A dark alley in Lindebrugne.

Lindebrugne is a tourist town and full of beautiful architecture, but not all neighborhoods were built equally.

Where the light is strong, the shadows are also strong.

While it didnt compare to Leathervelk, Lindebrugne had its share of back alleys.

Leo wandered down one of them and stopped in front of a ramshackle house.

Whoo.

Taking a deep breath, he knocked on the door, as a reaction came as if the people inside had been waiting.

A small sliding window above the metal door opened, revealing a pair of human eyes. They looked around, and then their gaze fell downward to find Leo.

The sliding window closed and then the door opened wide.

Youre a little late.

It was a man in plain pants and a cotton shirt.

He looked like an ordinary laborer youd see anywhere, but the sharp edge that emanated from him was far from ordinary.

Karl, an intelligence officer with the Liberation Army, looked at Leo and jerked his chin.

Are you going to come inside and talk?

Im busy, just do it here.

Leos blunt response had many implications. From the part about not entering the house, Leo was clearly drawing a line in the sand.

Carl frowned at the answer.

I thought you had ears to listen.

You think I dont know that you made sure there was no one around here?

That was some time ago. The eyes of the Imperials have been very sharp lately and today.

I know. The Nightcrawler Knights and the Cold Steel Knights showed up.

Among them, the Nightcrawler Knights were a symbol of fear for the Liberation Army, which was undermining the Empire.

Yeah. Its a dangerous situation that could come back to bite you in the ass.

You know that, which is why youve called me here, because Im the only one of you who infiltrated Theon as a student, so youre confident I wont be caught.

.

Carls lips twitched at Leos words because he hadnt said anything wrong.

Were just wasting time arguing here. If you want to get this over with, just tell me what you want.

What are the routes of the students?

Whats the point of knowing that?

The plan will go ahead as scheduled.

What?

Leo raised his eyebrows.

Are you crazy? I cant believe were proceeding with the plan in this situation.

Crazy? No, its a noble act.

A noble act? Theres nothing noble about running up with a bomb and blowing yourself up.

If we can take out one dictator with our lives, we can make life easier for many of our countrymen.

You think the world runs on such easy math?

Leo glared at him, but Karls expression didnt change, knowing that he was being sincere.

Leos head was already aching. He realized that no amount of convincing was going to work.

There are Nightcrawlers and Cold Steel Knights everywhere right now, and youre going to force your way in when its hard enough to hide and plan for the future?

Thats why now is the time. Theyll want us to take care of ourselves and hide, but theyll panic if we do the opposite.

Were dealing with men who are members of the Empires Three Knight Orders, an elite force. Do you really think theyre going to be surprised by that? Get a grip.

Leo had to stop this madness. To be honest, Leo didnt really care if a few Liberators died. There was no camaraderie in being semi-forced to wear a Liberator badge. But if they went ahead with their plan, Leo would be blindsided.

There are knights everywhere, and they want to carry out terrorist attacks?

Of course, the damage would be much less than they had planned. But it wouldnt be entirely without consequences.

And if Aidan, Tessie, or Iona were among the dead Leo would never forgive himself but he couldnt appeal for friendship so that they wont attack his friends here.

Part of his nature prevented him from doing so, but a large part of it was because the person in front of him was someone who couldnt be persuaded by such things.

In addition, students are with the mentors now.

Mentors are the perfect target.

You dont know what youre talking about. The mentors are sixth-rank wizards, and this is the largest group of sixth-rank wizards ever assembled. Each one of them is a Lexer-rank mage, the equivalent of a strategic weapon. Youre not going to tell me you dont know their power, are you?

.

For the first time, Karl remained silent instead of refuting Leos words. No matter how noble it was to fight with ones will, the presence of a sixth-rank wizard was out of the norm.

Leo decided it was time to push.

With their [Fire Silence], the explosives you have will be completely useless. Its like trying to hit a boulder with an egg. So for now, just do nothing.

No, I insist.

Leo frowned at Karls adamant tone.

What the hell did you listen to me for?

I heard you but its not my call to make in the first place. Its already been decided from above that were going ahead with it, so youll have to cooperate.

What? Dont be ridiculous! You think Im going to go along with that?

I think you should, for your familys sake.

.

Leos mouth dropped open at Karls words.

I know youve been uncooperative with us but you should know that your familys safety depends on it.

Leo gritted his teeth and glared at Karl but Karl showed no remorse or guilt toward Leo. He even seemed to take a certain amount of pride in his actions, as if hed done what had to be done.

How could youjump into a fire pit like that in the first place?

We have the strength and ability to do so.

These.

Crazy, he was about to say but Leo suddenly sensed something and shut his mouth.

Anyway, thats the end of the story. The operation will proceed as planned, so spit out the information.

I dont know all the routes of the people who have already scattered.

Leo said, citing practical limitations. It was a ploy to stall for time.

Karl, who couldnt have known better, smirked at him.

Leo, did you really think we had anything to go on besides the information you were giving us?

What?

Im saying you werent our primary source to begin with.

Leos eyes widened at the words.

Of course, youre excellent as an intelligence agent, but we dont completely trust you to say something that you cant say properly.

