Ali tapped the rim of the silver goblet with his wolf claw, his mind tangled in threads of memory.

Half a year ago, Ali had sent secret intelligence to the humans, helping the Frostwall Legion win a victory. He'd thought his mission was finally complete, that he could become human. But at the final moment of the Battle of Wolfhold, a gap unexpectedly opened in the Legion's encirclement, allowing the Wolf King to escape. All the humans' efforts had been for nothing.

After that battle, Ali had sensed something was wrong within the Frostwall Legion. By all rights, they shouldn't have let the Wolf King slip away. Later, he heard that key figures in the Legion had been murdered one by one, confirming his suspicion: there was a spy in the Frostwall.

Ali made up his mind: I have to root out this traitor.

Around that time, Ali was promoted to the Wolf King's personal guard, giving him more access to Will. He'd hoped to uncover the spy's identity through the Wolf King, but after Wolfhold, Will had grown far more cautious, and Ali could glean no secrets.

However, he'd overheard a chance conversation between Will and Wolf: the spy didn't seem to be sent by the Black Wolf Clan.

"You're not going to speak? Is this your way of resisting interrogation?" Rui interrupted Ali's thoughts.

There's a spy in the Legion. I can't expose my identity.

Ali said firmly, "I want to see the Archbishop."

The scholar looked stunned. "What did you say?"

"I want to see the Archbishop."

"Do you have any idea who you're talking to?"

"I will only speak to the Archbishop." Ali repeated, his resolve unshakable. It seemed impossible, but it was his only option right now.

"Whatever you have to say, you can tell me. I'm the second-in-command of the Frostwall Legion, and I have direct contact with the Archbishop. I can relay your message properly."

Too risky.

Ali shook his head. "If the Archbishop doesn't come, I won't say a word."

Rui stared at Ali, his cloudy eyes turning icy.

"Do you want to die?"

Ali shivered.

Is this a threat?

If I don't talk, will I really get myself killed?

But this is too important to risk. One mistake, and I'll be crushed by hidden danger.

No. I still can't speak.

Ali sighed and said helplessly, "Some things I can't explain to you. But regardless, making the wolf army surrender was a good thing for you, wasn't it? Are you going to execute me just because I won't tell you why?"

Rui stared straight at Ali. Time seemed to freeze.

Is this still not enough? The invisible pressure made Ali feel suffocated.

After a long moment, Rui's tight lips curled into a sinister smile.

"Is it really that hard to explain, Lonely Maiden?"

The scholar's words were like a thunderclap in Ali's ears. His body trembled uncontrollably.

What's happening!

How does he know my code name!

"The battle between humans and wolves half a year ago—was it your intelligence that gave the Frostwall Legion the upper hand?"

"You…"

"During the recent battle at the Frostwall, you sent intelligence again, but this time they seemed completely unprepared. Did that strike you as odd?"

"Yes…"

"Cackle cackle cackle—" Rui let out a guttural laugh, "That's because the Frostwall ranger who carried your message is dead. Your intelligence never reached the Legion."

So that's it!

A flash of clarity cut through Ali's tangled thoughts, and everything fell into place.

"It's you! You're the wolf hiding in the Frostwall Legion!" Ali shouted.

"Cackle cackle cackle—" Rui's grin widened, his sharp laughter echoing through the room like creeping, shadowy tentacles.

"After the Battle of Wolfhold, I found out there was a spy among the wolves. I couldn't find their identity, but I tracked down the messenger. Killing Kammon was like cutting off your communication channel." The traitor's pride was obvious.

"Help! Someone! Help!" Ali yelled.

"Cackle cackle cackle—" Rui's laughter drowned out Ali's shouts.

"This is the most remote chamber in Awakening City. No one will hear you even if you scream your lungs out." A glint of cold light flashed as Rui drew his wolf blade. "Besides, my public identity is a scholar of the Frostwall Legion—if someone did stumble in, who do you think they'd believe?"

The werewolf stepped slowly toward Ali, the blade reflecting his twisted smile.

"Who sent you? Why have I never seen you in Wolfhold?" Ali's back hit the wall hard.

"You're about to be a corpse. There's no need to know so much. Cackle cackle cackle—" The sharp blade pressed against Ali's neck.

It's over! Completely over!

The cold from the blade seeped into his bones. Beads of sweat rolled down Ali's face.

Just then, footsteps sounded outside the door. The door pushed open, and a figure stepped in, bathed in soft light.

What's going on!

The figure was thin, wearing a black robe that exuded an air of dignity.

Seer Orek!

"Clang!" The wolf blade fell to the ground.

"M-My Lord…" Rui stepped back. "H-How did you get here!"

"Hidden wolf. We finally meet." The Frostwall Commander's voice was calm, though his brow showed traces of exhaustion.

