The reception hall of the inn was unusually quiet, with a tense atmosphere hanging in the air as everyone sat around the wooden table. The only source of light in the room was the flickering candle in the center, casting long shadows that seemed to stretch across the worn wooden floor. It was almost as if the flickering flame reflected the uncertainty in the hearts of those gathered.
Nile had just emerged from the basement after a long and thorough interrogation. He had spent the past twenty minutes questioning the lean goon, Lazy, and Mason, trying to piece together the puzzle of who was behind the attack. His expression was calm, but his eyes betrayed the weight of what he had just uncovered. The others were waiting for him to speak—everyone knew that what he had learned in those minutes could change everything.
Nile took a seat at the table, meeting the eyes of each person around him. He could feel their anxious gazes fixed on him, each of them hoping for clarity, for answers. It was time to give them the truth.
"The good news is," Nile began, his voice steady but carrying an edge of relief, "The Iron Fang Syndicate leader has taken all the other Level 3 members of the gang to the city. That means no reinforcements are coming, at least not before the day after tomorrow."
A collective sigh of relief swept through the room, but there was still a lingering tension in the air. Everyone knew this didn't mean they were completely safe—there were still many unknowns in the situation.
"That is… if the leader even gets the news, which I highly doubt," Nile added, his voice darkening with uncertainty.
The tension returned, but now it was tinged with a slight sense of hope. The immediate threat of more attackers had been removed. At least for now.
"But who gave the order?" Jessica asked, her voice sharp and focused, cutting through the air. Her eyes were filled with suspicion and concern. "It had to be Sid. Mason follows him. He must be behind this."
The question hung in the air for a moment, and Nile shook his head slowly, his gaze unwavering as he met Jessica's eyes. "Actually, no. Sid has nothing to do with this attack."
The words caught everyone by surprise. They were expecting him to confirm Jessica's suspicion, but instead, Nile's words shattered the assumption.
Jessica's face twisted in confusion, her brows knitting together. "What do you mean? Mason is one of Sid's followers. Why wouldn't Sid be involved?" she asked, unable to grasp the reasoning.
Nile exhaled deeply and leaned back in his chair, his eyes briefly closing as if gathering his thoughts. Then he began to explain, speaking slowly and deliberately, choosing his words carefully.
"It's not Sid. The attack was not part of Sid's plan." Nile's voice was firm, his confidence growing as he continued. "All three gangs have stationed their men around this inn. They had already been watching us closely. We weren't targeted because of Sid—we were marked as a threat to their plans for acquiring this inn."
The others exchanged confused glances, trying to piece together the new information. Sid, who they thought was the mastermind behind the attack, wasn't involved after all? The explanation didn't make sense at first, but Nile's words held weight.
"What do you mean?" Arin asked, his brow furrowing as he leaned forward, clearly intrigued. "Why would they see us as a threat?"
Nile continued, his voice steady. "When we arrived here last night, we were recorded as potential threats to their plans. This inn was part of their broader scheme, and when we showed up, it caused a disruption. The gang members immediately started keeping an eye on us."
Jessica frowned, her confusion deepening. "But… why would they attack us? Why would they come after us so aggressively?"
Nile paused before answering. "Greed," he said simply, his tone sharp. "When the temporary worker from the Fortune Trade House leaked our mana stone transaction to them, they saw an opportunity. They knew we were carrying valuable mana stones, and they thought they could steal them. It was all about greed. They thought that by eliminating us, they could claim the stones for themselves."
There was a long silence as everyone absorbed the weight of Nile's words. Greed had been the driving force behind the attack. It was not a personal vendetta, not a political move—it was simply a group of desperate men seeking to profit from others' misfortune.
Jessica leaned back in her chair, her mind working through the implications. Despite the revelation, a small, nagging doubt still lingered at the back of her mind. "But Mason…" she began, her voice unsure. "Mason is Sid's follower. He wouldn't have acted without Sid's approval. I don't understand."
Nile's gaze softened, and he sighed. "No, Jessica. Mason isn't a follower of Sid anymore. He's far more complicated than that."
He paused for a moment before continuing, his voice dropping to a low, serious tone. "Mason is the younger brother of the Iron Fang Syndicate leader. He's not just some lackey. He's a member of a powerful family."
The room fell silent at this revelation. Jessica blinked, processing the new information, but the others had no such hesitations.
"What?" Jessica gasped, her eyes wide. "Mason is part of the Syndicate? But that means…"
Nile nodded grimly. "Yes. He is. And to make matters more complicated, Mason is also the illegitimate child of Edric Vayne, the Village Head of Ravenspire Village. Ironfang syndicate leader and Mason share the same bloodline, and Mason's role is far more dangerous than if he were just Sid's subordinate."
There was a stunned silence as everyone absorbed the new information. Mason, the kis they had just captured, wasn't just some random thug; he was part of a dangerous, powerful family that had its own ambitions and designs.
"But Sid…" Arin began slowly, his voice filled with confusion. "What does Sid have to do with any of this?"
Nile's expression turned somber as he recounted the story he had learned from Mason's confession. He spoke of Sid's tragic fall from grace—the loss of his title as the heir to the town's leadership, the betrayal by his father, and the disgrace that had followed.
"Sid's father, the Town Mayor, fathered another son—a child with a double-attributed Soul Imprint. At the age of four, no less." Nile paused, his voice heavy with the weight of the story. "Sid was stripped of his title as the Young Lord. His father no longer acknowledged him as the heir. And just like that, Sid was cast aside. He was expelled from the family estate and forced to fend for himself."
The room was deathly silent. Sid's life had been upended in the cruelest way possible. All his dreams, all his plans, had been shattered in a single night.
"But despite everything, Sid hasn't given up. His martial heart is still strong. He's determined to continue his cultivation and rise again." Nile's voice softened with a touch of admiration. "I respect that. His resolve is unbroken, even after everything he's lost."
Jessica sat back in her chair, stunned by the revelation. "So, Mason's ambitions led him to act on his own. He thought he could take advantage of the situation."
Nile nodded. "Exactly. Mason saw an opportunity to rise on his own. He thought that if he could claim the inn and the mana stones, he could carve out a place for himself. But this attack wasn't planned by Sid. Sid has enough to deal with on his own without worrying about the inn."
There was another long silence as everyone reflected on the complexity of the situation. The connections between Sid, Mason, and the other gangs were more intricate than they had initially realized. The attack on the inn was just one part of a much larger puzzle.