Prologue: The Empire's Secret Report <Top Secret>
[To the Red Fox of the Vast Sky.]
It's been a long time since I last reported on recent developments. I'm now briefing you on a matter I couldn't mention until now.
Over ten years have passed since the Raven vanished from sight. Much time has elapsed since we began investigating the "Raven Incident," yet we've failed to track their movements.
The leadership of every nation attempted to root out the Ravens through internal audits, but they failed time and again. Even the aid of the Magic Tower, where the greatest sages gather, proved useless.
As if the Ravens had never existed in the first place, we found not a single trace.
Yet there was once a glimmer of hope. An anonymous letter proposed providing information related to the Ravens. But on the day of the promised meeting, all we discovered was the sender's corpse.
Fortunately, we were able to identify him. His identity... It's almost impossible to believe...
Red Fox. No, Director of Intelligence. I'm hesitant to commit this to paper in my report. Even now, I keep picking up and setting down my pen.
......I'll speak the truth.
Uncovering the truth behind this incident seems impossible. Who could have imagined the sender of that anonymous letter was an Earl of the Empire? Is such a thing even possible!
The fact that even a noble of our great Empire met such a gruesome end fills me with dread. The so-called Ravens appear to have deeply infiltrated every corner of our society.
Ten years since they disappeared? I see it differently. They haven't vanished. They're merely biding their time.
I don't know what that moment may be, but we might be up against something beyond our capacity to handle. The terror that continuing this investigation could lead me straight into their trap refuses to leave my mind.
Should I press on, or halt here? I await your opinion, Red Fox. Please reply.
May innocent glory accompany the vast sky.
[From Blue Hawk.]
The contents of the letter, sent by an agent of the Arcadia Empire's Intelligence Bureau, ended there.
“……”
The man reading the report confirmed its contents and immediately set the paper ablaze.
As he moved to burn the accompanying envelope, a small slip of paper inside fell into his hand.
The moment he saw the note, the man's pupils trembled.
“……!”
was more than enough to instill a chilling terror in the man's heart.
Having confirmed the contents, the man let out a hollow laugh.
“Ravens, huh…”
The shadowy force that had remained silent all this time had finally revealed itself once more.