After the Navy Line raid by the Turncoat Pawn and the Turncoat Knight.
Not only the attacked Navy Line, but all of Ark fell into a state of emergency.
Up until now, Turncoats were mostly only sighted outside of Ark, rarely causing any major incidents.
But this time, not just one, but two of them had attacked the Navy Line together.
The Turncoat Pawn and the Turncoat Knight assaulted the front lines of the Navy Line and devastated the city.
Strictly speaking, it was only two monsters that had breached the defenses, but the aftermath was anything but minor.
The wall that was under restoration collapsed once again, and a considerable number of casualties were reported.
Fortunately, there were no deaths among the casualties, but considering the extent of the Navy Line's damage, it was purely a matter of luck.
Even if it was during post-Wave recovery efforts, the fact remained that the Navy Line's defenses had been breached by just two monsters.
The damage was not limited to the front lines; the devastation extended deep into the Navy Line's city sectors.
This time, it wasn't just a breach of the front lines—the destruction spread into the city itself.
The defense forces of the Navy Line, along with the line police, tried to stop the Turncoats, but only ended up increasing the casualties.
And did they manage to kill the invading Turncoats? No, they did not.
After completing their rampage, the Turncoats calmly withdrew, and neither the military nor the police of the Navy Line could deny it.
Soon after, the Navy Line descended into chaos.
The front lines were breached by only two monsters, and the incompetence of the line police was fully exposed, causing fear and resentment among the citizens.
At this rate, riots led by protesters were imminent within the Navy Line.
No matter how much the Belov Family practically ruled the Navy Line, their governance ultimately depended on the support of the citizens.
And naturally, no citizen would support rulers who failed to protect them.
Someone had to take responsibility.
Not long after, demands for the punishment of those responsible erupted from the citizens and the protesters.
But the person currently in charge of the Navy Line's defenses was none other than Ivan Belov, the son of the Belov Family's capo, Anton Belov.
Under normal circumstances, such demands would have been easily suppressed by the Belov Family.
But the situation was far too dire now.
The Navy Line's defense commander Ivan Belov must step down.
Ivan Belov quickly became the target of the citizens' and protesters' ire.
In truth, it was more accurate to say that the Belov Family, sensing a threat to their rule over the Navy Line, deliberately offered Ivan Belov up as a scapegoat.
The Navy Line's defense commander, Ivan Belov, must be held accountable.
As the Belov Family intended, all the blame for the raid was directed toward Ivan Belov.
There was no gain in provoking the citizens and the protesters any further, so they offered the capo's son as a sacrifice to quell the anger.
In the end, Ivan Belov was forced to step down as the defense commander of the Navy Line.
Even with Ivan Belov's resignation, the public sentiment within the Navy Line remained at its worst.
The citizens trembled with anxiety and no longer supported the Belov Family.
Some even began to question the Belov Family's dominance over the Navy Line for the first time.
The Belov Family could only maintain control because of the absolute support of the citizens.
If they lost the citizens' support, they would be nothing more than another powerful mafia.
Thus, the Belov Family had no choice but to find a new solution—and they found one quickly.
In the midst of the raid, a hero emerged to defeat the Turncoats.
Heroes are said to rise in troubled times.
The Navy Line's Special Mobile Strike Unit successfully repelled the Turncoat Pawn and Turncoat Knight, with Special Mobile Strike Unit Officer Tatiana Belov's brilliant performance standing out in particular.
Although they regrettably failed to kill the Turncoats, they inflicted significant damage and drove them away from the Navy Line.
Regardless of the truth, the Navy Line officially announced the incident as such.
Special Mobile Strike Unit Officer Tatiana Belov played a major role during the raid.
The emergence of a new hero was enough to quell the fears of the anxious citizens.
Although there were still some who remained skeptical, people tend to believe what they want to believe.
A new hero was born.
Bel Communications, practically the Belov Family's personal media outlet, delivered the news in that exact tone.
A new hero had turned the Navy Line's crisis into an opportunity.
Tatiana Belov received a remarkable promotion from Major to Colonel and was appointed as the new defense commander of the Navy Line, filling the vacancy left by Ivan Belov's downfall.
From start to finish, everything went precisely as the Belov Family had planned.
