"Sage. You might want to come out. Nezo went outside and has heard some troubling news!"

At the mention of troubling news, the moment Baron Renbow showed confusion, the sage stood up and opened the door. A young Awakener, Langbarton, nearly rolled in, gasping for breath.

"What do you mean by troubling news?"

"The Cavalry has spread new news throughout the capital, saying they will conduct a major investigation to find those interfering with this round of recruitment. But..."

"But what?"

Baron Renbow, who was listening, asked quickly, realizing it was a matter related to him as well.

"They said for a swift investigation, they plan to closely cooperate with Awakener groups and organizations not affiliated with the Cavalry... But, there..."

"Calm down and speak slowly, Langbarton. Who is the Cavalry planning to collaborate with?"

The sage encouraged Langbarton, whose face had turned pale. Langbarton then steeled his heart and, with trembling lips, spoke.

"...The name of Star of Nagran... was mentioned."

"What?"

"What are you talking about?"

"That is, in the list or whatever it is of external personnel they're collaborating with to investigate the forces interfering with the new round of Cavalry recruitment, our Star of Nagran was mentioned!"

Langbarton clenched his eyes shut and shouted. A terrible silence filled the room.

Baron Renbow, his face blank as he tried to understand the meaning of what he'd heard, lost the gentle smile he always wore.

"Sage, it's clear to me. We're not cooperating with them, so how can Star of Nagran possibly join forces with the Cavalry? Surely Nahan is colluding with them!"

"...Star of Nagran is what you and the sage call yourselves, isn't it? But who is this Nahan? Why such a reaction..."

Baron Renbow, his eyes full of incomprehension, alternated his gaze between Langbarton and the sage. The sage, whose smile had faded, drew a deep breath.

"Langbarton. Being too swayed by emotions can negatively affect your judgment and resolution of the situation. Calm down first. And Baron Renbow."

Baron Renbow's eyes, filled with confusion and discomfort, met with the sage's. The sage looked at him intently and whispered slowly but audibly.

"Since the first day we met, I believe there has always been a genuine exchange of hearts between you and us. Trust and reliance don't require knowing everything. Haven't you said so yourself?"

"...I have said that, yes."

The Baron hesitantly replied.

"If we continue to trust each other as we have, I believe we can overcome any difficulty that may arise. Would you trust me and return for today?"

Baron Renbow's eyes, previously full of doubt, gradually softened. The nobleman, once full of suspicion, now appeared as a trusting friend, taking the sage's hand and bowing his head.

"I understand. Something seems to have happened, so I'll return and keep an eye on things here. If there's anything I can help with, please don't hesitate to contact me."

He left the room, asking to be informed as soon as the situation was resolved. The sage turned his gaze to Langbarton, who was simmering in silence, his eyes flashing with anxiety and anger.

"Langbarton. It seems you were quite anxious today."

"…I'm sorry, sage. I was blinded by the urgency to inform you as soon as I heard the news, failing to consider that Baron Renbow does not yet fully understand us."

"It's okay. Fortunately, he trusts me deeply. He will willingly keep silent about what he heard today. Everyone can make mistakes when they are anxious. What matters is what happens next."

"Sage…"

Langbarton was once again moved by the sage's magnanimity, who did not raise his voice despite his mistake, but instead reassured him. Swallowing his pent-up emotions, Langbarton poured out the words he had been holding back.

"I thought it strange that Nahan, who should have contacted our southern base upon his arrival in the capital, had not done so. If those who broke into our previous lodgings and the theft were indeed their doing, it's hard to view their intentions positively. And now, Star of Nagran is named as a collaborator with the Cavalry!"

If Nahan had come to the capital to meet the sage, he should have first sent a message to the southern base, informing them of his arrival and establishing a connection with the sage's side.

However, he neither informed the southern base of his location nor showed any caution, instead finding out where the sage was staying and intruding uninvited. Given that the letters sent by the southern base to the sage were lost, it seemed clear that Nahan doubted the sage's intentions and was acting on his own.

And now, today's revelation about the Cavalry's list of collaborators.

Was it a coincidence that just as the sage started moving to help Duke Diarca, the Cavalry spread such news? And that Star of Nagran was included, not in a group hindering the Cavalry but rather in a collaborating faction?

"It's absurd. If the Cavalry were to capture us, that's one thing, but how can they talk about collaboration? We don't even know who they are! And among us, who knows them best? Only Nahan!"

The Cavalry had fought several battles with the Awakeners of Star of Nagran, including Nahan. In the process, several of their brethren were captured, but the Cavalry had never officially announced the name "Star of Nagran" to the world.

Langbarton had never found this odd until today.

Nahan must already know whom the sage is currently helping.

To punish and hinder the sage, who is treating the Crown Prince and aiding Duke Diarca, wouldn't the best way be to use the Cavalry, aligned with the Emperor and hostile to both forces?

"Could it be that Nahan, who has encountered them several times, has been secretly communicating with them to hinder the sage? Maybe even the comrades from the west were all lies... If it was all Nahan's scheme?"

"But Langbarton. I have known Nahan much longer than you. Even if he doesn't want to agree with our goals, Nahan would not easily join hands with the nobility."

"I know he hates the nobility. But aren't most of the Cavalry commoner Awakeners?"

"..."

Langbarton recalled Nahan's insistence from long ago that the sage should keep his promise to him, adding credibility to his speculation.

"Sage. Do you remember when Nahan rescued other brothers from the east and brought them here? When little Josh, who can control monsters, joined us?"

"Of course, I remember."

"It was the first time our brothers encountered the Cavalry. Since then, Nahan has clashed with them several times. Was there really nothing between Nahan and the Cavalry? I believe there must have been something we don't know!"

Surely, Nahan wouldn't have sincerely joined hands with the Cavalry. But to intimidate the sage and make him comply, could he not have resorted to such measures?

After all, his goal is to leave this empire with everyone and find their own land. For that purpose, who knows if he thought it better to turn everyone into beings who couldn't live in this country?

Langbarton thought that madman could very well entertain such thoughts.

"Think about it. Who else but him would be crazy enough to collaborate with the Cavalry? Our other brothers and sisters struggling every day in hiding at the base? Or someone among us here? It's obvious. It's him. It's definitely him!"

The sage covered his eyes. He looked deeply troubled. Langbarton, recalling the conversation he had with Nezo after hearing today's news, comforted the sage.

"But don't worry, sage. We'll immediately contact the other bases to prevent chaos from this news and focus on what you wish to do. Everything will work out as you desire. We will help make that possible."

Langbarton pleaded with him not to meet Nahan, who might be lurking somewhere in the capital, no matter how worried he might be about the others.

After a while, the sage lowered his hand and patted Langbarton with a kind smile.

"…Alright. Let's do that. But even if we don't contact Nahan for now, we can't delay finding out where he might be."

This meant the sage acknowledged the validity in Langbarton and Nezo's conjectures. It pained him to think that the benevolent sage had to sense the dark intentions of Nahan, but this was the reality unfolding.

"We're already working on that. We will surely find out where they are."

The sage had taken on the difficult task of ensuring the safety of everyone at Star of Nagran. Langbarton resolved several times that they couldn't just leave the unpredictable and dangerous Nahan to his own devices.

The sage and his followers began focusing almost entirely on tracking down Nahan, setting aside other matters.

As a result, the course of events they were supposed to influence also began to twist and turn.

—---

"Welcome. It seems you've finally recovered."

Yuder bowed in greeting to Nathan Zuckerman, who greeted him with an indifferent face. Nathan Zuckerman, dressed like an ordinary mercenary, was staying in an empty house in the village.