The journey back from the frontier took two days. The forest thinned gradually as they left Wraithpath behind. The distorted mana echoes faded. By the time they reached Brackenwatch the air felt lighter. The rescue team had arrived early that morning. They loaded the smaller beasts into reinforced carriage compartments and began preparing the Frostmane Elk for careful transport.

The ranger captain saluted Erian. “Your message reached the Authority. They’re preparing containment sectors for all recovered beasts. And they’ve requested your full report.”

Erian nodded. “We’ll depart immediately.”

Vorrek was secured inside a transport cage, guarded by two rangers and Rolan. He looked less furious now but more calculating. He watched the preparations with a cold pragmatism that unsettled even seasoned officers.

Selin checked the supplies. Jana confirmed their route. Daris examined the scroll case one more time.

Erian mounted the lead carriage. They set off toward the capital.

The road stretched long but safer than the frontier. Birds returned to the skies. Fields widened into open terrain. Traders passed them with curious glances. News had not yet reached the wider kingdom, but whispers followed the caravan. People noticed the chained criminal inside the rear wagon. They noticed the Authority insignias carried by the team.

By sunset of the second day the capital walls appeared on the horizon. Tall stone ramparts framed by banners of the royal crest. Smoke curled from chimneys. Caravans lined the gate as guards checked documents.

When Erian approached the gate the captain recognized him immediately. “Inspector Vale. We received word of your return. You’re to proceed directly to the Beast Trade Authority.”

Erian nodded. “Thank you. Keep this prisoner under watch until I signal.”

As the gates opened the team entered the capital. Familiar noise filled the streets. Merchants shouted offers. Carriers guided carts. Beasts walked in orderly lines under handler supervision. Everything looked normal. Peaceful. Yet the calm reminded Erian how deeply corruption could hide beneath daily routines.

They reached the Authority building. Mira Denholt ran down the steps the moment she saw them. Her expression held relief and disbelief. “You’re alive. The reports barely described what you faced.”

Erian stepped down. “We dismantled a major hub. And captured Vorrek.”

Mira’s eyes widened. “Vorrek is here?”

Rolan gestured to the transport cage. “He won’t be leaving.”

Mira exhaled sharply. “This will shake the entire council.”

Erian pulled out the sealed scroll case. “There’s more. Letters. Payments. Names. Including Lord Wynthorne.”

Mira stiffened. “The council member?”

“Yes,” Erian said. “Vorrek acted under his funding.”

Mira guided them inside quickly. They moved through the main hall into a secured conference room. She locked the doors behind them.

“Show me everything,” she said.

Erian placed the letters on the table. Mira read them slowly. Her expression darkened with each line. “These orders… these requests… if the crown sees this the council will fracture. Wynthorne oversees trade policy. He influenced legislation on beast classification systems for years. If he backed Vorrek…”

Erian finished her sentence. “Then the corruption began at the top.”

Rolan placed more documents on the table. Shipment logs. Suppression collar notes. Coded maps. Jana added the fractured rune plates. Daris placed the route diagrams they charted.

Mira sat in silence for several minutes, reading everything carefully. She finally looked up.

“This is enough to initiate royal inquiry. Enough to freeze Wynthorne’s authority. Enough to halt underground markets across the kingdom.”

Erian nodded. “We begin now.”

Mira straightened. “I’ll arrange a closed session with the High Council. They must hear this before word leaks out.”

Before she left, she paused and looked at Erian. “You know this will not be clean. Wynthorne has allies. He will try to discredit you.”

Erian answered steadily, “Then transparency is the only shield we have.”

Mira left to make preparations.

Rolan leaned back in his chair. “We’re about to challenge one of the kingdom’s highest powers.”

Jana smirked slightly. “Good. Someone has to.”

Selin folded her arms. “The beasts need us to see this through.”

Daris added, “And once the council sees the truth everything changes.”

Erian stood near the window overlooking the capital market. People moved without knowing how close they had been to ecological collapse. The Beast Exchange bustled as merchants prepared for evening trade. Everything looked peaceful. But beneath that peace lay the rot Vorrek protected.

Erian whispered to himself, “This is where the real fight begins.”

The frontier had been the first battlefield.

The capital would be the second.

And this one would be fought with law, evidence, and truth.