Chapter 10: Operation: Save The Princess [2] It had taken them a whole day of riding the griffin to finally reach the edge of the empire’s beating heart — Starbloom City. From their altitude, the sprawling capital looked like a painting come to life. Wide stone streets wound between towering buildings with red-brick roofs and marble towers. Gold-plated spires gleamed under the sun like divine sentinels. But Azel wasn’t here to sightsee. The griffin dipped slightly as they passed over the northern district and suddenly — Fwip. Fwip. Two more griffins shot into view, soaring up from a nearby watchtower like bolts loosed from a crossbow. ’Sky police,’ Azel groaned inwardly. ’Of course they have aerial enforcement. It’s the capital after all.’ The two uniformed riders approached swiftly, eyes serious — until they caught sight of Steven. Their expressions changed instantly. They bowed from atop their mounts and spoke respectfully. "Sir Thorne. We weren’t informed you were assisting in the investigation." Steven nodded once. "I received a letter from the Castle. I heard you still haven’t found her." "No, sir," the older of the two guards replied, his face drawn. "It’s been six days, but our search hasn’t turned anything up yet. We’ve combed through the noble district and central ward, but there’s no sign of her." "We’ll handle it," Steven said calmly. "Keep searching, but don’t alert the public. If the kidnappers feel pressured, they may do something rash." The guards nodded again. Then, they turned toward Azel. Their brows lifted slightly in curiosity. And right then — Steven said, loud and clear, "My son will be assisting me as well." Azel’s mind blanked. Son?! He stared at Steven in horror, but the man simply smiled, cool and calm. The two guards looked at Azel and softened. One of them gave a warm smile. "You’ve got your father’s eyes, lad." Azel had to force out a tight smile. "Haha... yeah... I get that a lot..." ’I guess I’m an honorary Thorne now...’ After the guards veered off, Steven chuckled beside him, clearly enjoying the moment. "Hope you don’t mind being my son for a while." "I’ll start calling you Dad if we’re getting discounts," Azel muttered. They continued flying until the capital began to fade behind them, and in the distance, Kraken Town emerged — tucked along a crooked riverbend with buildings made of stone and wood. It was smaller than Starbloom, sure, but it had that lived-in, gritty feeling that made it distinct. As they descended, no guards came to greet them. ’Of course,’ Azel thought. ’Nobody would spend griffin patrol budget on a place like this.’ The griffin landed with a gentle thump, flapping its majestic wings once before settling near the town entrance. Steven stepped down, patting its neck with familiarity. "You’re free to explore," he said, feeding it a dried jerky strip. "But stay nearby. We may need you fast." The griffin gave a short kraa before taking back to the skies, circling above the town lazily. Then Steven reached into his storage ring and pulled out... an earring. A small, nondescript hoop of black steel. He clipped it onto his left ear, tapped it — and instantly, his silver hair darkened to a raven black, his piercing blue eyes dulled slightly, and his overall air softened. No longer did he look like the Sword Saint feared across the land — he looked like a regular middle-aged merchant. "Camouflage artifact," he said simply. "You can’t be too careful." They walked into the town. Despite the chatter of children, the shouting of merchants, and the smell of baked goods, there was something... off. Azel could feel it. The smiles were stiff. The glances between strangers a bit too long. There was a quiet, unspoken tension to the air —like the town was hiding something. He knew why. The kidnappers weren’t just hiding out here. They owned this place. The criminal network embedded within Kraken Town ran deep — too deep for the central guard to uproot without igniting a war. Steven kept his head low, guiding Azel through twisting alleys until they arrived at a crooked building with peeling green paint and a faded sign. Inside, the barkeep eyed them briefly before going back to wiping a chipped mug. Steven approached the counter. "Room for two. Quiet corner. Two nights." The barkeep narrowed his eyes at Steven’s worn clothes and nodded without trying to overcharge. "Five Ares a night. No noise after midnight." Steven haggled it down to four. The man grunted but took the coins. Their room was small but clean. A wooden window, two beds with rough sheets, and a single candle lantern. Steven dropped his bag on the floor and sat with a heavy sigh. "That’s the last time I ride a griffin for an entire day." Azel flopped onto the second bed, face-down. "I think my butt is permanently numb..." Steven chuckled and stretched his back, cracking several joints in the process. "We’ll start looking in the morning," he said. "Better to move with the crowd." Azel nodded, peeking out through the window at the slums beyond the inn. ’It feels a whole lot scarier than in the game...’