Enigma of Darkness ✨

The silent rebellion

The day after the initial protest, tensions only escalated. More people flooded the streets in groups, defiantly protesting against the Government. Fear of imprisonment or police brutality no longer held them back—their anger was unmistakable, their cries for change filled with frustration and desperation. Despite their numbers, they were quickly subdued by the police.

Araki's security team, stationed at key locations, kept him informed of the growing unrest. There had been a series of violent attacks targeting the homes and offices of both the West and Yu families, with their employees caught in the crossfire.

Concerned for their safety, Araki ordered his guards to be deployed across all affected properties. The attackers were not just troublemakers—they were organized and intent on causing harm. Wolford felt like it was on the verge of boiling over, with protests and lawlessness spreading like wildfire.

Araki repeatedly tried to contact Solace, hoping to speak with Azrail about the escalating situation, but his calls went unanswered. Instead, Azrail appeared in another broadcast, pointing fingers at the other two pillars of power.

He accused the West family of instigating unrest through their vast networks, and Araki of failing to provide the necessary support to control the disorders. The police were failing, they were tired and overnumbered by mobs and protestors.

Azrail's speech further deepened the public's mistrust. Frustration with all three pillars grew as citizens called for their removal, demanding a Wolford free from their influence. To the public, the pillars were no longer symbols of leadership but of oppression and corruption.

Night fell, casting an eerie silence over the city. The streets, which had been filled with violence and protest during the day, were now desolate, scattered with the remnants of the unrest.

The Moon Goddess walked through the empty roads, her presence silent but heavy. As she moved, she noticed a haggard beggar wandering aimlessly, his voice cutting through the stillness, "Stay awake, people. Be alert. Watch your downfall. Only the mates can save us."

His voice echoed loudly through the deserted streets, and a dog's bark soon joined in, amplifying his call. Before long, the police dragged him aside, silencing him. Yet he only laughed as they pulled him away, "They're coming for you," he warned ominously.

The Moon Goddess vanished from the scene and reappeared at Araki's residence, where tension hung thick in the air. Inside, several officers, Araki, and Ivis were deep in a heated meeting. Though their faces lit up upon seeing the mate, there was little time for pleasantries.

The situation was spiraling out of control, and they needed to act fast.

An officer briefed the group on the latest developments. Reports from the borders indicated a flurry of suspicious activity—shipments of goods flowing out of Wolford, some intercepted, but many bearing Solace's seal, which made it impossible for them to be stopped.

In addition, new faces had been spotted across the city, with Azrail continually meeting with foreign agents, likely to bolster his power through armed men. Despite the curfew, bars remained unusually active, and trade seemed to be flourishing, while the production of questionable pharmaceuticals had ramped up.

Kell, always quick to act, mobilized his team to dig deeper into the networks. They began collecting data on the new arrivals in Wolford, uncovering that Azrail had been in constant meetings with investors, shady businessmen, and suppliers—each one more dubious than the last. It was becoming clear that Azrail was preparing for something far more dangerous than they had anticipated—an all-out attack on the two remaining pillars.