The air in the Ogre stronghold was thick with tension. Although the Warchief had called off the immediate assault on the Human Empire, the Ogre warriors remained restless. The drums of war had been silenced for now, but it was clear to Alex and his team that this peace was temporary. K's agents had been exposed in their attempts to incite a full-scale war, but that didn't mean the danger had passed."We've bought time, but not much," Alex said, standing with his core team in a quiet alcove of the stronghold. "The Warchief's generals still want blood. If we don't act fast, this peace will shatter, and K will have what he wants."Betsy, always sharp, nodded in agreement. "We need to root out the rest of K's agents. Taking down Solana was just the first step. There's still plenty of influence in both the Human Empire and the Ogre Kingdom working against us."Rogan, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, added, "I've been following some leads. There's been a lot of activity in the underground markets, and not all of it looks like typical war profiteering. I think K's agents are funding something—something big.""Whatever it is," Drax said, his hand resting on the handle of his hammer, "we need to smash it before it grows."Luke, ever the silent presence, stood with his shield at his side, observing as the others spoke. When the time was right, he simply said, "Verum."Alex nodded. The truth was that they were walking a thin line between preventing war and maintaining the fragile alliances they had worked so hard to build. But there was no turning back now."We'll need to split up," Alex said, looking at his team. "Rogan, I want you to investigate the underground markets. If K's agents are funding something, we need to find out what it is and shut it down. Betsy, you'll stay here in the stronghold. Keep an eye on the generals—they're not all convinced that we've done the right thing by halting the attack. If they start moving without the Warchief's orders, we're in trouble.""And what about me?" Drax asked, a grin forming on his face."You're with me," Alex replied. "We're going to pay a visit to some of the smaller guilds and factions on the outskirts. K's been using chaos to divide and conquer, and if we can strengthen our alliances, we might be able to resist whatever he throws at us next."Drax's grin widened. "Sounds like a plan."With their strategy in place, CODE set off to take on their respective tasks. The fight against K was becoming more complex with each passing day, and the fourth floor's political landscape was shifting beneath their feet. But Alex knew that if they could stay ahead of K's agents, they could still come out on top.Rogan's Mission: Uncovering the Market's SecretsThe underground markets in the Human territories were a maze of shadowy dealings and whispered conversations. Rogan moved through the dimly lit streets with ease, his steps silent as he blended into the crowd. The market was filled with traders hawking goods—weapons, armor, and potions, most of them meant for the war effort. But Rogan wasn't interested in the visible deals.His eyes scanned the crowd for signs of something deeper, something more sinister.After several hours of watching and listening, Rogan's instincts paid off. He spotted a group of merchants in the far corner of the market, their movements cautious and their voices low. They weren't selling typical war goods—instead, Rogan saw the faint glimmer of enchanted artifacts and dark runes, the kind of magic K's agents were known for using."That's it," Rogan muttered to himself as he approached, keeping his distance but close enough to overhear.The conversation between the merchants confirmed his suspicions. They were discussing shipments of magical supplies—artifacts meant to enhance dark magic, and runes that could be used for devastating spells. It was clear that K's agents were building something dangerous, but Rogan needed more.He followed the group as they left the market, tailing them through the winding streets until they disappeared into a hidden warehouse on the edge of the city. Rogan paused, his mind racing. This was it. The warehouse was the center of K's agents' operations in the Human territories. If he could get inside, he could find the proof they needed."Time to see what you're hiding," Rogan whispered, slipping into the shadows and making his way toward the warehouse.Betsy's Vigil: Tensions in the StrongholdBack at the Ogre stronghold, Betsy kept a close watch on the Warchief's generals. The Warchief had agreed to hold off on the attack, but many of his top advisors were still pushing for war. Betsy knew that if K's influence reached the generals, they could move without the Warchief's consent, plunging the Ogres into conflict despite their efforts.She spent her days watching the generals' movements, observing their meetings and listening to their conversations. It didn't take long for her to notice something strange—one of the Warchief's top generals, General Urak, had been meeting with several lower-ranking officers in secret. Urak had been one of the most vocal proponents of the war, and his sudden quietness made Betsy suspicious.One evening, Betsy followed Urak and his officers to a secluded meeting place on the outskirts of the stronghold. From her hidden vantage point, she overheard their conversation."We can't sit here and wait," Urak growled. "The Humans are weak, and we need to strike now before they regroup.""But the Warchief—" one of the officers began, but Urak cut him off."The Warchief is too cautious," Urak snarled. "We need to act. I've been in contact with... outside forces. They're offering support. With their help, we can crush the Humans once and for all."Betsy's eyes narrowed. "Outside forces" could only mean one thing—K's agents.She slipped away quietly, her mind racing. Urak was planning a coup. He was going to move without the Warchief's approval, and K's agents were backing him. Betsy knew she needed to act fast before the situation spiraled out of control.Alex and Drax: Building AlliancesWhile Rogan and Betsy dealt with the immediate threats, Alex and Drax set out to strengthen CODE's alliances with the smaller guilds and factions that operated on the outskirts of the Ogre and Human territories. These guilds were often overlooked in the larger political game, but Alex knew they could be powerful allies if they were brought into the fold.Their first stop was the Silver Banner Guild, a group known for their strategic prowess and mercenary forces. The guild's leader, Captain Varik, was a seasoned warrior who had seen his fair share of battles. He was skeptical of CODE's ability to hold the peace, but Alex had a plan."We're not asking you to choose sides in the war," Alex said during their meeting in the Silver Banner's headquarters. "We're asking you to help us stop it. K's agents are manipulating both the Ogres and the Humans, pushing them toward a conflict that will destroy both factions. If we can unite the smaller guilds, we'll have enough leverage to prevent the war."Captain Varik leaned back in his chair, studying Alex carefully. "You've got guts, I'll give you that. But stopping a war? That's a tall order."Drax, always blunt, grinned and added, "We've stopped worse. And we'll stop K too. You just need to trust us."Varik considered this for a moment before nodding. "You're right about one thing—K's influence is growing. I've seen it myself. If you can stop him, we'll back you. But if you fail, we won't be there to pick up the pieces."Alex smiled. "We won't fail."The Trap is SetAs the pieces of CODE's plan came together, Rogan, Betsy, Alex, and Drax regrouped at the Ogre stronghold. Rogan had infiltrated the warehouse, discovering that K's agents were stockpiling magical weapons, preparing for a devastating attack. Betsy had uncovered Urak's plot to move without the Warchief's consent, backed by K's forces. And Alex had secured the support of several smaller guilds, bolstering CODE's strength.But time was running out."K's planning something big," Rogan said as they gathered in the war room. "The magical weapons they've been stockpiling—they're not just for war. They're for something bigger. We need to move now, before K can unleash whatever he's been planning.""The Warchief won't be easy to convince," Betsy warned. "Urak's been sowing doubt among the generals. If we don't act fast, they'll move without us."Alex looked at his team, his mind racing. The pieces were all in place, but the final move was theirs to make."K wants chaos," Alex said, his voice firm. "But we're not going to let him have it. We're taking down his network, and we're stopping this war before it starts."Drax grinned, his hammer gleaming in the dim light. "Let's smash some skulls."With their plan set, CODE prepared for their final move against K's agents. The storm that had been brewing on the fourth floor was about to break, and CODE was at the center of it.