Vane, still cross-armed and leaning back on the throne, nudged his glasses and glanced down at Jaigar and Gorak.

"Jaigar. Gorak."

"Y... yes, Sir Vane."

"You two will conduct a joint operation. I want you to confirm whether the intelligence provided by that silver armor guy has been compromised. Travel to the Elven border town and find this ’Beggar Jee.’ If you can locate him, verify that the information we received is still viable, and that Gorak’s actions have not reached his ears."

He paused, his voice dropping into a sharper tone.

"If the silver armor guy has not yet warned this ’Beggar Jee’, then you will proceed with the original plan and ensure you are able to infiltrate Armand without raising suspicion. If the information has been compromised, you will report back to me immediately. Do not take matters into your own hands. Do not act without my approval."

He looked at both of them, his eyes cold and unyielding.

"Focus on the mission. Do not let your personal grudges, arrogance, or greed interfere. If you fail this time, I will not be lenient. Do I make myself clear?"

Gorak and Jaigar stiffened, nodding in unison. "Understood, Sir Vane."

Vane took out a small wooden box and placed it on the table, opening it to reveal neatly stacked documents and a pouch of gold coins.

"This contains travel documents, identification papers that ’prove’ you are merchants from the Human Kingdom, and a substantial amount of gold for your journey. Our agents in the Human Nation have already prepared these for us, and they will be crucial for your operation. They’ve done their job well, now it’s your turn to use them."

He gestured toward the pouch of gold. "We don’t know how much this ’Beggar Jee’ will charge for his services, or what the cost of travel through the Elven Nation and into Armand will be. But with this amount of gold, you should have enough to cover guides, inns, food, and any unexpected expenses."

Gorak and Jaigar nodded. "Yes, Sir Vane."

"Since we don’t know how far Armand is from the Elven border, especially by horse, you’ll need to plan your journey carefully. Once you arrive in Armand, blend in with the people. Gather as much information as you can about their military, their defenses, their resources, and their leadership. Observe, listen, and report back. Do not draw attention to yourselves."

Vane gave them both a sharp glare.

"I don’t want to hear about any more trouble. No killing, no looting, no drawing unnecessary attention. We have three months to gather the last piece of information we need. The only information we don’t have yet. Not even our agents in the Human Kingdom have been able to obtain full intelligence on Armand."

He pulled out a map of the continent and pointed toward the region south of Armand, a land bridge that connected to the Demon Kingdom.

"The reason I want you to blend in is not just for Armand. It’s for the final stage of our operation, the assassination of the Demon King. Armand is the last obstacle before we reach the Demon Kingdom. If we can infiltrate Armand, we can gather intelligence on their defenses, their alliances, and their vulnerabilities. That information will be critical for our final strike."

He looked up, his voice cold.

"Do not fail. This is our last chance to secure the information we need. If you succeed, our invasion will be unstoppable. If you fail, our entire campaign will be delayed, and we will lose our advantage."

Vane stood and clasped his hands behind his back, his gaze sweeping across the room.

"Everyone except Gorak and Jaigar, leave the room. I need to discuss something with them privately."

"As you command, Sir Vane."

Everyone slowly filed out of the room, closing the door quietly.

After they were gone, Vane snapped his fingers, activating a skill that shrouded the room in a faint, shimmering barrier. The air thickened, and the sound from outside faded into silence, ensuring no eavesdropping could occur.

"Now, both of you listen to me carefully."

"Y... yes, Sir Vane."

"You both know we’ve been in this world for more than seven years already. We’ve been preparing for this for so long. You also know that our main objective, killing the Demon King, is the key to everything. Once that is accomplished, we will receive the granted wish from the goddesses. Some of our summoned heroes have been waiting for this moment for years, and some of them desperately want to return to their own world."

Both Gorak and Jaigar fell silent, their faces tense.

"That is why I need you two to ensure this operation succeeds. I don’t know what either of you will wish for once the mission is complete. But I do know that if we fail, none of us will get what we desire. So put aside your grudges, your pride, and your petty rivalries. Focus on the mission. Focus on the goal. And for once, work together."

Vane’s face turned serious, his aura flaring, filling the room with a terrifying, oppressive pressure that made the air feel heavy and suffocating.

"I believe the road toward Armand is not that far, so I expect you two and your party members to send regular reports back to me. I want updates on the information and intelligence you gather, at least once a month."

He glared at both Gorak and Jaigar, his eyes sharp and unyielding.

"A month. I expect at least some small information on Armand’s defenses, their leadership, and their vulnerabilities. If I do not hear from you two after a month..."

Vane paused, his aura intensifying, making the air crackle with energy. "I will personally come to find you both. And if I find you two wasting time, ignoring orders, or failing to deliver, I will personally finish and kill you both..." He took out his falcata and channeled his mana into it, the blade glowing with a cold, menacing light.

"...with this sword in my hand."

Gorak and Jaigar trembled violently, their legs giving out as they knelt on the floor, their faces pale with fear.

"Y... yes, Sir Vane!"

"Good. Now leave this room and prepare. You two and your parties will be leaving this base at the next dawn."

Vane sheathed his falcata, clasped his hands behind his back, and turned away, his voice echoing with finality.

"I expect nothing less than success. Do not disappoint me."

( End Of Chapter )