Chapter 609: Now we can unleash him.
Violet left the room with the document in hand and did not waste time explaining the orders to the guards in the corridor. She called only two officers, gave brief instructions, and demanded that communication be made through individual crystals, without any contact with the palace’s common network. No messengers would be used, no additional copy would be produced, and the names of the selected agents would not be entered into official records until the operation was over.
Amelia watched everything from her chair, following the speed with which the commander turned words into real movement. It was exactly what she needed. The plan could not survive only on well-organized papers. It needed people who knew how to act without drawing attention, especially because any sudden change in the trade routes could alert the organization before they got close to the region.
Elizabeth remained bent over the records of House Solis. She had separated three old books, all concerning the absorption of minor bloodlines by House Veyr. The process had taken place almost eighty years earlier, after the Solis lost most of their fortune and no longer maintained enough heirs to preserve their own name. Officially, their properties, trade titles, and routes had been handed over to the Veyr in exchange for protection for the remaining members.
However, the records did not show the fate of every property.
"There are six plots of land without transfer documentation," Elizabeth said.
Amelia approached.
"In the same region as the mines?"
"Four of them."
Liza looked at her daughter.
"Are you certain?"
Elizabeth turned the book so the two of them could see.
"House Solis owned eleven properties on the northern border. Seven are listed as transferred to the Veyr. The other four simply disappear from the accounts after the dissolution of the house."
Amelia examined the dates.
"Did this happen before or after the reform of the trade routes?"
"Before. Almost fifteen years earlier."
"Then it was not an error caused by an administrative change."
"No."
Liza walked to the table and examined the book. Her expression remained controlled, but irritation was growing in her eyes. Once again, some old structure within the kingdom was hiding information that should have remained accessible to the crown.
"Does Cassian know about these properties?"
Elizabeth closed one of the books.
"He should. As head of House Veyr, he had access to all inherited assets."
"Should does not mean he does," Amelia said. "House Veyr is ancient, large, and divided among several branches. Cassian may control the name without knowing every asset administered by relatives or employees."
Liza crossed her arms.
"You still believe he is merely a useful idiot."
"I do not believe anything yet. I simply do not want to make him guilty before that causes us to overlook someone else."
Elizabeth opened a second volume.
"There is a branch of the family responsible for the northern properties."
Amelia pulled her notebook closer.
"Name."
"Veyr-Dalmor."
Amelia’s quill stopped above the paper.
Serena Dalmor.
The woman who had carried the parasitic shadow during the audience.
Liza noticed the connection at the same moment.
"Then it was not random."
"No," Amelia replied. "Serena was not chosen merely because she was close to Cassian. Her family manages, or once managed, the former Solis assets."
Elizabeth turned a few more pages.
"Serena is the niece of Alaric Dalmor, the current administrator of House Veyr’s external properties. At least, he was seven years ago, when this record was last updated."
Amelia wrote down the name.
"We need to find out where he is."
Liza looked toward the door.
"Violet can handle that."
"Without arresting anyone."
"Amelia."
"If he is directly connected to the organization, any move against him could erase the remaining routes. We need to watch before acting."
Liza did not like the delay, but she understood. The kingdom was still recovering from an attempted coup, and arresting a figure connected to House Veyr without solid evidence would create another political crisis before they had even resolved the first.
Elizabeth closed the book.
"Serena may know something when she wakes."
"Perhaps," Amelia said. "But her memories were damaged. If we pressure her, we may destroy what little remains or make her repeat memories planted by the shadow."
Liza stepped away from the table.
"Then we have missing properties, an infected administrator, and hundreds of artifacts being sent to the same region."
Amelia nodded.
"Now we have a probable structure. We still need the location."
A light knock came from the door. Violet returned accompanied by a man and a woman dressed as merchants. Neither wore armor, but their posture revealed training. The man was tall, with brown hair and a short beard. The woman had black hair tied in a simple braid and carried a small box of commercial documents.
"Your Majesty," Violet said. "These are Lucan and Mara Verin. Siblings. They operate a cover transport company between the Vampire Kingdom and the Human Empire."
The two bowed respectfully.
Liza looked at Amelia.
"Are they suitable?"
Amelia did not answer immediately. First, she observed the two of them, then pointed to the map.
"What is the main route between the Varlan mines and the city of Orthea?"
Lucan answered without hesitation.
"The western road during the dry season. During the rainy season, the wagons use the southern route around the Merun Hills."
"Why not cross the valley?"
"Double tolls. Two towns charge passage fees, and the guards inspect large shipments."
