‘I don’t know if it’s the same Bernard, though.’

Red comforted himself with that thought. However, he knew that an enemy of Viran would not be an ordinary individual either way.

Eiwin looked shocked upon hearing the name. “Bernard? Do they plan on taking over the kingdom by force?”

The captain grunted. “That’s the same thought I had. This is a show of force, and probably the last opportunity the Empire is giving us before they act on their threats.”

“What about the sects? Have they said anything yet?” the woman looked worried.

“Bah, when did the sects ever make their will plainly known? We just have to assume what they think about things. I’m sure your elder knows more about the matter than even the Baron does, though.” Orvin gave Eiwin a meaningful glance.

“You presume too much, Captain Orvin.” Eiwin shook her head. “Master Hector barely leaves the town. How could he know anything about the sects?”

Orvin remained unconvinced despite her words. “Whatever you say, miss. Since you’re here, though, there is another matter of importance that the Baron wanted me to pass on to your guild.”

“The bandits?” the woman was able to guess.

“Indeed.” the man nodded. “We haven’t gotten reports from deep in the forest yet, but our scouts have already patrolled the town's surroundings. We found many signs of bandits, and from their tracks we could tell they were all retreating deeper into the forest.”

“They don’t want to risk a fight yet.” Eiwin nodded. “What does the baron intend to do?”

“It depends on the reports of our scouts. I can tell you right now, though, that unless the situation is urgent enough, he does not intend to move so soon. He is still concerned about the monster horde and doesn’t want to commit his forces to fight against Rickard.”

Eiwin frowned as she heard his words. “What about the demon and the other changes in the forest? Aren’t they urgent enough?”

“He has already sent word to the Cursebreakers and the sects. If they deem the matter dangerous, they will send someone to investigate. If not, then we don’t have any reason to worry just yet.”

Red, who was listening to the conversation, was alarmed at those words.

The woman looked unconvinced, but she relented in the end. “I’ll inform Master Hector about the baron’s decision. Thank you for informing us about this, Captain.”

“You would end up hearing about it either way.” Orvin shrugged. “There is something else, though…”

“What is it?” his words piqued Eiwin’s attention.

“We have been noticing some strange folks wandering around the town recently. We suspected they were from the Empire, and now with this news about Bernard we have some confirmation.” the man frowned. “You should know that depending on the stance the King takes towards the Empire, our hands will be tied when it comes to dealing with them. If your Water Dragon guild gets into conflict with them… We might not be able to intervene.”

Eiwin's eyes narrowed in concern. “Do you know what they’re looking for?”

“No idea.” Orvin shook his head. “They have mostly been hanging around the town taverns and asking people for general information about the region. We weren’t allowed to investigate their movements too closely, though, as they have done nothing illegal or suspicious.”

“I understand.” she nodded. “Thank you for the warning, Captain. I’ll make sure to tell the rest of my companions about this.”

The two groups bade each other farewell and went their own ways. Allen, who had also been listening to their conversation, had been in a sour mood ever since the Empire was mentioned.

“There’s no way King Thomas will accept a deal with the Empire, right?” the young master asked Eiwin.

“I… Don’t know.” the woman couldn’t bring herself to lie. “When the other option is all out war, it might be that he will have no other choice.”

It wasn’t the answer Allen was hoping to hear. He huffed in anger. “What are the sects doing? Will they just watch while the Empire conquers the entire world?”

Eiwin didn’t know how to respond and could only shake her head. Allen was once more frustrated and just sulked in silence. As for Red, he had been reflecting on the conversation from earlier, while trying to ignore the dizzying effects of his crimson sense.

“Who’s Sir Bernard?” he asked Eiwin.

She looked at Red with a complicated expression. “He’s the youngest general in the history of the Empire and also the single most talented cultivator in the world.”

That certainly wasn’t what Red had been hoping to hear.

“How talented?”

Eiwin hesitated. “… I have told you before about how people can be born with some of their Spiritual Veins open, right?”

The boy nodded.

“Well, Bernard was not only born with all twelve of his veins open, but his Spiritual Sea was completely open too... The moment he came into this world, he was already at the Lesser Ring Realm. Only three other people in history have had a comparable talent to him, and none have had higher.”

Red was shocked into silence. Eventually, he spoke up again.

“What realm is he in?”

“We don’t know exactly.” Eiwin shook her head. “Cultivators prefer to keep their progress a secret. All I can tell you is that he is above the Spirit Core Realm.”

“How can you tell?”

“Because…” she paused. “He was single-handedly responsible for the destruction of the cultivation community in the northern part of the continent.”

