Chapter 18 – Document Seizure
The sky burned a dim orange above the hills as the small group made their way down the quiet road toward Andora. Cold wind brushed against their faces, whispering an ominous feeling that hung in the air like a sword above their heads. Hyunwoo rode his horse in silence, gripping the leather pouch that held documents capable of changing everything.
"Are we going to spread it?" Marvin finally asked, his voice flat but piercing.
Hyunwoo slowly turned his head. His gaze was sharp but controlled. "Not yet."
Marvin frowned. "Why not? The world deserves to know."
Hyunwoo looked straight ahead, then said quietly, "No. We'll use this to our advantage."
Vanessa turned. "What if Thalveran attacks first?"
"If they're no longer useful to us," Hyunwoo replied, "then we release it. We threaten them. We make them afraid."
Everyone fell silent.
"And if that threat fails?" Yerin asked.
Hyunwoo turned, his eyes cold. "Then we make the world see who the real enemy of the people is."
Thalveran Palace
The wind howled through the royal balcony as King Thalveran threw a goblet of wine to the floor. Red liquid streamed across the white marble like freshly spilled blood.
"They stole it!" the King roared. "They dared touch the secrets of the crown!"
Kaelion Veylan stood frozen, his face pale. "Someone saw them leaving the vault. A guard. He swears he saw them carrying a large leather pouch…"
"Why are you only reporting this now?!"
"Forgive me, Your Majesty—"
"Call everyone. Every shadow assassin from the North and East. Send a hunting team. I want them dead before they set foot in Andora!"
"Your Majesty..." came a heavy voice from behind the curtains. Malvin Drezhart, Marvin's brother, stepped forward slowly. His black cloak shifted like a living shadow. His sharp eyes stared at the King without fear.
"You're being too hasty, My Lord. Rash actions will only make it burn faster."
The King strode forward and slammed the table. "Silence, Drezhart! This isn't the time for your cunning games. If they spread what I've done, everything will be lost!"
Malvin didn't flinch. He clasped his hands behind his back and spoke calmly, "Give me three nights. I'll handle this. Quietly, as always."
The King stared at him for a few moments, then nodded through clenched breaths. "Three nights, Drezhart. No more. Or I'll burn Andora myself."
Andora's Gate – Night
Gray clouds loomed over Andora. Hyunwoo stood at the gate, greeted by Belinda, Claude, and Elden Harrow who were already waiting. Behind them, villagers began to gather—faces weary and curious, yet still filled with hope.
Hyunwoo didn't say much. He immediately asked all the leaders to gather at the council hall. Soon, the large room filled with footsteps and murmurs.
"These documents," Hyunwoo said, placing them on the large wooden table in the center of the room. "...are proof of Thalveran's cruelty. Proof of their extortion, torture, and monopolization. Proof that they are not rulers—but invaders."
The room fell silent.
Elden Harrow raised an eyebrow. "You stole from the crown?"
Hyunwoo didn't answer. He simply stared ahead.
"Madness," Belinda hissed. "You've brought death to our village. And who are they? Why is there a Thalveran knight here?" she asked, pointing at Jaehyun, Vanessa, and Marvin.
Hyunwoo met her gaze. "Or life—if we know how to use it. And as for them, I'll explain later. Now's not the time."
Belinda shook her head. "Andora is a home. Not a battlefield."
"It's too late for that," Claude cut in. "If this is real, we're all targets already."
Yerin, sitting nearby, looked at Hyunwoo. "What are you planning?"
"We set a trap," Hyunwoo replied. "And we use this village as bait."
That night, the village worked nonstop. No one slept. Even the children helped—cutting rope, hauling wood, and spreading ash to mask tracks.
Garren built a hidden tunnel beneath the council hall. Krothar and his kin set up traps in the surrounding forest. Vel assembled a small cavalry unit in the hills. Wonho rigged simple explosives made from mountain powder along the gate path. Everyone moved like a silent war machine.
"Why are you so quiet?" Jaehyun asked as they sat on the rooftop of the council hall.
Hyunwoo looked into the darkness. "Because I realized… there's no going back after this."
"And you're still doing it?"
Hyunwoo turned to his old friend. "Because if not us—then who?"
The Attack Begins
The first step made no sound. But the scent of blood crept in before dawn.
Suddenly, a small explosion shook the eastern side of the village. Smoke rose. Screams echoed from the south. They came in shadows—fast, silent, merciless.
But Andora was ready.
Smoke from the smoldering fire cloaked the entrance. Pit traps swallowed careless intruders. Krothar and the lizardmen emerged from the marshes, slashing the assassins' backs. Arrows rained from rooftops. Vanessa fought two assassins at once, her face streaked with blood and mud.
On the northern front, Claude and Arlain held off the last wave. But in the chaos, an old man named Dalwin—just a basket weaver by day—pushed a child away from an arrow and fell before everyone's eyes.
Maelis screamed, "DALWIN!"
The villagers froze for a moment, but anger replaced fear. They charged forward with machetes, torches, even pitchforks. They weren't soldiers. But that night, they fought as one people.
Blood soaked the streets. Corpses lay scattered, but Andora had more survivors than anyone expected.
Only one assassin was captured alive—bound, wounded, and trembling.
Hyunwoo stood before him. Rain began to fall, gently washing the blood from the earth.
"Tell your King this. If another army comes, if one more shadow steps into our village... then these documents will spread across the continent. The world will know who Thalveran truly is. And the other kingdoms will come—not as heroes, but as opportunists. And we... will be the spark."
He held up the leather pouch.
"These documents will spread across the continent. And the world will see—Thalveran is not a kingdom. It is a disease."