A few hours before, when Mael returned from his morning visit to Group A at the usual time, with the same manner as someone unsuspicious about his behavior.

He had talked to Brack about the supply logistics and eaten something from the cooking area.

At the entrance, he spotted Valin waiting for someone.

"Mael"

He called out when he saw Mael walking.

"...Valin?" Mael looked at him with his eyes narrowed. "What’s the matter?"

"First, come inside."

Mael followed him into the camp interior, which was a bit away from the entry point...and from Sera’s hearing.

Valin stopped at a satisfactory distance and turned around.

"How often are you visiting Gorven’s camp?" he immediately asked.

Mael blinked when he heard that, "I think I do twice a week...maybe more at times. The supply logistics overlap, and Brack is easier to deal with than—why?"

"...How well do you know Brack?"

"We rarely talk, but he’s a practical man and a bit less hostile than others." Mael’s expression shifted. "What’s the matter?"

Valin looked at him for a moment with an administrator’s gaze. Basically—suspicious eyes.

After a few seconds, he found none. Taking a deep breath, he spoke.

"Lady Dresh received some information suggesting that our arrangements in Gorven’s group may be...compromised."

"Huh? Compromised? How?"

"Gorven may be in contact with Dragon Clan interests outside his territory."

Mael stared at him with a deadpan look, "Gorven? That paranoid old thing won’t. He’s too careful for that exposure. And that too...with those obnoxious Dragon Clans."

"This information came through multiple channels."

"And multiple channels can be wrong simultaneously," Mael immediately shook his head. "I have been in that camp three times a week, and I would have noticed something like that."

"...Hmm, would you now?" Valin suddenly asked.

Mael opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out. The question was...way deeper than he had thought it to be; it was a challenge—a challenge to his confidence.

"I think so," he finally said, albeit with a bit less certainty than before.

"Lady Dresh doesn’t need your certainty; she needs you to be careful until this resolves. So reduce your visits."

Mael looked at him in the eyes, and a trace of annoyance passed through them. "You think I was used?"

Valin said nothing, which...was an answer of its own.

Mael walked away without looking back; to be honest, he had never said anything unusual. Walking a few meters, he had completed his patrolling and sat down on his sleeping mat.

Valin noted the conversation and couldn’t help but think that Mael was genuinely unaware...and went to inform Dresh.

...

At the same time in Gorven’s camp.

Walking through the Verth-filled path, Brack found Gorven at the edge of the neutral zone...looking at the crystal formation.

"Did you hear that?" Gorven said, without turning back.

"Yes, about that elf at the outer settlement talking to one of the beast affiliates. One of the perimeter scouts mentioned it, and he seemed reluctant to report...which is why I believe him."

"Who was that?"

"The wolf-blood, he had been on that route for two years, I believe."

"...Hmm"

...

Back in Greenvale, the morning was as peaceful as it could be. The birds chirping, the kids playing, and the adults training.

But on that particular day, the entire Greenvale shook as a furious roar resounded throughout the town.

"WHAT!!? THE ALCHEMIST IS DEAD AND THE WAREHOUSE LOOTED!!!?"

Inside the mansion of the town lord, a group of Verth practitioners kneeled on the cold floor. Their faces were slick with sweat as they trembled when their lord’s aura pressed onto them.

Dreyeke trembled as thick veins spread all over his body; his eyes glowed intensely.

"Y-You fools! Do you realize the situation? There was an unimaginably priceless treasure kept inside the warehouse...which even had the potential to buy our entire town!"

He was indeed referring to the spatial ring Calder had stolen during the night. The blast investigation ended. The next morning, he almost coughed blood when he heard that the renowned Alchemist...had vanished from his place alongside his two trusted guards.

This wasn’t the major issue...the issue was that this Alchemist had a valuable treasure of Dreyke to gatekeep—but that was lost.

Still gritting his teeth, he retracted his aura. However, the cultivators on the ground still dared not move. He turned toward the window. His eyes scanned the whole town. Not literally, but it was enough to scan a dozen miles.

"What about the guards? What was their condition when they were found?"

"T-They were sleeping, my lord. There were no wounds or any Verth disruption. They had—simply fallen asleep."

Hearing this, Dreyeke’s eyes widened in disbelief. "Did someone use sleeping gas? But...leaving no trace. This...this"

He noted this. But then, his eyes shifted.

"Bring that piece of cloth from the storage building."

The town lord suddenly said, confusing the cultivators. But they didn’t dare question him; one of them got up and hurriedly left the hall.

After a few minutes, he returned with a black cloth in his hand. Dreyke held it and focused on it once again.

"The last day, the Verth signature and the blood spoke of Liret. But...didn’t she go on a hunting spree the next day?"

Despite his doubts, he gave the orders anyway.

"Summon Liret and her allies here this instant. This is my order. Failure to comply will result in severe punishment."

"Yes, my Lord!"

"...And find them quickly."

After sending the order, Dreyke took long breaths and slowly calmed himself down. He was filled with regret as he recalled the events of last night.

"I should have already investigated that incident, which was surely related to the robbery and the murder of the Alchemist!"

But that wasn’t the thing he was the most worried about...it was the spatial ring!

That thing costs thousands of High Grade Verth Crystals, and he...didn’t even have the qualification to keep it, let alone use it.

"No! I have to find the culprit, or else I would definitely be tortured to death by that man."

Creak!

Just as he was about to stand up, the door opened slowly. Revealing...four figures clad in light armour.