Inhaling sharply, Ezra put the golden conch shell to his lips while Glenn watched eagerly, waiting to witness the relic’s true power.Closing his eyes, Ezra blew into the conch, creating a sonorous hum that echoed across the mountain and cleared away the ominous gray clouds rumbling overhead. Light pierced the blanket of darkness like a heavenly lance, and the night miraculously turned into day, waking the birds from their drowsy nests and dispelling the shadows.Astounded by the miracle he had just witnessed; Glenn raised his arms and praised the Goddess. “Ishani is the only truth. She is our guardian and savior. The loving mother who never abandons her children.”Ezra finally opened his eyes and put the conch away, his face brightened with a smile.“I bet Tanya can do something even better with the relic. Maybe this is the weapon that will turn the tides in our favor.”“Its power is truly divine,” Zala uttered in a feeble voice, his breathing shallow and erratic. “I wish…I had found

Once Ezra had finished explaining everything to Tanya and relayed his instructions to the knight in charge, he handed things over to them and left the mansion.The last few days had been incredibly hectic for Ezra, but now that he was back in the city with plenty of time to spare, he planned on handling his unfinished business.Ezra’s first stop was Golden Brooke Bank, the largest bank in the city that doubled as a reserve for the royal treasury during times of crisis.It was here the tournament organizers had deposited Ezra’s winnings. To collect them, he only needed to verify his identity with a matching signature.Since Golden Brooke was the most popular banking choice for most commoners, Ezra knew he could not visit the bank in his official tournament attire as it would create a commotion. However, trying to collect the winnings without a mask meant exposing his identity to the banker.At midday, as the crowd gradually thinned, Ezra entered the bank and walked up to the counter on

Over the last few days, Ezra had familiarized himself with Magaravia’s streets, and he no longer felt like an outsider. Even Ashton Alley had lost its initial repulsiveness and become a part of his routine visits.However, as the wagon crossed the stone bridge leading out of Bolter Street, the coachman pulled to a grinding halt right at the entrance to the slums. A large crowd of commoners had gathered on the streets, armed with sticks and brooms.“I am sorry, but this is as far as I can go my good sir,” the coachman whispered in a nervous voice. Ezra tossed him a handful of Scepters and stepped down.As the carriage drove away, Ezra approached the mob and tried to get a closer look at things.“I tell you these Blue Caps think they can do anything they want!” a lean middle-aged man dressed in soiled clothes exclaimed.Another raised his axe and yelled angrily. “We should teach them a lesson they will remember for the rest of their lives!”“Yeah! We should show them we are not afraid o

In the course of his short interaction with Marquis Desmond, if Ezra had learned anything it was that the man was extremely reserved and preferred staying aloof rather than mingling freely with his peers.A connection between the Marquis and a lowly smuggler like Madam Moonfrey seemed highly improbable. But the undeniable proof was right there in Ezra’s hand.“What would you want with a slum-dwelling trinket seller?” Ezra mumbled as he unfolded the letter and held it in front. As he hurriedly ran his eyes over the creased white paper, things became more intriguing. It read as follows:Dear Madam Moonfrey,I send my regards to the Bleeding Roses. You have been a valuable ally and helped us keep an eye on what transpires in the streets and between the sheets. His Grace is pleased with your efforts but advises you to exercise caution.Keep us informed of what the hyenas whisper in the dark, and we will keep watering your flowers. Long live the king! Long Live Magaravia!The letter ended

In the evening, Count Gressil and his Elite Knights returned to the mansion along with Tanya. Ezra joined them in the living room to discuss the next course of action.The look of satisfaction on Count Gressil’s face indicated that it had been a productive day for him. However, Tanya looked troubled over something.“How did things go with the Viscount?” Ezra asked the first question to the Count and Tanya eagerly turned to face her father.Count Gressil smiled and leaned forward with his hands on the table. “Viscount Forell seems quite impressed with Lord Nazarus. He told me he had his doubts about joining our cause before, but after your little conversation at the ball, he feels confident about your plans.”Tanya had already divulged her proposal to her father, and the Count readily accepted her plan. Even though it was criminal to plan something like deposing the king, the idea of replacing him with his daughter seemed to be the best way out of this mess.“I am told that Princess Ale