One-Eyed Dragon swallowed hard and lowered his voice to a whisper as he spoke the final, fateful words. "He also said... he told me to tell you... that from today on, the Heavenly Crafts Institute bears the surname Xia... but... but not your Xia..."
Smash!
The colored-glass wine cup in Xia Qi's hand shattered under his grip.
Scarlet wine mingled with blood and trickled between his fingers, dripping onto the expensive carpet and spreading into an eerie flower.
He didn't roar. Instead, he laughed.
That smile, however, was more chilling than any bellow.
"Good... Very good. 'Not my Xia.'"
"My Third Brother has certainly given me one hell of a surprise!"
He rose slowly and paced over to One-Eyed Dragon. With his uninjured hand, he lifted the man's chin.
"What was the leader's name? What did he look like?"
"His... his name was Gu Shen... He was very young, around twenty, and wore the black uniform of the Reporting Department. His post seemed to be... general manager..." Terrified by Xia Qi's gaze, One-Eyed Dragon blurted it all out like beans spilling from a tipped container.
"The Reporting Department? Gu Shen?" Xia Qi looked toward his adviser.
The adviser immediately bowed. "Your Highness, this man was transferred from the Northern Frontier to the Capital City three months ago, during the upheaval in the capital's official examinations. His record is simple: five years serving in the army at the Northern Frontier, then promoted ahead of schedule for his military service and assigned to the Reporting Department. With no connections, he was pushed aside by every faction. A few days ago, he was dumped in charge of the least profitable post, the 'Internal Affairs General Manager.' I never expected... he would throw in his lot with the Third Prince."
"A soldier from the