Empire of Whispers

History records Marco Polo's journey. His secret journal reveals the terrifying truth.

Venice, 1271. Young Marco Polo, more adept at cataloging cats than counting coin, reluctantly joins his merchant father and uncle on an epic voyage to the fabled court of Kublai Khan. But the Silk Road holds dangers far stranger than bandits or blizzards. Haunted by prophetic dreams and guided by a mysterious jade stone found during a near-fatal fever, Marco's legendary journey becomes an unwitting descent into a conspiracy woven into the very fabric of the Mongol Empire.

Across treacherous mountains and desolate deserts where caravans vanish without a trace, Marco's unique observational skills uncover a hidden network operating beneath the surface of the Khan's vast domain: pale-eyed courtiers who move with unnatural grace, synchronized officials controlling vital resources, and ancient monasteries channeling imperial funds toward inhuman purposes. He discovers workshops crafting reality-bending jade artifacts and glimpses an impossible underground city that haunts his visions.

Caught between the enigmatic Kublai Khan and the manipulative Empress Chabi, Marco realizes he is more than just an observer—he is a pawn, perhaps even a destined "vessel," carrying jade keys that connect worlds. As he navigates assassination attempts, supernatural storms orchestrated by oceanic entities, and the intricate politics of the imperial court, Marco must document the millionth truth hidden behind the million lies—a truth about ancient powers, jade-fueled conspiracies, and the cosmic game playing out within the heart of the Empire of Whispers.

A gripping blend of historical adventure, supernatural horror, and conspiracy thriller.