“Oh, Captain! Welcome home!” Valeria spoke while giving a salute. Some other fellow soldiers nearby also followed suit.

“At ease, and thank you for watching over the others while we were gone.” Elana said while she kept walking through the corridor. The Mountain Squad, Crisis Squad, and Doctor Kai followed right behind her until she stopped in front of her bedroom’s door.

Elana then turned around, took an ‘at ease’ stance, and spoke. “Good work, everyone. Now rest up and get yourselves ready for future quests. Dismissed.”

“Thank you, Captain!” The squads responded in unison before dismissing as instructed and going back to their rooms.

Elana opened the door of her room and entered. She put down her luggage at one corner of the room and sat down on the bed with a pretty heavy sigh. She then looked at the window, from which there was barely any light coming in because the sun had already set.

“I still feel impressed even now,” Elana said to herself, looking at the ceiling. A few light bulbs were illuminating the room, leaving no problem in regards to vision during night time. “Electricity, cars, computers with network connection, all in a fantasy world of swords, magic, and monsters. Not to mention that the neighboring nation is said to be superior in technology.”

Elana then pulled out her notebook along with a leather pouch which was filled with coins. She then moved from the bed to a nearby chair facing a desk and began writing numbers on the notebook.

“The pay from the extermination quest was really good.” Elana said to herself without stopping. “It seems we can afford to lay back a little in earning money for a while, but should I tell this to the others...?” She stopped writing, and then she pressed her chin with the back end of her pen.

After five seconds, she put the pen down on the table and folded her arms. “Raising morale while risking complacency... Alright, I can afford that.” She then went back to writing on the notebook. “Come to think of it, Keith said that after two weeks I will have to start paying rent. Now, how many days are left...?”

Elana then turned her head towards the local calendar hung at the nearby wall. There were a few marks there, made by Elana herself during her stay.

“Let’s see.” She said, and it took her only three seconds to find the answer. “Three more days of free rent. Alright, time to sleep.”

Elana closed her notebook, put it back into her pocket, and yawned once. “Set the suit to sleep mode.” She spoke to her wristwatch and went lying down on the bed after turning the lights off. She didn’t fall asleep immediately, instead she stared at the ceiling for a while.

“Already nineteen days after the tragedy...” Elana mumbled while recalling the day Martin Alphen fell, and then she slowly drifted to slumber.

***

“Good morning. Welcome to Arstjipta City Hall. How may I help you?” A uniformed male staff greeted the moment Renne and her entire group entered through the front entrance.

“Umm, we were invited. Would you please take a look at this?” Renne said, giving the staff member the envelope.

The staff member didn’t receive the envelope. He just took a quick look while it was still in Renne’s hand, and then he smiled. “I see. You are the group Duke Gentruvorst is expecting. In that case, please let me guide you there.”

“We’ll be in your care.” Renne said, and she followed the staff member. All her crews, Nathan, and Storm Squad followed right behind. Some other people around seemed to be briefly drawn to the group, staring at them for a second or two before resuming their business. Renne had no idea whether it was because of their clothes, or simply the fact that there was a group of ten people walking in the city hall.

Nevertheless, the group was guided through the door at the back, leaving the orderly government office atmosphere into a neatly decorated hallway befitting the residence of a duke. It took them another minute of walking until they arrived in front of a door which the staff opened without hesitation.

“Please take your seats and wait in this room. The duke will be with you shortly.” The staff member said with a professional gesture which signaled Renne and her group to come in, and they all complied.

The room, which likely was the parlor, was no doubt luxurious. There were a number of sofas of various sizes surrounding a rectangular table crafted from polished wood with a sheet of glass on top. The floor was entirely carpeted with a patterned rug which was fluffy enough to be felt by everyone’s feet even while wearing shoes. The crystal lamp hanging above, in addition to the sunlight coming through the thin veils of the windows, illuminated the room with gentle light.

“He told us to take our seats while waiting, right?” Renne asked while looking back at all the people behind her.

