Chapter 125: Correct & Failure
Guided by the two men guarding the hidden mansion, Ralph and his team learned of "Shacks," a bar and gambling den in the Flameheart Kingdom’s underbelly. Its dimly lit facade, nestled between crooked alleys, buzzed with raucous laughter and the clink of coins. To the Dawnless executives, it felt like home.
At the counter, Donto flashed a wide grin. "Heard today’s meal got sour."
The bartender, a grizzled man with rune-tattooed knuckles, calmly nodded and led them through a back door. An empty barrel concealed a hidden passage, its mechanism eerily similar to the setup at Harper’s Hawks. As the barrel swung open, revealing a narrow tunnel lit by flickering mana orbs, the bartender bowed. "Welcome to the Orion Assembly."
They emerged into a chamber lined with cushioned seats and private compartments, each veiled by shimmering wards. Ralph sat, his executives flanking him, their cloaks blending into the shadows. A male voice sounded from behind a screened partition. "How can I help you today?"
"I want to know what’s happening in this kingdom," Ralph said, his voice low. "Why are there so many royals, and what are they looking for?"
Silence stretched, the air heavy. "Sir, that’s high-level information—"
Ching... ching...
Ralph tossed two pouches of gold across the partition before the voice could finish.
The speaker cleared his throat. "Alright. The Flameheart Kingdom is experimenting on its citizens."
Boom. The words hit Ralph like a shockwave.
It suddenly clicked. Commoners bearing royal traits could only mean one thing: deliberate breeding.