I sat in the chair, placing the report on the desk, and began reviewing it. It detailed a recent pirate attack on one of our cargo ships. Half of the crew had been killed, several injured, and most of the goods stolen. The incident was a major blow to Goldhart Trading, a company that had always been reliable and successful.
"That explains it," I muttered under my breath.
There are three notorious Sea Warlords and five Sea Admirals who terrorize merchants and travelers, but they usually go after high-value targets and avoid Linberg territory.
As I began taking notes on the problem, I murmured, "I guess the church's agents will handle the pirates," hoping the matter would be under control soon.
The church's agents include powerful, highly trained individuals from different classes, tasked specifically with tracking and dealing with awakened and supernatural cases.
Awakened individuals stand at the first stage of power, gaining abilities that surpass human limits. The next stage, Ascender, brings profound transformations, granting immense strength and abilities that could rival entire battalions. At the pinnacle stand the Transcendence, being capable of wielding unimaginable power, enough to reshape reality or bring destruction on a massive scale.
Although this information is limited, I consider myself fortunate to know it, as such knowledge is typically reserved for high-ranking officials and is not available to the public.
As I finished writing down my thoughts, I moved on to the next report, which detailed a kidnapping case. Twelve children were abducted this month alone.
I paused.
I remembered the missing posters I'd seen in town. Dozens of sheets pinned to a crowded board, names and rough sketches lined up in uneven rows. Seeing them had unsettled me then, but reading the official numbers made the feeling settle deeper in my chest.
The report listed each abduction. Children taken from different areas, with no clear pattern in time, location, or signs of any organized group involved. The authorities suspected they were targeting families of lower standing. Local law enforcement was struggling to make any progress, which forced my father to intervene.
"This case could be a disaster," I muttered.
Even if the report claimed no group was involved, I felt the opposite.
There's a high chance it's being orchestrated by a secret organization that sacrifices its victims, either for rituals or for their cruel entertainment. These individuals are nothing more than lunatics that must be eliminated. If this organization is involved, the scale of the threat could be far worse than just a few missing children.
I stood and walked over to the shelves, scanning the rows of books for anything relevant. I needed more information on Linberg's geography and recent events to find answers to the case and the potential involvement of dark organizations.
I pulled out a few books related to geographical maps and historical records on secret groups, hoping to find clues within their pages.
Among them, I found a detailed map of Linberg and the surrounding territories. The map was faded with age but still readable. I spread it out on the desk, tracing my finger over the major places and trade routes, noting the areas where the abductions had occurred. The disappearances clustered around isolated and less-patrolled areas—perfect places for someone to operate unnoticed.
As I studied the evidence carefully, I identified five key areas with a high chance of being potential hideouts. I wrote a report recommending that these areas be investigated immediately and listed strategies for each one, including sending scouts to gather intelligence and monitor suspicious activity.
Once I finished, I leaned back and reviewed everything I'd written, going over the notes to make sure nothing was missing. Satisfied, I called for a maid.
A soft knock came at the door, and the maid stepped in, bowing slightly. "You called, young master?"
"Please deliver this to my father," I said, handing her the neatly organized stack of notes.
As the door closed, I tidied the room, carefully putting away the books, maps, and scattered papers. Once everything was in its place, I headed to my bedroom, feeling tired but satisfied with the work I'd done.
…
Morning came quickly. After making my bed and getting dressed, I heard a knock at the door. When I opened it, Sir Roswell stood there, his expression as calm and composed as ever.
"Good morning, young lord. Your father wants to see you."
"Okay," I replied, straightening my clothes a little before following him.
We made our way to my father's office. The corridors were unusually quiet, as if the household sensed something serious unfolding. When we entered, Father greeted me warmly, and we sat together on the couch.
"Did I interrupt your morning, Lucy?" my father asked.
"Not really. I was just planning to read some books," I replied.
He laughed softly. "You should prepare for tomorrow."
"Mother won't let me help. She said it's a surprise."
