Information is power. No one was willing to make a move when their weaknesses might be in their opponents hands.

The Black Wind was the Emperors personal, top-secret intelligent service. It was totally unknown to the general public, yet could rival the Moon Gate in its reach. Jacken, the leader of the Black Wind, ruled the Avalon Empire, though no one knew his name.

That wasnt reassuring for him. He looked around at his fellow agents and saw a grim situation.

So Duke Agnus will lead the coming war. You can talk about blood ties all you want, but Duke Agnus is a die-hard pacifist. For him to stand in front of His Majesty and swear to go to war is contradictory.

The agents were silent for a long moment before Number Two spoke up: Do the rumors hold water?

Jacken gave her a questioning look.

The Wilhelm Knights. They came here to protect their king, Baron Sanders.

After Number One, Number Two was the most powerful member of the Black Wind1. She had been tasked with hunting down the traitornow known as the Assassin Kingand thus had been absent from the Imperial Palace until she received an emergency summons.

Since when did they respect their king? Even the Lion King was treated like a sack of potatoes.

Doesnt that make it even worse? Jacken pondered. Besides being a prodigy, theres something about Baron Sanders we dont know about.

Many things have changed since the Master Battle. Isnt it time we made a choice?

It seems like something of a foregone conclusion. His Majesty, Emperor Marcus, is the sole master of the Black Wind.

So instead of attempting something openly, we discussed preparations. His Majesty agreed, did he not?

Jacken mulled over No. 2s words for a moment. His latest conversation with His Majesty was raising doubts. Why hadnt the Emperor chosen a successor yet? The first prince was well-rounded and physically perfect, making him the obvious candidate. So how did the Imperial court end up so chaotic?

Ultimately, the crown would not be given to anyone who had not earned it for himself, regardless of the trouble the first prince had already gone through. It made for a constant talking point at the nobles council, a discussion that His Majesty was content to listen to with a strange smile on his face.

Jacken once asked him about it: Do what your heart tells you to do, the Emperor had told him. Jacken smiled bitterly. Do whatever you want, he says. Evidently, Marcus didnt care what happened once he was dead; it was no wonder he reacted strangely to the way Duke Agnus cared for his blood.

Right now, Jacken said, theres only one thing we need to worry about. If you want to know what will happen in the next Continental War, you should watch the nobles. In particular, No. 1 and No. 2 should keep an eye on Duke Agnus.

Good enough.

And I will meet the first prince in person to discuss succession.

The agents eyes widened behind their masks.

What do you mean?

On the surface, there doesnt seem to be much difference between the first and second princes power, but we already know that that person recently joined the first princes side, dont we? The faster these things move, the harder it will be to keep up. As always, we cant step forward, but we can support the first prince from behind as quietly as possible. Jackens eyes gleamed. Under the next emperor the Black Wind wont blow in the shadows anymorewe will blow in the sun.

The Black Wind agents shivered.

Suddenly, someone walked up behind No. 4.

Why are you here, No. 5? Jacken eyed him.

We found Asiru.

The agents eyes nearly popped out of their sockets in surprise.

Is that true? Jacken was absolutely dumbfounded.

It had been twenty years since Asiru had last been heard of. For him to appear just before the Continental War wasnt it too much of a coincidence?

Yes. No. 5 nodded.

Jacken let out a deep sigh. Where is he?

Hes in Agnus Duchy.

Ash.

On the outside, he looked like any other ten-year-old boy.

Joshua would never forget the day hed first met the boy in his past life.

Snow covered the world in a blanket of pure white, camouflaging a small village in its drifts. The only remarkable thing about this village was a cute boy sheltering in a broken-down hut. He was rather out of placehis hair was golden, and his skin was perfectly white like that of a noble scion.

But Joshua knew better. The boy was no mere aristocrat, and the world around them was not as real as it seemed. Indeed, it was all an illusion.

What are you?

Someone who can save you, Joshua answered with a small smile2.

The boy examined him thoughtfully.

I dont know how I got here and my name isnt Ash.

No, youre Ash.

Joshua got a confused look in return for his insistence.

I made it that way, and you liked it. Quite a bit, actually.

The boys expression changed as he tilted his head. I think youve mistaken me for someone else. You should go nowyoure not familiar with this place, are you?

It was a very good question. They were standing in the middle of the monster-infested Black Forest, which made it even stranger to find a snowy village there.

Again, it was all a trick.

Antimagic Field.

Joshuas obsidian earrings twitched, followed by the sound of something breaking. The world was flipped upside down, transforming the landscape entirely. Lush green forest replaced the snowfields, and the houses became grand old trees. The only thing that hadnt changed was the neglected, moldering hut.

That suffering was not an illusion.

This was the truth of Ashs home. Worse, it was a breeding ground. As the boy quietly raised his hand, the enraged shrieks of demonic beasts thundered down on them. Fiercely snorting orcs, the vicious snouts of trolls, and the grimy tusks of ogresmore than a thousand monsters of all different colors surrounded Joshua on all sides.

I told you to leave. Ashs emerald eyes gleamed. Go.

Joshua examined the boy without replying. With the illusions gone, a pair of pointed ears poked out of his golden hair, and on his forehead shone a fingernail-sized starburst.

Ash wasnt human. The humans thought his species had died out, but they had no idea of the truth. Here sat a legendary high elf, a species of peerless magical ability.

An antimagic field. You must be a pretty important human, right? Unfortunately, you cant leave anymore.

Well Joshua laughed out loud. From what Ive seen in the past, I dont think you can beat me.

Human pride still hasnt changed. The boy began to lower his hand.

Are you satisfied?

What are you saying?

Are you happy to give up the Ellonbers name and become merely a breeder of Crevasses beasts?

How did you?!

Joshua locked eyes with the boy. The reason Im here has nothing to do with your current owner. Im here only to save you and get Sanders.

Sanders3

I need to save a life Can you help me?

How disappointing. I almost got caught up in it, after all. She can see with the eyes of her mind. Whats the issue? The boy looked at Joshua, who remained silent. Ash shrugged. I didnt expect to get anything out of someone as proud as you. I guess Ill have to force it out of you.

His waist-length golden hair began to wave in the wind as a thousand demons rushed at Joshua in a storm of raging magi.

Joshuas lips stretched into a wide smile. Ash was in for a surprise. His obsidian earring moved again, ever so slightly.

And suddenly, the earth and sky were ripped apart with a bestial roar.