In the once-peaceful Silver Gull City, thick smoke and blazing fire now rose from the direction of the City Lord's Mansion.
Alarms blared as the entire city was swiftly placed under lockdown. The gates were urgently sealed, and the city defense Magic Array was activated, enveloping the whole city like an overturned bucket.
At the same time, the City Lord's Mansion's Elite Guard deployed in full force, patrolling throughout the city and hunting for the culprits behind the incident.
"Remnants of the Rebel Army have infiltrated the City Lord's Mansion and attempted to steal from the Treasure Vault. They are now fleeing within the city. Anyone who dares shelter them will be treated as an accomplice of the Rebel Army and executed without mercy!"
Meanwhile, related news spread wildly through every underworld channel, while all manner of rumors sprang up in the taverns of the Lower District.
The more widely accepted version was that thieves had infiltrated the City Lord's Mansion and stolen a supreme treasure hidden in the Secret Vault. However, they had carelessly triggered an alarm spell while leaving and had been forced to break out by force.
Viscount Nisfim was furious over this. He publicly executed the soldiers who had been negligent in their guard duty, then placed the entire city under lockdown, swearing to capture those lawless thieves.
As for what the treasure actually was, opinions varied wildly.
Some said it was dozens of chests of High-Quality Magic Crystals from the reserves, along with high-rank family heirloom Magic Curios belonging to Viscount Nisfim. Others claimed it was the secret key to the city defense Magic Array's core Secret Art, while some said it was a treasure brought as the city lord's wife's dowry.
Amid such a huge commotion, Fiona, who had been living in seclusion within