The palace doors opened.
Commander Jack entered.
The military officer immediately noticed the atmosphere.
"Did something happen?"
Akshay looked up.
"Captain Harlow is dead."
Jack froze.
Only briefly.
---
But Kai noticed it.
A fraction of a second.
Then the commander composed himself.
"What happened?"
The king explained.
Everything.
---
Jack listened carefully.
Never interrupting.
Never reacting dramatically.
When Akshay finished, the commander folded his arms.
"A serious accusation."
Kai immediately felt annoyed.
Not because Jack was wrong.
Because he was right.
Again.
---
"We saw him."
Andre said.
"We literally caught him."
Jack nodded.
"I believe you."
The room went silent.
That wasn't the response Kai expected.
---
The commander continued.
"But belief isn't proof."
Kai hated hearing that sentence twice.
Especially because it remained true.
Jack walked toward the window.
Looking out over the city.
---
"If we start arresting officers based on accusations..."
He paused.
"The city could fracture."
Akshay clenched his jaw.
He knew it too.
The military was already nervous.
The citizens already afraid.
One wrong move could cause chaos.
The commander turned back.