The Eclipsed Order

Chapter 64: Chapter 64: Unwelcome Investigators

The Investigation

Far from the academy, beyond the borders of the kingdom’s more populated regions, two figures stood within the ruins of an abandoned settlement.

The place had once been a small mining village.

Now, there was almost nothing left.

Broken houses surrounded the area, their walls covered in cracks and overgrown vines. The road leading into the village had nearly disappeared beneath the grass, while several old mining carts remained scattered around the outskirts.

Larden stood near one of the ruined buildings, carefully examining the ground.

He was a tall man with dark brown hair, wearing a long black coat over his armor. His expression remained calm as he crouched down and brushed some dirt away with his fingers.

Beside him stood Frey.

Unlike Larden, She carried a large sword across her back and wore light armor beneath a dark cloak. Her eyes moved constantly around the surroundings as she observed the ruins.

"There are traces here," Frey said.

Larden walked closer.

"From the corrupted?"

"No."

Frey touched the ground again.

"Too clean."

Larden frowned.

"Too clean?"

"Yes."

He stood up.

"If the corrupted creatures passed through here, there should be traces of their movements. Broken trees, damaged structures, blood, something."

He looked toward the abandoned mine in the distance.

"But there is almost nothing."

Larden crossed her arms.

"Then someone cleaned it."

"That’s what I think."

Frey looked toward the mine.

"The question is who."

Larden remained silent for a moment.

"The Eclipse?"

Frey didn’t answer immediately.

After a few seconds, he nodded.

"Most likely."

The two of them had spent weeks investigating the Eclipse.

Every time they followed a lead, they found the same thing.

Nothing.

Witnesses remembered seeing strange individuals wearing dark clothing.

Merchants reported suspicious groups moving through certain regions.

Criminal organizations that had once operated freely suddenly disappeared.

Corrupted creatures were killed before the knights could reach them.

And every single time, the evidence disappeared shortly afterward.

It was almost as if someone was deliberately erasing every trace of their existence.

"Whoever they are, they’re careful," Larden said.

"Yes, Probably."

Frey stood and looked around the village.

"That is what concerns me."

Larden glanced at her.

"You think they’re watching us?"

"I think they have been aware of our investigation for some time."

Frey’s expression remained serious.

"We’ve followed six different leads during the past month. Every single one ended the same way."

"The evidence disappeared."

"Exactly."

Larden placed his hand on the hilt of her sword.

"Then why haven’t they attacked us?"

"Because they don’t consider us a threat yet."

Frey looked toward the forest surrounding the village.

"Or they’re waiting."

Larden’s expression hardened.

"Waiting for what?"

"I don’t know."

SHe looked back toward him.

"That’s what we’re here to find out."

For several seconds, neither of them spoke.

The wind passed through the ruined village, carrying dust and dead leaves across the road.

Neither of them noticed the figures hidden within the shadows of the distant trees.

Aoda stood there quietly.

Seven women stood behind her, each wearing the dark uniform of the Sentinels.

They had been observing Frey and Larden for several minutes.

Aoda narrowed her eyes.

"Is that them?"

"Yes, Lady Aoda."

Aoda looked at the two investigators again.

"Hmm..."

She studied them carefully.

"They’re certainly strong."

A faint smile appeared on her face.

"But even I alone could take the two of them if I used my full strength."

The Sentinel standing behind her remained silent.

Aoda’s smile widened slightly.

"How foolish are they to investigate us?"

She glanced around the ruins.

"No matter how much they search, they won’t find anything about the Eclipse."

Her expression slowly became irritated.

"Just looking at them pisses me off."

She took a slow breath.

"Sigh... I need to control my anger for the Great Eclipse."

Aoda crossed her arms.

"The Four Black Roses were also against eliminating them for now."

She looked toward the seven Sentinels.

"So we’ll keep them under observation."

Her eyes returned to Frey and Larden.

"I was assigned to this matter, so I need to handle it properly."

She paused.

"Though..."

Aoda’s expression became slightly annoyed.

"I’m not sure what Valentine is doing right now."

She clicked her tongue.

"I’m sure she’s laughing her head off at me."

One of the Sentinels lowered her head slightly.

"What should we do, Lady Aoda?"

Aoda glanced at her.

"If you want to provoke them, I won’t stop you."

The seven women immediately looked toward her.

"But..."

Aoda’s expression became serious.

"Given how weak you are right now, even the seven of you will just become walking targets for those two."

The Sentinels became quiet.

"W-We understand, Lady Aoda."

Aoda sighed.

She looked toward Frey and Larden again.

"We’re not here to fight them."

Her voice became colder.

"We’re here to determine what they know."

Aoda paused.

"If they discover anything useful, we’ll report it."

"And if they discover the Order’s location?"

Aoda smiled.

"They won’t."

Her confidence was absolute.

"The Eclipse has existed in the shadows for too long for two investigators to suddenly uncover everything."

She turned her head slightly.

"And if they somehow get close..."

Aoda’s smile disappeared.

"Then I’ll deal with them myself."

The Sentinel nodded.

"Understood."

Aoda looked toward the sky.

"Ahh..."

She sighed.

"I wonder what Master Eclipse is doing right now."

Her expression softened slightly.

"I’m sure even he wants to get rid of these people."

She looked back toward the investigators.

"But I’m also sure he’s waiting for the right timing to do it."

Aoda smiled.

"That’s exactly why I shouldn’t interfere without permission."

-----

Meanwhile, Frey suddenly stopped walking.

Larden noticed immediately.

"What is it?"

Frey looked toward the surrounding forest.

"Is it just me..."

He narrowed his eyes.

"...or are we being watched?"

The seven Sentinels immediately became tense.

Aoda remained completely still.

Larden looked around.

"I don’t sense anything."

Frey remained silent.

After several seconds, she finally relaxed.

"You’re right."

She turned back toward the ruins.

"Don’t mind it. I don’t sense any immediate danger, so let’s proceed with the plan."

Larden nodded.

"All right."

They continued walking toward the abandoned mine.

Frey took out a small map and unfolded it.

"The previous report said that supplies were being transported through this region three weeks ago."

"Supplies for the laboratories?"

"Most likely."

She pointed toward the mine.

"There are three possible routes leading from here."

Larden studied the map.

"Which one do you think they used?"

"The eastern route."

"Why?"

"Because the western road is too exposed, while the southern road passes through a village."

Frey pointed toward the eastern forest.

"Anyone transporting something illegal would want to avoid populated areas."

Larden nodded.

"Then we’ll check the eastern route first."

"Yes."

The two continued their investigation without realizing that someone was listening to every word.

Aoda watched them disappear deeper into the ruins.

"Interesting."

One of the Sentinels looked at her.

"Lady Aoda?"

Aoda smiled.

"They’re smarter than I expected."

She turned toward the seven women.

"Follow them."

The Sentinels nodded.

"But don’t engage."

Aoda’s voice became firm.

"Observe everything. Their movements, their methods, who they contact, and where they go."

She looked toward the direction Frey and Larden had disappeared.

"If they find something..."

Aoda’s eyes narrowed.

"...we’ll know about it before they do."

The seven Sentinels quietly vanished into the shadows.

Aoda remained behind for a moment.

She looked toward the distant ruins.

"Let’s see how far you two can go."

A faint smile returned to her face.

"After all..."

She turned away.

"...the Eclipse is not something you can simply find."

The wind swept through the abandoned village once again.

Frey and Larden continued deeper into the ruins.

Neither of them knew that seven Sentinels were following them.

And neither knew that the person watching over those seven was one of the most dangerous members of the Eclipse Order.

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