In the dusk of the night, with the streets lit by lights and the rain beginning to fall, the scent of earth and rain mixed with the smell of blood. Rin heads toward Baran, who lay motionless, shackling him and his two friends with cuffs reinforced by pulses. To the south, where the smell of blood was stronger and corpses filled the streets, soldiers were cleaning the area and carrying away the prisoners.  

The queen was speaking calmly with the king:  

"This is what happened. Rin took down everyone there and left him with their leader. I think he defeated him—he was clearly superior."  

The king smiled joyfully:  

"So, it seems I should thank him. But how did he know you were there? I left him in prison. He’s truly a strange boy. I wish I knew a little more about him."  

Karl was directing the soldiers who were cleaning and carrying the corpses. The king spoke to Karl:  

"Leave someone behind to handle what you’re doing and come with me to the Wisdom Square. Rin is waiting for us."  

The two mounted their horses, and the queen headed to the palace with one of the guards.  

After a short while, the two arrived at Rin’s location and found soldiers lying motionless, three bound prisoners, and Rin standing beside them, gazing at the sky in the surrounding silence. Rin stood up and brushed off his uniform with his hands to shake off the dust.  

The king, astonished, along with Karl, at what had happened there, exclaimed:  

"Wh—what happened here?!"  

Karl, shocked and stunned:  

"What occurred here??"  

Rin:  

"I’ll explain on the way. Your Majesty, I hope you can call the soldiers to clean the area. And Karl, you should take these three by hand to prison—they’re the strongest in this attack."  

Rin reached into his pocket and pulled out a prison key:  

"Here you go, Sir Karl. It’s the prison key. I locked it from the outside to prevent anyone from escaping, and I locked the prison guards inside too—I didn’t want to leave them guarding, as they might be traitors. So, I put them in but didn’t imprison them."  

Karl took the key from Rin’s hand in utter shock.  

Rin, disgusted:  

"I’m going to take a bath. I’m covered in filth—this is disgusting. Let’s meet tomorrow."  

The next morning, Elvard returned to its former state, with residents strolling through the wide streets and the sounds of children playing filling the air. At that time, Rin was drinking his coffee atop a tree trunk, sleeping beside the elite barracks in the southwest. The sky was at its zenith, and the sounds of soldiers training filled the area, with some laughing. Rin thought with a smile:  

"What a beautiful atmosphere."  

Karl, who had come up behind Rin, struck him on the head and said firmly:  

"Stupid soldier, why aren’t you training?"  

Rin turned to see Karl, set down his coffee cup, and stood straight, saying firmly:  

"Sorry, Sir Karl."  

Karl laughed and said:  

"Finish your coffee. I’d like to talk to you for a bit, if you don’t mind."  

Rin looked at Karl with a strange, questioning expression and said:  

"Of course."  

Karl sat beside Rin on the tree trunk and said in bewilderment:  

"Actually, there’s a question on my mind. I hope you’ll answer me honestly."  

Rin coldly:  

"Depends on the question."  

Karl, turning to meet Rin’s cold eyes:  

"Do you use Essence? I mean, do you have it?"  

Rin indifferently:  

"Thank goodness, I thought you’d ask something harder. Yes, I have Essence—I was born with it."  

Karl:  

"I suspected as much from the start. I don’t think anything about you will shock me anymore. Especially since we found everyone in the prison unconscious but unharmed. But be careful—you almost killed some weak prisoners and soldiers."  

Rin, puzzled:  

"You’re right. Speaking of which, are you joining Zane’s group today, or when?"  

Karl, stunned:  

"You’re right—I should head out. I’ll inform the king immediately."  

Rin:  

"Speaking of the king, where is he?"  

Karl:  

"He’s at the palace. I think he’d like to see you too. I almost forgot—thank you for saving my mother. I won’t forget this favor as long as I live."  

Karl bowed.  

Rin:  

"No need, Sir Karl. It’s my duty. More importantly, let’s go."  

The two mounted their horses and rode quickly toward the palace.  

Meanwhile, Zane’s group was packing their equipment on a mountain with a breathtaking view, surrounded by greenery and trees, with a small flowing valley adding a stunning natural touch. Everyone was carrying their gear and admiring the scenery.  

Mina, speaking worriedly to Selena, who was lost in the view:  

"I’ll call my father now—I can’t wait any longer."  

Selena, ignoring her while enjoying the view:  

"Do as you wish."  

Mina took out her phone and called Alter.  

King Alter answered anxiously:  

"Why haven’t you called since yesterday? Speak, Father—what’s happening?"  

Alter, wiping sweat as he observed the kingdom from his balcony:  

"Nothing happened—no need to worry. Also, we’ve resolved the army issue. A soldier will join you soon. Where are you now?"  

Mina:  

"You resolved the army issue? Wonderful! Ah, I remember—we’re at the border of Bragh and Sifar, on a mountain."  

A guard called out to the king:  

"Your Majesty, Sir Karl and Rin have arrived."  

The king:  

"I’m sorry, I have to cut the call short—Karl and Rin are here. I’ll call you back later."  

Mina’s face flushed slightly as she said:  

"See... see you later."  

The call ended.  

The king descended to meet Karl and Rin, who were waiting in his office downstairs. The king entered, and the two stood to greet him. The king bowed and said:  

"Thank you, Rin. Without you, we wouldn’t have been able to defeat them."  

Rin:  

"Raise your head, Sire. It’s my duty."  

The king sat down and said:  

"Even after resolving this issue, it’s not over. We still need information from that man you captured, Rin—he’s the one who planned all this."  

Rin:  

"I have something to add. He’s the same person who was speaking with Deputy Garell Crown on the day of the deputy’s murder."  

The king and Karl were stunned.  

The king:  

"Really? That’s good—we’ll get better information this way. But the problem is that man won’t wake up soon—it’ll take at least ten days for him to regain consciousness."  

Rin:  

"I’m sorry for overdoing it."  

The king smiled:  

"No need—the credit is yours."  

Karl turned to the king quickly and said:  

"I need to catch up with Mina and the others now."  

The king:  

"Wait, Karl. You’re not going—you’ll stay for interrogations and reorganizing the army."  

Karl, agitated:  

"Then who will go? Will you leave them alone? The Land of Doctors has strong military forces—they won’t let them enter easily."  

The king:  

"That’s why I’ll choose someone more composed and stronger than you."  

The king turned to Rin and said:  

"Do you accept, Sir Rin?"  

Rin:  

"But Sir Karl is better—"  

Karl, agitated:  

"I want to go too! I’m not saying Rin isn’t trustworthy, but I’m worried about Mina and Selena."  

The king calmly:  

"Rin, tell me—can you go for me? Karl has important matters here, and the army needs him now more than ever."  

Rin indifferently:  

"I accept any request from you, Your Majesty."  

The king said coldly to Karl:  

"Sit down, Karl. Rin will protect them—no need to worry. The army needs you now."  

Karl sat quietly:  

"But..."  

The king:  

"Prepare yourself, Rin. I’ll send someone with you who knows the roads well—he’s also from Class A, meaning he’s strong and knows the lands well."  

Rin:  

"I’m ready anytime."  

The king:  

"Good. I’ll have the soldiers prepare your horse and gear, and I’ll ask them to call Maria for you."  

Rin thought:  

*"This job is so exhausting—it’s the worst."*  

Rin immediately:  

"As you wish."  

Karl:  

"Fine. I’ll head to the prison to handle the new prisoners."  

Karl left the palace.  

The king:  

"I have a question for you, Rin...?"  

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