The night shrouded Newport in darkness, its distant lights flickering, while the once-bustling sounds of the port gradually faded away. The atmosphere in the streets grew increasingly tense. The secret envoy sent by Duke Horace from Airtulan moved carefully through the port city, their objective clear, yet filled with uncertainty and danger.
After several days of investigation, the envoy pieced together a vague picture from the scattered clues provided by merchants and sailors from Solantis. It seemed the city's underground gangs were connected to a symbol—a golden cross. Among them, one key figure, a gang leader named Levin, appeared to have dealings with the mysterious cloaked individuals.
The information provided by the gang members who had seen the golden cross symbol was fragmented. They spoke of a group of cloaked figures, their faces hidden, who had made transactions with Levin. These figures were elusive and spoke in a strange accent, further obscuring their identities.
Upon receiving this intelligence, the secret envoy decided to approach Levin, but not directly—instead, they would quietly infiltrate his residence. That night, the envoy split into two groups: one to monitor the perimeter, and the other to enter the residence and search for evidence.
Levin's residence was located in the secluded inner-city area of Newport. Although the exterior appeared modest, it concealed many secrets. Using their experience and specialized tools, the envoy members successfully avoided traps and hidden guards inside the house. In a concealed drawer in the study, they discovered a stack of letters. These were not ordinary correspondence; they contained detailed reports related to the frontlines.
The contents of these reports not only concerned Newport's trade and the flow of supplies but also mentioned movements on the frontlines, even hinting at connections to a larger plan. Though the golden cross symbol was not directly mentioned, the tone and hidden implications of the letters pointed to deeper, more secretive matters.
After carefully recording the information, the envoy members swiftly took some of the letters. They cleared all traces of their presence and, without alerting anyone, withdrew from Levin's residence.
A few days later, the letters and intelligence were urgently sent back to Airtulan, where the envoy personally reported to Duke Horace. The Duke examined the letters, his face growing more serious with each passing moment. He understood that this was not merely an issue involving Newport's gangs, but something far broader and more deeply tied to a covert operation.
"Immediately strengthen the intelligence network in Newport," Duke Horace said as he set down the letters, his gaze steely. "I want to know exactly who these people are, what their objectives are, and most importantly, what the golden cross symbolizes. No matter what, find every lead connected to this."