Red froze as he connected the dots in his head.

‘Didn’t Domeron mention that the exercise method Viran taught me came from the north?’

If Viran was indeed from the north, it would explain why he wanted revenge on the one responsible for the destruction of the cultivators from that region. His hopes that Viran’s Bernard and this Bernard were different people were quickly being dashed.

“Is everything okay?” Eiwin asked upon noticing his silence.

“Yes.” Red nodded. “I just recalled Domeron mentioning something similar in the past. I didn’t expect this Bernard would be behind it.”

“His actions don’t stop there, but…” she trailed off. “Some of the horrors he committed in the Empire’s name are too grim to put into words.”

The boy now had proper context for the earlier conversation. By sending Bernard as the head of this envoy mission, the Empire was making a simple statement: either you accept our offer or we’ll send him to deal with you.

“What exactly does the Empire want from our Kingdom?” Red asked.

Eiwin sighed. “They want the King to swear fealty to their Emperor and assimilate our kingdom into their empire.”

Indeed, that seemed like it would be a problem for cultivators like Red.

…

Eventually, the trio arrived at Frida’s store. This time, the employee working the front recognized them and led the group to the back of the store. Walking down the stairs, they saw Frida waiting for them while sitting in a chair.

She greeted them with enthusiasm. “Eiwin, my dear! I’m glad to see you’re finally here.”

“I wish I could bring good news, Madam Frida. But I’m afraid I need to talk to you about something first.” Eiwin was upfront about their situation.

“I can already imagine what it is about.” Frida looked unconcerned. “But first, let me greet the two of them!”

She turned to look at the boys.

“Why, you look bothered about something, little Allen!” she frowned.

The young master had been sulking the entire walk since the conversation with the guard. When Frida directed her attention to him, though, his demeanor immediately changed for the better.

“It’s nothing to worry about.” he shook his head. “I can deal with it myself.”

Eiwin frowned at these words, but the older woman just laughed. “Is that so? When you speak that way, it really gives me confidence that you can resolve anything.”

Allen looked happy at the praise.

“Here, for you.” Frida pulled something out from a pile of clothes and handed it to the boy. “Since I knew you were coming this time, I prepared a gift for you.”

The boy examined the item. It was a finely crafted blue cloth hat, which matched his clothes. Allen eagerly put it on before approaching a mirror and moving into a fighting stance.

“This is great! Now I have a spiritual hat too!”

“Ah, I didn’t say it was…” Frida trailed off after noticing the boy’s joy.

She eventually turned her attention to Red. The woman still put on a gracious smile and expression while facing him, but he could tell there was something different in her gaze. It was as if she was looking at another person whenever she set her eyes on Red. Thankfully, that didn’t spill over to her actions or words.

“Red, you look much healthier this time around! Have you put on some weight?”

“I think so.” Red shrugged. He had been eating far better now that he was on the surface, and it was reflected in his appearance.

“You are looking like a handsome young man now!” she continued to praise him. “Dare I say, will the Water Dragon Sect have two young masters now?”

Allen’s eyes widened as he heard those words.

“I’m just a sect member. Allen is the one who’s supposed to be the young master.” Red was sincere.

Allen’s expression relaxed.

Frida laughed. “I know, I know, I was just joking. Either way, I know what you’re here for.” She turned around and pulled out an ornate wooden box before setting it on the table. “Here, open it yourself and tell me what you think.”

Red followed her instructions. Opening the box, a shiny, folded piece of black cloth greeted him. The boy extended his hand and felt the clothing with his hands. It was the smoothest thing Red had ever felt, and it mesmerized him for a moment as he got lost in the sensation.

Frida beckoned him from behind. “Come on, try it out!”

Red pulled out the clothing from the box. It unfolded into two distinct pieces, shirt and pants, as well as a belt. It looked remarkably similar to the clothing Eiwin was wearing, and even the young woman was surprised.

“Madam Frida, did you…” she trailed off.

“I make my clothing based on the client, my dear.” Frida waved her off. “Red looked like he preferred utility over commodity, so I designed his uniform similar to yours.”

Eiwin looked embarrassed and didn’t respond. The older woman turned her attention back to Red. “Well then, try it on!”

“Its too big.” Red shook his head.

Indeed, it felt like two Reds could fit inside these clothes.

Frida laughed in response. “Nonsense! Try it out and you’ll be surprised.”

The boy nodded and began to undress.

“Not in front of everyone! We have a changing room!”

Red looked over and saw Eiwin was looking away, while Allen and Frida were laughing at him. He was confused, but decided to follow her instructions.