One cloudy morning, the White Ship was sailing near the island of Arthema, where sailors usually stopped to exchange secret messages. Linus sat in his cabin, reviewing the crew's reports, when Romulus entered carrying a small scroll wrapped in red thread.
Romulus placed it on the table, saying, "It came from a man named Calenus. He says he was one of King Silius's men... and that he has something that must not be spoken publicly."
"Silius?" Linus responded, opening the scroll. "No one of his men is left except ghosts."
"Perhaps this is a ghost speaking."
Linus read the message in a low voice:
> "Linus, if you're reading this, you're closer to the truth than you think. Alexius is not what he seems. Yes, he is Silius's son... but not by law. The king hid him because he didn't trust him. He once said to me, 'This boy has my blood, but not my heart.'" Beware of Madus, for he is not looking for an heir… but a facade for his rule."
Linus froze, then looked at Romulus:
"Can we trust this man?"
"Calinus was a naval advisor to the king. He disappeared after Silius's death, but his name is known."
"Then the message is not in vain."
"Nor a coincidence."
Darius entered, holding a map of Athens:
"Sir, if Alexius is just a facade, then Madus is planning complete control."
"And Melus?" Linus replied.
"Trapped. Between De Moret, the heir, and the investigations."
"And if we enter now, we will be used as pawns," Romulus said.
"That's why we won't enter… We will send our voices."
"Shall we tell Perdus?" Darius said, staring at the message.
"Shall we tell Perdus?" "Yes. But not directly. We need to pass the information through an uncensored channel."
"Criton?"
"Or Orestes. They both work with Perdus… and know how to cover their tracks."
That night, Linus wrote a new message, in cryptic form:
> "The heir who has appeared is not who he claims to be. A man of the king's men has confirmed that he is from his former wife, and that Madaus is using him as a front. Don't trust the face… watch the hand that moves it."
"Do you think Perdus will believe me?" Romulus said, folding the message.
"Perdus doesn't believe anyone… but he investigates everything," Linus replied.
The next morning, the ship sailed toward a secret point of contact, where one of Perdus's men was waiting.
"Tell him that the sea has begun to speak… and that truth is not buried in the waves," Darius said, delivering the message.
In Athens, the message reached Peridos, who read it silently, then said to Crito:
"Linus is beginning to see what we see… and perhaps more."
"Shall we investigate Alexius?"
"Not publicly. We're watching Madaus… and waiting for him to make a mistake."
"And what about Melus?"
"If he learns the truth, he might capsize… or break."
That night, Linus stood on the prow of the ship, staring at the stars, and said to Romulus:
"Athens is burning… and we're watching from afar."
"Shall we stay away?"
"Until the time comes. We don't want to burn… but to put out the fire when no one else can."