Sincline sends a team of professional assassins to Altea, where they proceed to ruthlessly slaughter innocent Alteans with blinding speed. Raible and the Golion teams are shocked by the reports of the murders, but they are even more shocked to find thousands of terrified villagers gathered in front of Castle Gradam. The people are pleading for sanctuary from the killers, but Raible is hesitant to let them inside, fearing the killers may be lurking among the crowds.