While Kyle was busy with the birds, quite a few big events took place in the Skysand Kingdom.
After all, those people who had attacked him all had powers behind them and had high statuses.
If even a single one of them died, it would be big news.
All five…
The first deaths that became "public" knowledge were the deaths of the two Royal Knight Archers.
Colonel Garillean and his Lieutenant Colonel were supposed to command a mission in the central frontlines one day after Kyle had been attacked.
However, neither Colonel Garillean nor his Lieutenant Colonel appeared.
The responsible Major General for the mission had not heard from the Lieutenant Colonel, which was very, very unusual.
People of such a rank were supposed to be perfect examples to everyone.
They were only permitted to miss appointments if there was a national crisis, and if that happened, they had to inform their superior.
And yet, the two of them were not there.
The Major General had to tell the bad news to the General of Skysand, who just narrowed his eyes.
"What was his directive for the last two days?" the General asked.
"Preparation for the operation," the Major General answered.
After a lengthy interrogation by the General, he essentially got the picture.
Colonel Garillean was supposed to travel from place to place, personally greeting and accepting the volunteers from the Guilds who were supposed to join the operation.
Investigations took place.
The Major General personally went to the gathered troops and marked their presence.
Over 30 people were absent who were supposed to be here.
Within minutes, the Major General started to retrace the Colonel's steps from back to front.
He arrived near the western edge of the Skysand Kingdom and found a nervous and bored group belonging to the Naga Covenant.
20 members.
When the Grandmasters saw the Major General arriving personally, they all became disciplined.
The Guild Master of the Naga Covenant said that everyone was present, but the Major General just looked at them with a serious expression.
"You are supposed to be at the frontlines already," he said with a serious tone.
"My apologies," the Guild Master said, "but we were waiting here for almost an entire day. We were under the impression that we would be escorted. Leaving on our own volition would be considered insubordination."
The Major General looked at them for some seconds.
The Guild Master just looked back without fear. She was in the right, and she knew that.
It was not hard for her to see that something had gone wrong.
The Skysand Kingdom was usually organized to a pedantic degree.
"The mission is canceled," the Major General said. "You may return to your daily lives."
The members looked at each other with surprise.
"Understood," the Guild Master answered.
Then, the Major General left again.
The next place he visited was the Demon Master's Circle, which was the organization that managed all the Demon Masters in the Skysand Kingdom.
When the Major General arrived, he only saw a single person waiting.
That single person noticed the Major General and quickly stood up nervously.
The next moment, several waves of Ether left his body, and some seconds later, four more people arrived.
All five of them were Demon Masters.
"Where-"
"Hey!" the leading Demon Master shouted in annoyance, interrupting the Major General. "You were supposed to be here almost two days ago! You should be thankful that I didn't send a letter to the Major General yet!"
The Major General narrowed his eyes. "You've been waiting here for almost two days and didn't inform me?"
The leading Demon Master had already noticed that this was the Major General halfway through his words, but he had found it too awkward to sputter and stop his speech halfway through.
So, he had just gone with it and acted like he didn't know that this was the Major General.
"Oh, my apologies," the Demon Master said with fake politeness. "I didn't realize that you were the Major General."
The Major General knew this guy through several written exchanges, and he already knew that he was a weird one.
"No one has arrived to escort you?" the Major General asked.
"No, we've been standing here for almost two days," the leading Demon Master said.
"Hey!" the first Demon Master said. "I have been here for almost two days! You only waited for three hours!"
The two of them started to bicker in front of the Major General. While the first Demon Master was respectful to the Major General, he was not respectful to his leader.
The Major General just interrupted them after a few seconds to tell them that the mission was canceled.
"Great!" the leading Demon Master said, eying the first Demon Master. "Gives me time to sort this guy out!"
"Oh, you wanna go?!" the first Demon Master shouted aggressively. "Come on!"
The Major General just left.
Conflicts between Demon Masters were completely normal. Since they didn't need to take care of and teach beasts, nor invest money into building golems, Demon Masters very often fought each other by summoning random Demons and making them fight.
It barely took any investment, and no one got hurt…
Well, except for the environment, some watching beasts, and the Demons.
But that was why they were so far south in the kingdom, in an almost barren wasteland.
The Major General continued to the Beast Master Association.
Nobody was waiting at the spot.
The Major General went directly to the Shore Shells.
His appearance caused the Vice-Guild Leaders to fall into a frenzy, and they quickly arrived in front of him.
They had no idea why he was here.
Why was someone of such a status here?!
Did their Guild Leader die on the frontlines?!
"Yes, sir?" one of the Vice-Guild Leaders asked.
"Your Guild Leader was supposed to be on the frontlines. He has not arrived. Where is he?" the Major General asked.
The Vice-Guild Leaders seemed fearful and very confused.
"Excuse me, but Colonel Garillean escorted him to the frontlines almost two days ago," the Vice-Guild Leader spoke carefully.
A small glint appeared in the Major General's eyes as his brows furrowed.
"Who was with him?" he asked.
"The group had four people and consisted of the Colonel, his Lieutenant Colonel, Vice-Dean Meragin, and Maester Lillian," the Vice-Guild Leader said.
The Major General went through his mental list of participants in the mission.
All of them were supposed to join the mission, but were absent.
'Corruption,' the Major General thought.
He could see what had happened.
The five of them were planning on attacking something or someone in secret…
But things didn't go as expected, and now, they were dead.
"Did something happen to the Guild Leader?" the Vice-Guild Leader asked.
The Major General remained silent for a bit.
"You will hear from the Skysand Kingdom soon," the Major General said before leaving.
This terrified the Vice-Guild Leaders.
What had happened?!
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