"Avril?"

Roland stood at the door, frowning slightly as he looked at the brown-haired girl with a brilliant smile.

She was waving at him enthusiastically, but the Minstrel beside her looked unusually stiff.

"What are you doing here?"

"Ah, this..."

Avril cheerfully patted Galvis’s shoulder, each pat making a dull THUD THUD sound.

"I ran into this guy once during my travels. We’re just catching up."

"Is that so?"

Roland raised an eyebrow.

The atmosphere in the room was clearly not as relaxed and cheerful as she claimed, but he didn’t plan to press the issue. He just nodded and turned his gaze to Galvis.

If he remembered correctly, this frivolous Minstrel had boasted quite a bit during their voyage about how popular he was with the nobility.

’Maybe I can get some information about the noble circles of the River Domain from this guy?’

However, when his eyes finally settled on Galvis, he couldn’t help but be taken aback.

The Minstrel’s proud, silky brown hair was now missing a large patch right on top, revealing a smooth, bare scalp. He looked like a half-eaten hairy chestnut.

"Galvis, your..."

Avril’s hand, resting on the Minstrel’s shoulder, suddenly pressed down harder.

Galvis’s lips twitched as he forced a smile that was uglier than a crying face.

"It’s... uh... well..."

He stammered for a moment, then his eyes suddenly lit up.

"It’s a trend! Yes, a new trend!"

As if grasping a lifeline, the Minstrel instantly reverted to his usual flamboyant demeanor, gesturing wildly.

"You wouldn’t know, Roland, but this hairstyle is all the rage in the noble circles of the River Domain! I specifically asked Lady... I mean, Miss Avril to help me trim it..."

Sunlight shone through the window, glinting comically off his polished scalp.

Avril smiled "gently" beside him, her fingertips having somehow found their way back to the Dagger at her waist.

"Hmm..."

Roland’s gaze shifted back and forth between the two, clearly not buying Galvis’s story.

But since it was a private matter between them, he didn’t feel it was his place to ask. Instead, he changed the subject.

"Since you’re here, Avril, there’s something I wanted to ask you."

He casually pulled over a wooden chair and sat down, his eyes inadvertently sweeping over the corner of the table.

For some reason, a nasty-looking crack had split the wood there.

Roland’s gaze paused for a subtle moment, but his tone remained steady as he recounted the full story of the mission Graham had entrusted to him, his fingertips tapping a steady rhythm on the tabletop.

"So, Avril... why do you think Lord Graham would offer a Breathing Technique as a reward for this kind of mission and give it to me?"

"Hmm..."

The brown-haired girl frowned slightly, her fingertips resting on her chin as she adopted a pensive expression.

"I haven’t been in the River Domain for very long, but I’ve heard a lot about the overt and covert struggles between the Merchants and the nobles."

Her fingers shifted discreetly, perfectly covering the crack in the table’s corner.

"Especially the conflict between Lord Derek and Lord Marston—it’s practically common knowledge."

"Outside of these two factions, Lord Graham’s Knight Academy is a third power. Although it holds no real authority, no one dares to underestimate it, thanks to his personal strength and influence."

"Both factions have been trying to win him over recently, and for him to give this mission to you..."

Avril tilted her head, a sly smile playing on her lips.

"Perhaps he’s trying to make a statement?"

"A neutral one?"

Roland raised an eyebrow.

"Exactly."

She nodded gently.

"According to Lord Graham’s requirements, the commission itself isn’t difficult to complete. The reward is basically a freebie, a way of showing Mr. Colin some respect. But then he gives the mission to you..."

"As the person recommended by Mr. Colin, whether you accept it or not, it sends a signal to both factions that the ’Knight Academy is not taking sides.’"

At this point, she stuck out her tongue playfully.

"Of course, that’s just my guess. I can’t really figure out what big shots are thinking."

Seeing her innocent and carefree appearance, Galvis, who was sitting nearby, couldn’t help but shudder. He silently scooted his chair a little closer to Roland.

