"Hah! Hah! Hah!" groups of men swing their wooden swords in the daylight of a large snowy courtyard. Radz joined Rena's team as a leader and he overlooks the training sometimes.
Inspired by Samuel, Radz decided to fight against the demons as well.
Watching them afar under the shade are Rena and the maid from Li's mansion. Her name is Vionne.
"Captain," a knight runs to Rena with a man wearing huge robes and a hoodie covering his face. "Uhm...you have a guest."
The mysterious man pulls up his hoodie slightly to reveal himself, it's Levy who presents himself with a bright smile.
"Y-Your highness?!" Vionne exclaims.
"Shh..." Levy puts a finger on his lips.
Vionne nods.
Rena escorts Levy inside and to a room within a large building four stories high with an indoor training facility. Coupled with strong and high-insulating materials, it's essentially the headquarter of The Everlasting Knights. The headquarter resides in a town called Measto south of Jinka.
Levy sits on the couch opposite Rena. Vionne brings in some tea for him, to which Levy responds with thanks.
"What matters does your highness need to personally come?" Rena asks.
"Don't fret about it. I'm here as Levy, not the prince. Drop the formality."
"My apologies, I can't."
...
"Hah..." Levy sighs and scratches his head. "Anyways, thank you for your help. I finally manage to deal a huge blow to the nobles."
After Li's assassination, Levy's army was dispatched to investigate the situation as his brother is away in another country. Levy then uses that as an excuse to find evidence of Li's corruption and conspiring with the nobles. Although the nobles had backup "alibis", Levy was able to force house arrest on the involved nobles, keeping the other nobles on edge. However, most of them pushed the blame onto Li's household and goes silent. Mark was soon released.
Originally, they plan to ruin Rena's reputation after she tries to help her imprisoned subordinate. The only one that can help is Levy. If Levy helps they kill two birds with one stone and can turn his supporters on him for defending a murderer. If Rena does not help? They continue to hunt her subordinates until she snaps.
"I'm here to deliver two pieces of news. First of all, I plan to sponsor your group but I want to hear your opinion," says Levy.
There's a hidden meaning behind Levy's words. Nobles are already catching on to the fact that the assassin might be arranged by Levy.
"Do it," Rena replies.
"You do understand the dangers that come along?"
"Facing them is inevitable."
Levy smiles at her courage. "You are right. And now the second news."
Levy slips out a card from his robe and places it on the table. It's the card that Rena took from Li's mansion. Now that it's bright, the drawing is clearer: a red eye with an "X" drawn across the iris.
?
"We apprehended a serial killer a few days ago but he committed suicide in prison. Using his blood, he specifically drew the same eye symbol," says Levy. "You will receive another order from the imperial family soon. They want you to go undercover and infiltrate Rodgof with the secondary objective of negotiating for technology. With the help of magic, we can somewhat produce agriculture in this snow but it will be good if you can bring some technology back to aid us."
"Okay...?"
...
"Ahem, back to the topic, reports of the same eye drawing have been found around Rodgof. Go there and investigate. Just bring as much information as possible. As for your subordinates, don't worry. I will take care of them."
Rena stares at the card and nods. "Understood. But what about that metal plate?"
"Ah, the one with the weird drawings? I don't know."
Levy leaves soon after. He meets up with an old man in an alley also wearing a hooded robe.
"Let's go," Levy says and walks ahead.
...
"Pardon my impudent but...are you interested in lady Rena?" the old man asks.
Levy stops and glances back. "And if I am?"
...
"I have no comments."
================================
Meanwhile at Rodgof...
================================
"Damn it! Just leave me alone!" a man runs across an isolated narrow alley.
A dagger shoots into his leg.
"AHHH!! FUCK!!"
Two silhouettes loom over his body. It's Kin and another boy with a ponytail.
Kin glares at the man and raises his dagger.
"Stop," I say from behind.
Kin grits his teeth and grips the dagger tightly before backing off.
Liam and I walk up to the injured man wearing a plain brown shirt with a black coat. Two people appear behind us from the shadow, both wearing red scarf and jackets.
"Take him away," I say. "He knows more than he seems. We will torture that information out."
"H-Huh?! Wait no! I don't know anything!!" The man exclaims.
Kin kicks his head and knocks him out, spraying drops of blood on the wall.
The boy and girl grab the man and all of them descend into the shadow.
...
This is the fifth establishment belonging to Despair that my group wiped out. In all five times, the masterminds never confess until we inflict torture. I don't understand their loyalty. Seems unlikely for a bunch of trash.
This time, that man was leading an illegal prostitution service with underage minors.
"Let's head back before anybody comes," says Liam.
Kin nods.
I was about to leave with them when I notice a small eye drawing at the bottom of the wall.
!!!!!!!
My body trembles on the spot with my eyes wide open.
"Sir Arsto?" Liam says when he notices.
"..."
Kin scratches his head and walks to me. "Brother Arsto?"
"...I..."
Why is this here?! No no what...what??? This completely has never happened before in all of my playthroughs. This "disaster event" has NEVER appeared in chapter 1 of the game before.
"W-We have to put disbanding Despair aside. Right now, we have something far worse. At this rate, everyone in this country including us will die a horrible death." I say.