“Yes, Miss Renne.” Nathan replied. “You’re correct.”

“Then let’s all sit down!” Renne said, stepping forward to the sofas. “Not on that one, though.” She gestured at one particular sofa which directly faced the end of the rectangular table and seemed to be more expensive than the others.

“Yeah, it must be the duke’s seat.” Anton said before following Renne. The rest of the group soon followed and a minute later they were all seated.

“Is my hair okay? Do I look weird anywhere?” Sandra asked, anxiously touching herself on various parts of her body.

“No, you look fine. Calm down.” Audrey said.

Hilda, with her face flushing red, nervously asked while gripping the hem of her skirt. “My skirt... it isn’t too short... right?”

“The skirts of some girl adventurers are shorter than that.” Audrey said. “And the four of us wear identical skirts so take it easy.”

“But...” Hilda weakly said with her head lowered.

Renne clasped her hands facing towards Hilda. “Sorry about that, Hilda! I will compensate you for it later!”

“I-It’s okay. Don’t worry, Leader.” Hilda said before taking a deep breath.

Hilda’s mild anguish came from the fact that among the four women wearing their ceremonial suits, she was the only one who showed off the skin of her thighs and knees. It was because there were only three pairs of the patterned uniform leggings available in her suitcase, and thus her only option was a pair of similarly colored socks which were only long enough to cover two-third of her calves.

“I’m sorry for this too, Hilda.” Sandra said. “But it couldn’t be helped. Nobody else among us four still looks modest without the leggings.”

“Just say outright that it’s because I’m short.” Hilda said while pouting at Sandra. “Why couldn’t we just wear our field work suits like we always have been?”

“Because we are going to meet the duke.” Audrey said. “We have to look presentable even if the invitation didn’t specify a dress code.”

Storm Three then chimed in with her eyes rolled after a small sigh. “Too bad we have no choice other than our combat suits because there’s literally nothing else for us to wear.”

“Well, Vice Captain already looks presentable at least.” Storm One said while looking at Nathan. “His combat suit looks passable for this kind of purpose.”

“It’s just that I happened to be wearing this when we evacuated from Martin Alphen two weeks ago.” Nathan said. “Though I’m glad that I did. I’d be a useless fodder in my ceremonial suit.”

Click!

The conversation immediately halted upon them hearing the sound of the door opening. Everyone who could see the door without turning their body immediately took a quick glance at it, and they soon eased up because the one entering was clearly not the duke. Instead, it was a middle-aged lady wearing a dark colored long dress and a white apron-like garment at the front. The attire bore similarities with the typical maid uniform in general, but notably decorated with shiny trinkets at some parts.

The lady came into the room bringing a trolley with her, so everyone who saw that immediately assumed that she indeed was one of the maids working in the palace. The lady then swiftly and elegantly arranged ten cups on the rectangular table, and then filled them all with tea, complete with sugar cubes for anyone to add to their tea according to their liking.

“Thank you.” Renne said after the lady was done.

“My pleasure.” The lady said with a smile before retreating to the side of the room and standing by there.

“So you work here too, Ma’am Noella?” Storm Two said with a delighted smile, to which the lady, Noella, responded with a small, classy laugh.

“Well, you could say so.” Noella said.

“You know her, Domhnall?” Renne asked.

Storm Two nodded in response. “Yes, she is Jin’s wife.”

“Oh, nice to meet you.” Storm One said with a smile on his face. “Thank you for treating my man well.”

“It has been my pleasure too.” Noella said. “Not everyday we meet someone so eager to learn so many things.”

“Well, it was a necessity.” Storm Two said with one hand behind his head.

“Yes, I heard about your situation from my husband.” Noella said. “I hope you will find a way to return home soon.”

Storm One nodded. “Thank you for your well-wishes.”

Click!

Once again, everyone took a quick glance at the door which just opened. This time, everyone’s eyes went a little wider because the one entering was none other than Jin, the middle-aged librarian and also the examiner during the entry test at the guild.