At that moment, in the Minstrel’s heart, being next to the burly young man was the safest place on the entire continent.

"Urgh..."

Noticing the Minstrel’s intense gaze, Roland frowned and shifted his body slightly before continuing his questions.

"So, what is the Merchant Faction’s stance on the Wolf King? When do they plan to make a move?"

"That I don’t know."

Avril answered with a smile, her fingers brushing absently over the scabbard at her waist.

"CLICK."

A faint metallic scraping sound was heard. Galvis immediately ducked his head, staring intently at the tips of his boots as if a flower had suddenly sprouted there.

"However..." Avril continued, "the Shadow Veil Organization has been making a lot of moves lately. They’re probably preparing for the expedition against the Wolf King."

"I see."

Although the information Avril provided was limited, by combining it with his own deductions, Roland had already gotten a general grasp of the situation.

He had likely been caught in the crossfire of a power struggle.

But it didn’t matter.

The only thing he’d ever cared about was that Knight’s Breathing Technique.

’Since the Merchant Faction is already preparing to move against the Wolf King, that saves me some trouble.’

Feeling a little more at ease, Roland turned his gaze to the Minstrel, who was still staring at the floor.

"Galvis, didn’t you say before that you were like a fish in water when dealing with any noble?"

Seeing that the man was still staring fixedly at the floor, Roland frowned and continued.

"Can you help me find out the noble faction’s stance on the Wolf King? As for payment..."

"CLICK!"

Another crisp sound came from the scabbard.

Galvis abruptly straightened his back, his face taking on an air of righteous integrity that Roland had never seen before.

"No! No payment necessary!"

His voice was slightly shrill from excessive tension.

"Roland! Between friends like us, what’s a small favor like this?"

"...Then I’ll leave it to you."

The corner of Roland’s mouth twitched slightly.

After the three of them exchanged a few more words, Avril took her leave.

The moment the brown-haired girl left the room, Galvis collapsed onto the table as if his bones had been removed, his entire body seeming to melt into a puddle.

"Galvis, you and Avril..."

Roland finally couldn’t resist asking.

"It’s nothing... whatever she says... is what it is..."

The Minstrel answered reflexively, but upon seeing Roland’s confused expression, he hesitated, wanting to say more but stopping himself.

Words of warning felt like cotton stuck in his throat.

But in the end, he just let out a deep sigh.

"Roland... when are you planning to leave the River Domain?"

"Huh?"

Roland raised an eyebrow in surprise.

"Didn’t we just get here? And didn’t you say you wanted to stay here for a while?"

"That was... that was... never mind..."

Galvis gave up trying to explain, his fingers unconsciously plucking the strings of his Harp.

Seeing him like this, Roland just shook his head and prepared to leave.

"Wait!"

The Minstrel suddenly lunged forward, neurotically grabbing Roland’s sleeve.

"Where are you going now?"

"To fish."

Roland brandished his newly bought fishing rod.

"I heard there’s a good fishing spot by the sea."

He had bought it on his way back.

Since his current status didn’t allow him to interfere in the power struggle, he might as well see if he could trigger the conditions to change to another Profession.

In any case, according to Avril’s analysis and his own deductions, the Knight’s Breathing Technique would be his sooner or later.

Even so, he couldn’t rule out the possibility of unexpected developments.

So, rather than waiting for the outcome of the two factions’ struggle, it was better to use this time to increase his own strength.

Besides, he was also curious about the fog in the area where the Wolf King resided.

’And then there are those Fishmen, who seem to be controlled or attracted by something...’

Just as Roland was lost in thought, the Minstrel’s voice rang out again.

"Then I’ll go with you!"

Galvis clung to his Harp and stuck to him like a piece of taffy.

Roland shrugged indifferently, and the two of them headed toward the coast, one after the other.

The setting sun stretched their shadows long, while the Minstrel kept glancing back nervously, as if fleeing some terrible pursuer.