**King:** I have a question for you, Reyn.  

*Reyn thinks mockingly, "What does this old man want to ask?"*  

**Reyn directly:** Go ahead.  

**King:** How did you know the queen would be kidnapped and head to the palace? Also, how did you take down everyone in the prison without harming them? Or was it not you?  

**Reyn coldly:** Well, in the prison, I only used my aura, and I assume you suspected that. As for heading to the palace, I figured the person behind this wanted to lure you all out so they could infiltrate the palace and kidnap the queen to threaten you. That’s it in short.  

**King, puzzled:** Your intuition is impressive. Actually, I have a bigger question, if you don’t mind.  

*Reyn thinks boredly, "What now?"*  

**Reyn directly:** What do you want to know?  

**King, rubbing his head and sweating:** Honestly, a young boy like you, with such strength and intuition—I wanted to know which country you’re from and why you came to live here before the incident with the vice minister’s murder.  

**Reyn coldly, eyes glancing left as he leans on the desk:** My country is the State of Lythania. The reason I moved here was simply because I was looking for a peaceful life, and when I heard your kingdom was peaceful, I came here. That’s the truth—I just want to live a simple life and die simply.  

*The king is shocked by his answer but quickly asks another question anxiously:*  

**King:** Based on what you’re saying, there’s someone with all your traits, around your age, and possibly your strength… Are you… [the king swallows nervously] …Are you one of the "Stormborn"? You know what I mean—are you one of the four?  

*Reyn thinks mockingly, "This king has all the world’s information."*  

**Reyn directly:** Yes, I am. **"Reyn, the Wolf of the West."**  

*Silence fills the room. The king’s eyes widen in shock and fear as he thinks, "Impossible! I thought they had disappeared or died, but one of them is here? How can the 'Wolf of the West' be standing before me?"*  

**King, tense and anxious:** Why did you all separate and disappear? You were active in the western part of the Central Continent—why are you here? And why didn’t you tell me?  

**Reyn indifferently:** I told you, I came here just to live simply. As for why we scattered, I was the first to leave the group because I got bored. Also, the person who pushed us to work disappeared, so I left. The other three—I don’t know where they are or what they’re doing. Don’t worry, I won’t do anything against the kingdom. I’ve said it before: I just want to live a simple life since leaving the group.  

*The king remains silent for a moment, then says:*  

**King:** Thank you, Reyn Kageuro, for everything you’ve done for the kingdom. You’ve been a great help. I never once thought you’d betray us, which is why I entrusted you with protecting Zane’s group.  

**Reyn coldly, sweating slightly:** No need, Your Majesty. Also, I’m sorry for not revealing the truth earlier. I hope you’ll only tell Karl—he deserves to know my identity.  

*At that moment, a teenage girl dressed in a soldier’s uniform arrives. Her strength is evident in her long silver hair, sharp green eyes, and face marked by two small scars. She dismounts her horse, greets the guards at the palace gate, and they return her greeting. One guard knocks on the king’s door and announces:*  

**Guard:** Soldier Maria has arrived, sire.  

**King, forcing a smile despite the flood of information:** I’m overwhelmed by all this, but no time for shock now. Your escort has arrived. She’s a teenage girl your age. I chose her because her father was an explorer, and despite her youth, she’s the strongest girl in the kingdom after Mina and Selena. She knows the continent’s terrain well and is easy to deal with—she won’t cause you trouble.  

*Reyn thinks sarcastically, "Oh great, a girl is escorting me. I hope this trip doesn’t give me a headache."*  

**Reyn directly, walking with the king out of the palace:** Your Majesty, do you really think a girl is suitable for such a mission? I thought you’d send one of the elites.  

**King, opening the palace door:** Don’t worry, she’s strong. Also, she’s Mina’s friend—that’s another reason. Let me introduce you to Maria Stansen.  

*Maria bows upon seeing the king.*  

**King, smiling:** Welcome, Maria. It’s been a while. Now, I’m assigning you a mission—did you bring your travel gear?  

**Maria firmly:** Of course.  

*Maria’s eyes sneak a glance at Reyn, who’s talking to a guard while wearing his uniform. She thinks, "Who is this person? And why is he wearing the elite uniform? He’s too young to be one of the elites."*  

**King:** Then let me introduce you to Reyn Kageuro, whom you’ll guide to the land of Sifar, where Mina and the others are.  