“Sir Jin? Why are you here?” Renne asked.

Jin didn’t respond with words. With a somewhat mischievous smile he nonchalantly walked further into the parlor, gave Noella a kiss on the cheek, and sat down on the more decorated sofa with his arms folded and right leg crossed above the left.

“J-Jin! Why are you sitting on the duke’s seat?” Storm Two asked while throwing quick glances at the door and at Jin back and forth. “What if the duke sees you there?”

In response to Storm Two’s concerned question and the tense, worried stare from most others, Jin was visibly holding himself from laughing. Seeing Jin’s behavior, Renne lowered her head and put her right hand on her forehead with a sigh.

“Domhnall, you don’t get it?” Renne asked.

“Huh? What?” Storm Two asked while looking clearly confused.

“The duke already sees Jin there.” Renne replied. “Or to put it simply, Sir Jin is the duke.”

In response to Renne’s words, there were no immediate words spoken by anyone from either her crews or the Storm Squad. All of them directed their gaze towards Jin with their eyes being a bit wider than they should be.

Jin, having definitely noticed the gazes, sported his professional smile just like back then in the guild and spoke. “That’s right. Let me introduce myself again. I’m Duke Gentruvorst Grasmord, lord of Grasmord Dukedom. But I prefer to be addressed with Jin.”

“E-Eeeehh!?” All four of Renne’s crews shouted in unison with their eyes and mouth going as wide as humanly possible. Nathan and the Storm Squad kept their composure, but eagle-eyed ones could still notice the signs of surprise written on their faces.

Jin maintained his professional smile as he resumed. “This must have been surprising, but I would prefer that you speak to me the same way you always have been.”

“To be perfectly honest, it won’t be easy.” Renne said. “A-Anyway, this means Lady Noella is...” She continued while slowly directing her sight at Noella, who was now standing right behind Jin.

“Why, yes.” Noella let out a small, classy laugh. “I’m Duchess Noella Grasmord. The bride of my dear husband for nearly 50 years. But please rest easy and refrain yourselves from stiff formalities.”

“That’s right.” Jin added. “Right now the two of us are merely a couple eager to hear about the latest endeavor of our youngest son.”

“We’d love to tell you everything we know, but...” Renne said, looking at Noella. “Shouldn’t you sit down, Lady Noella? It doesn’t feel right seeing a duchess standing while the rest of us sit.”

“Ah, yes. You do have a point.” Noella said right before walking to the sofa with an empty spot and sitting there. That particular spot was right next to where Hilda was sitting.

“A-Ah!” And thus the poor girl’s face became red. She lowered her head while gripping the hem of her skirt even tighter than before.

“Is there something wrong, dear?” Noella asked.

“N-No..!” Hilda replied while trying hard to muster up her courage. “I’m alright.” She nervously turned her head to look at Noella in the eyes.

Noella smiled warmly. “My, what a cute girl. You remind me of Rukharist.” She put her hand on Hilda’s shoulder, effectively embracing her.

“C-C-Cute..!?” Hilda said while blushing even more intensely than before. Most of the others around chuckled seeing the scene.

“Pardon me, but there’s something I’m curious about.” Renne spoke up.

“Ask away.” Jin replied.

“Lady Noella said you have been married for nearly 50 years, so that means...”

Noella then gave the answer right away. “Yes, dear. We are already in our seventies.”

“And before you comment on how we don’t look that old,” Jin followed up. “We somehow still look the same as we did over two decades ago.”

Sandra leaned forward and spoke with her eyes going wide. “Fountain of youth? That can’t be, right?”

“Hahahaha! No.” Jin replied in delight. “There’s no such thing. Or at least, nobody has found it yet.” Jin then leaned forward with his clasped hands resting on his knees and his eyes sporting a sharp look. “Anyway, enough small talk. Now, tell us about our son.”

