belongs to the past should stay there. Let it remain buried. We owe nothing to her, and certainly not to her children. Our focus should remain on the real problem. If Utakata wants those kids dead, then so be it—it's better that way."

As his words echoed in the chamber, the room fell silent once more.

Malik stood up, his presence commanding the room. "Makoda is right. Regardless of what happened in the past, those kids are now their own problem, unbound by their parents. Make no hesitation—this is a matter we handle as a group. These people killed Nagasaki, Hatsuki, Mu Xianshi, and Barn. They are not your everyday targets. For now, we plan our moves carefully. None of you are to use your power for personal glory or do anything that might alert the Night Raven. Especially you, Aguila."

Malik's gaze turned to Aguila, his deadly cold eyes piercing through him.

Dultz quickly intervened, trying to ease the tension. "Relax, boss. I'll go with our old pal here and make sure he doesn't do anything stupid."

The room filled with silent, heavy glares exchanged among the members. Finally, Malik spoke again. "Very well. You are all dismissed for now."

With that, each figure dissolved into shadow, disappearing at speeds that defied mortal comprehension.

"Hm... Katheryne, huh? I guess it's no accident her children are here," Malik murmured to himself.

He rose from his seat and stepped into a room hidden behind his chair.

Inside, thousands of swords lined the walls, each gleaming with an aura of history and power. Among them, a long spear with a frozen edge at its blade tip stood out prominently.

"This... this is the best time to use it," Malik said softly, his voice carrying a mix of resolve and anticipation.

Engraved on the spear's body, in elegant Elven script, were the words: "Malik Sherwood."

At the Drake Blood mansion, Samhain updated everyone on recent events and managed to contact former servants who had completed their contracts, seeking their aid. Meanwhile, Dofan ventured to the capital city, The White Capital, a sprawling metropolis protected by towering 100-meter walls painted in elegant white with golden ornaments.

Since its founding by Ruben White, the Whiteford Kingdom had been regarded as the strongest nation in the land. A bastion of unity, it was home to every known race. By the current year, 1283 AU (After Unification), no kingdom had come close to rivaling Whiteford's strength or grandeur.

Dofan found himself walking through the elite district, approaching a colossal estate. The mansion before him dwarfed the Drake Blood mansion—its size overwhelming at 25 times the scale. The walls of the grand structure were painted in a harmonious mix of white, gray, and cyan, adorned with intricate detailing that spoke of unparalleled craftsmanship.

"Here I am again," Dofan mumbled as he entered the estate.

A pair of guards stationed at the entrance greeted him respectfully.

"Oh, it's you, Sir Dofan. Welcome back to Sherwood Mansion," one of the guards said.

"Are Mom and Dad here?" Dofan asked, his tone neutral but with a hint of hope.

The guards exchanged a hesitant glance, their silence telling.

"I'm sorry, Sir Dofan, but your parents have already left. They're accompanying Lord Diemos to meet the King," one of them finally replied.

"The King has decreed an emergency meeting. Many of the family elders have already gone there," another guard added. "They say war might break out with the Numen Kingdom, Trisfal Kingdom, and Fonta Aria Kingdom."

This revelation left Dofan stunned. "Before I left, I knew the political situation wasn't great, but what could have happened to make all our neighboring countries want to fight us?" he asked, his voice tinged with shock.

Before the guards could reply, a soft, seductive chuckle came from behind him, accompanied by a gentle, playful tone.

"Well, you can't blame royals for being selfish. I guess it runs in their blood," a woman said.

Dofan turned around, only to freeze in place, astonished by the sight of someone who looked almost identical to Katheryne Sherwood.

"Auntie Katharina?" he stammered.

"Hey, I'm not as old as my late sister," she replied with a teasing smile. "It's not polite to call me that. Besides, we're not so different in age, are we?"

Dofan quickly apologized.

Katharina waved it off with a dismissive gesture. "Well, since you're back home, why not take a tour of the house?" she suggested.

"I'm sorry, but I'm in a hurry," Dofan replied apologetically.

Katharina's expression briefly showed disappointment, but she nodded in understanding. Before he left, Dofan asked about the whereabouts of Katharina's husband.

"Oh, Aliando? He's probably at the market, looking for a gift for Uncle Galado. His birthday is coming up soon," she said with a smile.

"Thanks, Katharina. There's something I need to discuss with him," Dofan replied, immediately turning to leave.

Katharina watched him go, waving after him with a fond smile. It was clear that, despite lacking extraordinary talent, Dofan was well-respected and liked within the House of Sherwood. His benevolent and kind nature, always striving to help others, had earned him that admiration.

As Dofan made his way through the massive market of the White Capital, he couldn't shake the feeling of being watched. The crowd made it impossible to pinpoint who or what was behind it, but the sensation lingered.

After some time, he finally spotted Nagal, an Orc professor who had once been Dofan's private tutor.

"Ah, Dofan, it's been a while," said Nagal warmly.

"Owh, Mentor, it's been a while indeed. It's nice to see you again," Dofan replied with a smile.

The two walked into a nearby restaurant and sat down, catching up over a light meal. Dofan began sharing his current life situation with his former mentor.

"I see. It seems the situation is dire," Nagal commented, his expression serious.

"I've heard tensions are brewing. What's going on with the other countries?" Dofan asked, leaning forward eagerly.

After a moment of thought, Nagal explained, "The truth is, something is stirring up the political landscape. Probably the cultists, but I suspect there are other issues at play. Some local papers have reported that certain noble factions within Whiteford are suspected of working with the cultists."

"What?!" Dofan exclaimed, his face a mix of shock and concern.

"Yes, and there's more," Nagal continued. "The Nomadic People have been acquiring significant amounts of land along the coastal north of the Numen Kingdom. There's a rumor circulating that they plan to establish their own nation."

"How are the other countries reacting to this?" Dofan asked, his curiosity piqued.

"The reactions are mixed, as you'd expect. Myriad Country, Lorenstein Kingdom, and Merida Kingdom are supportive, seeing this as an opportunity to open new trade routes directly to the Nomadic People. On the other hand, Fonta Aria and Siofia share their concerns. Meanwhile, Rimba Republic and Numen Kingdom are outright opposed. And then there's the Dustin Empire to the north, currently embroiled in civil war. Some speculate that the Nomadic People are supplying the rebels, but that's just a rumor for now," Nagal explained, taking a sip of his tea.

"What a mess," Dofan muttered, his face clouded with worry. "With the rise of Artyam Country on the Merk continent, which directly opposes us, we've already lost contact with Pegasus Port in Merk. Those people rely on the Nomadic People for survival until Whiteford can establish another supply route."

His voice trailed off as he thought about the Paladins left at Pegasus Port, stranded in the escalating turmoil.

"Hey, Mentor, may I ask something personal?" Dofan asked, his expression suddenly turning cold.

Nagal's brow furrowed with concern. "What is it?"

"Do you know about the Barnes case?" Dofan asked, his tone sharp and direct.

Nagal's face froze, his expression turning cold and unreadable. A long silence followed, but his blank stare told Dofan everything he needed to know—his mentor's silence was an unspoken yes.

"There's something I need to clarify," Dofan said as he reached into his pocket, revealing Barnes' amulet.