Chapter 15- Web of Shadows

Fhog City — Midnight

The city slept uneasily beneath the dark sky. Though the streets were mostly empty, the silence was constantly broken by the echo of hurried footsteps — splashing through puddles, pounding over cobblestones, and reverberating through narrow alleys and steep roads. The sound carried everywhere — men running, shouting orders, their boots slapping against the wet stone as they searched.

One man called out to another emerging from an inn, breathless. “They’re not here either.”

“Keep looking,” the second barked. “Bokto-sama wants Hina Mizuwoka and her sidekick found. They can’t have gotten far.”

The first man hesitated. “What if they’ve already left the city?”

“Not possible,” the other replied sharply. “Bokto-sama expected that. He’s already stationed men beyond the city walls — 3 miles out in every direction. Even if they try to escape, they’ll run straight into his net.”

The first man nodded grimly. “As expected of Bokto-sama.”

At the center of the city stood Bokto’s base of operations — The Danava Hearth, a grand building disguised as an adventurers’ guild. By day, it looked like any other guild hall; by night, it became something darker. The wide hall was unlit, the faint glow from the upper floor barely piercing the shadows. From there came faint muffled cries.

Inside a large chamber upstairs, Bokto and Nikharva stood before a man tied to a chair. His mouth was gagged, his hands and legs bound tight. A V-shaped scar on his cheek. The walls were smeared with blood, the floor stained in layers of crimson. Beside him stood a table cluttered with torture implements: pliers, branding irons, hooks, jagged knives, glass shards, and a small brazier still burning faintly red.

Bokto stood before him, sleeves rolled up, his expression calm—almost casual.
Nikharva lounged beside him, grin wide as ever.

Nikharva broke the silence. “Who would’ve thought—your messenger, the one you used to send reports to Kashi-sama, turned out to be the spy! How did you even figure that out?”

Bokto pulled out one of the man’s fingernails with a measured twist. The muffled scream that followed barely moved him. “When I learned there was a leak,” Bokto said smoothly, “I considered the worst-case scenario. If one of my people were a spy, which would hurt us the most? The answer was obvious—the messengers.”

“You see…” Bokto said with a faint smirk, wiping the blood from his hand. “Kashi-sama and I each have our own messengers. That meant only two possibilities — either mine was the spy, or his. So I sent him a message about a deal happening tonight at the Bhoga Bar — and within that very message, I hid a note suggesting there was a leak. In return, Kashi-sama sent one saying the deal would take place at The Ale Mug which was also a trap. We were merely testing the waters — if neither side’s messenger was compromised, both would deliver their messages without issue. But…” he paused, glancing at the trembling man in the chair, “…one of them turned out to be the spy.”

Nikharva barked a laugh. “And if it wasn’t the messengers, but one of your own men?”

Bokto’s smile widened. “That would’ve been easier. I’d have just killed them all.”

Nikharva laughed louder. “You amuse me every time! But tell me—what was the message you sent?”

Bokto handed him a folded parchment. “See for yourself.”

Nikharva read aloud:

Lord Kashi, I am going to meet the buyer from the Umbra Continent at Bhoga Bar tonight.
Every indication suggests our plans are sound.
As requested, I will confirm the final contract details and relay the terms back to you later.
Know that I will ensure this deal is secured.

Nikharva frowned, scanning the letter again before bursting into laughter.

“That’s your secret message? It’s so obvious! Take the first letter from each sentence—it literally spells LEAK!” He turned toward the bound man, sneering. “How could this idiot not notice something that blatant?”

Bokto leaned back, smirking, his tone smooth and assured. “Simple. If you were my enemy—knowing how smart and cunning I am—would you really think I’d send such an obvious code?”

Nikharva paused, then laughed again. “No. Especially not you. I’d think it was just a coincidence.”

“Exactly.” Bokto’s tone was cold satisfaction. He glanced at the trembling spy, his smile deepening. “They never underestimate my ability—never think I’d be that stupid. And I took advantage of that.”

Suddenly a knock came at the door.

“Enter,” Bokto said.

A man cloaked in dark fabric stepped in, his hood hiding most of his face. “Bokto-sama, we’ve received word from the Council.”

