News spread like wildfire.
The massacre had been discovered. The entire Empire stood shaken, fury rising like a tide—someone had dared to commit such a slaughter within the borders of their mighty domain.
The news reached the Imperial Palace, and the Emperor himself commanded his guards to scour the ruins, searching for any survivors.
They found one. A lone, trembling survivor—a young girl. Recognition flashed in their eyes. She was the granddaughter of the head of the annihilated clan.
They saw her weeping, cradling her mother's lifeless corpse. Her cries echoed through the ruins, haunting. Many were moved, hearts heavy with sorrow—but not all. Among the crowd, some faces bore cruel satisfaction.
