"Is it true? The mayor's really dead?" one man whispered, craning his neck to glimpse beyond the iron bars.

Another nodded solemnly. "Yeah. Word is spreading fast. That's… that's terrible. The mayor was a good man."

"Good? He was more than that. He helped rebuild the south district after the bandit raid. Who's going to lead us now?"

Someone else, a woman in a tattered shawl, shook her head and spoke. "They're saying he was murdered but others say it was natural. I hope it's the latter. He looked fine just yesterday."

"Yesterday?" a younger man interjected, brows furrowing. "I saw him early today! He passed through the central plaza with a few soldiers."

The crowd went silent for a brief moment.

The weight of that statement hung in the air like fog.

"Then how could he have died so suddenly?" someone murmured.

"That's just… really sad."

Another voice from the back broke through the silence. "I wonder who'll be the next mayor."

That question caught everyone's attention.

Heads turned, eyes darting around.

The murmurs started afresh, now sharper, more speculative.

"Isn't it obvious?" one man said, lowering his voice. "It's Commander Khan, of course."

"I was going to say the same thing," another replied.

"With Commander Bismarck gone, he's the next in line for leadership. Everyone knows that."

But not everyone looked convinced.

A man in a leather vest crossed his arms. "Don't you think it's all too convenient?"

"What are you insinuating?" another citizen followed with a tense response.

The man glanced around before leaning closer. "Think about it. He arrived here not long ago. Out of nowhere, he's promoted to commander. Then Commander Bismarck dies, and Khan takes over as sole commander. And now…"

"…Mayor Duncan is dead," the other finished grimly.

The hush that followed was deafening.

Even the wind seemed to pause.

"Guys! Stop that," a woman hissed. "You could be executed for treason if the soldiers hear you!"

"We know," the first man muttered, "but you have to admit… the timing's suspicious."

The crowd shifted uneasily.

Some agreed with him in silence.

Others glared, as though trying to snuff out the dangerous thought before it spread further.

******

Inside the estate, however, Axton had no time for rumors.

He stood in the mayor's study — a once-proud room now stripped of its warmth.

The air smelled faintly of candle wax and burnt paper.

The mayor's body had already been covered and moved to an adjoining chamber, but the sight still lingered in everyone's minds.

"Commander," a soldier reported, stepping forward nervously. "The citizens are starting to gather outside the gates. There's talk spreading already."

Axton turned from the desk he'd been examining.

His eyes were sharp, cold.

"Let them talk," he said. "But make sure no one gets in. No one leaves either, not until I'm done here."

"Yes, sir!"

The soldier hurried off.

Axton's gaze dropped to the many papers on the desk.

He exhaled slowly, setting the papers down.

Just like the citizens outside the estate, Axton harboured similar thoughts.

The timing was no coincidence.

It was as if someone wanted this chaos.

Someone wanted Atlas to crumble from within.

Outside, the citizens' chatter grew louder, angrier.

Inside, Axton's silence grew heavier.

Two different storms were brewing — one of fear, and one of truth.

******

Players who had just entered Atlas City were instantly swept up by the buzz spreading through the streets.

Something was clearly happening — something big.

Curious, they followed the flock of citizens rushing toward the mayor's estate.

Even the members of the Dragon Claw Guild were left speechless after overhearing the anxious murmurs of the people gathered outside the gates.

Rumors spread like wildfire.

Snippets of conversation filled the air.

Statements like "Mayor Duncan is dead!" and "Commander Khan is likely to be in charge now" echoed across the crowd.

Following the chaotic chatter, players slowly pieced things together.

Axton — the same man who had met them earlier with calm authority — wasn't just some powerful player they were used to now.

He had risen to become a major figure within Atlas City's leadership.

It suddenly made sense why they had been stopped by the guards earlier, forced to wait while other citizens were allowed to pass freely.

The soldiers were clearly under Axton's command now.

Axton had become the second most powerful person in the entire city.

"He's the second-in-command?" Hart muttered, disbelief coloring his tone as he eavesdropped on the surrounding conversations.

He found himself staring blankly at the grand estate beyond the gates, unable to process how quickly things had changed.

Just days ago, this same man had been fighting alongside them in the Hell Mode Dungeon.

Now, he stood at the heart of the city's power — in the middle of an ongoing mystery.

******

Inside the mayor's estate, the air was heavy with tension.

Axton was still in the mayor's study, surrounded by a handful of soldiers.

"We didn't notice anything unusual," one of the guards reported nervously. "Not until one of the workers went in to attend to him... only to find him dead at his desk."

Axton exhaled deeply, rubbing his forehead. "This is insane…" he muttered under his breath.

He just couldn't make sense of it.

Mayor Duncan was a level 60 NPC, stronger than Axton himself, on paper anyway.

Heck, he was even more powerful than the late Commander Bismarck.

For someone of that caliber to die silently, without any sign of struggle or battle, was… impossible.

If he was murdered, Axton thought grimly, then whoever did this is no ordinary assassin.

He leaned back, narrowing his eyes. 'An exceptional assassin-type class, perhaps.'

Someone who can move unseen, bypass detection skills, and strike without a trace. That would explain why the guards didn't notice a thing.

But… what if he wasn't murdered at all?

That thought sent a chill down his spine.

He began searching through the scattered papers and documents on the mayor's desk, hoping for anything that could provide a clue.

Minutes passed, until finally…

*Ding*

A familiar blue window appeared before his eyes.

[You have acquired The Mayor's Last Words]

[Do you wish to proceed?]

[Yes / No]

Without hesitation, Axton answered, "Yes."

His curiosity had already reached its peak.

Lines of text appeared in the glowing window.

[Today, I have taken a journey into the Realm of Shadows in the company of one of my most trusted staff. It is not just a myth. It exists…]

Axton's eyes narrowed. 'Realm of Shadows?'

He kept reading.

[…and a long-lost record from ancient times lies hidden there — right beneath our very city. Beneath Atlas itself.]

The message ended there.

No follow-up.

No coordinates.

Nothing else.

He frowned and glanced at the edges of the digital window, expecting a [Next] option to appear, but it didn't.

"That can't be all," he muttered. "It barely says anything. Just a mention of this Realm of Shadows."

Before he could think further, another chime echoed.

*Ding*

[You have a quest]

[Quest: Find the Mayor's Butler]

Axton's gaze darkened.

Whatever this Realm of Shadows was, the late mayor's butler clearly held the next piece of the puzzle.

And he intended to find him.

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