Edward sank into the chair, letting the weight of the last two weeks press down on him. Every failed inquiry, every closed door, every forced smile from a townsperson—it all made sense now. They had been watched. Every step they took, every question they asked. Every attempt at uncovering the truth—it all failed by design, crumbling before it could even begin.
His gaze returned to the soldier who shifted uneasily across from him, hands restless against his knees. He glanced at the walls and windows as if paranoid that someone could be watching him at this very moment, shadows in the corners stretching longer than they should.
"I need to know everything you know," Edward said, snapping the soldier away from his paranoia.
The soldier swallowed hard, straightening in his chair. "I… I couldn't come sooner. It wasn't my turn to keep watch over you until now. But I've observed the new chief carefully."
Edward's gaze sharpened. "Go on."
