MEMELAND

The palace was quieter than usual.

Too quiet.

Kai noticed it immediately.

Even the servants seemed nervous.

Guards stood at every entrance.

More than normal.

Much more.

Something had changed.

He found Akshay inside a meeting room reviewing reports.

The king looked annoyed.

Which, oddly enough, was reassuring.

At least some things remained normal.

"You're staring."

Akshay didn't look up.

Kai folded his arms.

"The palace feels strange."

"That's because everyone is panicking."

The king finally looked up.

"Half the city thinks demons are coming. The other half thinks the world is ending."

"And which is it?"

Akshay sighed.

"Probably both."

Before Kai could respond, the doors burst open.

Several guards entered.

Not palace guards.

Military guards.

Behind them walked Commander Jack.

The room immediately fell silent.

Akshay frowned.

"What is this?"

Nobody answered at first.

Then Kai noticed something.

The soldiers looked uncomfortable.

Not angry.

Not aggressive.

Uncomfortable.

As if they didn't want to be here.

Jack stepped forward.

His face was unreadable.

"Your Majesty."

Akshay slowly stood.

The atmosphere instantly became heavy.

"What happened?"

Jack took a breath.

"The convoy investigation has concluded."

A folded document appeared in his hand.

Akshay's eyes narrowed.

"The convoy was redirected."

Jack continued.

"Using an order bearing your seal."

Silence.

Absolute silence.

Akshay stared at him.

Then laughed.

Not because it was funny.

Because it was ridiculous.

"A forgery."

Several officers shifted uneasily.

Jack didn't move.

"That possibility was considered."

"Then why are you here?"

The question echoed through the room.

Jack's jaw tightened.

For the first time, Kai saw uncertainty in the commander's eyes.

Not fear.

Conflict.

Real conflict.

"The council has voted."

Akshay's expression hardened.

Immediately.

"What?"

"The investigation will continue."

Jack looked directly at him.

"Until then, you are being removed from authority."

The room exploded.

"Removed?"

Akshay slammed both hands onto the table.

"You cannot be serious."

"The evidence—"

"The evidence is fake."

"I know."

The words stunned everyone.

Even Kai.

Even Andre.

Even Akshay.

Jack continued.

"I know it could be fake."

"Then stop this."

"I can't."

The commander looked away briefly.

"The council has already decided."

That answer somehow felt worse.

Because it sounded genuine.

Not triumphant.

Not victorious.

Just inevitable.

Akshay slowly understood.

The decision had already been made before Jack entered the room.

The commander was merely delivering it.

Several soldiers approached.

None looked happy.

None wanted this.

Yet they obeyed.

One produced a pair of restraint cuffs.

The metallic click echoed through the room.

Kai stepped forward.

"Hold on."

Every soldier immediately tensed.

Andre cracked his knuckles.

The atmosphere shifted instantly.

Akshay raised a hand.

"Don't."

Kai looked at him.

"What?"

"Don't."

The king's voice remained calm.

Steady.

"I won't have blood spilled over this."

Andre looked disappointed.

"Even a little?"

"No."

"Damn."

Akshay ignored him.

The king extended his hands.

The cuffs locked into place.

For a moment nobody spoke.

Not even the soldiers.

The sight felt wrong.

A king in chains.

Inside his own palace.

Surrounded by his own people.

Jack looked away.

Almost as if he couldn't bear to watch.

Almost.

Then one of the council members entered.

Kai immediately recognized him.

The same man who had suggested giving more authority to military leadership.

The man smiled.

A small smile.

But Kai saw it.

And suddenly understood.

Someone wanted this.

Maybe not Jack.

But someone.

The councilman pointed toward Kai and Andre.

"What about them?"

The room became quiet again.

The man continued.

"They assisted the accused king."

Andre immediately frowned.

"Accused?"

The councilman ignored him.

"They should be detained as well."

Several soldiers nodded.

Kai felt his stomach sink.

There it was.

The second move.

Akshay first.

Then anyone loyal to him.

Jack's eyes narrowed slightly.

The commander looked at the councilman.

For the first time all day, his voice carried a hint of irritation.

"They are not part of the investigation."

"Yet."

The councilman smiled.

"They know too much."

That sentence changed everything.

Akshay noticed it.

Kai noticed it.

Even Jack noticed it.

Because that wasn't the language of justice.

That was the language of elimination.

The king suddenly spoke.

"Run."

The room froze.

Kai blinked.

"What?"

Akshay looked directly at him.

"Run."

Andre didn't need a second invitation.

"Best order you've ever given."

He immediately grabbed a chair and hurled it.

The chair exploded against the floor.

Guards scattered.

Chaos erupted.

Kai barely had time to react before Andre grabbed him by the arm.

"Move, idiot."

The two sprinted toward a side exit.

Soldiers shouted.

Boots thundered across stone floors.

Someone blew a whistle.

The entire palace erupted into confusion.

Behind them, Akshay remained standing.

Still chained.

Still calm.

Jack stared after the fleeing pair.

Then at the arrested king.

Then at the councilman.

For the briefest moment—

The commander looked genuinely troubled.

Far more troubled than a victorious conspirator should have been.

Which only made the situation more confusing.

As Kai and Andre disappeared into the city below, a single realization settled over them both.

Yggdrasil no longer belonged to Akshay.

And whoever had started this conspiracy had just won the first major battle.