A scout jogged back toward the center of camp.

"There are five of them," he reported. "Two support types. Three combat."

"Who’s leading?" Elara asked.

"Armani."

Armani is leading?

So he wasn’t just the leader of the scout group.

Elara seemed to have realized as well, but she didn’t comment on it. There was no point.

"Fine," she said. "Nobody says anything stupid."

"That eliminates half the class," someone muttered.

Some students laughed, but it was weaker. Despite that, the tension loosened.

Elara pointed toward the outer edge of the camp. "Ronan. Mira. Sapphire. With me."

Sapphire looked up immediately from the rune station near the riverbank.

She still looked exhausted from maintaining the water formations around the base earlier, but she stood quickly anyway.

At the moment, Sapphire was the reason class B was so productive.

Quite frankly, she was constructing every single rune almost.

The basic ones she assigned to other students who knew the basics, but things like basic toilet systems, lights with mana switches, and other conveniences were done by her.

But despite her exhaustion, she didn’t seem to hate the job.

It looked more like she was exhausted from being away from the runes if anything

The group moved toward the edge of the river, moving together while the rest of Class B reorganized behind them.

Armani and the others were already waiting.

Ronan immediately recognized the broad-shouldered boy standing near the front.

Reddy.

Reddy spotted Ronan instantly and smiled.

"There he is," he said loudly. "Ashbourne’s little failure. Are you sure he should be negotiating with you?"

"Good to see class A values professionalism," Elara commented. "You claim you are here to negotiate, but you insult members of our class immediately?"

Reddy looked like he wanted to respond, but Armani stopped him.

"We apologize. He won’t make any more crass comments."

Reddy looked at his leader, shocked, but didn’t say anything else, glaring at Ronan like this was somehow his fault.

His eyes moved across the camp once before settling briefly on the node in Ronan’s hand.

Then on Sapphire.

Then back to Elara.

"You stabilized faster than expected," Armani said calmly. "We also heard you lost your leader."

"You came here to flatter us?"

"No." Armani glanced toward the river behind the camp. "I came because your class still controls the best defensive terrain in the area."

He went straight to business.

Ronan could see that Elara appreciated it.

She wasn’t experienced in verbal sparring of any kind.

"We also heard Class S failed to take your node," Armani continued.

Reddy snorted quietly. "Barely."

Elara ignored him completely.

"And?" she asked.

Armani’s gaze sharpened slightly.

"Nothing. Just simple praise on my part. Reclaiming it after it was captured is impressive."

"Your praise is appreciated," Elara said. "But I would like to not beat around the bush. What exactly are you proposing?" 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

"A formal operational alliance." Armani’s tone remained calm. "Shared information, shared defense routes, and coordinated movement against Class S."

"Against... Class S?"

"After your recent altercation..." Armani spread his arms slightly. "I believe we have a common enemy."

Elara hummed, then nodded her head in agreement.

"Elara."

Everyone went silent.

She turned to Ronan.

Everyone did.

"Class S committed a prepared operation just to weaken this base. If Class A wants alliance terms now, it means they’re more worried about Class S than they expected."

Reddy’s expression darkened.

Armani didn’t change at all.

But Elara noticed the hesitation.

"Is that true?"

"It’s true," Armani conceded. "We have information groups in other classes as well, although not officially. Class S has started attacking the other classes using methods similar to what they used on you, and they seem to be targeting leaders in particular."

The atmosphere around the riverbank shifted.

Several Class B students exchanged uneasy looks behind Elara.

Ronan watched Armani carefully.

That was useful information.

If class A had information routes in other classes, this alliance would benefit him more than he expected.

And it allowed him to understand Grace’s motives a little more.

He would have to give that topic proper thought later.

Elara crossed her arms. "So this isn’t about mutual benefit. You’re worried your class is next."

Armani nodded once. "Correct."

The honesty caught several students off guard. Even Reddy looked mildly annoyed by it.

"You could’ve lied a little," Reddy muttered.

"There would be no point," Armani replied calmly. "They already understand the situation."

Ronan was pleased to hear that. He was competent, which made this a lot easier.

Elara stepped forward a little.

"Then lay it straight. What exactly does Class A want from us?"

"Information sharing first," Armani answered immediately. "Class S moves too quickly right now, and they obviously have methods of information we do not have. Right now, information that they do not have is crucial."

"And after that?"

"Temporary support if necessary." He glanced at Sapphire. "You built fast. It’s impressive."

Sapphire stiffened slightly under the attention.

One of Class A’s support students stepped closer to examine the nearest rune line without crossing into the camp itself.

"That water circulation system is efficient," she said quietly. "Did your class really build all of this today?"

But she was looking at Sapphire.

Sapphire hesitated before nodding once.

"...Most of it."

She blinked. "Seriously?"

"You’re underusing her," Armani said calmly.

Several students from Class B reacted defensively immediately.

"She’s not equipment."

Armani ignored the interruptions.

"With enough preparation time, someone like her can dictate movement across half the battlefield," he continued. "Defensive classes become exponentially harder to pressure once logistics stabilize."

He wasn’t wrong.

Sapphire looked like she wanted to disappear into the river.

Elara stepped slightly in front of her without making it obvious.

"She’s part of our class," Elara said flatly. "Not a bargaining chip."

Armani studied her quietly for a moment.

"Understood."

"You’re all acting like runes are going to stop you from getting steamrolled," Reddy said with a sneer. "Class S already captured your leader."

The atmosphere tightened again.

Several Class B students glared at him immediately.

This time, Elara answered before anyone else could.

"And your class came here asking for an alliance afterward."

Reddy opened his mouth. Then stopped. A few students behind Elara smirked despite themselves. Reddy was not popular in Class B; that much was obvious.

Armani clasped his hands behind his back.

"The alliance terms are simple. Shared reconnaissance. Shared warning signals. No direct interference with each other’s territory unless requested. How does that sound?"

"And if Class S attacks one of us?" Elara asked.

"Then the other class decides whether intervention is strategically viable."

Reddy snorted. "Translation: nobody’s dying for strangers."

But surprisingly, no one argued. Everyone understood what this alliance was.

It wasn’t blind trust, it was a mutual agreement.

Elara nodded, accepting the terms.

She raised her arm out, and Armani clasped it within hers.

"Deal."