Dark Magus Returns - Chapter 1578

Chapter 1578: Broken Trust (Part 2)

Through careful research and the fragments of intelligence gathered from both the military and the Dark Guild, they learned that the Cerebus Guild members had begun to consolidate. The scattered remnants were on the move, fast, methodical, and frighteningly coordinated.

They hadn’t yet gathered in a single stronghold, but instead drifted toward the many facilities owned by Gizin, most of them vast manufacturing sites disguised as ordinary factories. From what they knew, those places stored enchanted weapons, crystals, and refined supplements used to enhance magical strength.

If their information truly was leaking, if someone within their ranks was betraying them, then every strike ahead would be even harder than the last.

That uncertainty weighed heavily on Raze. Yet another problem lingered in his thoughts, the Masks. The highest-ranking members of the Cerebus Guild, hidden behind literal veils of secrecy. He was certain they would be close to Gizin now, guarding him while he prepared his next move. But no one had discovered where Gizin actually was, and so Raze decided the next best option was to find the Masks.

His plan was simple, but risky. In their upcoming attacks, each team was to leave at least one enemy alive. Someone desperate enough to flee would eventually seek help, and in doing so, would lead them straight to the Masks… and to Gizin himself.

The strategy was reviewed carefully, the groups divided just as before: Alen with his soldiers, Varkos and his force of battle-hardened magi, Raze with his Pagna warriors and Kelly, and finally Harvey commanding the Dark Guild. Each of them knew the stakes.

Before they set out, Raze gathered his companions and spoke quietly.

“If things get too hard,” he said, his voice carrying through the hall, “I want you to retreat. Live. Let me handle what comes. You’ve all done more than enough already.”

They nodded, but none of them believed in leaving him behind. Perhaps at first this mission had been about helping the Dark Magus, but somewhere along the way, it had become their own journey. Each of them now sought truth and justice, even if it cost their lives.

When the groups finally dispersed, Harvey lingered behind. He stood alone in the vast cathedral, listening to the sound of footsteps fading until the silence became absolute. Then he turned back toward the altar.

He waited another moment, ensuring the entire building was empty. Once certain, he raised his hand and the air shimmered with Dark Magic. A swirl of shadow pooled at his feet and rose upward, twisting into a human shape. The mist thickened, solidifying until a second Harvey stood before him, identical in every detail, from the glint in his eyes to the folds of his cloak.

“I haven’t shown anyone that you can do this,” Harvey muttered to the clone. “You’ll take my place and follow the Dark Guild’s orders exactly. I need you to keep them moving, keep them believing I’m still with them.”

The duplicate bowed its head, silent and obedient.

Harvey’s eyes narrowed. “Someone inside our ranks is leaking information. I’ll find out who. And the first one I’m going to start with… is Varkos.”

He never once considered that Raze might be the traitor. He actually agreed with what Raze had said earlier, the most likely explanation was infiltration. But rooting out a single spy within such a vast organization would take time, and Harvey didn’t intend to waste it.

His reasoning was practical. Varkos was clever, methodical, and had ties to both Alen and the military. If he was involved, it would explain how their plans were being revealed. And even if he wasn’t, Harvey thought grimly, clearing his name would narrow down the list.

The real Harvey stepped out into the shadows, while his duplicate walked toward the meeting point as if nothing had changed.

Elsewhere, Alen and his troops were moving through the city streets. They couldn’t travel together in one large mass, too many men would draw attention, so they had agreed to approach their target from different directions and converge at the location simultaneously.

Alen led one of the smaller units, weaving through narrow alleyways where the air was thick with smoke from nearby factories. His senses were sharp, scanning every corner for movement.

Then, something caught his eye. Down a side street, he thought he recognized a familiar figure, someone slouched against the wall, half hidden by the dim light of the alley. The man’s shoulders trembled, his hands raised in panic as if warding off an unseen threat.

Alen slowed his steps. The streets here were quiet, and he could hear the man’s voice echo faintly between the brick walls.

“Please don’t kill me!” the stranger cried. “I didn’t see anything, I swear! I won’t tell a soul what happened that day, please, let me go!”

The tone of raw terror hit Alen harder than expected. He stepped closer, his boots scuffing against the cobblestones. The man spun toward him, eyes wide and bloodshot.

“Tommy?” Alen said, his brow furrowing. “Aren’t you one of Mordain’s men?”

The man froze, then blinked rapidly as recognition dawned. Alen raised his hand slowly, lowering the collar of his cloak to reveal his face.

“It’s me,” he said softly. “Alen.”

For a heartbeat, Tommy simply stared. Then his lips quivered, and tears began to stream down his face. He stumbled forward, gripping Alen’s arm as though afraid he might vanish.

“It’s you,” Tommy choked out. “It’s really you. I’ve been looking for you everywhere, praying I’d find you alive. I’ve been hiding, terrified that they’d see me.”

He wiped his eyes with the back of his hand, struggling to steady his breathing. “There’s something I have to tell you. It’s important.” His voice cracked, trembling with urgency. “It’s about the Dark Guild.”

Alen’s expression hardened instantly. The next words out of Tommy’s mouth could change everything.

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