***

Some time later, the parlor of the duke’s residence was filled with the hearty laughter of the duke himself. Lady Noella also laughed, albeit in a more reserved way than Jin’s.

“To think that he carried all of you one by one to cross the lake! It’s a little hard to imagine him carrying a man bigger than himself!” Jin said while still laughing. “Princess carry while at it!”

“Oh please, Your Excellency.” Anton said. “It felt embarrassing for us men. But he said carrying us like that was the easiest and safest for him, so we had to go with it.”

“Anyway,” Renne said. “We then took a day to walk to this city, and we parted ways before we reached the gate.”

Jin nodded before speaking. “I’m willing to wager that he started behaving like a drunkard somewhere during the trip.”

“Indeed, he did.” Nathan said. “Why is he like that?”

Jin let out a sigh. “Against all common sense, he drowns his sorrows with alcohol constantly. I believe all of you already know the matter he never ceases to regret.”

“Rukharist... isn’t it?” Renne cautiously said.

Jin made a weak nod. “Exactly.” Then, for a number of seconds afterwards there was nothing other than complete silence, which was eventually broken by Jin resuming his speech. “None of us got to see how it happened. We only have the testimony from other members of the party.”

“It was said...” Noella began speaking with her head slightly lowered and a warm smile on her face. “...that she willingly made the sacrifice. It was thanks to her that the battle was won and the age of peace dawned. She departed a hero, and we are proud of her.”

Another silence commenced, This time lasting for half a minute. Everybody besides Jin and Noella didn’t dare to say a word, and some of them threw glances all over, trying to see if someone would break the deafening silence.

“Well,” Jin broke the silence, speaking while leaning on his sofa and gazing to the ceiling. “We would have preferred her to be alive. No parents ever want to outlive their child. Even if she had not made the sacrifice and thus returned in failure, we would have been proud of her regardless.”

“I fully understand how you feel. I’m a mother too.” Renne said. “Foster mother, so I’ve never actually experienced that particular part of motherhood, yet. However, even without blood ties I always feel proud of my daughter for always trying her hardest and not giving up no matter the odds. Sometimes she failed, and sometimes she miraculously won against those odds, but no matter the result I always feel proud of her.”

“Oh my.” Noella said. “It must be hard, being unable to return to her.”

Renne’s eyes went a little wider. “Oh! I truly apologize for not informing you earlier! My daughter is actually right there.” She, a little nervously, glanced at Storm Three, who rolled her eyes with a sigh.

“Please, Miss Alphen.” Storm Three said without hiding her annoyance. “Right now I’m still on duty.”

“And that’s another thing of hers I’m proud of.” Renne said. “Professionalism.”

“I can clearly see that.” Noella nodded with a pretty delightful smile. “But I believe our talk has strayed.”

“Right. You were wondering about Lorheimdast’s strange bout of drunkenness.” Jin said. “He is unmatched when it comes to manipulating and enhancing his own body with Fortification Weave, meaning he can get drunk and sober on a whim. That should answer your question.”

“That sounds strange, but yes. Thank you very much.” Renne said. “By the way, I apologize in advance for asking this but... do any of you blame him for your loss?”

“No, why would we?” Jin said. “It was everyone’s loss. Not just ours. I have no idea why even today he still believes that it was his fault, but even if he was indeed the cause in one way or another, the worst we would have done to him would have been a hard slap on the face.”

“But sadly,” Noella followed up, speaking with her head lowered. “He has been avoiding us all these years. None of us know exactly what his reason is. I have been wondering if he has grown to hate us...”

“N-No! That’s not true!” Hilda suddenly spoke up, which surprised everyone to a degree. “He wouldn’t do what he has been doing on the island all these years if that were true! I’m sure he still loves both of you, and cares about you in his own way!”

“Yes, I believe that’s right.” Storm One added. “He merely has been looking down on himself due to his overwhelming regret. He even said right before parting ways, that maybe someday he would steel his resolve and come to you. There is still hope.”

