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Sharon broke the seal and unfolded the letter, her eyes scanning the elegant script. "Lady Sophie of the Icevern House, you are hereby tasked with the position of leader investigator in investigating the recent disturbances attributed to the group known as the Deadly Hollows. Your expertise and leadership are deemed essential in uncovering the truth behind these attacks.

Further instructions will follow. Signed, High Councilor Thorne."

Sophie leaned back in her chair, her mind already shifting gears. "So it\'s official," she murmured. "We\'ve been assigned to the Deadly Hollows case. Guess they\'ve decided to test my abilities again,"

Sharon nodded, a hint of concern in her eyes. "It\'s a significant responsibility. The Deadly Hollows have been causing chaos across the kingdom. Our last dispatch towards the girl, Maris\'s house, the whole house members were already gone,"

Sophie stood and moved to her writing desk, retrieving a quill and parchment. "We\'ll need to act swiftly. Prepare a reply confirming our acceptance of the task, and send it to the Council. Then gather the investigative team. We have work to do."

Within the hour, Sophie\'s reply was sent, and the knights of Icevern House were mobilized. Reports started coming in, and one particularly grim message caught Sophie\'s attention. Sharon relayed the details as Sophie read the missive over her shoulder.

"There\'s been another attack," Sharon reported, her voice tight with urgency. "An entire household was slaughtered, but no bodies were found. Just blood—everywhere. Just like the previous case,"

Sophie\'s eyes hardened. "Assemble the team. We ride immediately."

The scene they arrived at was a macabre display of violence. The once-stately manor now stood as a grotesque testament to the Deadly Hollows\' brutality. Blood smeared the walls, floors, and even the ceiling, but not a single corpse remained.

Sophie dismounted her horse and approached the house, her knights following closely. The air was thick with the stench of death and magic. "Spread out," she ordered. "Search for anything—clues, symbols, traces of magic. We need answers."

As the knights fanned out, Sophie and Sharon entered the main hall. The floor was sticky with congealed blood, and the silence was oppressive. Sophie\'s eyes scanned the room, taking in every detail. A broken vase, a shattered mirror, and furniture thrown about in a frenzy of violence.

"Over here," one of the knights called out, kneeling by the fireplace. Sophie crossed the room, her boots leaving prints in the blood. The knight pointed to a sigil carved into the stone hearth, a dark and twisted symbol that pulsed with residual energy.

"Dark magic," Sophie muttered. "They\'re getting bolder."

Sharon knelt beside the sigil, her fingers tracing the grooves. "It\'s recent. This was a ritual of some sort. They didn\'t just kill these people—they took them for something."

Sophie nodded, her mind racing. "We need to get back to the quarters. We have a lot to discuss. Bring the samples and the pieces of evidence!"

Back at the Royal Knights\' quarters, Sophie gathered her team in the war room. Maps and reports covered the large table at the center of the room. The knights, a mix of seasoned veterans and eager recruits, waited for her to speak.

"We have a problem," Sophie began, her tone grave. "The Deadly Hollows are no longer just a criminal organization. They\'re dabbling in dark magic, and they\'re after something more than just power—they\'re searching for an artifact that can absorb souls as well."

A murmur of shock and disbelief rippled through the room. Sir Gerald, a knight with a scarred face and a reputation for unflinching bravery, spoke up. "An artifact that can absorb souls? That\'s forbidden magic. Why would they want such a thing?"

"To empower themselves," Sharon answered, her voice steady. "Imagine an army of criminals with the strength of hundreds of souls. They could possess a considerable amount of danger,"

Sophie nodded. "That\'s why we need to stop them. But first, we need more information. In the house we investigated today—there were no bodies, only blood. They\'re using these people for their rituals. We\'ve sent some samples to the university to help in the investigation as well.

I believe the previous case of the girl named Maris is the same one. We need to find out where they\'re taking them. And if possible, obtain this artifact faster than them,"

Another knight, a young man named Liam, raised his hand. "My lady, our patrols have reported nothing unusual. No sightings of the Deadly Hollows, no suspicious activity."

Sophie frowned. "That\'s impossible. They\'re moving in the shadows, right under our noses. We need to dig deeper. And we need to consider all possibilities."

Liam hesitated, then spoke again, his voice careful. "There have been... rumors, my lady. About Professor Draven from the Magic Tower University. There has been an unusual course of action done by him in these several days. And through rumors, some say he\'s involved in dark practices, seeking power through any means necessary." He meant that there is a possibility that he\'s involved.

Sophie\'s expression remained neutral, but her heart sank. Draven is her fiancé, and even though he uses several dirty means to achieve his position at the Magic Tower University, she never thought that he would resort to dark practices. But rumors had a way of spreading, and she couldn\'t ignore them entirely.

"We can\'t make accusations without evidence," she said firmly. "Draven is a Professor, and he has his enemies. But we will investigate all leads. Sharon, I want you to look into these rumors discreetly."

Sharon nodded, understanding the delicate nature of the task. "Yes, my lady."

The meeting concluded, and Sophie felt the weight of responsibility pressing down on her. She needed allies, but the Underground Investigation Department, a group notorious for its corruption, offered little hope.

The Underground Investigation Department\'s headquarters was a dim, labyrinthine building in the heart of the city. As Sophie entered, flanked by two of her knights, she was greeted with polite indifference by the officers inside. Their leader, a portly man with a greasy smile, extended a hand.

"Lady Icevern, what an honor," he said, his voice oily. "How can we assist the esteemed Icevern House?"

Sophie\'s expression remained stern. "We need your cooperation in investigating the Deadly Hollows. They\'ve become a significant threat, and we need all hands on deck."

The man\'s smile never wavered, but his eyes showed no interest. "Of course, of course. We\'re at your service."

Sophie knew insincerity when she saw it. "I need results, not empty promises. Will you assist us in tracking down this menace?"

The man nodded, but his tone was unconvincing. "Absolutely, Lady Icevern. You have our full support."

She left the department, frustration simmering beneath her calm exterior. The corruption within the department was a known issue, but now it threatened the kingdom\'s safety. As she walked back to her quarters, she couldn\'t shake the feeling of impending disaster.

One evening, as Sophie sat in her office, studying a map of recent attacks, a knock at the door interrupted her thoughts. Sharon entered, her face pale with worry.

"Lady Sophie, I have news," she said, her voice trembling. "The Underground Investigation Department was attacked."

Sophie\'s eyes widened. "Attacked? By whom?"

"We don\'t know yet," Sharon replied. "But the attack was brutal. Many are dead, and the survivors are too shaken to speak. It looks like the work of the Deadly Hollows."

Sophie\'s mind raced. The Deadly Hollows were escalating their attacks, and now they were targeting those who might stand in their way. The situation was growing more dire by the day.

"We need to move quickly," Sophie said, determination hardening her voice. "The Deadly Hollows are growing bolder, and we can\'t afford to wait. Gather the knights. We need to plan our next move."

As Sharon left to carry out her orders, Sophie stared at the map before her. The Deadly Hollows were out there, plotting their next move. And somewhere in the shadows, Draven\'s true intentions remained a mystery. She couldn\'t afford to let her emotions cloud her judgment. Even though the thought of going straight to his house and asking him directly crossed her mind, it could be done later.

She remember how she saw him kill someone that turned out to be a low-ranked member of the Deadly Hollows.

Was he really got attacked?

Or was he actually silencing him?

The answers remain unknown.