Due to unforeseen weather, Shadow and Leo arrived two days later to Lankani City. They came only a day after Goblin and Mouse did. Upon arrival, the mermanian guard saluted Leo and told him about Mouse and Goblin earlier appearance.
Leo and Shadow looked at each other and knew they could be real, or they could be fakes, but they couldn't trust it regardless. Leo and Shadow headed straight to the council's palace.
A tan-skinned man with a thin beard came out to meet them as they arrived. "Leo! Shadow! I'm glad to see you both are well." This man was the only earthling on the council. After branding Leo, a traitor Aarav fled to Lankani City to take up the position permanently.
"Aarav. You seem well." The two men smiled at each other and hugged one another. Shadow just nodded, and Aarav smiled back at her. He knew if he tried to hug her, she might kill him.
"Why didn't you and Lucy come to visit me before this?"
"We were training." Leo sighed and then explained that Team Zodiac took Lucy.
"I'm sorry, Leo, but I have bad news for you."
A look of worry washed over Leo's face. Even Shadow started to worry. Over time in Machu Pichu, her and Lucy had gotten closer.
"The Renegades fleet was destroyed by the mermanians the day you said Team Zodiac captured Lucy."
"What?" Leo was floored. He started to wonder was she returned before the mermanian attacked.
"I know how you feel. Even though I left them too, there were several humans aboard who died a horrible death."
Shadow stayed quiet while Leo looked for the words to say. After sitting in silence, the question that popped into his head was why the mermanians attacked. Mermanians were more retaliators than warmongers.
"Why did they attack the human fleet?"
"This is the interesting part. About a week or so ago, assassins tried to kill the leaders of all four races. The mermanians lost their True Queen, the beastmen lost Unit 2, the winged human's pair of leaders were wounded, and some draconian that seized control since Charir-dar was wounded in your war. Three died, and two were wounded. It caused all of the races to take a more aggressive approach."
Leo mind was blown. It seemed like the whole was turned upside down. Something stuck out to Leo was someone attacked all the forces. "Could it be the same purple-men from a few days ago?"
"Purple-men?" asked Aarav.
"Oh yes. Can we go somewhere private?"
Aarav looked at Leo. His serious expression told Aarav that this was urgent. "Yes. Come inside. We have such a room. Mind if I allow other council members in?"
"Not at all. Let us go inside."
Aarav led Leo and Shadow inside. Once they were inside, Ab-dab and Sargt joined the three of them. Leo welcomed these old friends and then got down to business.
"So, there is a new enemy race."
The three council members traded looks but weren't surprised too much. They suspected a new enemy had to be the one who attacked the leaders.
"The thing is they can disguise themselves as us. They can replicate our moves, techniques, and our mana."
"They can do what!" Almost all three responded at the same time.
"He's telling the truth. The Goblin and Mouse who came here yesterday was probably this new enemy. Both of them vanished in the attack a few days ago."
Ab-dab and Sargt turned to Aarav, and he just looked down at the ground.
"Aarav, what did you do?"
"I gave them a lot of information."
Leo looked at his friend and knew he was going through a big dilemma. He just single-handily gave away information on all the races that they will use to kill thousands with. Leo walked over and placed his hand on his shoulder.
"It's alright. You didn't know." Leo shot the two council members a look to see how they were processing this new bit of news.
Seeing the room go silent, Ab-dab broke the silence and said, "the mermanians want to hold a treaty convention here in Lankani City. The winged humans have agreed. The draconians declined, and the beastmen are still deciding."
Sargt then added in, "Leo, we would like Machu Pichu to join the treaty also. We know you have two Construct warriors."
Leo was surprised at the council's information network, but it made sense with all of the races present here in the city.
"Sargt, I don't have the authority to commit to a treaty, but I'll pass the message to Raindrop. She can talk with Mallqui to decide the matter. Though, Mallqui might not agree without the Construct warrior's approval first."
Leo wanted to explain that both of them went into a deep meditation to recover their strength. Knowing how they leaked information on the other races so quickly, he decided to keep that intel to himself.
Seeing Leo not explain Machu Pichu's situation clearly, Shadow silently agreed. They couldn't trust anyone anymore.
Aarav stayed quiet. He looked around feeling ashamed and a failure as a leader on the council. Aarav pushed the feeling aside to focus on the treaty that was to happen soon. At that moment, he remembered that Unity College was to hold a competition for students at the College.
"Leo, we can discuss the treaty after contacting Raindrop. Would you and Shadow mind helping with a tournament in four days?"
"A tournament?" Leo questioned.
"Yes, Unity College is hosting it for its students. The champions of the tournament will then enter Bhrama's palace to train."
Leo smiled at hearing that his earlier project worked out and the first batch of students was finally graduating. "Aarav, I'd love to help."
"Me too," Shadow said chiming in.
Sargt and Ab-dab left to send the message to Raindrop. Aarav brought Leo and Shadow to the college to talk to the instructors of the college.