“Oh, I’m delighted to hear that.” Noella said. “I wish we could finally see him after all these years.”

“That’s going to happen this year!” Jin said with a fierce, determined glare. “I’m going to see him no matter what.”

“Oh, dear.” Noella said. “You said that last year, and the year before, and the previous.”

“I know, but I’m not going to give up. Ever.” Jin said before taking a deep breath. “Nevertheless, thank you for telling us about our son. You have no idea how much it means to us.”

“It was our pleasure too.” Renne said. “We get to enter the residence of the duke after all. Not everyday anybody could do that.”

“There is still time before lunch.” Jin said while giving the nearby window a quick glance. “While we’re here, there is something I would like to talk about as the city lord.” He resumed while looking at his guests with a serious facial expression.

“What would that be?” Renne asked, fixing her posture and reverting the expression of her face to one which displayed her professionalism.

“Have you heard the rumors about a serial kidnapping of girls happening in Arstjipta?” Jin asked.

Renne shook her head in slight dejection. “Can’t say I have, unfortunately.”

Storm One then chimed in. “Oh, I have. Not much of it, but I heard about that matter just yesterday.”

“You have, Joseph?” Renne asked as she turned her head towards Storm One.

“Yes, Miss Alphen.” Storm One replied. “Remember when I said we had a bodyguarding quest yesterday? The client was a well-off merchant who had to leave his daughter home alone for the whole afternoon due to an unfortunate turn of events.”

“Oh, right.” Storm Two said. “He told us about the rumor which worried him to no end, which compelled him to hire adventurers, which happened to be us, to watch the house during his absence.”

“The daughter also knew about it.” Storm Three said. “In fact, one of her friends was among the victims.”

“My goodness! That’s terrible!” Sandra said with both hands covering her mouth and nose.

“H-How scary...” Hilda said while shivering.

“Has the city’s law enforcement taken actions against this?” Anton asked, turning his head towards Jin.

In response, Jin closed his eyes and sighed. “They would have, if this was an actual case.”

“What do you mean?” Audrey asked while most other guests tilted their heads in confusion.

“There is a reason this matter has been merely a rumor instead of an ongoing case.” Jin said. “The supposed victims so far were always found by the next morning, alive and well.”

“What?” Renne asked. “Always, without fail?”

“Indeed.” Jin replied. “The pattern is roughly like this. A girl going out of her house for any reason, be it errands or simply playing with friends, and not returning home. The next morning, people would find her wandering around in a different part of the city looking lost and exhausted.”

“That sounds like the girl simply wandered off and got lost.” Nathan said. “But there should be a reason why the rumors started, isn’t there?”

“Yes, there is.” Jin said. “All the girls don’t remember what they were doing throughout the whole night they disappeared.”

“Nothing at all?” Nathan asked.

“Yes, there is no variety on this point. It was as if the memories of the girls from the moment they disappeared until they began wandering on the streets the next morning were wiped.” Jin said.

“Hmm...” Storm One said, leaning forward with his head lowered and his right hand covering his chin. “Do magic spells capable of memory erasure exist?”

“Yes, they exist and I considered the possibility.” Jin said. “But someone with enough skill to specifically erase a particular part of another person’s memory would have no reason to do something as risky as committing a crime.”

Renne then spoke up right after Jin finished. “Ah, pardon me for my impertinence, but I want to say that you could be wrong. Any kind of skill can and will be used for wrongdoings somewhere out there for any reason.”

Jin’s immediate response to Renne’s statement was to fold his arms and lower his head without saying any word. He then spoke after about ten seconds. “You might have a point, and the number of possible suspects would be very low in the case you were right.”

“However, I still would like to know why you believe otherwise.” Renne said. “After all, this is not our home country.”

“Simply put, it is a very difficult magic weave to master. Those who have mastered it can make a lot of money opening a mind therapy business, which is very lucrative.” Jin said.

