The throne room of Rimuru was eerily quiet, the weight of suspicion thick in the air. Padrino sat on the throne, surrounded by his trusted advisors—Hinata, Marko, Benimaru, and Vincent. The March of Unity had revealed fractures in the kingdom's foundation. The assassin's cryptic words still haunted him, and he could feel the cold shadow of betrayal looming over his council.
Marko leaned over the large map spread across the table, his fingers tracing the borders of Rimuru. "If the assassin's words are to be believed, Galdros isn't acting alone. Someone within our own ranks must have given them access to the city."
Benimaru nodded grimly, his face etched with worry. "It's hard to stomach, but the idea of treachery from within makes sense. The assassin was too well-informed. She moved through the city's defenses too easily."
Hinata's sharp eyes scanned the room. "There's more to this. This wasn't just an attempt on your life, Padrino. It was a warning. They're trying to sow distrust, to break our unity from the inside."
Padrino took a deep breath. "Which is why we must act carefully. If we start accusing nobles without proof, we could fracture the kingdom. We can't afford to lose the loyalty of the lords, not when Galdros is preparing for another assault."
Vincent, who had been silently listening, finally spoke. "There are ways to uncover a traitor without sparking chaos. We need to conduct a covert investigation. Keep our enemies in the dark while we search for the truth."
Padrino nodded. "Agreed. We'll need to quietly gather information. But we also need to maintain the appearance of strength. The people must not see us divided."
The Investigation Begins
That night, Padrino ordered his most trusted spies to begin a quiet investigation. Hinata and Marko took the lead in organizing the efforts, splitting their attention between the military and the noble houses. They needed to find the link between Galdros and any potential traitors in Rimuru before the next move was made.
Days passed, and the mood within the capital grew tense. Rumors swirled about the attempted assassination, and while Padrino's inner circle remained vigilant, they found little concrete evidence. Every lead seemed to lead them into dead ends, with no clear indication of who was responsible.
Bravius continued to attend council meetings with the same impassive expression, offering no outward signs of guilt. Yet, Padrino's instincts told him to watch the man carefully.
One evening, as Padrino sat in his study, Hinata entered, her expression serious.
"We've uncovered something, but it's not definitive." She handed Padrino a scroll. "One of our spies intercepted a communication between a noble in Rimuru and a contact in Galdros. It's coded, but there are references to 'the council' and 'the fall of Rimuru.'"
Padrino read through the document, his jaw tightening. "This could be the proof we need. Do we know which noble sent this?"
Hinata shook her head. "Not yet. The communication was relayed through multiple channels, but we're close to tracing its origin. We believe it's someone close to Bravius, but we need more time."
Padrino's mind raced. He could sense the conspiracy closing in on him, but without a clear enemy to strike at, he was forced to wait. Every passing day increased the tension, and he could feel the kingdom slipping further into uncertainty.
A New Ally
One morning, as the investigation dragged on, a surprise visitor arrived at Rimuru's gates—an envoy from the Kingdom of Galdros. The arrival of an envoy was unexpected, especially given the hostile relations between the two kingdoms. Padrino immediately summoned his council to discuss the development.
The envoy, a tall man with sharp features and a calm demeanor, was brought before Padrino. His name was Zaric, and he claimed to be a diplomat sent by Galdros to discuss terms of peace.
Padrino regarded him with suspicion. "Peace? After sending assassins to my doorstep, your king speaks of peace?"
Zaric smiled thinly. "I am here to offer a different perspective, King Padrino. My mission is not to discuss the terms of war but to offer you information. Information that could prevent bloodshed on both sides."
The council members exchanged wary glances. Zaric's presence was a calculated risk, but the chance to learn more about Galdros's plans was too valuable to dismiss outright.
Padrino leaned forward. "Speak then, and make it quick."
Zaric's expression darkened. "There are factions within Galdros that seek to overthrow my king. They wish to use the war with Rimuru to destabilize the region and claim power for themselves. The assassination attempt was not ordered by my king but by these rogue elements. They have allies within your kingdom—nobles who want to see your rule collapse."
Padrino's eyes narrowed. "And why should I believe you?"
"Because," Zaric said with a cool confidence, "I am one of the few left loyal to the king of Galdros. If the usurpers succeed, it will mean more than just war. It will mean chaos. And if Rimuru falls, Galdros will not survive the aftermath. My king seeks an ally, not an enemy. We need to root out these conspirators, both in Galdros and in Rimuru."
The room fell silent as the weight of Zaric's words sank in.
Marko spoke first, his voice measured. "What do you expect in return for this information?"
Zaric smiled faintly. "All I ask is that you listen. Let me help you uncover the traitors within Rimuru. Once they are exposed, we can discuss terms of peace."
Padrino studied Zaric for a long moment, trying to gauge his sincerity. The situation was becoming more complicated by the day. Could Zaric be trusted, or was this another layer of deception?
"I'll consider your offer," Padrino finally said. "But make no mistake—if this is a trick, it will cost you your life."
Zaric bowed. "I understand, Your Majesty. I will take my leave and await your decision."
As Zaric departed, Padrino turned to his council, his mind racing. "What do we think? Is this a genuine offer, or is Galdros playing a deeper game?"
Marko crossed his arms. "It's hard to say. Zaric could be telling the truth, but he could also be laying a trap. Either way, we need to proceed carefully."
Hinata nodded in agreement. "We can't trust him outright, but if he's telling the truth, we may have a chance to expose the traitors within Rimuru."
Padrino stood, his resolve hardening. "We'll keep investigating, but we'll also test Zaric. If he's lying, we'll deal with him. But if he's telling the truth, we may have found a powerful new ally."
The Traitor's Mask
As night fell, Padrino's mind was awash with possibilities. He had been so focused on the external threats to his kingdom that he hadn't fully grasped the danger lurking within. The March of Unity had revealed that even the closest allies could harbor treachery.
The following morning, Padrino convened a secret meeting with his council. They devised a plan to test Zaric's loyalty, while continuing their own investigation into the traitors within Rimuru. Every step forward brought them closer to the truth, but with every new revelation, the danger grew.
Little did Padrino know, the traitor's mask would soon fall—and when it did, Rimuru would never be the same.