His own son had made his choice, and Echel had lost not only his beloved child but also his dignity. He had to accept it all, for there was no turning back now.

Echel and Reed were quite alike; their offspring had defied their wishes, and they both chose to accept it, even though it cut them to the core. Lyle couldn’t understand their behavior, yearning deep in their hearts yet standing far off to watch.

In their souls, the friction between will and reality ruled them, making them endure the pain and accept everything.

Life is a series of compromises.

They were Kings, sovereigns who governed all their subjects, and, of course, they were well versed in this regard.

Life and death, obsession and compromise, had built thorny high walls in their world.

Reed watched his child from within the wall, silently praying for blessings.

Echel was different because he still had guilt towards Dreya in his heart, a guilt that made his obsession even stronger. He wanted to destroy Reed’s high walls and let the sunlight flood in, for the sake of his soul’s release.

"He didn’t have to do this."

Within the iron helmet, Reed’s words were firm and resolute.

"I too have known hatred, have been furious. But it wasn’t the fault of this old man. Dreya had completed her revenge with the death of Carnot Livesey."

"He owes me nothing," Reed fell silent for a moment, as if the roles between the two men had switched.

Echel became the silence of Reed, while Reed bore the easy-going nature of Echel.

"Although this dead monkey is arrogant and behaves like a ruffian, he is a friend worth trusting, my friend. Though we fought all our lives, to become friends after death is my good fortune."

Reed stood up, looking at the central tower of Dreya, clenching his fist.

"The hatred Dreya has for Liveser should be let go. My Lina, I am truly sorry."

"Dreya needs to change, Grandfather must interfere with your rule."

Reed then patted Echel on the shoulder, "I’m off to see some old subordinates, proceed with your ideas, my friend."

Lyle felt happy to see the two old men unravel their own knots, encouraging each other.

If there were something I could help with. But, I can only offer assistance with things like the summoning of students for biological remodeling, how could I possibly know any masters of espionage, even if I have been the sheriff in Cassandra for a few months, I couldn’t have contact with those hidden talents in the shadows.

Wait?

Lyle suddenly remembered his childhood nightmare, that man who seemed to be everywhere.

He always appeared when he was in trouble, becoming the most terrifying existence in every conflict.

Ralph Butler.

In his memory, there was no conflict Ralph couldn’t resolve, and the fate of those people even elicited Lyle’s sympathy.

"Maybe Ralph has a solution? Maybe he knows some extraordinary people who could possibly help."

Lyle wasn’t worried about the difficulty of hiring these people, for Ralph was a master at roping others into his schemes. Extortion, threats, bribery, conquest were all the specialties of Cassandra’s Evil Wolf.

"I wonder if Ralph knows any masters of espionage."

Lyle was determined to enlist the help of Mr. "Omnipotent" Evil Wolf, but that would mean exposing Ralph to the Mystic Side, considering Liveser and Dreya were surely beyond normal human beings.

Recalling the time when he had infiltrated Ralph’s dreams only to be taught a lesson, the Dreamwalker, maybe Ralph would surprise him.

Lyle shared his thoughts with Echel and Reed.

"Oh oh, is that Lyle’s uncle? The family member you’re so proud of from Twilight Memories," Echel nodded solemnly, "If he is a relative of Lyle’s, then he is trustworthy, certainly much better than those who do things only for money. As for the infiltration into Dreya..."

"I have no objections, I trust all of Lyle’s arrangements," Reed responded quickly.

Lyle felt a much heavier burden on his shoulders.

"Then please wait a moment, I will use the portal to go find him now."

Cassandra.

The rain enshrouded the high-towered city, forcing people to curl up under the eaves as the power of nature asserted itself.

Battered by raindrops, broken shadows accumulated in puddles, the chill congealing inside that decrepit house.

It lay less than twenty meters from Cassandra’s slums, where the destitute governed by famine became a source of sin. On rainy days like this, they’d hide in corners out of the rain, making mud an unwelcome gift from the reluctant homeowner.

