Morten hurried out of Jack’s Restaurant, his steps quickening with growing unease.

    The ominous words Daniel had left him with were seeds of anxiety, making his breaths shallow and labored.

    ‘He had no intention of negotiating with me. Cooperation? Daniel must have known better than anyone how absurd that idea was....’

    And yet, Daniel had used some kind of veiled threat in the monastery’s dining hall, forcing Morten to approach him willingly.

    What was Daniel’s true intent behind such a move?

    As Morten continued speculating, mentally calculating every possibility, his steps gradually slowed.

    ‘He never planned to cooperate from the start. If that’s the case, then perhaps....’

    His feet came to a complete stop.

    ‘...what if his goal was to lure me out of the Dawn’s Light headquarters?’

    A chilling realization swept through him.

    This was a method designed to remove the head of an organization right before its complete annihilation.

    ‘I’ve been outplayed...!’

    Panic solidified into certainty as Morten fumbled to retrieve his radio. He quickly powered it on.

    Tuning the frequency, he pressed the transmission button and spoke hastily.

    “Headquarters! Do you read me?! Someone respond! This is urgent!”

    No one answered.

    Growing increasingly alarmed, Morten checked the frequency again and pressed the button once more.

    “Headquarters! Respond! You need to evacuate immediately—”

    He cut himself off.

    Because, at that moment, he realized why no one was answering.

    Cold sweat poured down his face as his trembling hand released the transmission button. The radio let out a faint beep.@@@@

    Then, from the other end of the line, came a low, chilling laughter.

    Morten froze as the laughter gradually subsided.

    — Can you hear me, Morten Blackmoor?

    An unfamiliar voice.

    And that alone was enough to confirm that Dawn’s Light headquarters had fallen to the enemy.

    — You were quite busy playing interesting games underground. Unfortunately for you, that fun is now over.

    Morten’s grip on the radio weakened.

    The thought of his entire headquarters being wiped out made it nearly impossible to keep his mind intact.

    Even so, the voice continued.

    — Morten Blackmoor. Consider this your first and final warning.

    A brief silence followed before the voice resumed—calm, yet ice-cold.

    — Do not ever dare to stand against Daniel Steiner.

    The transmission ended with that.

    Morten stared blankly at the radio, his vision spinning as a sudden wave of dizziness hit him.

    His heart pounded uncontrollably, and nausea rose in his throat.

    He staggered forward, clutching his chest, until he reached a nearby wall and leaned against it for support.

    “Hah... hah...!”

    Morten panted heavily, his eyes trembling in despair.

    ‘His Highness’s... my carefully laid plans....’

    All of it had been crushed—no, utterly trampled—by Daniel Steiner.

    Daniel hadn’t forgotten the unpleasantness of that encounter.

    After a brief silence, Daniel spoke.

    “You must have something to say.”

    Morten flinched at the words.

    Clenching and unclenching his fists anxiously, he slowly approached Daniel.

    Swallowing dryly, Morten stopped within arm’s reach—and then, to Daniel’s shock, dropped to his knees.

    ‘Wait. This is... unexpected.’

    Momentarily taken aback, Daniel hesitated to speak. But before he could, Morten began.

    “...Major Daniel Steiner. This is my complete and utter defeat.”

    Daniel’s confusion deepened.

    Before he could ask what the man was talking about, Morten continued in a somber voice.

    “You’ve won. I’ve lost everything and no longer have the strength to recover. Do with me as you see fit. But please, my family...”

    Tears welled up in Morten’s eyes and streamed down his cheeks.

    “I beg you—please spare my family. They’re innocent. If you let them live, I will confess everything. I’ll admit that I’ve been operating under His Highness’s orders.”

    Daniel wiped the sweat forming on his brow.

    ‘What the hell is this nonsense?’

    Showing up out of nowhere and spouting such absurdities—Daniel was completely at a loss.

    Suppressing his irritation, Daniel let out a low sigh and spoke.

    “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

    “What? But Major Daniel Steiner—”

    Cutting Morten off with another sigh, Daniel knelt to meet him at eye level.

    “Let me make this clear one more time.”

    His gaze sharpened as he stared directly into Morten’s trembling eyes.

    “I have absolutely no idea what you’re talking about.”

    Hearing this, Morten’s eyes flickered.

    And in that moment, he understood Daniel’s intent.

    ‘He’s trying to conceal the existence of his private armed forces....’

    If word got out that a soldier had a personal militia, it would create endless complications.

    To Morten, it seemed that Daniel was feigning ignorance to avoid external scrutiny.

    The realization sent shivers down his spine.

    A meticulous and calculating man—Daniel was already several steps ahead.

    ‘Just how far is he planning ahead?’

    Eliminating Dawn’s Light, a secret organization under the prince, was likely just one piece of Daniel Steiner’s larger plan.

    The warning not to oppose him suddenly felt all too real.

    Overwhelmed by dread, Morten lowered his head until it touched the floor.

    “Yes, sir. I understand. Major Daniel Steiner...”

    Trembling with fear, Morten prostrated himself, pressing his forehead against the cold stone floor.

    Tears flowed freely from his tightly shut eyes.

    “You truly... know nothing at all.”

    His faint sobs echoed in the quiet chapel.

    And in that moment, Morten knew beyond any doubt—

    This had been an unwinnable fight from the very beginning.