You!

Well, if you want to report it, you can but Im not sure theyll believe you. Theyd probably think you were in cahoots with us.

Karl said that and chuckled.

Besides, I cant guarantee your familys safety, so youll have to go along with it, even if you dont want to, wont you?

.

Well, then, go away. Ill make sure you know what happens if you try to get your way.

With that, Karl slammed the door.

Left alone Leo stared at the door in disbelief then turned to leave with stumbling steps.

Leos mind raced.

If I dont do what they say, my family is in danger. But if I stay, Im risking my life and the lives of my friends.

The Liberation Army may be hate-crazed, but theyre not the kind of people to rush into something they know cant be done. There must be something I dont know about, judging by their confident reaction.

Leo realized that he was an outcast, belonging nowhere, not to Theon, not to the Liberation Army, not to anyone.

He realized that he was like a floating object on the water, helpless. Powerless to move of his own volition he could only go with the flow and be swept along.

I am.

As he walked Leo stopped in his tracks when he saw who stood before him.

Leo.

Aidan?

Leo was about to ask what was going on, but the look on Aidans face left him speechless. There was no smile on his friends usually innocently smiling face. Instead, there was a gaze of shock and concern directed at him.

Leo realized that Aidan has found out who he is.

* * *

So what are you going to do from here, senior?

Dont even get me started on the seniority thing.

Rudger said with a stern look at Passius for calling him such an odd title.

Passius nodded in understanding.

After leaving the imperial palace, the two walked down the street, chatting.

Ha ha. Im sorry but I couldnt resist being curious since youre my predecessor.

Its interesting to see aroyal guard doing the dirty work.

The Royal Guards are usually driven by loyalty, but they also have the honor of being knights. Their skill with a sword was important, but so was their chivalry.

This is why Trina Ryanhowl turned down a spot in the Royal Guard, even though she had the skills to make it.

As the head of the Nightcrawler Knights she had done things unbecoming of a knight.

She didnt want the mud to tarnish the name of the Royal Guards but had no idea that a Royal Guard was the shadow dagger of the First Princess.

The other knights would be horrified if they knew.

Thats why Im keeping it a secret. Only the Princess and I know about it.

I see, now I understand.

Arent we on the same boat anyway? And since you were a dagger before I dont think its strange to call you senior.

Well, I hope you dont call me senior, just call me like before.

Oh, the shy type?

.

Okay, thats enough jokes.

Rudger, who was staring at him in disbelief, shook his head at the sight.

So, Mr. Rudger, what are you going to do now, go straight underground?

I dont like to stir up hornets nests. Unless we know what theyve got down there, if we go in first, well be the only ones with blood on our hands.

Thats true.

Well just have to wait. My men are searching the underground.

Are you sure about that? We dont know whats down there, and I dont think sending your men will put my mind at ease.

Yes, if they were ordinary people.

With that word, Rudger revealed the competence of his men and his firm trust in them.

When he said so, Passius did not dig deeper.

Then are you going to stay still for now?

.

The question made Rudger stare at him and Passius smiled awkwardly.

Haha. Did I say something wrong?

I wish youd stop blabbing about things you know nothing about.

Oh, no.

Passius shrugged at the thought of being caught.

To give the answer that Sir Passius wishes, I intend to go around the capital for now. Im sure the places theyll be looking for are where the students hang out, so if we start there and work our way around the perimeter, well catch something.

I agree. They wont all be underground; therell still be people delivering news somewhere in the city.

Yeah. But with the Nightcrawler Knights and the Cold Steel Knights out in force, theyll be moving as carefully as possible.

Then theyll be hard to find.

If theyre being as cautious as possible, well just have to look as hard as we can.

It was easier said than done, but when Rudger said it like that, Passius felt a strange sense of trust.

Hmmm. So the Princess wasnt wrong about him after all.

Seven years ago, Passius had not been a Royal Guard. He had his talents, but he had his moments of complacency but then he heard of the coup and realized that the Empire he was protecting was in danger.

The Guardian Knights were shocked that they did not know anything even though the crisis of the country was just around the corner.

And whats even more surprising is that it was Eileen, the First Princess, who solved this coup, not the incompetent emperor of the time.

A beautiful but slender woman without her own support base escaped the imperial family and traveled outside to save the Empire from danger.

At that moment, Passius decided to pledge allegiance to Eileen von Exilion.

After such efforts, he was able to rise to the position of Royal Guard and became the right arm of the First Princess.

Eileen also gave him trust, so she told him the truth of the day about the man who helped her solve the coup, a man who could have gotten all the glory, but instead faded into the shadows.

And now Passius was walking down the street with the man hed only heard stories about.

Rudger suddenly stopped in his tracks, causing him to reflexively stop as well.

Whats going on Mr. Rudger?

Passius asked, but Rudger did not answer. He just stared straight ahead, wordlessly, until Passius, curious, turned his head to the direction of that gaze.

He could see a group of students and a mentor walking toward them from the opposite street.

Casey Selmore stopped in her tracks when she spotted Rudger standing across the street and there was a violent swirl of complex emotions in her expression.