In fact, Zorn had already guessed the beautiful lady’s true reason for visiting today.

Lifting her coffee cup and taking a small sip, Lady Gaido Isaiah began to speak, her voice as elegant and smooth as silk.

"It’s truly rare for someone as powerful as you to still hold such reverence for the ocean!"

"In all of Ogrande City, there is no rising star who can compare to you."

"Perhaps the stage of Ogrande City is a bit too small for you."

Hearing this, Zorn became even more certain of her identity.

Just as he’d expected, Lady Gaido Isaiah’s expression grew more serious, and she began to speak with the lyrical cadence of a Ranger.

"Do you remember the tales and legends of the lands below the highlands?"

Zorn nodded slightly.

"Those are indeed extraordinary stories and legends."

Zorn listened intently as Lady Gaido Isaiah began her tale.

The Autanston Republic, the Saint Grelle Empire, and the Gelang and Plains Province, which had been ceded to the Saintisman Empire as war reparations over a hundred years ago.

These three territories were originally one.

After the defeat.

The Gelang River Plain Province was ceded to the Saintisman Empire as reparations.

Autanston and Saint Grellele were separated, each becoming independent.

The Holy Fierce Sun Church then entered both nations to spread its Faith. It forbade any other church from proselytizing, thereby completing the dismemberment of the Northern Border Region.

But times changed.

Extraordinary Power resurged.

The Holy Fierce Sun Church fell into corruption and internal strife, beginning its gradual decline.

And the power of steam upended the world’s geopolitical landscape.

A political force, the Reconstruction Faction, began to move silently within these three territories. Their goal: to reunite the lands and establish a powerful Steam Empire in the Northern Border Region.

Zorn knew very well.

If these three territories in the Northern Border Region were not united into a new republic or empire, their fate was sealed. They would inevitably be annexed by the Saintisman Empire to the south, an Upper Ranker as unstoppable as a dreadnought.

Afterward, the Saintisman Empire, itself an Upper Ranker, would become too deeply tainted by the powers of its kind. This would lead to a terrifying, nation-level cataclysm: the Disaster of the Saintisman Sacred City!

The entire population of the Sacred City would have to pay for the Empire’s ambition with their lives.

When that happened, the Northern Border Region would declare its independence regardless.

’Therefore, I must support the birth of a new Steam Realm in the Northern Border Region.’

As he listened to the Holy Poem Ranger, Lady Gaido, describe the former glory of the lands below the highlands, she painted a captivating picture. For a moment, Zorn felt an urge to fight for this new Steam Realm.

Of course, this feeling, which was induced by the Holy Poem Ranger and was not truly his own, lasted less than a second.

’An Evil Spirit Wizard is unaffected by any mental or Spiritual influence.’

"Your story is indeed captivating," Zorn replied slowly.

"The Northern Border Region certainly needs a unified power to resist the oppression of the Saintisman Empire, an Upper Ranker!"

Zorn’s words made Lady Gaido’s heart tremble slightly.

’If this Fighting Master of limitless potential thinks this way, then there’s room for cooperation.’

This was precisely why she had come.

"I know there are many mysterious forces in Ogrande City that are active across those three territories."

"Even..."

Zorn’s eyes narrowed slightly, scrutinizing Lady Gaido before him.

"And one could say that the leader of this force is—Saint Grellele."

"And behind Saint Grellele, there is the one who bears the curse from the High Mountain, the one with the blood of the Gray Mist Giants flowing in their veins—Isaiah!"

"Am I right, Lady Gaido?"

Zorn’s statement made Gaido Isaiah’s pupils contract sharply, and even her smile froze slightly on her face.

Her hand trembled slightly as she set down her coffee cup. It took a moment for the frozen expression on her face to relax.

"You are absolutely right, Mr. Zorn Corick!"

Lady Gaido Isaiah regarded Zorn with a grave expression.

"I never expected you to know so much."

"Then... what is your stance?"

Zorn chuckled, leaning back in his chair.

"Forgive my bluntness, Lady Gaido, but I’m afraid you aren’t quite qualified to discuss my position with me."

"The true power behind you will have to come see me in person. Only then might we have something to discuss."

Lady Gaido Isaiah was taken aback.

"I acknowledge your great power, Mr. Zorn."

"You are also a Baron of Ogrande City."

"Furthermore, you own your own Steam Factory."

"You are a very successful Transcendent noble."

"But I’m afraid that alone is not quite enough."

Zorn couldn’t help but chuckle.

"Whether it’s enough isn’t for you to decide, is it?"

Gaido Isaiah was stunned by his words.

She scrutinized Zorn for a moment before speaking again.

"May I borrow a room?"

"Of course."

Zorn nodded slightly.

Led by Vanessa, Gaido Isaiah took her attendant into a guest room on the second floor.

Vanessa returned to Zorn’s side and whispered.

"Sir, should I go and investigate?"

"No need. We must give our guest some privacy."

Zorn waved his hand.

"Yes."

Vanessa nodded obediently.

Zorn glanced at the ritual wall of gray mist that had formed on the second floor, then looked away.

’It seems the true power behind her has a very strong Gray Mist Giant bloodline. Strong enough to use a ritual to contact Lady Gaido Isaiah.’

’At the very least, it confirms this branch of the Reconstruction Faction isn’t weak.’

’They’ll have a decent amount of influence, even in a new national council, should one be formed.’

’Also...’

Zorn paused.

’The Gray Mist Giants are also terrifying Upper Rankers, just not among the most powerful.’

’The sleeping giants spew forth vast quantities of gray mist, which is the source of all the gray mist in the Northern Border Region.’

’The stronger the Isaiah bloodline becomes, the more Gray Mist Giants will reawaken.’

’The forbidden war between the Upper Rankers might start sooner than I thought.’

’Fortunately, my power is also growing extremely fast.’

’If I can train the Ancient God Curse and a few other Forbidden Curses to a certain proficiency by the time I reach Level Five...’

’...perhaps I could hunt an Upper Ranker myself. Or at the very least, take part in such a hunt.’

Soon, Lady Gaido Isaiah, having finished her ritual, returned to the main hall.

She looked at Zorn and said in a calm voice.

"Mr. Zorn Corick, Miss Grey Mist wishes to meet with you. When are you available?"

"How about the tenth of this month?" Zorn suggested.

"The tenth of October is a fine day!"

Lady Gaido Isaiah nodded slightly.

"We will come for you on that day."

After the Holy Poem Ranger, Lady Gaido Isaiah, took her leave.

’Miss Grey Mist!’

From that title alone, Zorn knew who was truly in charge behind Lady Gaido Isaiah.

’The path of fate is a strange thing indeed!’

He gazed at the colorful autumn leaves falling outside, lost in thought, enveloped by the tranquility of the late autumn afternoon.

’As for whether we can cooperate... that will depend on the price they are willing to pay!’