"Where is everyone…?" Jean was already kneeling in front of Clovis. He was completely clueless about what was going on.

At first, he thought everything was going well. But Clovis managed to bring out another trump card.

He could understand if Clovis had multiple trump cards, but what he couldn't comprehend was why those Tier 8 humans would run away.

The Prophet had guaranteed that he would win with all these people. Yet, they were the first to abandon the mission.

Looking at his clueless face, Clovis simply shook his head helplessly. "You don't even realize that you're nothing but a pawn for the Prophet."

"You're lying. I'm supposed to be another rook!" Jean already imagined the power of the Dark Moon Mercenary. Combined with the strongest mercenary group, they would be like rooks, hammering the Hacfield family.

"A mindless buffoon…" Clovis turned around.

"How about the Three Swords watch this guy over? What are we going to do with this guy, though?"

"What we're doing will remain the same. Once Stefany took the seat, we would eliminate anyone that could threaten her, including him."

"The reason why the members of the Dark Moon Mercenary can't join this type of competition is not only to avoid reducing their strength but also to ensure there's no bad blood between the successor and the loser party…"

"Agreed."

Clovis thought for a moment. "I guess we should spread out and focus on finding the lily."

"Yes."

Clovis signaled to everyone to begin searching. Once they were gone, Clovis walked to Kayne, who was standing a bit farther away from the rest of the group.

He came here to help Clovis, not to mingle with his teammates or allies after all.

Clovis could respect his decision, so he walked to Kayne. "Thank you."

Kayne was leaning on a tree while crossing his arms. "Are you done with your problem?"

"Yes."

"It looks like the Prophet is just trying to figure out your trump card. This time, your trump card was me."

"I'm sorry for dragging you into this mess. The Prophet might end up targeting you after this."

"It doesn't matter. If the Prophet faced me, he would face criticism. Right now, there's no official record about me being here. Even if they knew, they would know I was just a mercenary here, earning something from the country.

"If the Prophet would like to face me, he would be condemned by other people, making it hard for his allies to make a move.

"Someone like the Prophet should know that it's better to leave me alone from now on. That also means I won't be helping you from this point onward. You can only rely on yourself."

Clovis nodded with a serious expression. "Yes. I'm planning to. This is just a special situation. My team has gotten stronger, but it's still not enough to face a Tier 9 human. However, I don't think it will take long before my team can handle one of them."

"I see. Well, you will need to be careful. A Tier 9 human is much stronger than you think. If you don't even have a 50% chance of beating them, don't ever bother to fight."

"Thank you for your guidance."

"Hmph." Kayne turned around and looked at the sky so that Clovis couldn't see his expression. "You know… I always hated your grandfather for getting together with your grandmother. I liked her. Many times I thought she would be happier with me. At the very least, she might still be alive right now."

Clovis looked down. He couldn't change anything that happened in the past.

"Lily was… like a pillar of connection between all of us. She was like… that person in a group where most people would like to talk to because it was more comfortable talking to that person than anyone else in the group.

"She was bright, cheerful, and proactive whenever you needed her. It was as if she knew what to say to you.

"In our group, 80% of the boys back then admired Lily. They were trying to court her. I was one of those people. The other 20% were simply married, so they didn't bother with Lily anymore.

"However, there was one anomaly among them. Your grandfather. Your grandfather was one of the weirdest people who didn't have any particular interest in her.

"It was true that he also helped her and gave her a new purpose in her life. But it might be because of his indifference that Lily stuck with him. When everyone was admiring her, there was one person that didn't have Lily in his eyes. Lily was simply curious about that person.

"I wonder if things would have changed had I been indifferent like your grandfather?"

Clovis looked down. It probably wouldn't change. Since he was one of the pillars of this world, it might have been part of the settings.

However, as a man, he could understand Kayne's dilemma.

Kayne continued, "You have Lily's charm. You might not realize it, but if it were anyone else, the Libation Fiesta might not have been formed. As much as I hated that brute, I guess his genes had been keeping you safe all this time.

"Do you really wish to know the truth about this world?"

"Yes." Clovis answered without hesitation. "There is something I need to do."

After having that dream, that conviction had just become stronger.

Kayne looked at the sky. After they killed Lily, I investigated the cause of her death and found out a certain truth.

"I didn't do much this time because those people escaped."

"Don't worry. I've promised to give you two paintings. That's what I will do."

"I want you to deliver it personally to me. Will you do it?"

"If that's your request."

"Then do it…" Kayne sighed. "There was a note I used to have for that investigation. That note contained two names of the special towers. I don't know if you already know about them or not, but I will give you that note. It contains all the secret entrances and other things you might want to know if you wish to enter them. Consider it as me doing my job here."

"!!!" Clovis certainly didn't expect it. This note might be worth more than this competition to him.

"See you soon." Kayne waved his hand and disappeared.

Clovis closed his eyes and politely bowed to his disappearing figure.