"What the hell happened to you Cador?" Leone asked, moving closer to me.

Crap! My head hurts. Those reindeers, I swear I'll get them and when I do, I'm going to pulverize them.

We were still in Ferlock's mansion. The brothers departed early in the morning for their jobs. They were kind enough to let us stay here for a few days since my team would be busy. I remembered Ferlock giving orders to his staffs to treat his guests with utmost care and respect.

We should be happy that we were staying here, in a large mansion with all the luxuries we could use for own personal gains.

My comrades are happy not me.

Last night, while I was having a nice dream, those two barged in my room, singing songs with their ugly voices. At first, I plugged my ears with anything I could use. Heck, I even placed the lamp on my ears just to get some shut eyes but they were so loud. Tarlock, bigger and stronger than me picked me up with one hand and we went to the dining room. It was filled with beer cases and the entire delicious morsel you could imagine. I tried to talk my way out but they couldn't my voice. Their voices were like thunder booming, echoing in the dining room. The doors were closed so it didn't bother the other people in the mansion.

And they forced me to drink beer. I hated the taste of alcohol and the strong side-effects of a beer. Wine is worse than better, since a weak person could get drunk in a few drinks. They made me drink until I couldn't remember a thing, except for the splitting headache I got that's bugging me.

But I'm curious. Those two were drunk like me and yet, how could they go to their jobs. Shouldn't they be resting? If those reindeers fly an airship in that condition, I'm quite sure that God and Satan will wage war for the souls of the dead. An airship carries at least a thousand passengers a day and that's a lot of souls if the airship crash.

A butler appeared. He handed me an aspirin and cold water. I quickly swallowed the medicine without drinking the water. My stomach was rumbling and adding water might trigger something unwanted result.

"Hey…" I said, controlling myself. "You have a Zurich painkiller?"

"But, sir…that's"

"Give me three syringes…please, I beg you!" I burrowed my head in the comfort of my arms.

"Still, I cannot—"

I sprang up, hands in my mouth and rushed to the nearest bathroom.

My migraines vanished like a phantom as I injected myself with Zurich—one in my neck and two in my biceps. I felt much better now.

Well, for fifteen minutes.

Zurich is the best painkiller in the Midgard. Most soldiers who participated in the Third Conflict carried three syringes of Zurich for emergency purposes. I always used the medicine whenever I was severely wounded. It worked like magic. The pain vanished in one second once you injected it and let your organs absorbed the drug.

The five of us were in Ferlock's briefing room. A small, round table consumed a small space in the middle of the room. The chairs were painted white, with cushions. At the end of the room was a large portrait of a medieval castle. Underneath the painting was a fireplace. Mounted on the walls was a collection Ferlock's antique gun. He told me that he had a hard time collecting these weapons. It also cost him a fortune.

"Well then, shall we start?" Leone asked.

We took our seats.

"First things first. "She glanced at us. "Have you ever heard any rumors in Juno?"

I looked at my comrades. Their faces told me that they didn't any rumors, especially Boris, who was looking at Leone with his warm, fuzzy eyes.

"Any rumors…" she coughed. "Ok, let me add something: did you hear any negative or positives rumors about Schwaltzard Republic, especially in the government?"

Sheng flipped of a newspaper that he hid under his sleeves. He put it up, enough for us to see the headlines.

"According to this newspaper I got… "He flipped the pages. "President Mason visited the CEO of Rekenber Corporation, Darius Schneider and signed a treaty, in accordance to the recent events of the energy crisis. Vice-preside Teresa went to Einbrooch in a charity mission. Although…"He shot a look at us. "That was just a cover-up in the mine explosions due to the malfunctions of the machineries. It happened recently and I remember those facts. There are few cases of murder, homicide, burglary and other serious crimes throughout the entire Republic. There are also rumors about Bethany Kristoff, the secretary of agriculture that she stole money from the government fund. The senate and the Supreme Court is in the third session right now. As we speak, she is currently being interrogated. Mayor Morgan of Hugel is sentenced to death when the Shermans, a guild in Juno proved him that he was working with a terrorist group."

