Chapter 308: Three Pillars Plan

Yuna smiled softly, a quiet sense of relief warming her chest.

Earlier that night, she had wanted to join Ethan and the others when they were drinking by the bonfire, but she stopped herself.

Her position was still unclear, her status fragile. She was a guest, a hostage, and a potential liability all at once. She did not want to overstep.

She never expected Ethan to come to her room instead.

The door had opened without ceremony, and Ethan had stepped inside carrying a half-full bottle of wine.

At first, Yuna thought she was imagining it, her nerves playing tricks on her.

But when he placed the bottle on the table and reached for a second glass, reality settled in.

Ethan poured the wine carefully into two glasses, filling them just enough.

He handed one to Yuna. She accepted it with both hands and took a slow, cautious sip, the warmth spreading through her body.

“I didn’t expect you to defect from Redemption Sword,” Ethan said calmly.

Yuna lowered her glass, her fingers tightening slightly around it. “Actually… our guild leader wanted to leave Redemption Sword a long time ago. They control everything. They decide where we move, how many soldiers we give, even which battles we are allowed to fight.”

She paused, then let out a quiet breath. “We were never partners to them. Just tools.”

Ethan listened without interrupting, his gaze steady.

“But everything changed when a new challenger appeared in the east,” Yuna continued. “No one in the central plains ever imagined LionArk would rise again. They thought your fall was permanent.”

Ethan took a sip of his wine, eyes unfocused for a moment. “Redemption Sword and Scavenger consider LionArk a serious threat now.”

“That’s right,” Yuna replied. “And because of that, Sacred Hall tried to break free. Staying with them would only lead to destruction. The safest option was to move east.”

Ethan tilted his head slightly. “What about the major guilds in the west and the north?”

Yuna shook her head slowly. “There are no dominant guilds in the north. The terrain is too fragmented. And the west…” She hesitated before continuing. “Scavenger already controls it completely.”

Ethan nodded. “So that leaves only the east.”

“Not untouched,” Yuna said quietly, her eyes meeting his. “They failed there.”

The words lingered in the air.

Ethan’s thoughts drifted back to the City Authority Challenge, to the chaos in Mavelard, and to Silver Star’s sudden collapse.

So that was part of it too.

“You mean Silver Star,” Ethan said.

Yuna cleared her throat. “The three pillar plan. Redemption Sword ruling the central plains. Scavenger dominating the west. Silver Star was meant to secure the east.”

She lifted her glass but did not drink. “Two pillars succeeded. The third failed. Silver Star couldn’t hold Mavelard.”

“When I attacked Mavelard alone,” Ethan asked, “Why didn’t Redemption Sword intervene?”

Yuna gave a small, humorless smile. “Arthur is not reckless. He doesn’t act emotionally like Nicholas did. He saw the risk and decided not to move.”

She looked down at the wine swirling in her glass. “He believed he could persuade LionArk to join him instead.”

Everything clicked into place.

Silver Star’s sudden aggression. Arthur’s invitation to the Floor Eighty celebration. The unusually generous tone.

Ethan felt a slow chill crawl up his spine as realization settled in.

So it was all calculated.

Yuna’s explanation aligned too well with his own conclusions to be coincidence. For the first time since her arrival, Ethan felt genuine trust begin to form.

There was still one name that troubled him.

“There’s something else I want to ask,” Ethan said.

Yuna straightened. “What is it, Sir Ethan?”

“Do you know someone called Mr. X?”

Her brows furrowed. “Mr. X?”

Ethan explained carefully, describing the Shadow Guild, the assassinations, and the unseen hand manipulating events in the eastern plains.

Yuna listened intently, her expression shifting from confusion to shock.

“I didn’t know such a guild existed,” she said slowly. “I’ve never heard of Mr. X.”

She paused, then added, “But if I had to guess, it sounds like Scavenger.”

“Why Scavenger?” Ethan asked.

“They have the money,” Yuna replied without hesitation. “More than any other guild. With control over two major plains, their income is massive.”

She leaned back slightly. “They’re also an assassin guild at their core. They take contracts, eliminate targets, destabilize cities. Their services are expensive, but effective.”

Ethan studied her face. “You’re certain?”

“My guild leader told me,” Yuna said. “He’s also my husband. He didn’t hide these things from me.”

Ethan nodded. The last doubt faded. Mr. X being tied to Scavenger was no longer speculation.

Good. Then I know where to look.

The bottle between them was now empty. Yuna’s movements had grown sluggish, her eyelids heavy.

“You’re not drunk?” she asked, squinting at Ethan. “You drank just as much as I did.”

“I have Toxic Resistance,” Ethan replied. “Alcohol doesn’t work on me.”

She clicked her tongue weakly. “That’s unfair.”

Moments later, Yuna’s head tilted forward as sleep claimed her. Ethan quietly stood, pulling the blanket over her shoulders.

She’s exhausted.

He left the room in silence.

***

Five days passed.

Laura arrived at the northern gate at dawn, clutching a piece of paper. The message bore the seal of the reconnaissance team stationed near the canyon.

Ethan and Yuna read it together.

Ethan’s eyes widened.

The Blood River Ink Alliance was launching an offensive northward, toward the island regions.

“No troop concentration in the south?” Ethan muttered. “What are they thinking?”

Yuna looked at him sharply. “What happened?”

“They’re attacking the northern islands,” Ethan said. “Not preparing to defend the south at all.”

Yuna’s mouth fell open. “Why?”

Ethan shook his head.

This makes no sense.

If the report had mentioned a southern buildup, Ethan would have immediately suspected betrayal. But instead, the data contradicted every expectation.

“Arthur must be searching for resources,” Ethan said at last. “If their manpower is limited, they need something to compensate.”

Laura stepped forward. “What are your orders?”

Ethan stared out toward the canyon, his expression unreadable. Two days remained before the planned invasion.

“Continue reconnaissance until tomorrow,” he said. “If nothing changes, we move our main forces to the canyon.”

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