Amelia pointed to one of the marked lines.
"A shipment of empty artifacts left Orthea and disappeared from the records before reaching Varlan. Which path would they use to avoid inspection?"
Mara approached the map.
"There is an old mining road. It does not appear on recent trade maps because two bridges collapsed. But smaller wagons can still pass if the cargo is divided."
"Are there any settlements?"
"One. Greyhollow. Small, almost abandoned."
Amelia searched for the name in the missing-person reports.
Two mining workers had disappeared near Greyhollow.
She closed the notebook.
"You will go there posing as land buyers."
Lucan nodded.
"What should we look for?"
"Unregistered wagons. Improvised warehouses. Newly hired workers. Any movement toward the abandoned mines. Do not ask questions about missing people, and do not try to follow anyone into the tunnels."
Mara tilted her head.
"And if we find the artifacts?"
"Confirm the quantity and location. Do not touch them."
Lucan looked at Liza.
"Should we capture anyone if we are discovered?"
"No," Amelia answered before the queen could. "If you are discovered, abandon the cover and return. This operation does not depend on heroics."
Liza gave Amelia a brief look, but did not disagree.
Mara placed the smaller map inside the box.
"How will we send the reports?"
Violet handed her a small crystal without any royal markings.
"One transmission per day. Three words if there is nothing relevant: route remains empty. Any other message will be treated as a priority."
"Understood."
The siblings bowed again and left the room with Violet. Liza waited for the door to close before speaking.
"They seem competent."
"Seeming is not enough," Amelia replied. "But they are the best available option without directly involving the Empire."
Elizabeth looked back at the map.
"And if the organization already knows we are searching?"
Amelia remained silent for a few seconds.
"Then we need to offer something that appears more interesting than two merchants."
Liza recognized the change in her tone.
"A distraction."
"Yes."
"What?"
Amelia looked at the documents concerning the vampire feeding project.
"We will announce that the first official meeting to research a blood substitute will take place in five days."
Elizabeth frowned.
"Would that not attract more attacks?"
"It would attract attention. That is different."
Liza understood first.
"If the Order is still interested in vampire hunger, it will move observers here."
"Or try to infiltrate someone into the commission," Amelia said. "Either way, we will force part of the structure to move while we investigate the north."
Elizabeth remained uncomfortable.
"That puts the project at risk."
"There will be no real project during the meeting. Only representatives, false documents, and a structure prepared to detect shadows, seals, and attempts at espionage."
Liza placed her hands on the table.
"A trap inside the palace."
"A meeting they cannot ignore. Especially if we announce that Sylphie, Eleonor, and Elion will be involved."
Elizabeth slowly let out a breath.
"That sounds dangerous."
"It is dangerous," Amelia replied. "But it is controllable. Unlike waiting for the organization to choose the next moment."
Liza remained silent, thinking. The plan required her to use the kingdom’s own weakness as bait. The announcement would provoke a reaction among the conservative clans, increase rumors, and perhaps create protests. However, it would also force the Order to decide whether it would remain hidden or attempt to observe research capable of destroying one of its most important tools of control.
"Do it," Liza said.
Elizabeth looked at her mother.
"Are you sure?"
"No. But Amelia is right. Continuing to wait only gives them time to choose another Vlad."
Amelia opened a new page in her notebook.
"The announcement needs to appear real. There should be public disagreement among some houses, partial confirmation of the witches’ presence, and a limited list of participants."
"We can use Cassian," Elizabeth said.
Liza raised an eyebrow.
"How?"
"He is already opposed to the project. If we inform him before the others and allow him to complain, the rumors will seem natural."
Amelia looked at Elizabeth with approval.
"Good."
"He will spread the information without realizing he is working for us."
Liza almost smiled.
"That may improve my mood."
Amelia continued writing.
"We need to control what Cassian receives. He must believe the meeting will discuss samples, production methods, and the participation of the old bloodlines. Nothing about traps or investigation."
Elizabeth closed the Solis book.
"I can speak with him."
"No," Liza said.
"Mother."
"He tried to use you politically during the audience."
"And that is precisely why he will believe he can influence me."
Liza remained silent.
Elizabeth continued.
"If Violet or you summon him, he will become suspicious. If I approach him asking for his opinion on how to avoid a crisis with the old houses, he will think he has finally found a way into the decisions."
Amelia analyzed the proposal.
"She is right."
Liza gave Amelia a look.
"This is becoming far too frequent."
"It is not my fault."
Elizabeth held back a smile.
Liza walked several steps across the room before answering.
