The sunshine dispelled the clouds, fairly illuminating the world.

All things seemed to be coated in a radiant layer of golden powder, shimmering brightly, yet in unseen corners, it cast increasingly intense shadows of darkness.

A shadow zipped across the clean midday sky, like a fleeting ink line drawn to outline magnificent, vanishing in an instant before falling with the breeze into the verdant forest below.

"Plan A has failed."

On a tree branch, a robin tucked his wings, the small but neat suit that draped his avian body giving him an almost dignified appearance at that moment.

He lowered his head, gazing at the emaciated old man resting under the tree with closed eyes. A flicker of displeasure flashed in his pitch-black bird eyes.

"Moen Campbell is not dead. "

"The intelligence was wrong."

Indra King sat cross-legged, faint particles of starlight and blood forcefully expelled from his body with each breath. They scattered like fireflies, causing the surrounding vegetation to instantly wither.

He opened his eyes, his gaze calm as he remarked indifferently,

"You never mentioned that the Stargazer would appear, and that duke’s son turned out to be much more capable than the rumors suggested."

"...Alright."

Robin fell silent for a moment, tacitly accepting the outcome.

"The good thing is that Plan B worked; everything remains under control."

"Remember our agreement," Indra King remarked as he closed his eyes once again.

"Naturally. We are not like those disgraceful individuals tainted by filthy blood. Honoring contracts is one of our long-standing virtues."

Robin turned his head, concealing any hint of mocking disdain in his eyes as he looked to the side:

"Now that the prey has been successfully lured into the hunting ground, it’s time for you hunters to take the stage."

From the shadows within the forest, several indistinct figures emerged, laughing in a manner that resembled ghoulish sneers.

"Rest assured, Moen Campbell’s head will soon grace the desks of you esteemed lords."

"Great."

Robin flapped his wings and took flight once again, transforming into a black silhouette that streaked across the sky:

"The Inner Council has provided you with the resources you need. Don’t disappoint us."

...

...

“Damn it!”

Pink Bear slammed his fist into a tree, thick enough to require several people to encircle it, shattering it instantly. His expression was ferocious as he roared in anger:

"And still, they managed to succeed!"

The battlefield, already in ruins, had returned to an eerie calm.

Yet the mood of everyone present was somber, for though the enemy had retreated and they were now completely safe, the scene was missing two figures.

Moen.

And... Lea.

In the enemy’s final desperate maneuver, the two were hit by shards of spatial magic. By the time Adolf managed to act, the two had already vanished completely.

Teleported—destination unknown.

Indra King had also succeeded in retreating. After all, as a seasoned Crowned, stopping him wasn’t easily achievable.

“Lord Orlanriel, temper your anger for now. I know you’re deeply concerned about Moen Campbell, but your fury won’t help us now,” Adolf sighed, comforting Pink Bear with a pat on his shoulder.

"Teleportation is all it was; we can’t jump to conclusions just yet..."

"Who’s worried about that brat!?"

Pink Bear interrupted Adolf, suddenly collapsing to his knees, pounding the ground with his fists in grief and rage:

"I’m worried about my cigars and my pin-up photos! Dammit, if I can’t bring that kid back intact to Holy City, that old fossil Pulan will surely kill me!!

My cigars… My Saintess Pin-up 3.0 Gold Limited Edition Plus! Without them, how am I supposed to live...?"

“...”

Adolf’s cheek twitched slightly as he glanced at the group:

"Honestly, why hasn’t Professor Pulan killed this disgraceful fool already?"

The others: “…”

"I think I might know where that kid has been teleported to," Pink Bear suddenly lifted his head and pointed in a certain direction.

"Oh?"

Adolf followed his gaze, looking in the indicated direction, his pupils constricting slightly:

"Deathbane Forest?"

Towering trees formed a distinct boundary, splitting the surface of the earth into two equal halves. In the ominous, dark forest where even light struggled to reach, eerie roars echoed occasionally, sending chills down one’s spine.

"At our pace, no matter how fast the enemy moves, they can't possibly set too many traps."

Pink Bear pulled out a cheap cigar, taking a hard drag and speaking through gritted teeth:

"If they couldn’t directly kill that kid Moen, the best option was separating him from us, then tossing him into a location where outside rescue becomes exceedingly difficult, carefully plotting thereafter.

That’s why they went through such hoops to deploy spatial magic, dammit. The route I meticulously chose ended up giving them an advantage instead."

"This is definitely troublesome."

Hearing Pink Bear’s analysis, Adolf’s expression grew increasingly grave:

"Deathbane Forest is home to that *disaster*, nearly considered a forbidden zone for the Crowned. Any Crowned who sets foot inside will be be regarded as a provocation by that *disaster*."

"So, you and I are practically out of the picture now."

Pink Bear flicked the cigar aside, stomped it out forcefully, and began tidying up the still-intact three carriages before plopping down onto one. He addressed Fannie and the others:

"But this is also a silver lining. At the very least, Indra King won’t be able to pursue and kill that kid anymore. Let’s move on."

"Huh? Move on where?"

Still somewhat puzzled, Fannie and the others instinctively asked.

"To Holy City, obviously."

Pink Bear rolled his eyes: "I promised that old fossil Pulan, and I can’t abandon you lot just because of Moen."

"Then what about Moen?"

"Don’t worry. Next, we’ll pass through the territory of a border governor who used to serve under Moen’s father. Now that Moen is missing, he’ll surely mobilize troops to search. While the forest may house many peculiarities, it lacks anything truly formidable. A military operation will yield results efficiently."

"True. That seems like the best option for now."

Adolf sighed and remarked:

"Having taken all that money, yet losing my employer, I can't help but feel uneasy. Next, I’ll patrol around the forest perimeter to act as a backup if necessary."

"Take this."

"What’s this…?"

Adolf looked down, puzzled by the blood-drop-shaped object Pink Bear had thrown at him.

"I left something on that kid. If he manages to make it out of the forest, you’ll instantly know his location."

"Ah, I see."

Adolf pocketed the blood-drop object, smiling:

"You’re actually quite worried about him, aren’t you?"

"Hmph. Worried about that brat? I’m more worried about whether my niece will kick my ass off!"

Pink Bear snapped the reins:

"We’re off."

"Then I bid you farewell."

Adolf ascended into the sky, blending swiftly into the treetop clouds surrounding the forest and vanishing from sight.

Meanwhile, under Pink Bear’s direction, the carriages resumed their galloping toward the original destination.

...

...

Inside the carriages, the group stared silently at the ever-receding scenery outside.

They were the academy’s finest elite, but even they were struggling to recover their composure after the unexpected events that had transpired.

"Honestly, Moen deserves his reputation, doesn’t he?"

Vicky mused: "Even getting assassinated turns into such a sensational affair. It feels like he operates on a completely different level than us. Wouldn’t you agree?"

She turned to her friend beside her but noticed the latter still deep in thought.

"What’s the matter? Still worried about Moen?"

"A bit, but that’s no longer an issue that I can dwell on."

"Oh? Then what are you thinking about?"

"I’m wondering..."

Fannie lifted her head, her gaze sweeping over the group one by one. She paused and asked in puzzlement:

"Besides Moen and Lea, have we forgotten someone?"