Chapter 969

　　The renovation project for the Holmes' packhouse was now in full swing. 　　Tabitha brewed a rich, aromatic batch of herbal tea for Algernon and carried it into his study. 　　Noticing the heavy furrow in Algernon's brow, Tabitha stepped to his side and gently murmured, "It's getting late. You really should head back to bed." 　　A towering stack of high-level classified documents lay spread across the desk before Algernon, his expression grim and deeply troubled. 　　"My child, it's not that I don't want to sleep. I simply can't." 　　"Did something major happen?" Tabitha asked. 　　"Word of my assassination attempt and severe injuries still leaked out," Algernon said, pressing his fingers to his temples with a heavy sigh. "Factions in the surrounding territories are getting restless again. The hostile packs to the west are constantly probing our borders, and the eastern and northwestern fronts aren't looking any better..." 　　A splitting headache weighed heavily on Algernon. 　　While these clash