The morning sun barely cut through the dense fog that hung over the camp. Tension was thick in the air—no one trusted anyone anymore. The murder from the previous night had sent shockwaves through the ranks, and whispers of betrayal spread like wildfire.

  Billy stood in the command tent, a map of their territory laid out before him. His officers stood in silence, waiting for orders.

  Kaela was the first to speak, her voice sharp. “We need to root out the traitor before they strike again.”

  Aelric folded his arms. “Whoever did this is careful. The kill was too clean—no signs of struggle. This wasn’t an ordinary soldier.”

  Soria, adjusting her glasses, frowned at the map. “There are only a handful of people in this camp skilled enough to make that kind of kill.” She glanced at Billy. “That includes you.”

  Billy’s eyes darkened. He knew she wasn’t accusing him, but the truth was clear—someone with their level of skill was working against them.

  “Interrogations start now,” Billy said, his voice firm. “We check alibis, examine every movement from last night. I want answers before sunset.”

  His officers nodded, moving swiftly to begin the search.

  Billy clenched his jaw. The enemy wasn’t outside their walls. It was already inside.

  They dragged the first suspect into the interrogation tent—an elite scout named Varik. He was a veteran, someone who had fought for Billy since the beginning. But his alibi was weak.

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  Varik sat with his hands bound, his face expressionless. Billy paced in front of him, his patience running thin.

  “Where were you last night?” Billy asked coldly.

  Varik’s gaze was steady. “At my post.”

  Kaela scoffed. “No one saw you.”

  “I work alone,” Varik replied smoothly. “You know that.”

  Billy studied him carefully. The man was too calm. Too confident.

  He leaned in. “You’re lying.”

  Varik didn’t flinch. “Then prove it.”

  Billy’s hand twitched toward his chaos blade, the whispers growing louder in his head.

  Strike first. End the threat.

  Billy gritted his teeth and forced the thoughts away. He wouldn’t let the blade control him. Not yet.

  Aelric exhaled and stepped forward. “We’ll keep him locked up until we find more evidence.”

  Billy nodded. “Do it.”

  As they dragged Varik away, something in his expression sent a chill down Billy’s spine.

  He was smiling.

  The camp never slept that night. Patrols doubled, torches burned bright, and soldiers kept their weapons close.

  But none of it stopped the next kill.

  A scout was found dead near the armory—his throat slit, just like the first victim.

  The message was different this time.

  “You’re looking in the wrong place.”

  Billy stood over the body, fists clenched. His officers gathered around, silent with grim understanding.

  Kaela shook her head. “Varik was locked up. It wasn’t him.”

  Billy’s mind raced. That meant one thing—the real traitor was still free. And they were taunting him.

  Erebus was watching. Manipulating. And Billy was running out of time.

  He turned to his officers, his voice colder than ever. “No more interrogations. We flush them out another way.”

  Kaela frowned. “How?”

  Billy unsheathed the chaos blade, its energy pulsing in his grip.

  “We set the trap,” he said. “And let them come to us.”