The battle against Valis and his forces had been won, but Alex knew it was only a small victory in the larger game being played on the third floor. The Elven rebellion, while quelled for now, was just one front in the larger war that K had orchestrated from the shadows. The Elven Kingdom was a divided land, its nobles fractured and its alliances tenuous at best. Navigating the political landscape would require far more than brute strength; it demanded diplomacy, cunning, and a keen understanding of how to play one side against the other.
As the team made their way back to the Elven capital, Eldorae, the streets felt more alive than they had before. The victory against Valis had sparked a sense of hope among the citizens, though Alex couldn't shake the feeling that the deeper threat—K's influence—was still lurking just out of sight.
"We've won the battle, but not the war," Alex muttered as they approached the palace. "Valis was just one of many players in this game. There's no doubt that K has more agents embedded in the kingdom."
Betsy walked beside him, her face thoughtful. "The question is, who? Valis was reckless, openly challenging the crown. But K's real strength comes from those who operate in the shadows. We need to find out who's pulling the strings behind the scenes."
"That's going to be the hard part," Alex said, his eyes scanning the city. "This floor is different from the others. It's not just about combat anymore. We're going to have to dig deep into the politics here, and that means making allies—and enemies—along the way."
Drax grunted from behind them, still nursing a few bruises from the earlier battle. "I'm not much for politics, but if it means cracking more skulls, I'm in."
Betsy smiled faintly. "Let's just hope it doesn't come to that. Not yet, at least."
Luke, who had been quietly following, added his usual, "Verum." His simple affirmation seemed to carry more weight in this uncertain world.
The Royal Court
The Elven Queen awaited their return, seated upon her elegant throne in the heart of Eldorae's grand palace. The halls were adorned with tapestries and elaborate carvings, depicting the long and storied history of the Elven Kingdom. But despite the beauty of the surroundings, Alex could feel the tension in the air.
The Elves were on edge, and it was clear that even the queen's court wasn't immune to the whispers of rebellion. Valis's uprising might have been crushed, but it had exposed the fractures within the kingdom's nobility.
"You have done well," the queen said as they approached. Her voice was calm, but there was an undercurrent of unease. "Valis was a fool to challenge the throne so openly. But there are others like him—nobles who seek to exploit the chaos of this war for their own gain."
"We know," Alex replied. "And we're here to help. But we need to know who we can trust. K's influence is spreading, and we need allies if we're going to root him out."
The queen's gaze hardened. "Trust is a rare commodity in these times. Even within my court, there are those who whisper of treason and betrayal. You may have proven yourselves in battle, but politics… politics is another battlefield entirely."
Betsy stepped forward, her eyes sharp. "If we're going to take down K's agents, we need to know who's working with him. We've heard rumors that certain nobles have been receiving aid from outside forces. Supplies, weapons—things that can't be found in the kingdom."
The queen nodded slowly. "There are indeed rumors. And I suspect that some of my own advisors may be compromised. But I cannot act without proof. That is where you come in."
Alex raised an eyebrow. "You want us to investigate your own court?"
"Precisely," the queen replied. "There are two nobles in particular who have drawn my suspicion. Lord Erian and Lady Thalia. Both are powerful members of the council, and both have been quietly amassing influence over the past few months. If K has infiltrated my kingdom, it will be through them."
"We'll need more than just rumors," Betsy said. "We'll need access to their dealings, their records, anything that can point to K's involvement."
The queen gestured to one of her advisors, a stern-faced elf dressed in dark robes. "You will have full access to the palace archives and any intelligence we have gathered on Lord Erian and Lady Thalia. But be warned—these are dangerous people. If they suspect you, they will not hesitate to move against you."
Alex nodded. "We understand. We'll be careful."
The Investigation Begins
With the queen's blessing, the team began their investigation into the nobles of Eldorae. The palace was a sprawling labyrinth of corridors and hidden chambers, and it quickly became clear that the political intrigue of the third floor was far more complex than anything they had encountered on the lower floors.
Betsy took the lead, using her sharp mind and tactical skills to sift through the endless flow of information. She poured over records, financial ledgers, and correspondence, looking for any sign that Lord Erian or Lady Thalia had been in contact with K's agents.
