"Captain, we've searched all the places they could be hiding... but there's nothing.”0

Jordic slowly closed his eyes.0

"They're not hiding,” Jordic replied.0

"You’re saying they're among the villagers,” Arnold said.0

"Bring me the village chief. He’ll know.” 0

"The chief is dead.” 0

"What? Why did you kill him?” 0

"We had no choice.”0

Arbold then reported everything he had discussed with Keter to Jordic.0

After hearing the full story, Jordic ordered, "Go to the basement and check if the chief’s body is still there.” 0

"Understood.”0

Without a word, Arbold ran off. He returned in an instant, his face ashen.0

"He’s... he's gone,” Arnold said.0

”...Bring me that conman from Sefira.” 0

"W-we already ordered his capture, but...” 0

"Don't tell me, you didn’t keep him under surveillance?”0

"We did, but once we saw him leaving the village, we didn’t think much of it.”0

 ”...We’ve been thoroughly played.”0

Thud!0

Striking the floor with his spear, Jordic let out a deep sigh. 0

“The village chief is gone, and so is Keter. We can’t find the beastfolk either.”0

“The beastfolk must be hiding among the villagers. That is the only option.”0

“Probably was.”0

As Jordic implied it wasn’t anymore, Arnold hastily replied, "He couldn't have gone far, since he wasn’t on horseback. No matter how fast he runs, he couldn’t have gone far. If we move now…”1

"Shut your mouth. I'm thinking,” Jordic interrupted.0

Jordic’s eyes were still closed. Arbold didn't press him further. He knew that when Jordic closed his eyes like that, it meant he was either angry or deep in thought. This time, it seemed to be both.0

Whistle.0

A sound cut through the sky, making Arbold look up. As soon as he found where the sound was coming from, an arrow pierced the pillar of a building. Arbold silently approached the spot where the...1