“But if all the victims returned without ransom demand or such, the motive behind the kidnappings can’t be money.” Sandra spoke out while scratching her head. “There must be something else.”

“In any case,” Jin said. “Now that you know the matter at hand, I would like to make a request by name for your team. The task is to investigate this rumor and find the truth behind it if possible. Do you accept?”

“What do you say, Joseph?” Renne asked Storm One. “I leave the final decision to you.”

“I have no objections regarding the task.” Storm One said. “But why do you choose us instead of more experienced adventurers?”

Jin leaned back on his seat and smiled in determination. “You can say that it’s my gut feeling, but it’s mainly because you are foreigners from a technologically more advanced nation. Your different way of thinking may come up with something which common folks here never imagined.” Jin leaned forward once again before resuming. “Moreover, Lorheimdast seems to like you all so I’m sure I can trust you.”

“What? Lorheimdast like us? How can you say that?” Renne asked.

“I haven’t seen him for over a decade but he’s still my son. I know him more than you do.” Jin said. “If he had not taken a liking on you he wouldn’t have stayed with you for that long after crossing the lake.”

“Alright, let’s leave it at that.” Storm One said. “I also would like to know if there is a deadline, and what our reward will be.”

“One week.” Jin replied. “See how much information and clues you can gather in that time and present it to me. As for the reward, one gold coin minimum, with additional rewards depending on how good your result will be.”

“Hmm...” Storm One folded his arms and glanced at the others briefly. “Would you allow us a bit of time to discuss this?”

“Take your time, and if you need me and my wife to leave the room for your privacy, we shall.” Jin said.

“Thank you, but there’s no need for that. We will discuss it in our home language.” Storm One replied before looking at Renne and speaking in the national language of Columbus. “What do you think, Miss Alphen?”

“One gold coin is of equal value with ten large silver coins, so it’s a very good deal if you ask me.” Renne replied. “What about you, Nathan?”

“I concur with Miss Renne.” Nathan said. “Not everyday we can get quests, and the bare minimum reward already pays off more than average Silver rank quests.”

Storm Three chimed in. “Just accept it. I see no harm in not doing so, and we shouldn’t take too long discussing with our language in front of the duke.”

Storm One nodded, and then he turned his head towards Jin. “We will accept the quest.”

“Excellent.” Jin said, subtly sounding delighted. “After lunch I shall go to the guild and make it official. And speaking of lunch, it is time.” He continued, standing up right after finishing his speech.

“Then we should take our leave.” Renne said, standing up as well and followed by everyone else. “Thank you for the invitation.”

“What? Leaving already?” Jin asked.

“Umm, you’re going to have lunch, right? We don’t wish to intrude.” Renne said.

“I have the dining room prepared to host 12 people, though.” Jin said with a smile which gave a strong implication that he wasn’t joking at the slightest. “Come join us for lunch.”

Nobody among the ten guests gave an immediate response to Jin’s words. It took a few seconds until the fact sank in, and at that point Renne finally broke the silence.

“Then we will take you up on the offer with much gratitude.” Renne said while bowing, believing that in this situation it would be rude to refuse.

“Excellent.” Jin said while nodding slightly. “Come with us then.”

***

Some time later, all the guests visiting the duke’s residence had finished their lunch and it was time to go home. In order not to draw the stares of too many people, they were leaving through the back door which led to the city library where Jin regularly worked. Jin and Noella walked along with them through the library which was basically devoid of other people.

“By the way, Sir Jin.” Storm Two spoke while walking. “May I know why you pose as a librarian and a guild staff as well?”

“I’m just bored to be honest.” Jin replied in a straight tone. “I need some activities to keep my body and mind in shape, and city lord works alone doesn’t cut it.”

Noella then spoke to add to Jin’s reply. “He has been like this ever since Rukharist cast that spell on us.”

“What kind of spell?” Renne asked with visible curiosity on her face.