The bound man’s eyes widened in shock. His muffled voice grew louder—the Council?

The messenger continued, “It seems there was no official mission involving you.”

Nikharva blinked. “No mission? Then this wasn’t the Council’s doing?”

Bokto’s eyes narrowed, then a slow, deliberate smile spread across his face.
“So Hina isn’t here on the Council’s orders,” he said softly. “It’s probably that guy with her—the one from Bhoga Bar. He’s the one looking for me and just used Hina’s help to get close.”

His grin widened, voice lowering. “In that case, we capture her. Since the Council isn’t involved, there’s no official record of her presence here. No one can trace her disappearance to this city. And once she’s in our hands…” His eyes gleamed with cold amusement. “We can extract everything she knows.”

He leaned back slightly, the corners of his mouth twitching into a sharper grin. “And if the Council wants to hide their own incompetence, they’ll probably claim she abandoned her post—and stop looking altogether.”

Nikharva chuckled darkly. “You’re as evil as ever.” He paused, frowning. “But what if she escapes?”

Bokto smirked. “She won’t,” he said calmly. “My men already have the outskirts surrounded. And now…” — his gaze slid toward the bound spy — “she’s got a Council agent tangled up with her. Since this isn’t an official mission but her own, she’ll feel responsible for blowing his cover… and she’ll definitely try to save him — if she believes you didn’t double cross her.”

He tilted his head slightly, studying the spy’s reaction with quiet amusement, as if already picturing Hina walking into his trap.

The man flinched as Bokto approached.

Bokto’s smile darkened. He looked at the bound spy and spoke slowly, his voice low and deliberate.

“Since she was ambushed—and you’re the one who told her I’d be at Bhoga Bar—only one thought will be running through her mind: either the Council spy betrayed her… or the spy got caught because of her.”

He untied the cloth from the man’s mouth. “Tell me… would Hina believe me if I said you betrayed her?”

The man gasped for air, coughing violently. “No—! She trusts me!” he croaked.

“Good,” Bokto whispered, his grin stretching wider. “Then let’s go take a walk… shall we?”

Beyond Fhog City’s Walls

The forest loomed tall and silent, moonlight filtering faintly through the branches.
Hidden among the trees, Hina and Goro crouched low, breaths quiet, watching the city. From here, they could hear the faint echo of shouting, the rush of boots splashing through puddles, the sharp whistle of men combing the streets.

Hina’s eyes narrowed. “We were ambushed. Bokto knew we were coming to Bhoga Bar looking for him.”
She paused, her voice tightening. “I think Gaius was caught. He’s been a spy for five years… successfully infiltrating Bokto’s circle and feeding us intel. And now his life’s in danger — because of me.”

Goro lowered his gaze, guilt clouding his face. He bowed deeply. “Hina-san… I’m sorry for dragging you into this. I know this mission was never easy — and now a Council spy’s life is at stake, all because of me. But I swear… we’ll find him. We’ll bring him back alive.”

Hina immediately reached out, gripping his shoulders firmly. “Don’t apologize, Goro-san.” Her tone softened, steady but weighted with resolve. “It’s not your fault. It was my carelessness that got us into this. I know how important this is to you. And I owe you my life — so let’s focus on getting out of this situation together.”

She straightened, scanning the city walls. “We know Gaius is alive. Bokto’s too smart to kill him — he’s worth more alive. But the city’s swarming with his men… we’ll have to get back in before they do something to him.”

Goro coughed to grab her attention. “Hina-san, you might want to use Zone. We’re boxed in — there are men surrounding the walls in a three-mile radius.”

Hina nodded, closing her eyes. The air around her shimmered faintly as she activated Zone, her senses expanding outward. Within moments, her expression shifted — eyes widening in alarm.

She could only sense as far as her limit — about half a mile — yet even within that narrow range, dozens of magic signatures pulsed through the darkness. The concentration was so dense it felt like a living web closing in from every direction.

Hina let out a quiet breath. “It’s a good thing I’ve got you with me. Unlike you, I can’t sense magic that far — half a mile is my limit.”