"No! It's not me!" Rui's face turned deathly pale. He pointed at Ali, trembling. "It's him! He's the werewolf! His claws are soaked in human blood! He's our enemy! Just now, he tried to kill me!"

This bastard is turning the tables!

Ali roared, "Stop pretending! You admitted it yourself—you're the wolf!"

"Shut up!"

Rui suddenly bent down, grabbed the wolf blade from the floor, and pressed it back against Ali's neck. His movements were smooth and fierce, too fast for even a seasoned wolf guard like Ali to dodge.

This guy is stronger than me!

Ali felt the man's incredible strength, a stark contrast to his frail appearance.

"So the scholar who always moved so slowly becomes this formidable when he picks up a wolf blade?" Orek sighed.

"I… I…"

"Wolf King Wil is dead." The Seer said.

"What!" Rui's eyes widened, and his hand holding the blade trembled slightly.

Steady! Dude! Don't shake! Ali's head started trembling too.

"The Wolf King received your secret message and went to Holy Light Village. But the Ghost Riders he brought were purged by the Holy Light, and in the end, he was killed by the purged knights."

"Is… is that so?" Rui's expression was complicated.

"After returning from Holy Light Village, I went over Kammon's death again and narrowed my suspicions to three people." Orek stared at Rui, his voice deep. "A few days ago, I told Lei I was returning to the Crystal Temple; I told Fito I was going to the Academy; but only you, Scholar Rui, did I tell I was going to Holy Light Village. Then the Wolf King just happened to show up there. Why do you think that is?"

"…"

"Rui. You're the spy."

Ali felt the pressure on his neck suddenly disappear. The old scholar dropped the wolf blade.

"I've been hiding in the Frostwall for so many years, and finally, I'm caught." Rui sighed. "Yes. I'm the last wolf you've been looking for."

"Why?"

"We're on different sides. I only serve my master."

"Did you kill the real Rui?"

"Hmph! Do you have the right to ask that?" A cold light flashed in the werewolf's eyes. He moved like a ghost, his wolf blade streaking toward the Seer with deadly intent.

The blade tore through the air with a sharp whistle.

"Clang!"

A silver glint flashed from Orek's left front. A dark silver round shield slammed into the wolf blade.

Sparks flew from the shield, deflecting the fatal strike.

Guard Fito!

"Take this poison!"

A sharp female voice exploded from Orek's right rear. A green liquid shot through the air, carrying a sickly sweet scent.

The werewolf couldn't dodge in time. The liquid splattered onto his shoulder, and dark green veins crawled across his chest like vines. He staggered back, howling in pain as he flung the wolf blade away. The blade embedded itself in the oak wall, trembling violently.

Witch Shana!

Ali's eyes sharpened, seizing the opportunity. He rolled across the floor, pulled a wolf blade from the gap between the bed planks, and pressed the blade firmly against the werewolf's neck as he knelt and struggled.

Bastard! You were strutting around like you owned the place earlier!

Now the tables have turned—I'm in charge!

Take that!

"Rui's" body convulsed, lying on the ground in agony, seemingly powerless to resist.

"The night my antidote went missing, I started suspecting you. That night, besides my sisters, only you were with me. You must have stolen my antidote! It's your fault I couldn't save Xiao Ning!" Shana shouted angrily.

"Two years ago, all the Frostwall's muskets stopped working. That was you! Later, the Legion raised funds to buy new muskets from the Golden Harbor merchants. You embezzled that money, which is why the muskets never arrived!" Fito roared.

"Rui's" head hung low, whimpering. His skin seemed to be burned by fire, quickly blistering and peeling away to reveal white fur beneath.

So he's a white wolf. That's why I never saw him in Wolfhold. Ali realized.

"Dammit…" The white wolf gasped.

"Hmph! Xiao Yun's crude poison won't kill you, but the bone-deep pain will make you wish it had!" The witch sneered, lifting her chin. "You're such an actor! That night, even a genius like me was fooled!"

"Tch…" The white wolf gritted his teeth. "The wolves had already won. It was that fool Wil who threw away our victory!"

"When did you infiltrate the Legion?" Orek asked.

The white wolf glared at the Seer. "You're the last person I'd ever respect. Do you think winning this one game gives you the right to interrogate me?" He laughed coldly. "I am a noble white wolf. I will never submit to the judgment of lowly humans!"

Hearing this, Ali suddenly remembered something, and his body jolted.

Oh no! He's going to take us all down with him!

"Enjoy the long night!"

Before Ali could warn anyone, the white wolf shouted, and there was a deafening boom.

Blinding flames erupted as the white wolf's body exploded outward.

The scorching shockwave slammed into the stone walls like a giant hand, sending gravel raining down. Everything in the room was reduced to ash.

Ali felt searing heat engulf his body, every inch of skin licked by invisible tongues of fire. The world spun violently before his eyes, his consciousness swallowed by pain, until finally, everything went dark.