Jin folded his arms. “Contrary to Lorheimdast, Rukharist’s specialty was enhancing other people, so one day I half-jokingly asked her to make the two of us healthier even though we were already healthy.” He then let out a small sigh. “She just smiled and cast some spell we had no idea of. Now we will never know what that was, since she has taken the knowledge to the grave. Come to think of it, that might also have been when our physiques stopped changing.”

“Don’t tell me-!?” Sandra asked in an audibly raised voice, probably due to her realizing something. “That spell stopped your aging!?”

“I would have said that it was impossible twenty years ago, but now I’m not sure anymore.” Jin said. “Anyway, we’re at the front door already. I’m going to make the quest official as promised, so good luck and see you again later.”

Jin then opened the front door of the library. The guests walked through it one by one, and they waved their hands as they left the old couple, one of whom soon crossed the street towards the guild.

“And there we have our visit to the duke’s residence.” Renne said while walking down the streets along with everybody else. “There were some unexpected things, but I’d say it went pretty well.”

“To think that Jin was actually Duke Gentruvorst...” Storm Two said before letting out a sigh. “Revisiting the library won’t be the same now.”

“But I concur with you,” Storm Four said. “That the tea was really good.”

“Right? Damn straight!” Storm Two said with a grin.

Meanwhile, Anton spoke to Renne. “Leader, there’s something in my mind. Maybe trivial, but I can’t help it.”

“What is it?” Renne asked.

“If what Sandra said about the magic was true, then aren’t they basically immortal now?” Anton said.

Audrey replied immediately. “Not necessarily. We don’t know a thing about magic and how it actually works. The spell may eventually wear off, and there’s no telling what will happen when it does.”

“I must concur with Audrey.” Renne said. “Also, even in the ideal scenario that the spell actually lasts forever, they only won’t die from natural causes related to old age. I think the word you should have used is ageless instead of immortal.”

“Right, my bad.” Anton said, folding his arms and staring at the sky.

“If that’s true, I feel pity on them to be honest.” Nathan said. “They said it themselves that no parents want to outlive their child. Unless their two sons were granted the same spell, at some point they will outlive all their children.”

“B-But they should, right...?” Hilda asked, looking as if she was about to cry. “Why wouldn’t she have done the same thing to her brothers?”

Clap!

Renne did a single clap with her hands. “Hate to interrupt, but we shouldn’t gossip too much about other people, especially with the fact that Rukharist is already gone long ago. Give her peace in the afterlife.”

“I thought you don’t believe in the afterlife, Leader?” Sandra commented.

“And I thought you don’t believe in magic.” Renne said with a smirk. “Anyway, Joseph. What’s your plan for the quest?”

“Well,” Storm One replied. “For now our only lead is the friend of the merchant’s daughter. I will see if I can at least ask some questions to the parents later today.”

Renne nodded. “I thought so. And then?”

“Since Storm Four is no longer occupied with the drone stuff, I’m thinking of splitting into two groups of two and continue asking around. Not that I actually want it to happen, but we possibly will gain a much better lead if another kidnapping happens.” Storm One said.

“That’s true, but better not.” Nathan said. “As usual, I will stay on guard at the inn.”

“But we don’t exactly need a guard, though?” Sandra said. “I mean, we went out by ourselves just yesterday.”

“Not you, but this.” Nathan replied, slightly raising his right hand which was holding Hilda’s space suitcase. “Someone has to guard this thing.”

“Oh, right.” Sandra said.

“S-Sorry...” Hilda said apologetically.

“No, don’t feel bad for it.” Renne said, turning her head towards Hilda. “It has been immensely useful for us, so it’s totally worth it.” She then turned her head back to Storm One. “Anyway, godspeed, Storm Squad.”

“Thank you, Miss Alphen.” Storm One said with a nod and a smile. The quest the squad was carrying on their shoulders now was basically a detective work with minimal lead, and nobody had any idea how much result they would bring in one week. They could only hope that whatever the result would be, Jin would be satisfied enough.

***