Goro exhaled, grim. “We can’t go in, and we can’t get out. It’s a good thing we suppressed our magic — if we hadn’t, they’d have tracked us by now.”

Hina’s eyes narrowed. “Yeah… and it doesn’t matter if we’re boxed in. We’re going back into that city anyway. But what really bothers me is how he laid that trap. It means Bokto knew we were coming — not just to the Bhoga Bar, but to this city. Someone must have leaked that information… but how, and who?”

Goro frowned. “Who even knows Bokto’s in this city?”

Hina sighed, thinking aloud. “It’s mostly the people in higher positions at the Council — the Chief Officers, the Generals, and the Council Heads. But none of them knew I was coming here. And even if they did… how did Bokto find out?”

Her brows furrowed, frustration rising in her voice. “I can’t imagine someone of that rank working as a spy for Bokto or Kashi — it’s beneath them. And even if one of them was a spy, they’d never risk exposing themselves over something this minor.”

Goro glanced at her. “And who all did you tell about this — that you were going after Bokto?”

“Only my boss, Thoma,” Hina said quietly. “I sent him a letter before leaving. Thoma-san would never betray me or the Council — not in a million years.” Her eyes lifted toward the city walls, a troubled edge creeping into her voice. “Then how did Bokto know?”

Then she froze. Her eyes locked on the city wall — and her breath caught. Goro followed her line of sight.

High above, illuminated by torches, Bokto stood atop the wall. Beside him was Gaius — tied to a pole, gagged, bruised, blood streaking down his arms and face.

Bokto’s smirk gleamed under the moonlight. He raised his hand, using a spell to project his voice across the forest. His tone was calm — disturbingly calm.

“Hina Mizuwoka,” his voice rang, amplified and echoing. “I have the Council’s spy — thanks to you. Let’s make this simple: trade yourself for him. You have twenty-four hours. Choose wisely.”

The threat hung heavy in the night.

Before either Hina or Goro could react, a cloaked messenger appeared beside Bokto, bowing deeply. “Bokto-sama, Kashi-sama requests your presence — immediately.”

Bokto’s smirk didn’t fade. “Tell him I’m on my way.”
He turned to Nikharva, his tone smooth, almost casual. “I’m leaving things to you till morning. Don’t kill Hina Mizuwoka if you find her — she’s worth more alive.”

Nikharva, still holding his drink, waved lazily. “Yeah, yeah. Don’t worry. I’ll bring them in alive. No fighting till you get back, got it.”

Bokto chuckled low. “Good.” Then he turned, vanishing into the shadows.

From their hiding spot, Hina and Goro watched as Bokto’s men dragged Gaius down from the wall.

Hina’s fists clenched. “He’s hurt… that bastard Bokto—putting on a show.” Her voice trembled with anger. “We have to save him!”. She was about to make a move, but Goro grabbed her arm, stopping her. “I know you’re angry,” he said quietly, “but that’s exactly what he wants. He’s provoking us. If we move now, we’ll walk right into his trap.”

Hina’s breathing slowed. She turned her gaze back toward the wall, fists still shaking. After a long moment, she nodded. “You’re right… we wait.”
Her voice lowered, steady now. “We’ll plan this properly — and when we move, we won’t miss.”

The two crouched in silence, the forest whispering around them.

Somewhere Deep in the Forest — Kodoku Town

Hours later, Bokto reached the outskirts of Kodoku Town.
The forest was silent, the moon hanging high above — bright enough to spot movement from a distance. Bokto moved cautiously, his senses stretched outward, alert for even the faintest trace of pursuit.
There was nothing.

Once certain he wasn’t being followed, he entered the town.

The moment he crossed its boundary, the moonlight vanished. The sky remained clear, yet not a single beam touched the streets. The air felt heavy — as though the town itself refused to let light in. He continued toward the massive palace at the center

Inside the main hall, people stood in eerie stillness, lining the sides like statues. The throne at the far end stood empty.

Bokto stopped near the center and called out, his tone firm but respectful.
“Kashi-sama.”

A calm voice came from behind him. “You’re late, Bokto.”

