Kael POV
REF city sprawled before me, bathed in the golden glow of late afternoon sun. From above, the city looked peaceful—markets bustling, streets crowded, towers gleaming—but I knew better. Dungeons had been purged, undead legions patrolled the outskirts, and the citizens slept safely… for now.
But peace is always deceptive.
The system pinged:
[Political Unrest Detected — Noble Factions Increasing Pressure]
[REF City Status — Under Observation]
I frowned. Reports had been coming in steadily: noble families, jealous of Ember's control over REF, were pressuring King Valtherion to remove him. The relic that revitalized REF—the one making crops bloom, minerals glow, medical herbs flourish, and diamonds shimmer with magic—made the city a jewel in the kingdom. Naturally, greedy eyes were on it.
I stepped into the central district, the streets alive with merchants and adventurers. Luminor met me halfway, his usual calm demeanor offset by a frown.
"Kael," he said quietly, "the nobles aren't hiding it anymore. They want REF's management transferred to them. Ember is in danger—this could destabilize the entire city."
I clenched my fist. "I'll deal with them. But first… we need to know who's orchestrating this."
Luminor nodded. "I've been installing surveillance via the Magic Communication Towers. Arra built them; they're linked to NOR, AKENE, SUPREME, and TEMPEST systems. Whenever someone communicates through them, experience points convert to gold—directly into REF's treasury. But more importantly, we can track movements, gather intel."
I raised an eyebrow. "Impressive."
He smiled faintly. "It also drives monsters away. But the nobles… they've started lobbying through indirect channels—churches, merchant guilds, even the adventurer boards. They want leverage."
I activated Mana Construct, scanning the city for hidden threats and manipulation. The aura shimmered faintly across districts, revealing subtle traces of magical influence—spellbinding, persuasive enchantments, and even low-level corruption.
"Not just politics," I murmured. "They're using magic to pressure King Valtherion."
Luminor's eyes darkened. "Yes. If we don't act fast, the city could fracture before the Celestial War even reaches us."
I glanced toward Ember's mansion in the noble district. The young lord had been traveling west for trade with Sequoia, leaving the city slightly vulnerable. But his allies—my friends—were ready.
"We need a multi-layered approach," I said, pacing. "First, neutralize the nobles' influence. Second, reinforce the city defenses. Third…" I paused, thinking of the factions rising quietly in the shadows. Vampire clans, demonic cults, and rogue adventurer guilds were all moving, testing strength, trying to take advantage.
Brown floated beside me, skeletal fingers tapping rhythmically. "And we thought dungeon clearing was stressful."
I smirked faintly. "This is worse. At least in dungeons, you know who's attacking."
Seraphelle appeared, her wings folding gracefully behind her. "Kael… you underestimate the subtlety of politics. Nobles and factions can destabilize a city faster than armies. And in REF, the relic makes everyone hungry for power."
I nodded. "Then we hit them where it hurts. Intelligence first."
I opened my system menu:
[Spy Network Deployment — Active]
[Faction Influence Analysis — Loading]
[Threat Level: Rising]
The system highlighted three major factions attempting to manipulate REF politics:
1. Pinus Picea Family — Colluding with demonic forces to enslave citizens for unknown experiments.
2. Cedrus Semper Family — Greedy, deceitful, aiming to seize city wealth and magical resources.
3. Minor Adventurer Guilds — Secretly forming alliances with rogue vampires and dark mages for leverage.
"Looks like we have our work cut out for us," I said.
Luminor glanced at me. "Do you plan to intervene personally?"
I smiled faintly. "Some things require Kael Eldrath. Others… need Brown and the legions."
Brown's grin widened. "Finally. Real action."
---
Council of Friends
By evening, I convened a meeting with the core team:
Amara — Special Class Mage
Pallas — Young Female Dragon, Explorer Class
Thorne — Warrior Class
Vex — Alchemy Class
Luminor — Special Class Keeper
Lyra — Special Class Healer
Malina — Special Class Beast Tamer
Zephyr — Kael's Pet Beast, Shapeshifter
Arden — Assassin Class
Elian — Archery Class
They gathered in the adventurer district, the air tense. Even Pallas, normally calm, flicked her tail nervously.
"REF is under threat," I began. "Nobles, vampires, demons… multiple factions are targeting us. Some for political gain, others for chaos. Ember is away. That leaves us."
Amara frowned. "Do we know their methods?"
"Yes," I said. "But some are subtle. We'll need intelligence, intervention, and preparation. Luminor, the Magic Communication Towers?"
"Fully operational," he said. "I've been linking them to all villages and towns. Whenever someone communicates, we gain resources—both gold and experience points. Plus, monsters avoid the area. But I've detected unusual signals. Someone is trying to bypass them."
Lyra clenched her fists. "Then we need to protect the network."
Vex added, "And deal with rogue factions using rogue alchemy to manipulate townspeople."
I nodded. "Exactly. This isn't just a fight with swords or magic—it's a battle of influence. The city's safety depends on us controlling both."
Pallas lifted her wings. "Then we start with intelligence. I can scout and identify hostile movements before they reach the districts."
Arden, ever silent, simply nodded. "I'll eliminate key threats discreetly."
Elian added, "And I'll provide overwatch from the high towers. No one moves without me knowing."
I smiled faintly. "Good. Then let's begin. REF may be a jewel now, but we'll ensure it doesn't become a pawn in their schemes."
---
First Countermeasures
We split tasks immediately:
Amara and Lyra: Shield districts with magic, warding against manipulation.
Pallas and Elian: Recon and scouting.
Vex: Deploy alchemy remedies and monitoring.
Luminor: Strengthen tower links, track noble movements.
Brown & Undead Legions: Secure outskirts and protect critical infrastructure.
Kael & Seraphelle: Coordinate all operations, intervene where necessary.
Even as night fell, REF was alive with subtle motion—agents moving, spies whispering, nobles plotting. But we were ready.
I looked over the city from the central tower. The streets glowed with magical barriers, communication towers hummed faintly, and my undead legions patrolled silently.
"REF will survive," I said quietly, eyes scanning the horizon. "And so will our people. No matter what factions rise, no matter what demons appear… we will endure. And we will strike back."
The wind stirred. Somewhere in the shadows, the first signs of rebellion were already taking shape. But Kael Eldrath would be ready. And this time, REF would not just defend—it would fight.