*The two bow to each other.*  

**Reyn:** Thank you for escorting me.  

**Maria:** No thanks needed.  

**King:** Well, you should set off now. Reyn, your horse is ready with all its gear.  

*Reyn walks heavily to his horse and mounts it. The king speaks to Reyn, but then the queen appears, greeting Maria with a smile and handing her a lunchbox.*  

**Queen:** Welcome, Maria. Take this—it has the food you love.  

**Maria, shyly and happily:** Thank you so much! You didn’t have to trouble yourself.  

**Queen:** When I heard from the king that you’d be joining Mina, I was so happy—you two will reunite!  

*The queen turns to Reyn:*  

**Queen:** Thank you so much, Reyn, for everything. Here, I hope you like my cooking.  

**Reyn, smiling:** You didn’t have to trouble yourself, Your Majesty.  

**Queen, smiling:** No need to be shy—take it.  

*Reyn takes the box, thinking, "What a wonderful person."*  

**King:** Would you like me to escort you to the border of Bragh?  

**Reyn and Maria simultaneously:** No need, Your Majesty.  

*The queen and king bid them farewell at the palace gates, and the two set off.*  

*As the king and queen re-enter the palace, the king calls Zane.*  

**Zane answers:** Hello, sire.  

**Alter:** Hello. I wanted to tell you to settle everyone in a safe place in Sifar until reinforcements arrive.  

**Zane, confused:** What… reinforcements??  

**King:** Yes, Reyn will join you with another soldier. The army issue is resolved.  

**Zane:** Alright, that’s good.  

*Meanwhile, Reyn and Maria ride through the kingdom’s wide streets. Reyn spots the boy he directed to the Wisdom Square, stops abruptly, dismounts, and says to Maria:*  

**Reyn:** I’ll be right back.  

*He rushes to the boy, who is with his parents. The boy breaks away and salutes Reyn militarily. Reyn returns the salute in front of the crowd, then approaches the boy and hands him a silver pendant from his uniform.*  

**Reyn:** Take this. Attach it to your uniform when you become a strong soldier.  

**Boy:** Understood!  

*Reyn smiles, quickly returns to his horse, and mounts it.*  

**Reyn, mounting:** Sorry, let’s continue.  

*Maria thinks, "He seems really kind."*  

*The two ride swiftly through markets, streets, and crowds, the wind whipping their faces. Reyn’s hair scatters in the wind, while Maria’s long silver hair streams behind her. They continue through the lively neighborhoods that morning until they reach the border by noon.*  

*They find no lines—the border is empty.*  

**Maria, surprised:** What luck! It’s empty—this is great!  

**Reyn:** Really? That’s good.  

*A border guard salutes, opens the gate, and they ride into a moderately dense forest, the noon sun piercing through tall trees.*  

**Reyn, indifferent:** Wow, what a beautiful view. Guess we should stop.  

*Maria looks at him, puzzled by his nonchalant tone. They ride swiftly through the trees.*  

*Meanwhile, Zane halts the group before entering the city.*  

**Zane:** Everyone, stop. I have something to tell you.  

**The men:** What is it, Zane?  

*The girls turn to him questioningly.*  

**Zane:** Well, the king told me reinforcements are coming. We should wait at the city’s entrance for them.  

**Selena:** How many? We don’t want to be exposed here. How many did he send?  

**Zane, raising two fingers:** Two. And luckily, one of them is Reyn Kageuro.  

*Everyone is shocked by his blunt statement before entering the city’s first gate.*  

**Zane, continuing:** Don’t be shocked—I’ll give you details inside. It seems we’ve reached this peaceful town. We took the mountain route to avoid the war. Let’s go.  

*They move toward the mountain gate leading to a small, beautiful town.*  

*Back at the palace, the king speaks to Karl over the phone:*  

**King:** If you want to know Reyn’s identity, he is **"Reyn, the Wolf of the West."**  

*Meanwhile, Reyn and Maria continue toward Bragh.*  

**Maria, pointing:** Look, there’s the state of Bragh. We’ll reach Sifar by tomorrow. We shouldn’t stop.  

**Reyn indifferently:** Alright.  

*The two continue their journey.*