Bokto turned swiftly — and there he was.
Kashi stood half-shrouded in darkness, his figure barely illuminated by the dim blue torches that burned along the walls. Bokto immediately knelt, one knee to the ground, one hand over his heart.

“Kashi-sama,” Bokto said, bowing his head. “You summoned me?”

Kashi stepped closer, his tone measured and cool. “You did well finding the spy. Did you capture Hina Mizuwoka and the man with her?”

Bokto remained bowing. “Not yet, Kashi-sama. We’ll have them within twenty-four hours.”

“Good,” Kashi said softly. “But prioritize the man. Hina might be valuable—but he is more valuable to me.”

Bokto’s brow furrowed slightly. “If I may ask, Kashi-sama… why the man?”

Kashi’s eyes glimmered faintly in the dark. “Because he’s with the Twilight.”

Bokto looked up, surprised. “With the Twilight?”

Kashi nodded slowly. “Yes. You know I’ve always kept tabs on the Twilight. Two days ago, he met Hina—and on that very day, I received word from the Council headquarters that she was searching for us. The only logical explanation is that she’s helping the Twilight find me.”

Bokto’s voice lowered. “Kashi-sama, may I ask… why would the Twilight be after you?”

Kashi’s lips curved into a faint smirk. “Because I have something he needs.”

Bokto tilted his head, intrigued. “In that case, wouldn’t it be wiser to eliminate him? He’s a Twilight—weak, insignificant. What use could he possibly serve?”

Kashi chuckled softly. “I thought so too—until recently. But we might need him after all.”

Bokto frowned, confusion flickering beneath his calm. “What could a Twilight possibly offer you, Kashi-sama? He’s the weakest of humankind—not even fit to polish your boots.”

Kashi smiled faintly, the expression chilling in the dim light. “Oh, but there’s one thing he can do for me. Tell me, Bokto—do you recall the legend of Balda Ashijiki?”

Bokto’s eyes widened slightly. “The Pentagon Valley incident… Yes, Kashi-sama.” He paused, realization dawning. “Wait—you don’t mean—”

“Exactly,” Kashi interrupted, his smirk deepening.

Bokto stiffened. “But how can a weakling like the Twilight even reach that place? Countless powerful wizards — even Epic-class — have gone there and never returned. You truly believe he can?”

Kashi’s voice was calm, almost amused. “Maybe.”

Bokto scowled. “He’s too weak.”

“Don’t underestimate him,” Kashi replied. “According to my sources, he put up quite a fight recently at the wizard test —and he used lightning.”

Bokto’s eyes narrowed. “Yes… I heard.”

Kashi stepped closer, his tone gaining weight. “It’s been centuries since the Lightning Spirit abandoned humanity, yet this boy wields its power at such a young age. Aren’t you curious, Bokto? How a Twilight of all people managed to earn the Lightning Spirit’s blessing?”

Bokto smirked faintly, lowering his head. “I am, Kashi-sama. But my curiosity means nothing. My only purpose is to serve you—and be useful to you.”

Kashi’s smirk widened. “I am curious as well. And I believe he might even help us uncover the truth about the Lightning Spirit.”

Bokto raised his head slightly, conviction returning to his voice though hesitation flickered beneath it. “Then I understand, Kashi-sama. But still… I don’t think he can reach the valley yet. He’s not strong enough—nor wise enough—to survive what waits there.”

“I agree,” Kashi said simply. “That’s why I intend to test him first.”

Bokto’s brows furrowed. “A test?”

Kashi nodded. “Yes. I’ll make a deal with him. In exchange for what he seeks from me. Through that deal… I’ll see if he’s fit for what comes next.”

Bokto’s smirk returned, sharp and unwavering. “Understood, Kashi-sama. I’ll capture Hina Mizuwoka and the man with her—and use them to lure out the Twilight.”

Kashi’s expression darkened, eyes glinting with satisfaction. “Good. Don’t disappoint me.”

Bokto bowed deeply once more. “I won’t.”

As Bokto rose and turned to leave, the torchlight flickered—casting his departing figure in shades of shadow and flame.

Alone, Kashi stood still, his expression unreadable. Let’s see what destiny has in store for the Twilight…