The chilling realization that the Sutra Corps was manipulating cultivation records added another layer of complexity to Elias's world. His mind was a maelstrom of theories, but a harsh reality check arrived in the form of a hushed report from a Bureau colleague: the Legion spy Elias had anonymously exposed (the Quartermaster diverting supplies to the Swarm) was found dead. Not just dead, but his karma had been scoured clean, just like the Naga informant in the alley.
Elias felt a cold dread. He had assumed the spy would be quietly imprisoned, perhaps executed by the Legion. Not erased. This confirmed his worst fears: the entity capable of purging karma was active, efficient, and merciless. And now, they had cleaned up a loose end that Elias himself had created.
He managed to get a look at the preliminary Sentinel report. The cause of death was listed as "acute spiritual poisoning." But one detail stood out, small yet glaring: the spy's last meal had been Sylvan tea. A specific, fragrant brew, almost identical to the one Mei Lin had given Elias.
This wasn't just a detail; it was a planted clue, a deliberate frame-up. The Naga, or whatever entity possessed their illusionist capabilities, was attempting to blame the Sylvans for the spy's death. It was a perfect, insidious move: creating friction between the Legions and the Sylvan territories, distracting from the true nature of the spy's work and his karmic erasure. It also served as a subtle, terrifying warning to Elias, a demonstration of the manipulator's reach and ruthlessness.
He had to counter, and quickly. He couldn't expose the true killer without revealing his entire network of information and manipulation. But he could shift the blame, deflect the burgeoning suspicion.
Working under the cover of the midnight window, Elias crafted an anonymous, encrypted message. He leaked the news of the Legion spy's death, emphasizing the manner of his demise and the unusual presence of Sylvan tea in his system, to a particular faction within the Bloodkin network – the same shadowy contacts he had leveraged for the Valerius deal. He subtly framed it as a "Sylvan reprisal" for the spy's actions, a disproportionate act of violence.
The outcome was immediate and predictable. The Bloodkin, ever vigilant against perceived threats from other species, erupted in fury. Their internal channels buzzed with accusations against the Sylvans, accusing them of breaking long-standing truces. A diplomatic crisis loomed, distracting the Realm from internal Ledger anomalies and the true identity of the karmic purger. Elias had effectively ensured they blamed the Sylvans, not him, ensuring the trail led away from his own clandestine activities.
He had bought himself time, but the cost was rising. He was not just manipulating karma; he was manipulating inter-species relations, pitting factions against each other, all to protect his own unraveling secret.