Meanwhile, Rogan—who had a knack for moving through the shadows unnoticed—set to work gathering intel from the palace servants and lower-ranking officials. It wasn't long before he uncovered whispers of secret meetings, strange shipments arriving in the dead of night, and rumors of a powerful benefactor who was backing the nobles' rise to power.
"It's definitely K," Rogan reported one evening as they met in one of the palace's hidden chambers. "Lord Erian has been receiving weapons shipments from an unknown source. The markings on the crates match the ones we saw when we raided Valis's camp."
Betsy frowned. "And Lady Thalia?"
"She's been more careful," Rogan replied. "But she's been meeting with a group of mercenaries who operate out of the southern territories. They've been linked to several high-profile assassinations. If she's in league with K, she's covering her tracks well."
Alex crossed his arms, deep in thought. "We're getting closer, but we need something concrete. If we're going to take them down, we need irrefutable proof."
"That won't be easy," Betsy said. "These nobles have been playing this game for far longer than we have. They know how to cover their tracks."
Alex nodded. "Then we'll have to force their hand."
Setting the Trap
The team devised a plan to draw Lord Erian and Lady Thalia out into the open. They would plant false information—a rumor that the queen had discovered their connection to K and was preparing to move against them. The goal was to provoke the nobles into making a mistake, into showing their hand too soon.
It was a dangerous gambit. If the nobles didn't take the bait, or if they saw through the deception, it could backfire, and CODE would be exposed. But Alex knew they didn't have a choice. Time was running out, and K's influence was spreading faster than they could contain it.
The plan went into motion, and within days, they began to see results. Lord Erian, panicked by the rumor, made a move to secure his assets, transferring large sums of gold and weapons to a hidden location outside the city. Lady Thalia, on the other hand, began mobilizing her mercenaries, preparing for a possible coup against the queen.
"We've got them," Rogan said with a satisfied grin. "They're acting out of desperation."
Alex nodded. "Now we just need to deliver the final blow."
The Confrontation
The team moved swiftly, gathering the evidence they needed to expose Lord Erian and Lady Thalia's treachery. With the proof in hand, they presented their findings to the queen, who wasted no time in preparing for the confrontation.
It all came to a head in the royal council chamber, where the nobles of Eldorae had gathered for an emergency meeting. The air was thick with tension as Alex and his team stood alongside the queen, ready to reveal the truth.
"Lord Erian. Lady Thalia," the queen began, her voice cold and authoritative. "You stand accused of treason against the crown and conspiring with forces outside this kingdom. Do you deny these charges?"
Erian's face went pale, but he quickly composed himself. "Your Majesty, these accusations are baseless. I have always served the kingdom faithfully."
"And what of the weapons shipments?" Betsy asked, stepping forward. "The ones marked with the seal of K's agents? We have the records to prove they were delivered to your estates."
Erian's eyes darted around the room, but he remained silent.
"And Lady Thalia," the queen continued. "What of the mercenaries you've been meeting with? The same mercenaries who have been linked to several assassinations across the kingdom?"
Thalia narrowed her eyes. "I did what was necessary to protect this kingdom from those who would see it destroyed. If that means using unorthodox methods, so be it."
"Unorthodox methods?" Alex said, his voice sharp. "You've been working for K, destabilizing the kingdom from within."
At the mention of K, a murmur ran through the council chamber. The queen's expression hardened. "The evidence is clear. You are both guilty of treason. Guards, seize them."
As the guards moved to arrest the nobles, Thalia made one last desperate move. With a flick of her wrist, she summoned a dark spell, her eyes glowing with the power of K's magic. But before she could cast it, Alex reacted. His shades surged forward, enveloping Thalia in darkness and neutralizing her magic.
"It's over," Alex said, his voice filled with finality.
With Lord Erian and Lady Thalia taken into custody, the queen's rule was secure once more. But Alex knew this was only the beginning. They had removed two of K's agents, but the battle for the third floor was far from over. K's influence was deeper than they had realized, and the challenges ahead would only grow more difficult.
But for now, they had won a victory. And with the Elven Kingdom on their side, CODE was stronger than ever.