Yet, this house was immaculately clean, scrubbed by the rain, with no one daring to curl up in its shadows.

Because the owner of the house was Ralph Butler, the beast that turned Cassandra into a hunting ground of sin.

Ralph was unusually not out on patrol and, accompanied by the pattering rain on the roof, Mr. Sheriff was reading a letter by candlelight, one from afar.

A knock at the door disrupted Ralph’s thoughts; a door that had never been visited by anyone suddenly echoed with an unexpected sound.

Ralph left his seat, placing the letter between the pages of a book.

"It’s Lyle, isn’t it?" There were no trivial troublemakers around Ralph’s place, and Mr. Gareth had an absolute principle of never visiting someone’s home, no matter how urgent the case was; it would be handled at the security office.

Only Lyle would knock on his own door like this.

Such urgent knocking, most likely it was an emergency.

Ralph frowned as he stood less than five meters from the door which was visibly trembling.

"This kid, is he planning to break down the door? Maybe I should teach him a lesson first."

With the intention of re-educating his impolite nephew, Ralph opened the door with a grim face.

"Ralph!!"

Ralph was mistaken.

His angry expression turned into a skin-crawling greasy smile, and he embraced the knocker, speaking with a sing-song intonation.

"Welcome, Nia my darling!!"

The young girl form of Nia rubbed her face against Ralph’s and giggled; then, turning her head, she blinked her sparkling eyes at Lyle who was standing to the side.

The Evil Wolf tamed, mission accomplished!

Lyle greeted Ralph, who had a blissful expression on his face.

"I’ve always been asking Nia to knock softer, as I was afraid of disturbing you."

"Nia must have been worried that I couldn’t hear her, she really is a considerate little cutie," Ralph said as he carried Nia into the room, "And you, come in too. You’re blocking my way to shut the door."

"Okay~ Uncle."

Ralph put Nia on his own chair and went to the fireplace to light a fire for warmth.

Facing the dark fireplace, Ralph spoke out.

"So, what is it this time you’ve come to see me about, kid? Don’t waste time with any stupid talk about just coming to see me."

Tsk, did Nia’s off-body IQ just go online?

Lyle thoroughly explained the current predicament to Ralph.

Ralph, hugging Nia and teasing her with a letter, looked at Lyle with an expressionless face.

"A few months ago you were just a foot-soldier security officer, and now... you’re involving yourself in national affairs?"

"You’ve done well, nephew."

"Within the Mage organization I’ve joined, there are a few retired Kings who are my friends, good friends," Lyle scratched his head, "We need a truly outstanding Spy Master for a covert operation, and I was wondering if you know anyone, Uncle, because the job is high-risks, after all, so the reward will be substantial."

Ralph stroked his chin, thinking for a moment.

"Lyle, how important is this matter to you? Don’t talk about how your King friends feel."

"I want to know your own feelings, do you absolutely need to push this through?"

Lyle closed his eyes, and the image of Reed looking out at Dreya Tower flashed in his mind—his acceptance, his compromise, his discomfort. Those emotions ignited a rage in Lyle’s heart.

Lyle opened his eyes, looking straight into Ralph’s cold pupils, without dodging, without hesitation.

"I have to help them, otherwise, it will become a stain on my soul."

Ralph tilted his head, stroking Nia’s hair with an almost smiling look at Lyle.

"Well then, lead the way, my nephew; I can’t just stand by and let my darling grand-niece’s father get a stain on his soul, can I?"

Ralph agreed.

The situation was smoother than expected.

"So Uncle, whom shall we look for?" 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

"Who else? Lead the way, Lyle."

"..." Lyle looked at Ralph, who was smiling, and a guess formed in his mind, "Um, Uncle, the Spy Master you know?"

"In front of you."

"Uncle, are you joking? This is a very serious covert mission, I need a professional, you’ve always been a security officer, haven’t you?"

"That’s right," Ralph said, rubbing Nia’s head.

"I have always been a security officer. Even before I was assigned to Cassandra."

"A security officer who managed the safety of enemy nations."