"You will speak with him accompanied."
"Of course."
"Violet will remain outside."
Elizabeth nodded.
"And Amelia will prepare everything you may or may not say."
"That too."
"If he tries anything..."
"I leave."
Liza stopped in front of her daughter.
"No pride."
"No pride."
The queen nodded, still displeased, but accepted.
While the plan became more concrete in the administrative wing, Kael remained in the room. He had already left the bed twice. The first time, Sylphie had forced him to lie down again. The second time, Irelia had simply closed the door and stood in front of it with her arms crossed.
Now he sat on the edge of the mattress, looking at his own foot.
"My ankle is fine."
Sylphie sat in an armchair, reading one of the smaller reports Amelia had left behind.
"Good."
"Then I can train."
"No."
"You did not even look."
"I do not need to."
Irelia remained by the window.
"Amelia asked you to rest."
"Amelia also goes two days without sleeping when she finds interesting documents."
"And we will complain to her afterward."
Kael ran a hand through his hair.
"I only need to test one thing."
Sylphie closed the report.
"What?"
"The change of direction during Celestial Step."
"No."
"You did not even let me explain."
"You want to accelerate inside the room?"
"I was going into the corridor."
"Definitely not."
Kael looked at Irelia.
She answered before he could ask.
"No."
"You are becoming predictable."
"That happens because you always do the same thing," Irelia said.
Kael stood and walked to the window. The vampire capital remained dark, with red lanterns burning even during the period considered daytime. From the height of the palace, he could see the walls, the orderly streets, and the movement of the doubled guards at the main points.
An ordinary carriage left through one of the side gates.
Kael followed it with his eyes.
"Agents?"
Irelia approached.
"Probably."
"Then they have already started."
"Amelia does not waste time."
Kael watched until the carriage disappeared between the buildings.
The urge to follow was almost physical. Not because he distrusted the agents, but because he hated depending on information arriving slowly while possible enemies moved beyond his reach. However, there was a difference between that situation and the previous ones. This time, there was a plan. A plan created by people he trusted and who understood the organization better than he did.
Sylphie stood and stopped beside him.
"Are you thinking about escaping through the window?"
"No."
She looked at him.
"A little."
"Kael."
He let out a breath.
"I am thinking that if those artifacts are truly being used to store spirits or memories, every hour may mean another victim."
Irelia answered calmly.
"And if you appear too soon, they move everything elsewhere and create even more victims."
Kael did not like it.
But he could not disagree.
Sylphie took his hand.
"Amelia is not making you wait because she doubts your strength. She is ensuring that when you attack, there will be something to destroy and someone to save."
Kael looked at her.
"That was a well-calculated sentence."
"Living with Amelia also causes side effects."
He let out a short laugh.
In the administrative room, the first communication crystal lit up earlier than expected.
Violet had returned only a few minutes before and was still organizing the internal agents when the crystal vibrated on the table. Amelia stood immediately. Liza, Elizabeth, and the advisers stopped their conversation.
The message was brief.
Mara’s voice emerged quietly, almost covered by the sound of wagon wheels.
"The route is not empty. We found six unmarked wagons heading toward Greyhollow. No visible drivers. The cargo is covered, but one of them is leaking mana."
The crystal fell silent.
Amelia looked at the map.
The agents should not even have reached halfway yet.
"How did they find the wagons so soon?" Elizabeth asked.
Violet answered.
"It means they are moving out of the region."
Liza became serious.
"They are removing the material."
Amelia quickly analyzed the possibilities. The movement could have been a coincidence, but six unmarked wagons, without visible drivers and carrying mana, left little room for innocence. If they were taking the vessels to another location, the two-day window had just disappeared.
She picked up the crystal and replied.
"Do not follow closely. Mark the direction and retreat if you are noticed. Do not try to stop them."
Then she placed the object back on the table.
Elizabeth stood.
"Should we call Kael?"
Amelia looked at the map, at the possible routes, and at the point where Greyhollow was marked.
They still lacked visual confirmation of the cargo.
They still did not know how many enemies existed.
They still did not know the destination.
But now they knew that something was fleeing.
Amelia closed the folder.
"Violet, prepare a safe passage to the border. Not directly to Greyhollow. I want the exit thirty kilometers south, outside the trade routes."
Violet nodded.
"How many soldiers?"
"No army. Ten agents for isolation, two containment specialists, and healers waiting on the other side."
Liza walked toward the door.
"And Kael?"
Amelia looked toward the quarters.
This time, there was no longer any reason to make him wait.
"Now we can unleash him."