Kael did not report the assassination to the elders.
By morning, the body had already been removed quietly. The chamber cleaned. No signs remained.
If he reported it officially, the elders would take control of the situation.
He preferred control in his own hands.
He summoned his guard captain again.
"The insignia," Kael said.
The captain placed a small metal serpent emblem on the table.
"Black Serpent Syndicate," he confirmed.
Kael nodded.
"They do not act without payment. High payment."
"Yes, Young Master."
"Discreetly find which families recently made large withdrawals in liquid funds."
The captain hesitated slightly. "That could implicate noble houses."
"That is the point."
The captain bowed. "Understood."
Kael sat alone after the captain left.
He reviewed possibilities.
Halcrest family? Humiliated publicly. Motivated.
Serrin family? Unlikely. They lost nothing serious.
Internal clan member? Possible. His sudden change threatened interests.
He did not jump to conclusions.
He waited for information.
By afternoon, preliminary reports arrived.
Three families had made large, unaccounted transfers within the past week.
Halcrest.
A minor border house.
And—
Elder Vaelin's private accounts.
Kael read that line twice.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
He leaned back slowly.
Elder Vaelin had suggested the trade test.
He had observed Kael carefully in the council hall.
Was it caution?
Or fear?
Kael did not react emotionally.
He listed motives.
If Kael died, the heir position would pass to his cousin.
That cousin was close to Vaelin's faction.
Clear incentive.
Instead of confronting Vaelin directly, Kael chose another route.
He left the estate that evening with only one guard.
Destination: Black Serpent Syndicate's public front.
A gambling hall in the southern district.
The gambling hall was loud and crowded.
Music.
Shouting.
Money changing hands.
Kael walked in without disguise.
Whispers followed him immediately.
The Viremont heir was not someone who entered such places openly.
A man approached him within minutes.
"Private room?" the man asked politely.
"Yes."
Inside a soundproof chamber, the atmosphere shifted.
A middle-aged man with narrow eyes sat behind a low table.
"Young Master Viremont," he said calmly. "To what do we owe this honor?"
Kael placed the serpent insignia on the table.
"This one failed."
The man's eyes flickered briefly.
"You misunderstand. We do not—"
"I am not here to argue contracts," Kael interrupted calmly. "I am here to ask who paid."
Silence.
The man studied him carefully.
"That information is confidential."
Kael nodded.
"I expected that."
He placed a small jade token on the table.
Viremont clan treasury token.
The man's gaze sharpened.
"I am not asking you to betray clients," Kael continued. "I am asking you to confirm whether I am worth future business."
The meaning was clear.
If they gave him information now, he might become a client later.
If they refused, he might become a problem.
The man tapped the table lightly.
"You are bold for someone recently targeted."
"I survived," Kael replied.
The man smiled faintly.
"Indeed."
After a long pause, he spoke.
"The client used an intermediary."
"Name."
"A minor border merchant house."
Kael waited.
"But," the man added, "the funds passed through another account first."
"Whose?"
The man looked directly at him.
"An internal Viremont account."
Silence.
No dramatic reaction crossed Kael's face.
"Which elder?" he asked evenly.
The man did not answer directly.
Instead, he slid a folded slip of paper across the table.
Kael opened it.
One name.
Vaelin.
Kael folded the paper carefully.
"Thank you."
The man leaned back.
"You are calmer than expected."
"Should I be angry?"
"Most heirs would be."
Kael stood.
"Anger wastes clarity."
He left without another word.
Back in his carriage, Kael closed his eyes briefly.
Elder Vaelin.
Not confirmed fully.
But strongly indicated.
That meant internal division had already begun.
Good.
Better early than later.
He would not confront him publicly.
Not yet.
He would confirm fully.
Then remove him.
Quietly.
Completely.
Inside the Viremont estate, Elder Vaelin sat in his private study.
A servant entered quietly.
"The assassin failed."
Vaelin's expression did not change.
"Expected."
"Should we attempt again?"
Vaelin shook his head.
"Not yet. I want to see what he does."
Across the city, Aric Vale received separate news.
"The Viremont heir visited the Black Serpent Syndicate."
Aric frowned.
"He's moving too intelligently."
His master nodded.
"Yes."
Silence lingered between them.
The villain was not following the script anymore.
Kael stood alone on his balcony that night.
Foundation Mid.
Blood Devouring Art stabilizing.
Internal enemy identified.
He did not feel threatened.
He felt focused.
If Vaelin wanted control—
Kael would give him a lesson in hierarchy.
But not tomorrow.
Not impulsively.
He would dismantle Vaelin the same way he dismantled trade disputes.
Systematically.