In the past few days, they had collected more intel following the tracks of the prince's young son. Civilian statements, intercepted letters with coded language, and spy surveillance—all pointed to one man: Duke Angola.The General had already informed Leon about the contents of Cheri's intercepted letters and verified their legitimacy. But what was the Duke's motive behind kidnapping the Prince's son? And who was the Duke's mysterious correspondent? It was unlike the Duke who was cautious and calculating to risk offending such a powerful figure. He must have had someone else of high status backing him up.The General spread the map of the Duke's territory across the oak table in the dimly lit room. His fingers traced the borders of Angola's land, his eyes narrowed in concentration as Leon held the candle close, illuminating paths and roads that led to Duke Angola's stronghold. To the north of his territory was the barbarous Northern Enemy Kingdom of King Mugoman. To the west was the dense Hanling Forest, rumored to harbor beasts and tribes that only came out at night. To the east, was a range of treacherous mountains, nearly impassable except for those who knew the land well. It would be difficult for the Duke to escape - but also difficult for them to follow him. Angola's manor was strategically situated in the center of the territory, allowing him to access various parts of his lands in relatively equal amounts of time. Then, turning to a blueprint of the Duke's manor, the General studied the various entrances and exits of the residential estate. As the wealthiest Duke in their kingdom, his estate spanned several acres, included lush gardens, private and visitor residences, other amenities, and likely numerous hidden passageways that no one knew about."We received a tip-off," Leon said quietly. "A young boy was being kept in an old woodshed in the Duke's garden. But it doesn't make sense. Why keep the Prince's son somewhere so exposed, so unguarded?"The General frowned. "It could be a trap. Angola's smart. He might want us to think we've found the boy.""Or he's already moved him elsewhere," Leon added. "And left us chasing shadows."Just then, Kendrick burst into the room, breathless and wild-eyed. "General, we have to move—tonight. The Duke's men are on their way back from the north. Whatever we do, we need to do it now before he fortifies the manor."The General turned to face him. "All of our investigative activities must have raised his suspicion."Leon nodded, the weight of the situation sinking in. "The manor is still heavily guarded. But if we can divert his soldiers—create enough chaos—we'll have a clear shot at Angola."The General's voice was calm and cold. "We'll set fire to his private library. That will be enough to pull his men away. Once we're inside, we find the Duke."Leon added, "And if the boy isn't there?""Then the Duke will tell us where he is," the General replied, his eyes dark. "By force, if necessary."From the side, Cheri, who had been listening intently, spoke up. "Can I come along? Please. I promise, I won't drag you down."The General's eyes flicked to her, his tone immediately dismissive. "It's too dangerous.""I'm fast and agile," she insisted, her eyes determined. "I can be on the lookout for trouble.""We don't need another person slowing us down," the General replied, matter-of-factly.But Cheri's expression grew desperate. "Please," she said, her tone pleading. "I need to recover my family's heirloom. It's a sacred medicinal book that my great-great-grandfather obtained during his travels containing remedies that can heal all sorts of poisons. If it's destroyed within the library, it will be lost forever."The General hesitated, his cold exterior softening slightly as he saw the depth of her plea. After a long pause, he sighed. "Fine. But come at your own risk. We don't have time to play bodyguard."That night, under the cover of inky darkness, Leon, Cheri and some other men moved through the shadows, their faces set with grim determination. The scent of oil hung in the air as they doused the walls of the Duke's prized library building which was situated behind his residence. As the others worked, she slipped inside, making her way into the library before the flames would consume it.Inside, the library was a maze of shelves and scrolls, each one meticulously placed. Time was ticking, and her heart pounded as she frantically searched for the heirloom. Her fingers danced across the spines of old tomes, each one labeled with elegant script, until finally, tucked away on the highest shelf, she found it: an ancient, leather-bound book, its cover inscribed with foreign symbols passed down through generations of her family.Relief flooded through her, but there was no time to savor the moment. She clutched the book to her chest and darted back outside, giving a thumbs up to the men waiting outside. Now that she had obtained the book, she would wait for them as promised in the safety of the carriage they had parked outside. Within moments, the first flicker of flames spread rapidly across the structure. The distant sound of crackling fire and smell of smoke reached the Duke's guards, and their shouts soon followed.The General, positioned with his main force near the front of the manor, watched the diversion take hold. The library's fire raged, lighting up the night sky, and the guards rushed to extinguish it, leaving the main estate vulnerable."We'll take the Duke alive," the General reminded his men, his voice cold and clear. "No unnecessary bloodshed.""Now," the General ordered, his eyes gleaming in the moonlight as he motioned for his soldiers to fan out around the perimeter of the manor to knock out the remaining guards. Shadows danced across the stone walls as his men