The atmosphere in the city of Rimuru had grown increasingly tense. Though life in the streets carried on as usual, Padrino sensed a looming storm, a silent threat creeping closer with each passing day. The network of traitors, organized and elusive, continued to weave chaos beneath the surface of the kingdom, and the council's investigation had turned up little concrete evidence. The urgency of the situation weighed heavily on him.
Padrino stood at the balcony of the royal palace, his gaze fixed on the horizon where the mountains in the distance framed the skyline. His thoughts raced, darting between strategy, suspicion, and the ever-growing fear that time was slipping away. Asuna joined him quietly, her presence grounding in the midst of his turmoil.
"We need to make a decisive move, Padrino," Asuna said, her voice soft but firm. "Our people are growing restless, and trust is starting to erode. The traitors are watching us, waiting for the perfect moment to strike."
Padrino nodded but remained silent for a moment. "I know. But every move we make now must be precise. If we strike too early, we risk tearing the kingdom apart from the inside. Too late, and we'll be undone by their schemes."
Asuna glanced at him, her sharp eyes scanning his expression. "I believe we're being watched. There are eyes on us even now."
Padrino straightened, his instincts sharpened by her words. He knew Asuna's ability to sense danger had saved them more than once, and her warning was enough to raise his guard. He glanced over the city again, but nothing seemed out of place.
"We need to root them out, once and for all," Padrino said, his tone hardening with resolve. "But to do that, we'll need to provoke them."
Later that evening, the council gathered again in the war room, but this time the atmosphere was different. A quiet tension filled the room as Padrino addressed his most trusted allies.
"We are surrounded by enemies who walk among us," he began. "And our attempts to identify them have been thwarted at every turn. But tonight, we take the first step in exposing them."
Marko, ever the strategist, leaned forward with a concerned look. "What are you proposing?"
Padrino's eyes glimmered with the fire of a risky gamble. "A ruse. We will stage a false defeat. Make it seem as though Galdros has the upper hand in their upcoming assault. We'll let information slip through controlled channels, allowing the traitor to take the bait."
The room fell silent, and even Hinata, who had always been a staunch supporter of Padrino's tactics, seemed taken aback. "That's incredibly dangerous, Padrino. If Galdros truly believes we're weakened, they'll strike with everything they have."
Padrino turned to her, his gaze steady. "That's the point. If they believe they can overrun us, they'll act rashly. And the traitor will be forced to reveal themselves when they try to coordinate the final blow."
Asuna spoke up, her voice cutting through the tension. "It's a bold plan, but we need to ensure that the information leaks to the right people, and that when the traitor acts, we are ready."
Marko crossed his arms, clearly still wary of the plan. "We'll need to be two steps ahead of both Galdros and the traitor for this to work."
"I've already set things in motion," Padrino replied. "We will let Galdros believe that our defenses at the southern border are crumbling, and that our internal divisions have left us vulnerable. The traitor will be desperate to pass that information along."
In the shadows of Rimuru, the underground network of conspirators was already beginning to stir. Vincent, seated in a secret chamber with his fellow plotters, felt a growing sense of urgency. They had been biding their time, waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike. The information they had received suggested that Rimuru was on the verge of collapse, and Galdros was preparing to mount a decisive offensive.
"This is it," Vincent said, addressing his co-conspirators. "Our time is now. Padrino has grown complacent, and our contacts within Galdros are ready to move. We must act swiftly and ensure that when the kingdom falls, we are in a position to take control."
Roderic, the elder noble who had long been aligned with Vincent, nodded in agreement. "We've waited for this moment for far too long. But we need to make sure that no one suspects our involvement until the very end."
Vincent smirked. "By the time they realize what's happening, it will be too late. Rimuru will be ours, and Galdros will be ready to solidify our position."
The conspirators exchanged knowing glances, confident in their plan. Little did they know, the very information they had relied on had been carefully planted by Padrino himself.
Days later, the atmosphere in Rimuru shifted as rumors began to circulate about a major weakness in the kingdom's southern defenses. Reports of infighting among the council members, combined with a string of minor setbacks, fed the growing belief that the kingdom was on the verge of collapse.
Padrino watched as the pieces fell into place. His spies confirmed that the information had reached Galdros, and Vincent had become more active in his covert operations. The traitor was preparing for a strike.
In the dead of night, Padrino and his closest allies—Asuna, Marko, and Hinata—made their final preparations. They knew the next few days would be critical, and the fate of Rimuru would be decided by the success or failure of their plan.
"The moment of truth is approaching," Padrino said quietly, as he stood with Asuna on the palace balcony once more. "We've set the trap. Now, we wait for the serpent to show its head."
Asuna nodded, her eyes focused on the distant hills where Galdros's forces were likely gathering. "We'll be ready. Rimuru will not fall."
Padrino clenched his fist, his resolve unshakable. "Not while we still have the will to fight."
The night stretched on, silent and heavy with anticipation, as the kingdom braced for the storm that was about to descend.