The Blade That Struck the Mountain
Assassinations are rarely driven by hatred.
More often, they are driven by fear.
Following China's diplomatic approach and growing signs of Arcadia's strategic rise, the ministers realized their influence was slipping beyond recovery. The kingdom was no longer a political arena—it was becoming a global player.
In a closed meeting, one minister spoke what none wished to admit:
"Then we use the old solution."
Silence answered him.
Assassination.
The Operation
The plan was simple: a staged industrial accident during the king's inspection visit to the surface port construction site. A controlled explosion, no suspects, no trail—only tragedy.
The explosion occurred.
But not as intended.
The Rune
Dust and flames rose, yet when visibility returned, the king stood unharmed.
The dwarven rune embedded within his ring had activated, redirecting the destructive force at the moment of detonation.
Not luck.
Protection.
The conspirators could not understand why the plan failed.
Wakanda's Intervention
Wakandan monitoring systems detected abnormal energy signatures from the explosion.
"This wasn't an accident," Shuri concluded.
A covert Wakandan team arrived under humanitarian cover, confirming the king's safety—believing their intervention had prevented disaster.
Unaware that the rune had already done so.
The Evidence
China delivered additional intelligence linking ministerial networks to the assassination attempt—and to the original royal murders.
Lee Soo-yeon read the file calmly.
History had repeated itself.
But this time, the target survived.
The Confrontation
The king summoned the council.
He placed the evidence on the table without accusation.
"A failed assassination is not politics," he said quietly.
"It is war against the state."
No arrests followed.
Only silence—and fear.
Because knowledge held in restraint is more terrifying than open action.
Ending
Dorgrin spoke softly to the king:
"The mountain protected you. It cannot always do so."
Lee Soo-yeon replied:
"That is why I build a kingdom that does not need protection."
The ministers understood one truth:
The king survived.
And he knew.
End of Chapter 16