"I was waiting."

Robel, who had successfully infiltrated the auction house through a similar route to Marty, was dressed as a servant working there. He smirked cynically, saying that his experience of having snuck into Baron Willhem's mansion and having worked as a servant had helped him a lot today, and then began to explain the inside information he had seen, one by one.

"Today's auction is divided into three parts, depending on the types of goods exhibited. Most of the guests were looking forward to the last third. I heard that they were expecting valuable magic tools and 'horses' and that a few might be released here... But since you all have come here, it will surely end in vain hopes."

It seemed that Baron Willhem had planned to sell some of the human trafficking victims here first. However, there would be no place for the human trafficking victims, who were insultingly referred to by the code word ‘horses’, here today. Baron Willhem, the person in charge of the auction, was no different. A cold smile appeared on Yuder's face, and the Cavalry members, who seemed to have the same thought, followed suit with laughter.

"Most of the guests have already arrived, and I have confirmed the faces and locations of the top officials who were writing the names of the visitors. There doesn't seem to be any other entrance besides what we were informed of in advance."

"What about the warehouse where the exhibition items are stored?"

"It is connected to the back of the main building and is easy to find. However, the entrance was guarded by the people of the southern countries, and temporary servants like me couldn't approach. Oh, and... I found some familiar faces among the servants working in different areas."

"People belonging to the Star of Nagran, right?"

When Kanna, who had already grasped the situation using her ability, asked, Robel nodded slightly.

"Yes, that's right. But you seem to be someone I'm meeting for the first time, who are you...?"

"I'm Kanna Wand. The Deputy Commander of Jung Division. I only arrived in Tainu a few hours ago, but I've heard a lot about you. You were originally from there, right?"

A leisurely and confident look flowed from Kanna's face as she briefly introduced herself. Overwhelmed by her aura, Robel opened his mouth again.

"Ah, yes. Anyway, as you said, those hiding here are all Awakeners from the same village as me, those who most actively sympathized with Nahan's will. They have excellent attack abilities, so they alone would be more than enough to break down this place."

Fortunately, Robel had spotted them first and avoided them, so his identity had not been revealed.

"How many did you find?"

Robel, responding to Yuder's question, counted on his fingers and said, "I clearly identified about seven." Since that was not all of Nahan's followers, the rest seemed to have been sent to the party hall.

‘Nahan must know that Kishiar and I are at the party hall, so he probably won’t move there first... But considering the silence, maybe not.’

Even so, most of the knights and soldiers were gathered there, and the Cavalry members who were eager to use their strength were guarding with fire in their eyes. Furthermore, Natan Zuckerman and Kishiar were holding out, so there was no concern at all.

Yuder thought of Kishiar's figure, who had been standing by the window, wearing the formal suit Yuder had taken off. He would still be waiting for Yuder alone there.

After a moment of silence, he told Robel that he had done well, and then opened his mouth to the members.

"As you all know, I cannot stay here till the end. Ever, who was originally supposed to lead, will be a little late, but we cannot delay. As planned, we must block the warehouse and entrance, secure the visitor list, and capture everyone here."

Dealing with those identified as the awakened southern merchant and the hidden Star of Nagran here would not be easy. Yuder looked at his comrades in front of him, feeling the same way as when he had left Ever first.

"The southern merchant should be in the warehouse now, and although I can't locate Nahan yet, he might be hiding inside here using his abilities or he might have headed to the party hall. Avoid engaging them one-on-one as much as possible, and in case something unexpected happens... Kanna, I'll leave it to you."

"Sure. I just have to take over for Ever until she arrives, right? No problem. Don't worry, Yuder, just go back to the Commander after you do what you have to do."

Kanna, who seemed to have read what Yuder wanted to say, drew a circle with her thumb and forefinger. Her appearance was utterly reliable.

Yuder nodded to her.

"...Okay."

Soon, the team members who had gathered in the underground passage began to move nimbly, leaving Yuder behind. Before finally departing, Yuder hesitated and felt a certain question in Robel's eyes that he might have wanted to ask from the beginning.

"Um, Sir Yuder, perhaps... before you arrived at the party hall..."

"Marty is performing her role well. I don't think there's anything to worry about."

"Ah, yes. Of course."

As he preemptively answered, Robel's face spread with a mixture of embarrassment, relief, and faint feelings towards Marty.

"Thank you for letting me know. Then I'll take my leave..."

"Robel."

Yuder called out his name as he turned to leave. Robel stopped and turned his head.

"I know that you have collaborated with us to regain Marty and seek revenge on Nahan, but today, rather than fighting the Star of Nagran, I would prefer you to help with securing the list."

"Excuse me? I will certainly guide you there... Oh. You must be worried because my wind ability isn't that powerful."

Robel frowned as if he didn't understand the meaning. Yuder shook his head and spoke softly.

"That's not what I meant. I see your ability as more specialized in controlling the weight of objects rather than wind. You've only trapped yourself in a limitation by defining that you can only move small objects with wind."

"...The weight of objects?"

He seemed to half understand. It would be faster for him to experience and feel it himself, so Yuder decided not to explain further.

"Securing the guest list of those attending today might be more important than capturing them. Without it, it's difficult to properly punish those we capture. So if something unexpected happens, remember this and use your ability correctly."

Of course, it would be much better if nothing unexpected happened, but it wouldn't hurt to be prepared.

"Remember, there's no such thing as a worthless ability."

"..."

Robel couldn't easily respond. It seemed he didn't know how to take the words he had heard. Yuder left him and started to move. With the scheduled time approaching, he needed to move quickly.

Arriving at a secluded corner of the closest garden to the main building after following a different path from his comrades, Yuder saw dozens of magnificent carriages quietly displaying their elegance, waiting for their owners.

Yuder took a deep breath and was balancing the energy within his body when he spotted a carriage that seemed to have just arrived late. He hid behind a tree. It was a common occurrence for someone to be tardy.

"You're late! The first part has already started. You lazy oaf! If you had properly maintained the carriage wheel earlier, this wouldn't have happened!"

"I'm sorry."

"If someone like you had driven my carriage when I was in the capital, I would have cut off your head by now! Or are you ignoring me because I lost my honor and came all the way down here?"

"No, no sir! How could you say that?"

As those who had come down from the carriage were yelling at the unfortunate coachman, Yuder momentarily paused when he saw their faces.

'Those people are…?'

He felt he recognized them from somewhere, and soon he remembered.

They were the ones who had stood as representatives for the Apeto family during the trial, pouring all sorts of accusations against Kishiar!

'What luck, to run into them here of all places.'

During the time of the trial concerning the Apeto family's crimes, most of the guilty had received just punishment. However, some who were ambiguously involved had escaped the capital secretly to preserve their safety.

And from the way they were speaking, the likelihood seemed very high that these people had also left the capital via a similar path.

After all, it was quite predictable, considering they were chosen by the Apeto family.

'So they came to a place like this.'

Yuder's eyes gleamed ominously. Unaware of the hunter-like gaze watching them from afar, they lamented their circumstances as they entered the auction house.

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