Cosmic Ruler - Chapter 361

Chapter 361: Battle II

The hours after the mission passed in tense silence, the weight of uncertainty pressing down on everyone in the base. Aiden stood in the war room, studying the latest intelligence reports Liam had compiled. The map before him glowed faintly, its magical runes marking key points of interest in the Celestial Court’s territory. Each location seemed to pulse with its own unique energy, but one stood out—an ominous black mark deep within enemy lines.

“Myne was right,” Liam said, his voice low as he entered the room. “That ambush wasn’t random. We’ve identified three individuals in the base who had access to the mission details and could have leaked them.”

Aiden’s jaw tightened. “Names?”

Liam handed him a sealed scroll. “I didn’t want to jump to conclusions without solid evidence, but we’re running out of time. Two of them have alibis for the time when the intel was likely leaked. That leaves one suspect.”

Aiden unsealed the scroll and read the name inside. His eyes narrowed as recognition set in. “Joran. He’s been with us for years.”

“And that’s what makes it dangerous,” Liam said. “If he’s compromised, he knows too much about our operations.”

Aiden nodded, his mind racing. Betrayal wasn’t new to him—it was a constant in the high-stakes game they played. But every betrayal came with its own unique sting, a reminder of the cost of trust.

“Bring him to the interrogation chamber,” Aiden said coldly. “Quietly. I want answers, and I want them now.”

Liam inclined his head and vanished into the shadows. Aiden took a deep breath, his hands gripping the edge of the table. This betrayal wasn’t just an attack on their plans—it was personal.

Moments later, Myne appeared at the doorway, her sharp gaze fixed on him. “What’s the verdict?”

“Joran,” Aiden said simply.

Her lips curled into a faint sneer. “Figured as much. He’s been acting off lately. Too many questions about operations he shouldn’t be concerned with.”

“He’ll have a chance to explain himself,” Aiden said. “But if he’s turned…” He didn’t finish the sentence. He didn’t need to. Myne nodded, understanding the unspoken words.

The interrogation chamber was dimly lit, its walls reinforced with runes that prevented any form of magical or spiritual interference. When Joran was brought in, he looked composed—too composed. His dark eyes darted around the room, but his expression remained neutral.

“Aiden,” Joran greeted, his voice calm. “I was told you needed to see me. What’s this about?”

Aiden didn’t reply immediately. He studied Joran, searching for cracks in his demeanor. “We were ambushed during the last mission,” Aiden said finally. “The Celestial Court knew exactly when and where to strike. Care to explain how that might’ve happened?”

Joran’s expression didn’t change, but there was a slight shift in his posture—a subtle tension that didn’t escape Aiden’s notice. “Are you suggesting I had something to do with it?”

“I’m not suggesting anything yet,” Aiden replied. “But you’re the only one without a solid alibi for the time the intel was leaked. So, yes, I’m asking you directly.”

Joran scoffed, a hint of indignation creeping into his voice. “You’ve known me for years, Aiden. I’ve fought beside you, bled beside you. And now you’re accusing me of betrayal?”

“It’s not an accusation,” Aiden said, his tone icy. “It’s an investigation. If you’re innocent, you have nothing to worry about. But if you’re lying…” He let the threat hang in the air.

Joran’s composure cracked, just slightly. “I’m no traitor. If the Court got wind of the mission, it wasn’t through me.”

“Then prove it,” Aiden said. “Tell me everything you’ve been doing in the last week. Every conversation, every movement. Leave nothing out.”

For the next hour, Joran recounted his activities in painstaking detail. But as he spoke, Aiden’s Spirit Sense picked up on subtle irregularities—slight changes in his heartbeat, minute pauses before certain answers. Myne, standing silently in the corner, caught Aiden’s eye and gave a barely perceptible nod. She sensed it too.

“You’re lying,” Aiden said abruptly, cutting Joran off mid-sentence.

Joran’s eyes widened in surprise, then narrowed. “You’ve already made up your mind, haven’t you? No matter what I say, you’ll pin this on me.”

“It’s not about what you say,” Aiden replied. “It’s about the truth. And you’re hiding it.”

