After two weeks of hard work in Stanki, I realized stabilizing it would take months.

But Baha Balm was still in its early stages—I had to be there.

Huh, no other choice?

I’d planned to go to Hohaton myself to find Moo, but that seemed impossible now.

Riding from here to Hohaton took a month, and tracking down Moo would add even more time.

Such a headache.

Huhaha, guess I’d just have to wait longer.

Just as I rubbed my temples, looking troubled—

“Lord Sath, you have a letter.”

A knock sounded at the door.

“Huh, come in.”

A servant entered and handed me the letter on a tray.

【For the Strategist’s Eyes Only】

That’s what was written on the envelope.

Huh, time to read it carefully.

【Respected Strategist,

Recently, most of my tribespeople arrived in Baha Balm from the west.

They now await your arrangements.

Also, Mr. Moo—the one Mr. Karl asked you to find—seems to be among them. I’ll bring him to Stanki to meet you.

Mentu】

Huh?

Moo was Mentu’s tribesman—and already in Baha Balm?

Huh, I needed to sort this out.

Moo, Mentu—they did sound like minority tribe names.

I’d never connected the dots before...

Wait, Moo was from the west too!

That explained everything... Huh, what a wild coincidence.

But if it really was him, it’d save me a ton of trouble.

----------------------------------------------------

A few days later, Mentu arrived in Stanki with a man to see me.

The man he brought was slender; next to Mentu, he looked almost small.

Of course, that was just compared to Mentu. His build was sturdier than mine, and he stood a few centimeters taller.

Huh, his wheat-colored skin, the thin tunic he wore, the tribal ornaments wrapped around him—it was hard to picture him as an administration expert.

He looked more like a swordsman, honestly.

Wait, why was I seeing him as a swordsman?

Huh, that low-key master vibe, like hidden swordsmen in novels.

Don’t judge by appearances, damn it.

While my inner voice ranted, I kept a calm face and exchanged pleasantries.

Not bad, me. No matter the inner chaos, I stayed composed.

“Mr. Moo?”

“Meh, skip the ‘mister.’ Just Moo.”

“Huh, Moo, did you know Mr. Karl?”

“Oh, that guy Karl!”

“He asked us to find you to help Baha Balm.”

“Meh, if you hire me, I’ll say yes gladly.”

Surprisingly straightforward.

“How’s Karl doing these days?”

So he didn’t know Karl was gone. Mentu must’ve held back.

I got why—losing a friend like that would wreck anyone.

“Mr. Karl... has passed away.”

“Oh... gone to that world, huh?”

“Yes.”

Moo fell silent.

“Meh, got any wine?”

“Yes.”

The three of us started drinking.

“No good end for Karl, as expected.”

Huh, Moo badmouthed his friend so bluntly.

“That guy? Stubborn as an ox.”

Huh, true.

“This is Mr. Karl’s keepsake.”

I handed Karl’s chain to Moo.

“This chain... it was my sister’s.”

There was a story here.

“Tch, that kid back then—he chased my sister nonstop.”

Moo couldn’t forgive anyone who touched his sister.

“Dirt poor, yet he clung to her like glue! Hey, my sister deserved happiness!”

“But she liked him too. Seriously, besides reading books, what did he have? I read plenty too!”

That line dripped with resentment.

“What was a southerner like you doing, coming west to scrape by?”

“So I gave him hell. But... he still won her over.”

“...”

Moo didn’t continue.

Why his sister died, how he met Karl—none of it was said.

Those stories were too long.

“I’ll help you.”

“Thank you.”

“No thanks needed. If I’ve got skills, I should use them.”

A simple reason.

No grand speeches.

No lofty ideals.

“Welcome to Baha Balm.”