It seemed that Lenore was worried about something, but she couldn’t say what it was yet... it was unlikely that they had spies among the warriors of the village, so she was worried about doing things that were necessary, but might make them do questionable things from the perspective of outsiders.

"Hehehe, this will be fun," Iri said.

"I have a bad feeling about this," Harth said when he passed by them.

"Me too," Raiden said. "She is my sister and I worry so much already, I can only guess how you feel, Father."

"What is that supposed to mean?" Iri protested.

"Do I have to say it out loud considering the time we talked with Cailu?" Raiden asked.

"Nothing happened, okay?" Iri asked and then looked away.

"Nothing aside from you being charmed by his act and good looks," Raiden said. "Weren’t you angry at them for looking at me funny before?"

"Now, you are angry, huh?" Iri shrugged.

"Not angry, just cautious," Raiden said. "Don’t worry, Father. I will be sure to keep an eye on her and make sure that she isn’t charmed by anyone. Although I am not the size to be intimidating enough, I can make those troublesome fellows run away with my sharp tongue."

"My boy," Harth grinned. "I knew that I can count on you."

Iri was typically uninterested in romance but she found herself unexpectedly troubled and somewhat annoyed by the bond forming between her father and brother over a troubling matter.

This shift in her emotions perplexed her, as she’d never experienced jealousy or concern about her family’s relationships before. The contrast between her usual detachment and these newfound feelings causes her to introspect, questioning the significance of their reactions.

Still, as she observed her mother’s unusually serious demeanor in response to the situation, Iri began to doubt whether her own emotions were justified or if she was overly unsuspicious.

Despite that, Iri was still happy that her little brother was showing concern for her. She just wished that he couldn’t be such a pain in the ass on that topic only. She could take care of herself...

Raiden knew exactly what she was thinking along those lines. Iri certainly could take care of herself in a fight, but she was still naive in the ways of the world, even more so when it came to relations between men and women. In that aspect, Raiden and Harth had to protect her as much as they could, but in the end, they could only do so much.

Lenore and Cailu went to the town, where they engaged in discussions with its leaders. The gravity of their task kept them there well into the night, dealing with matters that demanded their full attention.

Meanwhile, Iri and Raiden found themselves torn between exhaustion and concern. Despite their desire for rest, they chose to wait up for Lenore, their anticipation a testament to their deep familial bond and unwavering support for her endeavors, and they also wanted to know what she was planning as soon as possible.

As the hours ticked by, each passing moment, they heightened their eagerness for her safe return, showing the significance of their connection amidst the challenges they faced together. When she returned alone, she raised her eyebrows when she saw them.

"Go to sleep. We can talk tomorrow," Lenore said.

All that wait for nothing... that truly bothered them, but they realized that they messed up. In any case, when morning came, Lenore called them for her tent to have breakfast for the family. Since everyone left them alone, they had the chance to talk without being bothered, but they had to keep their voices low. Harth also stayed outside to make sure that no one listened to them.

"I want you two to move around the town and look for suspicious people," Lenore said. "Mainly those who keep looking at us."

"Why?" Iri asked.

"The dwarves are fine. They are a group that focuses on each other, and over the years, they never had many allies," Lenore explained. "Other countries don’t like them because they can’t be easily bought or their creations as well, and many countries suffered many losses thanks to their creations as well. Hence, they aren’t welcomed everywhere. However, the elves are different, and they are pretty much respected everywhere they go and admired as well, thanks to their charm and charisma."

"Do you want us to investigate the elves and look for traitors?" Raiden asked. "As you can see, I stand out because of my hair," Raiden said.

"Yeah, they are proud, so they don’t think that one of their own might betray them," Lenore explained. "Still, I need to be absolutely certain that we won’t be backstabbed here."

Typically, one would assume that children as young as eleven and sixteen would lack the experience and maturity needed for investigative work. However, Iri and Raiden found themselves drawn to the challenge despite these assumptions. Time was another significant issue, forcing them to work within tight limits and accomplish only so much. Yet, this restriction did little to weaken their enthusiasm.

The investigative work presented a stark contrast to their usual activities, which were more mundane and predictable. The excitement of uncovering clues, piecing together information, and engaging in a task that felt important and impactful was invigorating for both Iri and Raiden. This sense of purpose and the thrill of the unknown sure excited them, making the task seem less like a burden and more like an adventure.

Their youth, which might have been seen as a disadvantage, also gave them a unique perspective and a fresh approach to the challenges they faced. Even though they were aware of the limitations imposed by their age and the pressing time constraints, Iri and Raiden embraced the opportunity to do something different and meaningful, proving their capability and resilience in the face of adversity.

"Your job is to just look for people that show interest in us or in you as we move around the town," Lenore explained. "Study them a bit as well without being found. Don’t try to overreach, though. I just want a bit of information that I can’t ask Cailu directly. Here, use this money to buy some medicine and condiments to use it as an excuse to move around."

Iri received the money and nodded while trying to stop the grim from showing on her face. It was extremely rare for her parents to give her that kind of job and freedom, it was probably because Raiden was with her there... Regardless, she had to be sure that they wouldn’t fail.

"Can we keep our weapons?" Raiden asked.

"Yes, you don’t have to worry. We have permission to walk around the country armed with our weapons until the end of the war," Lenore explained.

"Let’s get going then, the enemies should make their moves soon and we need to obtain this intel fast," Iri said.

Raiden waited for Lenore to say something, but she didn’t and just crossed her arms. So, he assumed that their mother was planning to let them do as they see fit.