Joran’s calm demeanor shattered. His eyes flickered with panic, and for a brief moment, his façade slipped. “You don’t understand,” he said, his voice trembling. “They didn’t give me a choice.”

“Who?” Aiden demanded, stepping closer. “The Celestial Court?”

Joran hesitated, his hands clenching into fists. “They have my family. My son. They said they’d kill him if I didn’t cooperate.”

The room fell silent, the weight of his words settling over everyone. Myne’s expression darkened, but she said nothing, leaving the decision to Aiden.

Aiden stared at Joran, his emotions a storm beneath his calm exterior. He despised betrayal, but he understood the desperation that drove it. Still, the mission—and the lives of countless others—came first.

“Where are they holding your family?” Aiden asked, his voice cold and measured.

Joran looked up, hope flickering in his eyes. “I’ll tell you everything. Just promise me you’ll save them.”

“Start talking,” Aiden said, his tone leaving no room for negotiation.

As Joran began to speak, Aiden’s resolve hardened. The Celestial Court had made this personal, and he would make sure they regretted it.

Joran laid out everything he knew. His words came in a rush, desperate and trembling as if he were trying to expel the weight of his guilt with every syllable. He described a secluded fortress deep within the Court’s territory—a blackstone prison known as Ebonhold, notorious for housing both political prisoners and those the Court wished to manipulate. It was there, he said, that his family was being held as leverage.

“They keep the prisoners in the lower wards,” Joran explained, his voice shaking. “Heavily guarded, of course, but they rotate shifts every six hours. If you hit during the rotation, you’ll have a window to get in and out.”

Aiden listened in silence, his face unreadable. He processed the information carefully, comparing it to the intelligence Liam had gathered about the Court’s operations. The existence of Ebonhold had always been suspected but never confirmed. Now they had an opportunity to strike at one of the Court’s darker secrets.

When Joran finished, he looked at Aiden with pleading eyes. “I didn’t want this. I swear it. If there had been another way—”

Aiden raised a hand, silencing him. “I understand why you did it, Joran. But you still endangered everyone under my command. Lives were lost because of your actions.”

Joran lowered his head in shame. “I know. And I’ll do whatever it takes to make it right.”

Aiden stared at him for a long moment, his expression cold. “You’ll come with us to Ebonhold. You’re going to help us navigate it, point out the guards, the patrol routes—everything. But make no mistake, Joran: if you try to double-cross us again, you won’t leave that fortress alive.”

Joran nodded quickly, relief mingling with fear. “I understand. Thank you.”

Aiden turned to Myne, who had been leaning silently against the wall, watching the exchange with a critical eye. “Gather the team. We’ll need our best operatives for this.”

“Already on it,” she said, pushing off the wall. Her gaze flicked to Joran, her disdain evident. “You better pray your intel is solid, or this will be your last mission.”

With that, she strode out of the room, leaving Aiden and Joran alone.

“You’re not doing this just for me, are you?” Joran asked hesitantly.

“No,” Aiden replied bluntly. “This is about more than your family. If we can cripple Ebonhold, we’ll strike a blow the Court won’t recover from for years.”

Joran swallowed hard but nodded. “Then let’s make it count.”

****

The team assembled within the hour, a dozen of Aiden’s finest operatives, each handpicked for their skill and reliability. Liam and Myne stood at the head of the group, reviewing the mission’s details on a projection map. The plan was ambitious: infiltrate Ebonhold under the cover of night, extract Joran’s family, and plant explosive charges to collapse the fortress’s critical infrastructure.

“The leyline interference in that area is strong,” Liam warned. “It’s going to mess with any long-range communication. Once we’re inside, we’re on our own.”

“Understood,” Aiden said. “We move fast and quiet. No unnecessary risks. If we’re compromised, we abort immediately.”

The operatives nodded, their faces grim with determination. They were no strangers to danger, but this mission was one of the riskiest they’d undertaken.

As they prepared to leave, Myne approached Aiden, her voice low. “You trust him?” She jerked her head toward Joran, who stood off to the side, visibly uncomfortable under the watchful eyes of the operatives.

“No,” Aiden admitted. “But I trust his fear. He knows what’s at stake.”

Myne nodded, though her expression remained skeptical. “Just make sure his fear doesn’t cost us the mission.”