The only unexpected element was that Tatiana Belov accepted her rapid promotion and reassignment without resistance.
As if she had been waiting for this exact opportunity.
"...."
Anton Belov, who knew Tatiana better than anyone, found this unusual but chose not to react strongly.
At this point, the Belov Family had no other options.
Meanwhile, unlike the situation within the Navy Line, things across Ark were far from settled.
While the Navy Line and the Belov Family patched things over with scapegoats and heroes, the other lines viewed the incident through a very different lens.
Beyond the fact that the Navy Line had been attacked, there was now a growing concern that Turncoats—who had previously acted individually—might start working together.
Measures must be taken.
Soon after, the leaders and senators of each line gathered at the White Line for an emergency meeting.
Raise the threat level of all Turncoats, including the Pawn, by one level. Strengthen the alert status across all fronts of Ark. Measures regarding Turncoats....
Various issues were discussed during the emergency meeting, but the most critical one was the organization of a punitive force against Turncoats like Pawn and Knight.
Organizing a punitive force against the Turncoats.
Perhaps due to the urgency of the situation, the proposal moved quickly.
Although a few senators under the influence of the Tripathi Family tried to subtly oppose the idea, citing concerns about deploying Ark's military strength externally during unstable times, their efforts were overwhelmed by the sheer impact of the Navy Line raid.
A punitive force against the Turncoats will be organized.
After a long but decisive emergency meeting, the conclusion was reached.
Despite some opposition, the punitive force was officially sanctioned and was to be the strongest ever assembled.
Of course, even with the formation of the punitive force, immediate action wasn't expected due to the lack of detailed information on the Turncoats.
However, it was certain that if another incident like the Navy Line raid occurred, Ark's greatest punitive force would pursue the invaders.
Capture the Turncoats.
Thus, the emergency meeting concluded.
* * *
After the long-prepared White Line raid ended in failure, the atmosphere within the Shadow Order sagged heavily.
"Ugh...."
A heavy sigh echoed through the Shadow Order's hideout.
And it was understandable.
Just a few more steps, and they could have reached the heart of the White Line.
But everything fell apart due to Carl Marcus's sudden interference.
And that wasn't all.
Even the secret plan to reveal Sophia Belov's identity as a trump card in case of failure had been nullified.
All because of Carl Marcus's machinations.
No one in the Shadow Order had imagined that Carl Marcus, an outsider to Ark, would exert influence even over the Tripathi Family, rulers of the front lines.
It was Carl Marcus who stole Esther.
It was Carl Marcus who foiled the White Line raid.
It was Carl Marcus who prevented the rift between the Navy Line and other lines.
Carl Marcus, Carl Marcus, Carl Marcus....
Naturally, talks began within the Shadow Order about eliminating Carl Marcus.
However, the idea was soon dismissed by Isabel.
She insisted that they still had unfinished business with Carl Marcus.
"Commander, are you seriously planning to bring him into our Order?"
"The decision has already been made."
"You made that decision alone."
For the first time, even members who had never doubted Isabel's leadership began to voice their dissatisfaction.
The absolute authority that once defined the commander of the Shadow Order had started to falter under the influence of a single outsider.
"It was necessary."
"Have you ever even tried to explain it to us?"
"You'll understand once you meet him."
"As if."
The once-unshakable Shadow Order, who had thrived in Ark's shadows, was beginning to waver.
And it was all because of one outsider.
"Enough, everyone. The Commander must have her reasons. Has she ever been wrong before?"
"She's wrong now."
"I said enough. When we meet Carl Marcus, the truth will come out."
"You really think so?"
"Damn it."
Discord slowly began to spread among the members.
The Shadow Order, once the very embodiment of dissent within Ark, was now itself being torn apart by internal conflict.
"Everyone, stop."
Isabel stepped in to calm the explosive atmosphere.
[Stop....]
As her ether enveloped the area, the members finally began to regain their composure.
"Tch."
And then it happened.
This place was one of the hidden hideouts of the Shadow Order within Ark.
Only fellow members were supposed to know about it.
And yet——.
"Intruder."
At Sart's warning, the Shadow Order immediately entered full alert.
And soon, a familiar face stepped into their hideout.
"You...."
Carl Marcus had found them.