The chapter begins with Zain visibly tense, nervously rubbing his hands as he speaks to Karl with clear agitation in his voice: "I will help you! I caused you injuries, and the king provided me with supplies. How can you expect me to stand by and do nothing?"

Karl, with firm resolve and without looking at Zain, replies coldly: "I said no, this is my matter. And thank you for your concern."

The king, who had been silently observing the situation, intervenes calmly, attempting to ease the tension: "Zain, there's no need for this. We appreciate your concern, but continue your journey. Your country and your father won't wait much longer."

Zain, after a moment of silence, stands up and says respectfully: "Understood. Please excuse me." He then leaves the room, but mutters to himself in a low voice: "I want to stay and help, but the country is waiting. Truly, this is a dilemma!" When he sees his assistants, he quickly returns to the room.

He opens the door and says eagerly: "Sorry for the interruption, but I won't leave until I leave one of my assistants with you. I can't just leave like this."

The king, who knows Zain's nature well, shakes his head as if expecting this: "Ah, if you insist, leave one of them to assist us, and go with the other."

Zain smiles briefly and says: "Thank you." He then leaves his companion Lloyd in the room and departs.

Rin, who had been observing the situation, says to the king: "He seems like a remarkable man. Despite the state of his country, he still wants to help."

Karl, under great pressure, smiles amidst the tension and says: "Yes, he is remarkable, and he has become stronger than me."

The king, firmly, turns to Rin: "Rin Kagero, I apologize for doubting you from the beginning. Forgive me for my sudden request, but would you assist us in the search?"

Karl and Selena look on in surprise, while Lloyd appears confused and doesn't understand what's happening.

Karl, agitated, shouts: "Why are you apologizing to him, Father?!"

The king, with clear regret, replies: "The first time I saw him, I was immediately certain he wasn't the killer. But why were you prepared to accept death, Rin, despite your innocence?"

Karl interjects quickly: "We weren't sure yet!"

Rin interrupts coldly: "I don't know. I thought I had to die there."

The king, puzzled, asks: "Why don't you want to live?"

Rin, with a smile that hides much pain, answers: "Everyone has a reason to live, but I don't know if I have one. I just want to live a simple life. You are a king, so you wouldn't understand me. You live for these people, and that is a noble goal indeed. But I have no reason."

The king, after a brief pause, says: "Then, what if I give you a reason to live? If you wish, you can refuse, but why not join the army and save people, since you see protecting others as a noble goal?"

Karl is shocked and says angrily: "I can't trust him! And can he even be a soldier?"

Selena watches the situation in astonishment, staying silent.

Rin, coldly, says: "Karl is right, Your Majesty. I can't do that."

The king, firmly, replies: "Yes, you can. I can train you myself to become a strong soldier." Then he whispers to himself: "Though he doesn't need training. He's strong, perhaps as strong as Karl or even stronger. I can tell because since his arrival, he hasn't shown us a glimpse of his power. He's hiding it, of course."

Karl is stunned by the king's words, and Selena is equally surprised, as is Lloyd.

Selena, in shock, asks: "Are you sure about this, Father?"

The king, firmly, replies: "This is my decision."

Rin, with his usual calm, says: "There's no need for that."

The king, pleading, says: "Please accept, Lord Rin Kagero."

Rin thinks to himself: "Have I become so blind as to refuse an old king's request?"

Then he says with confidence: "Very well, if Sir Karl agrees, of course, I will serve under him as an ordinary soldier."

Karl, surprised, says: "Even if you accept, you're still too young."

The king replies: "Age means nothing. Zain became the deputy commander of Verdisa's forces at the age of 18."

Karl, firmly, says: "Are you comparing Zain, who has the strength of a thousand men and possesses the core, to this boy?"

The king, angrily, shouts: "Don't you dare underestimate him! I know Rin, even if only a little. He is as strong as Selena."

Karl and Selena are stunned, while Rin says mockingly: "Your Majesty, there's no need to raise your expectations. I'm only as strong as an ordinary soldier."

Selena thinks to herself: "Is he really that strong?" while Karl says: "Fine, I agree, on one condition."

Rin, calmly, asks: "What is it?"

Karl replies: "Our soldiers must be of at least C-class strength or higher. But to earn my trust, you must defeat the strongest man in our army, who is B-class."

Selena asks: "Why are you making it so hard for him?"

Rin, with feigned sweat, says: "Oh, don't make it difficult! I said I'm only as strong as an ordinary soldier."

Karl, firmly, retorts: "Are you afraid? This is better than facing Selena."

The king and Rin glance at Selena, who seems eager to fight, her eyes glowing with excitement. They both think the same thing: "Of course, this is better."

The king says: "But we don't have time for this, Karl. He will assist us in the search as a soldier, that's all."

Karl replies: "I'm sorry, Father, but this boy worries me."

Rin thinks to himself: "Ah, this will be bad. I have to gauge the strength of the person I'll fight to match him, and I'll have to act as if I'm B-class. What terrible luck when I decided to help!"

Everyone eagerly awaits the fight. Meanwhile, on the other side, Zaid has already reached the borders of the country and finds a familiar man trying to leave... [It's the killer].