I got up and peered through his shoulders.

"…There were also rumors that Meryl, wife of the Senate Head Marcus is having an affair."

"Is that all?" She asked, not surprised.

The three of us were shocked when Sheng said that. We didn't know anything about the Republican Government, partly because we didn't read the newspapers.

Well, I hate reading those things. It bored me to death.

Sheng snapped his fingers. "I remember one. The president's eldest daughter, Leslie Mason, visited Geffen for and talked with the Arcane Councils, concerning about the wizardry studies. That's all I know."

"My head…" Eleanor murmured.

"I see, you're smart, you know that…" She pointed at Sheng.

"Just call me Sheng."

"Cador. You're lucky to have man like him."

I arched my eyebrow.

"Anyway, what do you want us to do, Leone?" I asked. "Track a person?"

"No, but that's close enough. I want to find her. "She tossed a full body picture of woman. Judging from her young looks, she was at least twenty, long auburn hair, high cheekbones and five feet tall. The girl was wearing a sage's uniform, with matching red ribbons on her head. She was holding a large, arc wand with one hand.

What a sec? I've seen her before. Come on, brain think. Where did I see her? I was quite sure but the memory was a blur, as if a mist was preventing me to see the end of the cave.

"Isn't she…"Eleanor picked up the picture. Sheng laid the newspaper on the table and she placed it closed to an article, with a girl sitting in front of an old man.

My eyes widened. It's her. Leslie Mason, the eldest daughter of President Mason.

Then it came to me. Leslie Mason is the strongest sage in Midgard. I'd heard her stories from wandering merchants and goblins on how she defeated all Arcane Council members in a magical bout. I wasn't sure about the details but she used a strong spell that defeated all of them in a casting.

And she was eighteen at that time.

Then, she's currently twenty-four or twenty five years old.

I shot a serious look at Leone. "You want us to track her?"

She shook her head. "As I had said, I want your team to find her and bring her back to me."

"What are you talking about?" Eleanor burst in. "She's in Geffen."

Not satisfied, Eleanor jumped off her seat and threw a barrage of questions of Eleanor. Sheng and Boris joined in. I remained in my chair, my thoughts analyzing the situation. I snatched the newspaper and picture. My eyes analyzed them thoroughly. I looked everywhere and performed a comparison test on the picture Leone gave us and the newspaper.

A sense of disturbing discovery came to me. It shut my mind in an instant. Slowly, I cocked my head to look at Leone's eyes.

Her eyes confirmed my discovery.

"Please," Leone stood up, her eyes passing through my shoulders. "I'll explain everything so…"

"Right…the three of you, calm down." I said.

They looked worried. But eventually, they sat as I ordered them with my eyes.

"Now, Leone…explain this" I handed her the photo.

"What is there to explain Cador?" Boris said.

"He's right." Eleanor cut in. "What's the point of looking for someone if that someone is not missing?"

"The girl in the newspaper." I pointed at it. "Is a fake. The real one is missing. There are gossips within the nobles that they spotted her in dinner parties."

The three of them were taken aback of what I said.

"You're, you're joking right?" Eleanor stammered, her pupils dilating at the newspaper.

"This isn't funny, Cador." Sheng looked at me and then to Leone.

I rested my elbows on the table, held my hand and hid my mouth behind my hands. "In the village where I grew up, we love to make fun of people and fight until the sun set but…" I shot a glare at the three. "We never, ever tell a lie and my eyes, never lie."

My words silenced them. I could see the confusion and chaos in their eyes. It couldn't be help. They didn't understand anything. It's true that the picture in the newspaper and Leone's photo is identical—from her height to the shape of her face. They were fooled by the physical appearance of the girl. Upon closer inspection, I detected something. Her eyes. They told me a different story. I compared them and there it was the realization that stunned me.