moved swiftly into position, weapons drawn, hearts pounding. The plan was risky, but this was the best chance they would get. Once they had the Duke, they would force him to drink drugged wine and confess his secret dealings.In the back of the estate, Leon felt his pulse quicken as he and his men surrounded the dilapidated woodshed. The weight of their mission pressed heavily on him—he knew what this mission meant to the General. And more, if the boy was inside, he was mere moments from freedom."Now!" he barked in a low whisper and in a coordinated strike, his men slammed the door off its rusty hinges. The wood splintered with a loud crack. Leon's heart was in his throat as he stepped inside, only to be met with the suffocating emptiness of the shed. Nobody was there.........................................................Back in the manor, the General moved with deadly precision, Kendrick and Kio at his side. The scent of smoke from the burning library filled the air, but inside the manor, all was eerily quiet. Too quiet.Leon shook his head as he rejoined the General inside the manor. "The shed's empty. He's either moved the boy or it was a false report."The General's eyes narrowed, but before he could respond, a faint noise—hurried footsteps—echoed from the floor below them. The General's hand shot up, signaling silence.It seemed the Duke had caught on to their actions and had already made preparations to escape.As they stalked towards the noise, the General's keen eyes flicked toward the tapestry fluttering along the wall. It was out of place, crumpled as if moved in haste. His heart stilled for a moment, then quickened as realization dawned. Without a word, he tore the tapestry aside, revealing a narrow, hidden corridor coated in dust, except for a set of fresh footprints leading away. At the end of the corridor, the passageway ended into a dock where a stream flowed out of the manor. There, a small fire had started blazing already on the row of little wooden boats lining the dock.The General's gaze swept across the burning boats with flames licking at the hulls, their ashes floating in the stream. Only one boat remained relatively intact, its edges smoldering but still afloat."Get in," the General ordered Leon behind him, his tone sharp as the fire crackled behind them. Without hesitation, Leon followed his commander into the boat.Turning back to the other men, the General instructed, "Keep surveying the manor for any clues." With this, he unroped the boat, and began propelling the boat forward. The water was cold, biting at their hands warmed from adrenaline as they gripped the oars. Each stroke felt like a race against time, the distant roar of the flames behind them, the Duke somewhere ahead, slipping through their grasp.The darkness swallowed them as they rowed into the night, the fire slowly dying behind them—but the hunt had just begun.............................................................Not far ahead, the General's sharp eyes locked onto a dark figure—Duke Angola, hunched over in a small boat, rowing frantically. Though the Duke had gained a head start, his strength was no match for the General and Leon, whose bodies were honed from years of relentless training. Every stroke of their oars brought them closer, the gap closing swiftly.The stream was nearing its end, and the Duke would soon have no choice but to abandon the water. The water was getting more shallow, the riverbank within reach. The General's muscles tensed, ready for action. They were now less than twenty feet behind Angola, the sound of their oars slicing through the water blending with the Duke's labored breaths.As the boat lurched toward the edge of the stream, the Duke leaped clumsily onto the gravel shore. His legs wobbled beneath him, weakened from the frantic escape. But before he could gain his footing, the General was already in motion. With a powerful jump, he launched himself from the boat, landing solidly beside the Duke, his presence like a shadow of inevitable doom. The Duke scrambled to run but before he could make it more than a couple of steps, the General slammed him to the dirt with an outstretched hand. Gravel scattered beneath the force, and Angola let out a strangled cry."Drink," the General commanded, pulling out a flask from his robe. Without hesitating, he poured the drugged wine they had prepared down the Duke's throat.Leon arrived just in time, his boots crunching on the rocky shore. He leaned down, eyes narrowing at the Duke's trembling form. "Where is the Prince's son?"After a few seconds, the Duke's body turned weak under the effects of the wine, no longer struggling to run. The Duke blinked slowly, his words slurred. "He's... he's not here... Sent him far away...""Where?" the General demanded, his patience thinning.Angola chuckled, a bitter, drunken laugh. "King Mugoman... My sister... His concubine... She needed healing... And he... He has the power... I had to... Sent the boy... To Mugoman's empire..."Leon exchanged a glance with the General, realization dawning. The Prince's son had been sent far beyond their reach, to the heart of an enemy's empire, under the pretense of healing the concubine who was none other than Angola's sister.The General stood, a grim expression on his face. "We need to move quickly. We'll send a message to the Prince and prepare for a journey north. There's no time to waste."Without warning, a thick cloud of floral fumes burst into the night, enveloping them in a choking mist. The General instinctively covered his mouth, but it was too late—the fumes were too potent. The world around them turned pitch black as the drugged haze took hold, and the last thing the General saw before darkness consumed him was the faint, mocking smile on Angola's face.