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"Got a fresh batch of information from our contacts in the eastern district," Reynolds said, his voice low and conspiratorial. "Worth a pretty penny to the right buyer."

One of the officers, a thin man with a twitchy demeanor named Garrick, nodded eagerly. "And the counterfeit goods we seized from the docks? What's the plan there?"

Reynolds leaned back in his chair, considering. "Sell them off piece by piece. We don't want to flood the market and attract too much attention."

As the men discussed their plans, the door to the room creaked open, and a young officer peeked in. "Captain, Lady Icevern is here to see you."

Reynolds' expression soured, but he nodded. "Send her in."

Wearing a professional smile, Reynold welcome her. "Lady Icevern, what an honor," he said, his voice oily. "How can we assist the esteemed Icevern House?"

Sophie's expression remained stern. "We need your cooperation in investigating the Deadly Hollows. They've become a significant threat, and we need all hands on deck."

The man's smile never wavered, but his eyes showed no interest. "Of course, of course. We're at your service."

'As if we'll hear your naive orders, stupid girl'

Reynolds cursed the girl before her and mocked her inside his mind.

Sophie's eyes narrowed slightly, sensing the insincerity. "Good. I expect regular updates on any leads or suspicious activities. The Deadly Hollows are becoming increasingly dangerous, and we need every resource available to stop them."

Reynolds nodded, his smile never reaching his eyes. "You'll have our full cooperation, my lady."

Sophie knew insincerity when she saw it. "I need results, not empty promises. Will you assist us in tracking down this menace?"

The man nodded, but his tone was unconvincing. "Absolutely, Lady Icevern. You have our full support."

She left the department, frustration simmering beneath her calm exterior.

Once she was gone, the room's atmosphere shifted back to its usual tension. Garrick looked nervously at Reynolds. "Do you think she suspects anything?"

Reynolds shook his head. "She might suspect, but without proof, there's little she can do. Keep your ears open and your mouths shut. We don't need any unnecessary attention."

The men nodded, returning to their discussions with a renewed sense of caution. They had learned to navigate the treacherous waters of corruption, but the looming threat of the Deadly Hollows added a new layer of danger to their already precarious positions.

Later that night, the underground investigation division was quieter, with most of its officers having left for the evening. A skeleton crew remained, working on various reports and ensuring that the day's illicit profits were safely hidden. Reynolds sat in his office, sipping a glass of brandy and congratulating himself on another day of successful scheming.

His reverie was interrupted by a sudden, violent crash from the front of the building. The sound of breaking glass and splintering wood echoed through the halls, followed by the unmistakable cries of alarm and pain.

"What the hell is going on?" Reynolds muttered, standing abruptly and reaching for the sword that hung on the wall behind him.

Before he could react further, the door to his office was kicked open, and a masked figure stormed in, wielding a blade coated in a dark, oily substance. Reynolds barely had time to raise his weapon before the intruder was upon him, their strikes swift and deadly.

Chaos erupted throughout the building. The Deadly Hollows had launched a full-scale assault, their members moving with lethal precision and purpose. Officers who had once felt untouchable in their corruption now found themselves desperately fighting for their lives. The attack was swift and merciless, leaving no room for escape or negotiation.

In another part of the building, Garrick tried to barricade himself in a storeroom, his hands trembling as he fumbled with the lock. "Damn it, damn it!" he cursed under his breath, hearing the screams and clashes of steel growing closer.

A loud bang shook the door, and Garrick stumbled back, drawing his dagger with shaking hands. The door splintered, and a group of masked figures burst in, their eyes gleaming with malice. Garrick slashed wildly, but his efforts were futile. The assailants overwhelmed him, their attacks precise and brutal.

Throughout the department, similar scenes played out. The Deadly Hollows moved with a coordinated ferocity that spoke of careful planning and ruthless intent. They showed no mercy, cutting down officers and ransacking the offices.

In the main hall, Reynolds fought desperately against two attackers. His face was slick with sweat, and his breath came in ragged gasps. "What do you want?" he shouted, parrying a blow that sent him stumbling backward.

One of the attackers, a tall figure with cold, dark eyes, stepped forward. "Retribution," he hissed. "You broke the deal."

Reynolds' eyes widened in shock. "We never—"

The figure cut him off with a vicious strike, the blade slicing through Reynolds' defenses and biting deep into his side. The captain fell to his knees, blood seeping through his fingers as he clutched the wound.

"You betrayed us," the attacker continued, his voice dripping with venom. "You thought you could play both sides and come out unscathed. Now, you pay the price."

As Reynolds collapsed, gasping for breath, the masked figure turned away, signaling his comrades to continue the rampage. The Deadly Hollows swept through the building, leaving a trail of death and destruction in their wake.

Outside, the city remained blissfully unaware of the carnage unfolding within the department. The night was calm, the streets quiet save for the occasional passing carriage. The attack had been swift and silent, leaving no witnesses to the horror inside.

In the aftermath, the few survivors stumbled through the wreckage, their faces pale with shock and disbelief. The once-mighty Underground Investigation Department lay in ruins, its members either dead or scattered.

One of the survivors, a young officer named Marcus, looked around in a daze, his mind struggling to process the carnage. "What happened?" he muttered to himself, his voice trembling. "Why did they do this?"

Another survivor, a grizzled veteran named Hendrick, leaned heavily against a wall, blood seeping from a gash on his forehead. "They thought we betrayed them," he said bitterly. "They believed we were the ones who spilled the information about Varik's Lair."

Marcus shook his head, confusion and fear in his eyes. "But we didn't. Why would they think that?"

Hendrick spat on the floor, his expression grim. "Doesn't matter now, does it? They believed it, and now we're paying the price."

As dawn approached, the survivors began to piece together what little remained of their organization. The attack had left them shattered, both physically and morally. The once-feared Underground Investigation Department had been brought to its knees by the very group it had sought to manipulate.

Word of the attack spread quickly through the city, reaching the Royal Knights' quarters by midday. Sharon entered Sophie's office, her face pale with shock. "Lady Sophie, the Underground Investigation Department… it's been attacked."

Sophie looked up from her maps, her eyes narrowing. "By whom?"

"The Deadly Hollows," Sharon replied, her voice shaking. "They left few survivors. It's a massacre."

Sophie's mind raced. The Deadly Hollows were growing more brazen and ruthless. This was not just an escalation—it was a declaration of war. She needed to act quickly, but first, she needed to understand the full extent of the attack.

"Gather what information you can," Sophie ordered. "I want to know everything—how they got in, what they did, and why they attacked."

Sharon nodded, hurrying to carry out her orders. Sophie leaned back in her chair, her thoughts a whirlwind of strategy and concern. The Deadly Hollows were not just a threat to the kingdom—they were a threat to the very stability of the realm. And somewhere in the shadows, the true nature of their plans remained hidden.

As Sophie stared at the map, her thoughts drifted to Draven. She couldn't help but wonder if he knew more about the Deadly Hollows than he had let on. But now was not the time for personal doubts. She had to focus on the immediate threat and protect her people.

The Deadly Hollows had made their move, and it was up to her to respond with the full might of the Royal Knights. The battle for the kingdom's soul had begun, and she would need all her wits and courage to prevail.