Leone cleared her throat. "As I was saying, the girl on the newspaper is a fake. The real Leslie Mason was abducted a month ago by thieves. The guards in Luina were killed. A group of hooded figures barged in the front door and killed the remaining guards. Before that, I was looking for Leslie. A sentry reported that she wasn't in her room. I took some of my men and looked for her. When I failed, I ordered them to look for, this time, we split up. I was about to reach her room when suddenly…"

She stopped. Her face was shrouded with a disturbing look. I wasn't sure if that was fear or anger. I consulted at my comrades. They too, were eager to hear the rest of the story.

"Continue, please." I said kindly.

She nodded. "A cloaked figure appeared right in front of me. It was wearing opera mask and the hood prevented me to see the rest of his face and his hair. He was tall, at least six feet and had broad shoulders. "

"It smiled and vanished. I heard something, a sound, like running water. I went to Leslie's chamber and it was ransacked, as if a typhoon hit the room. I searched the chamber but I didn't found. I only found her hairpin and the secret door was opened."

"But before I could enter, those hooded figures entered the room. There were many of them that I found myself in a tight situation."

She sighed." That was it. I remember fighting them and the next thing I knew, I was in a hospital bed with serious injuries."

"That would be…" I checked my calendar. "The month of March."

"Correct. When I remembered what happened, I immediately called Peter and that's it." She lifted her chin up. "Where is he? "

"Dead…"Eleanor said, looking at the frames.

"I see…"It was all Leone could say.

"So," I changed the subject. "Why did the government replaced Leslie with a fake one?"

"It would create a ruckus," Sheng said. "Remember that President Mason has enemies who wanted him out of his presidency. It would be better if he's dead. The daughter is a strong ally of the president. She helped him in his jobs, especially with the negotiation with Geffen. There would be a civil war if the people found out and the politician would use this as an opportunity to control this country. Leslie Mason is the only pillar that holds this country. Without her, then this country is doomed. " He paused, inhaling oxygen. "The Schwaltzard Republic maybe the most prosperous country in Midgard but that's just the outside. Inside, there's a lot of internal conflict, especially in the government and military."

"Why would her father do this? He's supposed to be looking for her and yet…"Eleanor couldn't look at the newspaper. "This?"

"Lemme ask you this Eleanor. If I ask you to kill your son, would you do it?"

"No!"

"Now then, if I ask you to kill everyone you care, will you do it?"

"No!"

"I ask you this: in your hands, who will live? Your son or everyone you love?"

I watched as she stared dumbly at Sheng. It was a hard question. I admired him for being wise and witty. Rather than saying it straight-forward, he preferred to let them analyze the results.

"But that's cruel." She murmured.

"This is politics. That's how things go on politics. It's all about deciding for the best of the country." Sheng answered back. "Would you damn your country by saving one person's life?"

An awkward silence loomed in the room.

"Leone, if that's the case…then "I said, fearing the worst.

My fears became a reality. Leone handed me a clean, white envelope. I looked at it and knew the black bird crest on the envelope.

"When did you receive this?" I asked. I didn't even bother opening the envelope. I knew what it was.

"This morning. The general himself brought it here." Leone replied.

"I see."

"Can I ask a question?" Boris said.

Leone nodded.

"This happened at Luina.. If that's the case, we…" He looked at us. "We must investigate that place for evidence."

"I've done the necessary preparation. But." She stopped.

"The evidence is long gone right?" I guessed.

"Yes, the Presidential Unit already cleaned the scene."

"No matter. We might find something—a clue that could help us."

"I've already ask the brothers to help me. They will report to me when they spotted her in their airships. Do you want any more inquiries?"

"No." I said.

We got up and faced each others with a serious look.

"We leave for Luina tomorrow!" I said.


Sorry for the long delay. School and sleep got me busy in the past few day