"You're right; I can't help either, not with this problem," he said, sighing deeply as he rubbed the bridge of his nose. Tension lingered in his voice.
I tried to comfort him. "I think Mother will understand. Besides, she seems to be enjoying it."
That earned another quiet laugh. "You're right."
Before he could say more, a firm knock echoed through the room. The door opened, and three tall men in red hoods stepped inside, the air around them sharpening instantly. Their faces were hidden in shadow, and every movement they made felt practiced and disciplined. The aura of veteran soldiers was unmistakable.
The tallest of them, almost seven feet tall and built like a seasoned fighter, stepped forward.
"It's an honor to meet you, Count Luke. My name is John, and we are here at your request," he said with a bow.
"I'm surprised the Red Corps mobilized so quickly on my request," Father replied.
The Red Corps was one of the Church's elite agencies, specializing in hunting and investigating supernatural cases throughout the kingdom. They were the first defense against rogue Awakened, dark cults, powerful artifacts, and forbidden knowledge. Seeing three of them in our manor spoke volumes about the seriousness of the situation.
"We were near Linberg when we received your request, so we came here straight away," John explained.
"That's great," Father said, handing each man a stack of papers. "This is the report and plan for this operation."
The thin man with a metallic red glow in his left eye lifted his gaze toward me. His stare was sharp, evaluating me.
"Is it all right for the Count's son to be here?" he asked quietly, though his tone held a hint of skepticism.
Father replied with unmistakable pride, "He may look young, but he contributed to this operation."
I stood up and introduced myself. "Greetings, my name is Lucian."
The man's expression twitched in slight surprise before he nodded. "If you say so, Count."
As they read through the papers and discussed the operation, the room filled with low voices and the steady rustle of documents.
John tapped a finger on the marked coastal route. "The pirate attack must be addressed first. Leaving them unchecked will give them chance to expand and disrupt sea trade to Linberg."
Father nodded. "Agreed."
"Cole and I will handle the pirates with a squad of the Count's knights and sweep the sea route."
John continued. "But if an Admirals or one of the Warlords is involved, we'll send word to the higher-ups immediately while keeping casualties low."
Cole, the large man with the rough voice and reinforced gauntlet, added, "If you approve, my lord."
Father exhaled calmly. "Alright. I'll assign an officer and a unit to support you. They know Linberg's waters well."
The thin man with the metallic red glow shifted the kidnapping report toward himself. "Good. While you handle the pirates, I'll focus on this."
His voice lowered. "Twelve abductions. Spread out, but consistent. Someone planned it."
John murmured in agreement. "Your skill will be useful for this one."
The glowing-eye man nodded. "If it's the Demon Faction, there will be traces of blood, rituals, symbol patterns. If it's the Desire Lunatics, there will be charm-marks or emotional disturbances left in the area."
His tone remained blunt. "Either way, I'll know soon enough."
Father leaned forward. "What do you need?"
"Access," the man replied. "Witnesses, recent reports. And someone familiar with Linberg's layout, my lord."
Father glanced briefly at me.
"I mapped out the high-risk areas," I said quietly. "Five locations fit the pattern."
His brow twitched, impressed. "Then your work will save us time."
Father's posture grew firm. "Good. While you two secure the sea routes, we'll investigate the locations. Two fronts. No delays."
As the discussion neared its end, Father said, "Before the operation begins, you're welcome to stay here. I'll have rooms prepared and ensure you have everything needed for your preparations. If there is anything else we can provide, do not hesitate to ask."
"Thank you, Count Luke," John and his men replied in unison before following a maid out of the room.
Once the door closed behind them, Father let out a quiet exhale, as if releasing tension he had been holding.
He then turned to Sir Roswell. "Tyrion, go to the knights and begin preparations."
"As you command, sir," Sir Roswell replied.
After Roswell left, I stepped out of the office as well, the door closing softly behind me. The plans were already in motion, and all I could do now was wait for the reports and see how things unfolded.