Chapter 1268  In Lunvale stood the grand Eternalis Atrium, towering by the expansive banks of the Lunvale River. To dine at Eternalis Atrium was a privilege reserved only for the wealthy and the elite.  However, on the left side of Eternalis Atrium and facing the dock was a spacious and messy area where vendors set up their stalls every day. Some sold grain, others sold flatbreads or ravioli. The food was good and cheap, and most of the people coming here were common folks or dock workers.  Outside each stall, there were a few crude, low tables surrounded by small stools. The diners gathered here, eating heartily in the noisy crowd. Conversations buzzed around them, discussing everything under the sun–except for matters of the state. Politics were too far removed from the daily lives of these people.  At one of the ravioli stalls, two men sat. They were dressed simply, blending in with the rest of the crowd. One wore a gray cotton jacket and a faded cap, looking to be in his thirties. The other man, perhaps in his forties, wore a coarse green tunic. Despite the chill of the spring air, his attire seemed thin. After finishing his bowl of ravioli, he wiped his brow, small beads of sweat dotting his forehead.  The man in the gray jacket placed his cutlery down and spoke first. “So, we just let it go like this?”  The man in the green tunic wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, his voice low and measured. “They came prepared. Let it be for now.”  “What a pity,” the man in gray remarked.  The man in green gazed at the remaining sauce on his plate, which shimmered with a thin layer of oil. “It’s time to make Yuvan uneasy. If we leave him to his own devices, he’ll grow more entrenched. The longer we wait, the less chance we have of overcoming him.”  “I’ve never understood why the king decided to release Yuvan from the capital,” the gray–clad man said.  He shook his head, troubled by the decision. He felt that those in the capital couldn’t possibly be unaware of Yuvan’s rebellious intentions. Letting him go was like releasing a tiger back into the wild.  The green–clad man’s lips curled into a cold smile. “They let him go because they know there’s someone else lurking in the shadows and waiting to strike.”  The  gray–clad man froze, his eyes widening. “Do you mean we’ve been exposed?”  The man in green gave a low chuckle. “Not yet. If we were exposed, Rafael wouldn’t be coming to Lunvale. He’d be on our doorstep instead.”  He stirred the remaining sauce on his plate, the once–clear liquid turning murky as he mixed it, his eyes narrowing with cold intensity.  +25 BONUS  Chapter 1268  “Rafael likely came to Lunvale hoping to draw me out. We can’t involve ourselves in the matter of Stone Village. In a way, it’s working in our favor–forcing Yuvan’s hand. He can’t delay any longer. It’s time for him to act.”  The man in gray thought for a moment before nodding. “Yes. Once Tiberius is escorted back to the capital, Yuvan will be thrown into disarray. He’s already on edge. Pressure him a little, and he’ll make a move.”  The green–clad man’s voice was calm, almost indifferent. “Then inform Sandoria and Westhaven. If it’s time to act, they should prepare themselves.”  “Understood!” The man in gray’s expression was a mix of tension and anticipation, as if they had finally reached a critical juncture.  But the green–clad man remained relaxed, his tone almost casual, as though giving instructions for a dinner menu rather than plotting a revolution.  Their voices were quiet, and with the bustling noise around them, no one could overhear their conversation. Their humble attire and the crowded market setting made it impossible for anyone to suspect they were scheming a rebellion.  Rebellion, after all, was a far–off concept to the common folk. Though they would be the first to suffer if it came to that, it seemed too distant for their daily lives.  Meanwhile, apprentices from Meadow Ridge guilds were making their way into the city.  Rafael had gone to the Lunvale and revealed his identity to the local governor, Gilbert Salter.  Upon learning that the villagers of Stone Village were in fact the rebels‘ private soldiers, Gilbert gasped, feeling as if the ground beneath him had just slipped away.  After his initial panic, he quickly said, “I will fully cooperate, Your Highness. Whatever command, I will follow.”  you  Gilbert realized that his failure to address the rebel soldiers under his watch was a grave mistake–a capital offense. Right now, his only hope of saving his life was by making up for it with a decisive contribution–his position was the least of his concerns.  74  +25 BONUS  Chapter 1269