Damien looked at his allies, who were also his subordinates.

"So Nozama has a reserve legion outside our projections. We still lack information about their strength. But if that legion was secretly formed by the Lion Clan leader, then it cannot be an ordinary force."

He paused briefly.

"Therefore, we will proceed with Plan B. During the mist monster invasion, we will not sabotage Nozama. Instead, we will sabotage Swargaloka."

His gaze darkened.

"We must create a crack in Swargaloka’s defenses. And our primary objective is to kill Ramun Eshaan. There must not be another failure like before."

His eyes swept across the representatives seated around the round table.

"There is currently a powerful force backing Duke Eshaan and investigating us. Killing Ramun Eshaan will divert the Duke’s attention."

...

A week had passed since Gara heard that the mist monster invasion had begun.

He contacted Miki, Revan, Andine, and even Vania to learn about the situation in their provinces.

If this hadn’t been vacation season, they would probably have discussed it every day at the academy.

Revan himself was fighting alongside the devils, demons, and vampires of Palapa Mount. Though in truth, he had been assigned to a rear position.

"Did you see Madha there?" Gara asked when Revan managed to contact him.

"The kingdom’s borders are huge, Gara. There are many points that need guarding. Provinces with border territories focus on their own zones."

"Swargaloka and Nozama have the most borders. Palapa Mount doesn’t directly touch the border."

"We usually assist at Palapa Plain or nearby provinces. I don’t know the situation in Swargaloka."

Gara already understood that there were countless defensive points.

He had simply hoped Revan might have heard something.

"If you can’t reach Madha, that means he’s on the frontlines," Revan continued. "I’m stationed in the backline. I still get rest time."

"Not being reachable doesn’t mean something happened. Don’t overthink it."

Gara had heard that reassurance from many people.

He tried to calm himself. Not only for his own sake, but for Bel and the triplets.

...

The next night, in the middle of the night, nine-month-old Bel suddenly woke up crying for milk.

"What’s wrong? Are you sick?"

Gara touched Bel’s forehead. It felt warm.

He checked her body carefully. She wasn’t sick.

"Is the room too warm?"

Bel mumbled with teary eyes.

Gara’s chest tightened at the sight of that sorrowful expression on his daughter’s face.

"Daddy’s here. You don’t need to be afraid."

He carried her gently, soothing her.

At nine months old, Bel’s sleep schedule had been steady. She no longer woke suddenly at night.

That was what made him anxious now.

After nearly an hour, Bel finally fell asleep again. Gara placed her carefully back into her crib.

Fortunately, the triplets were not sleeping in the same room tonight. Otherwise, they would have woken from Bel’s crying.

Gara returned to bed.

But he could no longer sleep.

The sun was already rising when drowsiness finally began to claim him.

Just before his eyes closed, his crystal ring glowed.

"Who’s contacting me this early..." he murmured.

Tristan’s voice came through.

"I wanted to inform you that the mist monster invasion is nearly over. The soldiers and Liners are now in the cleanup phase. The wounded and the dead are being handled."

Gara had indeed asked Tristan to notify him once the invasion ended.

But an uneasy feeling settled in his chest.

Still, he listened as Tristan explained the battlefield situation.

"After every mist monster invasion, there are always soldiers or Liners who go missing during the initial headcount. Sometimes they joined other units during battle. Or..."

Tristan inhaled deeply.

"Or they were taken by mistwalkers into the mist."

Gara’s heart skipped violently.

"Uncle... you’re explaining the details because there’s something specific you want to say, right?"

He didn’t want the long explanation.

He wanted the conclusion.

And at the same time, fear crawled through him.

"Yes. It’s about Madha."

A heavy thud seemed to echo inside Gara’s chest.

"He’s missing."

His hand fell limply at his side. His gaze turned blank.

"Gara, we’re still searching for him," Tristan added quickly, imagining how shocked he must be.

He was right.

Gara’s eyes blurred with tears. His ears rang, yet he forced himself to speak.

"Uncle... please explain. Didn’t anyone see him? How could he be alone?"

His hoarse voice made Tristan struggle to continue, but he explained anyway.

"According to a Liner from his team, the last time he saw Madha was when they received word that Commander Ramun was surrounded by mistwights at the front."

"Ignoring the mistwalkers swarming him, Madha broke through and rushed forward."

"Commander Ramun is in critical condition. He hasn’t regained consciousness. The knights found beside him were all dead. Several of his knights are missing."

A pause.

"Madha is among them."

Tears streamed down Gara’s face.

He struck his own head, trying to silence the relentless ringing in his ears.

"Uncle... you don’t think Madha was taken by mistwalkers... or turned into a mistfiend... right?"

Tristan did not answer.

That silence was already an answer.

Under normal circumstances, that was the most likely assumption.

"I’m going there," Gara said abruptly, standing up. "I’ll heal Commander Ramun and ask him directly."

But as soon as he stood, his body swayed.

He hadn’t slept all night. And this shock was too much.

He sat back down, struggling to steady himself.

Without another word, he cut the connection with Tristan.

His crystal ring glowed again. Tristan was trying to reconnect.

Gara ignored it.

Instead, he contacted Karon.

"Sir Karon... please prepare a carriage at the teleportation hall in Cakranloka City. I’m going there to heal Commander Ramun."

His voice trembled.

"You don’t need to go. There are healers there already. Even if the invasion is over, the situation is still unstable," Karon refused immediately.

"Please. I have to go. I need to meet Commander Ramun now."

Karon didn’t understand why his nephew suddenly sounded so agitated.

He refused again. There was no reason for Gara to go.

For several long seconds, Gara said nothing.

His eyes were empty.

Then his voice returned. Calm. Steady. Unyielding.

"Fine... I’ll find a carriage myself."

"What?" Karon had not expected such stubbornness.

In the end, he could only sigh in defeat. "I’ll prepare the carriage. And knights to protect you."

...