The situation report went quickly.

Because the sequence of events and their credibility had already been more or less clarified.

"And thus we managed to get out of the subspace without outside help."

When Berugon finished, Valentis Luminel looked up from the documents.

He put down the quill he had been twirling between his fingers and asked again:

"Krazar's core was truly completely destroyed?"

"Yes. As an armorer, I would stake my whole life on that."

Berugon was a man who took enormous pride in his life, his philosophy, and the path he had walked.

So if a man like that was ready to stake his whole life on something—

"If you are so certain, then it must be true."

Valentis was already about to fold the papers, deciding the meeting was over.

And then—

"Supreme Marshal."

Suddenly Elanes spoke up.

Confusion showed on her face.

"Are we really going to finish this here? Even without retrieving Krazar's core?"

"The core is destroyed. You just heard that."

"I heard. But there is no proof, is there? Only the testimony of the head smith and the King of the Dead..."

Valentis Luminel's eyes narrowed barely perceptibly.

He pressed his lips together for a moment and said:

"Are you asserting that testimony cannot count as evidence?"

His voice was as cold and hard as before.

Elanes flinched slightly and quickly nodded.

"Honestly... doesn't it look strange?"

Krazar's core was not an ordinary object.

The Church, the Imperial Court, mercenaries, wealthy aristocrats—everyone dreamed of obtaining such a trophy.

Once possessed, it would certainly be useful.

Sell it—get a fortune. Use it to craft a weapon—gain top-quality gear.

One could even hold onto it and make a profitable deal.

Elanes's gaze slowly shifted to the King of the Dead.

To the mysterious necromancer sitting calmly and stealing glances at Valentis Luminel.

A mercenary... and a mage.

Who wouldn't be tempted by such a valuable item?

If she were in the King of the Dead's place, she certainly would not have been able to resist.

After all, only the King of the Dead and Berugon knew what had happened in the subspace.

And if the King of the Dead, using shadow magic, had intimidated Berugon and taken the core?

With someone as stubborn as Berugon, who only thinks about weapons, it would be easy for a necromancer who can summon spirits to handle it.

Moreover, my intuition almost never errs.

Elanes lifted her chin a little.

"Come to think of it, someone could have hidden the core."

Riper sighed heavily.

Berugon also looked at Elanes with complete bewilderment.

"Hidden?! Do you mean to say I or the King of the Dead hid Krazar's core and refuse to hand it over?!"

Elanes shrugged.

"Don't react so emotionally. Isn't it better to have the matter checked properly?"

She turned again to Valentis.

"Krazar's core is an immensely valuable trophy. So simply closing the matter based on words is incorrect. If necessary, a lawful investigation should be conducted."

Valentis Luminel inclined his head slightly.

"A lawful investigation?"

"At minimum, the two who saw Krazar with their own eyes should be searched — the head of Agavert and the head smith — along with their quarters."

Silence fell in the hall.

Riper nudged Elanes as if to tell her to stop.

But she did not take her eyes off Valentis.

Nor did Tie.

A search...!

A personal search and a search of the room.

In any case, this was a very bad situation for Tie.

Because Puppu, born from Krazar's core, now lay in the Hanbit kindergarten backpack.

While Tie furtively glanced around—

"Very well."

Valentis Luminel's cold voice rang above her head.

He looked calmly at Elanes.

"But it's already late. The search of the premises will be conducted tomorrow morning."

"Tomorrow? But—"

Valentis ignored her and addressed Berugon.

"Furthermore, from this moment the armorer district will be sealed. All movements within will be controlled by my subordinates."

As if on cue, several holy knights waiting at the door stepped to the table.

Elanes frowned when she saw a knight beside her.

"Wait—why me...!"

"If Krazar's core was indeed appropriated, suspicion could fall on anyone who was in the armorer district today. The investigation must be fair and precise."

Indignation flickered across Elanes's face.

She bit her lip and stood up abruptly.

"Are you planning to carry out personal searches? Even on us—the 'innocent' people who were simply pulled from their rest by the Association's order?"

Her words were full of irritation and hostility.

But Valentis Luminel did not flinch.

He merely raised his gaze.

"A personal search has already been conducted."

"What?"

"Did you forget that I sealed Krazar thirty-five years ago? And that I possess the Awakening of the Holy Sight."

Elanes fell silent.

Right...

She had indeed forgotten.

The Awakening of the Holy Sight.

A technique by which holy power is pushed to its limit and resonance is triggered.

With it, Valentis Luminel could sense energies he had already encountered.

When the Supreme Marshal Luminel made a slight gesture of his hand, the knights standing behind the five took a step back.

"As soon as I entered this room, I conducted a check. Krazar's magic is not present here. At least, the core is not in this room."

A soft sound echoed through the chamber.

The King of the Dead swallowed.

Valentis Luminel raised his gaze.

"Moreover, the armorer district as a whole also shows no sign of its magic."

He added dryly:

"However, I accept your objection and will conduct an investigation by tomorrow. That is all."

"Hey, little one. Lie down here quickly. Quickly."

In the large room, where all the furniture had been pushed to the walls.

Tie was looking at the night window when she heard Bale's voice and turned.

Bale was patting a thick blanket he had folded on the floor into four layers.

"You sleep here in the middle. Don't go anywhere. Only here!"

Tie nodded and ran straight to the center of the bedding.

Around her the other squad members prepared for sleep.

"Enzo. Do you need a bed?"

"No, I'm fine! I can sleep on the floor."

"Alright. Then lie down on your things. Little one, do you want a pillow?"

"I don't need a blanket either. Give it to Astie."

"Are you sure, old °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° man? Don't complain later."

Watching Bale literally take bedding from the others for Tie, she suddenly remembered what had happened after the meeting.

For some reason Valentis Luminel, who had been watching Tie intently all the time, was the first to leave the hall.

After that Tie and Basto returned to the guest rooms under escort by the holy knights.

Soon Olek arrived with an awkward expression.

"Um... if I may ask..." 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

His request was simple.

Could Agavert, who normally used three rooms, spend the night all together in one today.

"Guests suddenly increased too much, and there aren't enough rooms."

At first Tie hesitated.

Sleeping together with the squad felt like camping and seemed fun.

But would it suddenly be inconvenient for the others?

However—

"Yes? Fine. What are you thinking? Agree quickly."

Bale accepted the offer before Tie had time to think it through.