‘I thought I noticed something... fortunately not.’

When Baron Willhem was to bring out the victims, the Cavalry members inside the security management team had arranged to signal the accomplices at the opportune moment. It seemed like they were about to start, so it was fortunate that they were not discovered even before they tried.

A moment later, a sharper wind blew in from the direction of the security management unit. The trees shook in unison, and the people tied in their single robes shivered, but only the accomplice with the dark hair in the back subtly raised his head, his shoulders rigid.

‘The signal was transmitted properly.’

He felt satisfaction in using a method similar to the one he'd used when he requested rescue. Yuder saw a sense of tension and resolute will fill the eyes of the accomplice, who had previously been paralyzed with fear.

"I'm freezing to death."

As Baron Willhem cursed and waved his hand, the servant who was holding the end of the leashes of the bound people moved hastily toward the carriage. The people tied together with knots that would strangle them if they did not move in unison followed, stumbling, their suppressed groans escaping.

And then it happened.

The accomplice at the very back suddenly stumbled and fell.

The others, all tied together, tangled and fell in succession, and the surroundings turned into chaos in an instant.

"You fools, can't you do one thing properly? Cut their leashes and stand them up now! They can't die yet!"

If the precious 37 'horses' brought here were damaged in the end, all their previous efforts would go to waste. While the servants and the southern merchant who led them hurried to unfasten the leashes, Baron Willhem was distant, furious as a madman.

Yuder confirmed that the attention of the rest of the people, who were guarding the carriage, was entirely drawn to that scene and stood up.

"Now!"

Just as he was about to raise his hand to signal to attack,

Boom! Flames shot up from the direction of the carriage, and screams were heard.

“Ugh!”

“Huek!”

Several people who had been guarding the carriage suddenly turned on their comrades and ignited a fire. Those who were ambushed from behind fell to the ground without a chance to fight back. Blood sprayed instantly, staining the carriage and the ground, and Baron Willhem's horrified scream was heard.

“Who are you!”

“Those who have long awaited seeing you in person.”

Emerging from the darkness as if unveiling a veil were a man with a face full of burn scars, and his familiar accomplices.

‘Nahan, Hosanna, and Ershi. I'm not sure about one, but... he must be the one who just set off the flames.’

Considering how the flames always existed when the Star of Nagran made noise in Tainu, it seemed likely to be his doing. Though he seemed to gasp for breath, having shot multiple flames in an instant, it was enough power to make others cower.

‘I knew they would appear, but not now. When did they get mixed in with them?’

Swiftly turning his head, Yuder saw the southern merchant he had fought, his expression extremely cold. It looked certain that Nahan had not hidden with mutual consent.

Meanwhile, Ershi, who had taken down all those guarding the carriage in an instant, roughly wiped the blood off her hands, her breath ragged. Madness and hatred overflowed from the eyes of one who had finally faced the true object of revenge.

“Baron Willhem...”

Facing that look as if she had waited for this moment alone, Baron Willhem retreated, swallowing a breathless gasp, feeling as if the fangs of a great beast were sinking into his throat.

"You're the madmen who caused the explosions in Tainu! I heard you had fled...!"

"Fled? We've never run away from here. We've just been waiting for the right moment."

Nahan, who was by Ershi's side, replied with a low chuckle.

"Now is the time to face the punishment for the sins you've committed. In passing, we must also save our brethren."

"What...?"

The Baron, who had heard the additional words, opened his mouth in disbelief, then quickly composed himself. He yelled at the southern merchant who had been quietly observing the situation.

"What are you doing? Hurry up and deal with them!"

"A useless fellow who can do nothing but give orders."

As he spoke, Ershi swung her arm. An invisible energy that surrounded her arm flashed, and simultaneously, the southern merchant who had fought Yuder drew his sword and struck at thin air. Unbelievably, there was a sound as if it had hit something unseen, followed by an explosion and a cloud of dust.

After several exchanges in the blink of an eye, the southern man and Ershi reached a temporary standstill. As the others also drew their weapons, Ershi reluctantly retreated, grinding her teeth.

'Was he holding back his abilities and only fighting Ershi with a sword because of the Baron's presence?'

But conversely, if he was only using a sword to face Ershi, this meant that his skill was considerable.

"Why have you stopped? Kill them right away!"

Baron Willhem, fumed from behind, but the standoff did not easily resolve. Shortly after, the southern merchant, who had been glancing at Ershi, Nahan, and Hosanna, opened his mouth with a furrowed brow.

"You are the Awakeners who have infiltrated various parts of Tainu?"

"Why? Don't you believe us?"

"You all can't be here. Where have you sent the rest? Have those stronger than you already gone to the auction house?"

Yuder realized what the man was looking for as he surveyed their surroundings. He was searching for the traces of Kishiar and Yuder, with whom he had fought in the darkness.

"If you want to know, find out for yourself, you dogs of others."

The fire-wielding ability user who was with Ershi laughed loudly, flames rising from his hand.

"Of course, you won't be able to know!"

Though they were talking past each other, the conversation strangely made sense.

The misunderstanding between the southern merchant who mistakenly considered Kishiar and Yuder as members of the Star of Nagran, and Nahan's side who didn't know that such an event had occurred, matched perfectly.

'As the merchant said, not all of those people are here, so the chances are high that they have hidden the rest of their comrades at the auction house.'

Yuder had anticipated this as well.

In the meantime, the southern merchant, who had already assured that the powerful Awakeners he had met in the warehouse had moved towards the auction house, sheathed his sword and raised his voice to those with him.

"Handle them on your own. I'm moving right now."

"What? You rascal. Where are you going without protecting me!"

"Who said I was going to let you go?"

Both Willhem and the fire ability user yelled at the same time, but the southern merchant turned away without concern. To stop him, Ershi and the fire wielder stepped forward, and in opposition, the merchant's allies brandished their weapons.

At that very moment, when the precarious atmosphere had broken and everything seemed ready to explode into chaos, Yuder finally raised his stopped hand, sending the signal to attack.

"Who's there! How dare you invade the Tainu Security Management Team? Stop at once!"

With a thunderous sound from above the Security Management Team building, a massive spear made of earth plunged down, followed by arrows of light and lumps of fire and water being relentlessly shot down. These separated the factions of Nahan, Baron Willhem, and the abandoned victims of human trafficking.

“Th-the Cavalry?!”

Dodging breaking wood, Baron Willhem exclaimed with a startled face.

“Why is the Cavalry here...?!”

“Ershi! We can’t go there!”

“Having come this far, you want us to run again? Stop this madness!”

Seizing the moment, Ershi tried to charge at the Baron, shouting, only to be momentarily halted by her fire-breathing comrade.

Amidst the swirling dust and the sounds of explosions, Yuder and his companions, with their faces hidden beneath deeply drawn hoods, sprinted forward in unison.

“Are you all right?”

Without hesitation, Emun, Kanna, and Ever rushed towards the closest fallen victims of human trafficking, wielding their daggers to cut their binds.

“The Cavalry is here. Do not be afraid!”

“Y-you really came to save us...”

A brown-haired accomplice, his face streaked with tears, mumbled upon spotting Ever.

“Thank you… for saving us…”

Ever silently gripped his hand. Nearby, Kanna was busy helping people to their feet and patting their backs to bring them to their senses.

“Can you stand? Good. Don’t be afraid, go straight into that building! The people inside will protect you.”

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