After Tonight, No Roses

"Ah..."

As the heart-pounding cloud of smoke passed by, the anger in Mossen and Kami's eyes quickly shifted to a heavy, oppressive silence.

Now, they could clearly see the game being played between two invisible forces. Many had infiltrated their surroundings under their very noses, yet their true identities remained a mystery. Even the top leaders were unaware, while a more enigmatic force seemed to know everything and was using subtle methods to alert them to the traitor within their ranks.

The second member of the Will family and the fifth of the Apocalypse Legion had both been killed.

"Sister, something isn't right. One has perfect stealth, and the other, perfect intelligence. These two organizations are far too dangerous. I recommend we report to the council immediately," Ernado said softly, pulling out his communication device.

Though magic could serve the same purpose, technology was far more efficient and conserved his magical energy. As a wizard, he was pragmatic, not dogmatic.

Kami didn't object but instead glanced around at the surrounding soldiers.

Bang!

A familiar gunshot rang out, and Kami and Mossen instinctively reached for the hilts of their swords, gathering their energy in the direction of the sound—but they both stopped at the same moment.

The two leaders began observing the soldiers around them, noticing confusion and, more troubling, fear. Even the Apocalypse Mage Corps, who had been unaffected until now, wore similar expressions.

Kami's mind raced as she raised a hand without hesitation. Behind her, the Will family members halted, their eyes scanning the surroundings vigilantly.

Mossen mirrored her action, adding, "The Wucheng Army continues. The Apocalypse Army halts."

The moment their orders were given, the soldiers still clearing civilians continued their work, while those preparing for battle stood still.

One was the heir to a powerful family, the other the commander of an entire legion. From the moment the second spy was discovered, both Mossen and Kami had suspected that the mysterious spy organization was pushing them forward, while the intelligence network was trying to slow their advance.

Their target was the Scarlet Sect. With the traitor still unidentified, or possibly undetectable, resolving the conflict swiftly seemed like the best course of action. Yet now, the soldiers' shaky morale made normal combat impossible. They needed time to regroup and, if possible, stabilize the troops by relaying vital information.

"Ding ding, ding ding."

At that moment, the electronic device chirped. Ernado glanced at it, his brow furrowing in thought. "Sister, the Federation hasn't received any similar reports."

Kami leaned in, reading the reply: "File is being created." After a brief pause, she responded, "These two organizations are too secretive. We must report this immediately and outline their characteristics. I'll speak with my father after we return."

Ernado nodded and started operating the device. The two organizations were a significant threat. If their existence couldn't be verified, Dongwu City would need to conduct a thorough self-assessment.

Though it might not yield results, it was critical to flag such powerful organizations. If the ominous black aura appeared frequently in the Federation, it would certainly raise alarms.

Kami gazed up at the sky, her mind processing the information. According to the signals they'd received earlier, the eighth one should have passed by now. Had it disappeared, or had it been noticed?

Her gaze shifted to the man sitting on the lion, issuing orders. She turned to Seth and said, "Go reassure the soldiers. Tell them it was an invasion by the Scarlet Sect, and all the invaders have been neutralized."

---

In an underground base within the inner city, a group of individuals watching a magic projection fell into a deep silence.

A man wearing a clown mask addressed the assembly, his tone serious: "Someone is targeting us."

An older voice responded from beneath an angel mask: "Our target is the Scarlet Sect. Will and Apocalypse are targeting Scarlet too. Tonight's operation won't be stopped."

"No," the clown interrupted, his tone growing more intense. "What I mean is, someone has discovered us. It could be an individual, or perhaps an entire force. We've been compromised. We're no longer invisible."

A tense silence fell over the underground room, and everyone understood the implications. Anyone who discovered the existence of the Night Rose would have to die.

The angel mask turned to the clown. "I've already reported to headquarters. A powerful fortune teller will be arriving soon, but for now, let's not deviate from our plan. Scarlet takes priority over all other concerns tonight."

The clown nodded in agreement. "Do we need to take action?"

The angel surveyed the room, where dozens of silver-ranked members sat, most of them captains of smaller intelligence teams. They knew each other well, despite wearing disguises. The Night Rose thrived on secrecy. The masks they wore were symbolic of their belief in mystery—a mystery that, if disturbed, could anger their god.

"I believe we need to stay cautious," the angel finally replied. "We brought two Gold-ranked members to Dongwu City. There's no need to mobilize them tonight. If we reveal too much, it will draw attention. The Old Sword Master still holds influence. Even Golds cannot be moved lightly—at least, not in the open."

The clown rose, decisively giving orders. "I know the goblins, night elves, and black goats are ready. Follow me." Three individuals, each wearing the appropriate mask—goblin, elf, and sheep—stood up and followed the clown as he made his way to the exit.

The Night Rose never wasted time.

The angel, watching them leave, turned back to the remaining members. "Who is in charge of the quartermaster? Explain the situation."

A tall figure wearing a dwarf mask stood and spoke respectfully. "It's me. The quartermaster hasn't found anything substantial. His forces are focused entirely on the Scarlet Sect. He was the one who informed Apocalypse and Will, but we can't rule out that he was trying to distract us. My suggestion is to eliminate him. The situation is too delicate to investigate further."

The angel considered this, but did not respond immediately. Instead, he asked, "Where is the alchemist?"

A thin man, wearing a fat mask, answered. "The alchemist is only eighteen, but already a lower Silver-ranked mage. Two of our members were killed by his power. His potential has been assessed as SS-ranked. We should continue trying to recruit him."

The angel nodded thoughtfully, but didn't respond directly. Instead, he addressed the group calmly:

"Plans have changed. Too many casualties have occurred in the army. Let everyone go into hiding and suspend all operations. After tonight, there will be no more Night Rose in Dongwu City."