"King Garp has gone missing from the palace?! Is this news reliable?"

Alice had just taken a sip of tea to calm her nerves after meeting Peter in his office when his bombshell made her jolt upright in her seat.

Peter’s expression turned grave. "My informant inside the palace overheard it by chance. Indeed, King Garp hasn’t received any ministers for days. He’s been oddly passive about Daisy’s rebellion. We assumed he was shattered by Bruno’s betrayal—but it seems we were all deceived. After hearing this, I checked with the military. A squad of Royal Guards secretly left the capital. Their commander’s identity is unknown... but it’s likely Garp himself."

Larry’s voice dropped low. "Where are they headed?"

"I sent a veteran scout to track them. They’re moving toward Aetron County."

Alice frowned. "Aetron County? Didn’t Garp cede that territory? What’s he doing there? The handover isn’t due yet—unless..."

Peter nodded grimly. "His personal involvement suggests he’s accelerating the land transfer."

Alice’s confusion deepened. "What’s his game? Is he a Jeep spy? Has he been turned? Or did Jeep offer him something?"

Peter shook his head with a bitter smile. "No one knows what’s in his mind anymore."

"Not necessarily Jeep’s doing," Larry cut in. "Don’t forget his other partner."

"The Soulspirit Clan?" A sharp glint flashed in Alice’s eyes.

"Then we’re visiting the palace again tonight."

...

In the wilderness near Aetron County, an army of nearly a thousand camped under the open sky.

Leading them was Danka Kingdom’s king—Garp.

His face was haggard, his once-golden hair now half-bleached with white. The news of his son Bruno’s betrayal had nearly felled him.

"Is this my punishment?" Garp muttered bitterly. "How cruel."

"So what? He was just one heir. You still have others. Like your eldest son," came Marjory’s icy voice from Garp’s shadow.

The words only darkened Garp’s expression. His eldest son—held as a "guarantee" of their cooperation—was Marjory’s hostage. Garp didn’t know where he was imprisoned. He’d already written the boy off. These Soulspirits kept no promises. Even if his son returned... *would he still be himself?*

Now, only Bruno remained. And his betrayal had sealed Garp’s resolve.

"I’ve contacted Jeep," Garp stated coldly. "Their troops are marching toward Aetron County. See that your side makes no mistakes."

"Rest assured. I’ve prepared thoroughly," Marjory replied, confidence dripping from his voice. "Once those troops enter Aetron, I’ll activate the ritual. They’ll become our Soulspirit army. Then I’ll crush all rebellions for you."

"How utterly dependable," Garp murmured, lowering his head. His thoughts were unreadable.

...

"So he really ran?"

Alice and Larry had combed the entire palace without triggering the Soulspirits’ detection this time.

"If I’m right," Larry analyzed, "they left with Garp for Aetron County."

"What could possibly be there to tempt the Soulspirits?" Alice wondered aloud. Then her eyes widened. "If Garp’s rushing the land handover to Jeep, wouldn’t Jeep need to deploy forces immediately?"

Larry nodded. "Land transfers aren’t child’s play. They require personnel handovers and troop deployments—" He froze, staring at Alice. "You mean... he’s targeting Jeep’s army?!"

"This sudden transfer disrupts both nations. Jeep can’t prepare properly. But with Danka’s civil war raging and Garp’s throne at risk, the treaty might be voided. Jeep won’t refuse an early handover."

"To secure the territory unprepared," Larry finished, sucking in a breath, "they’ll send massive forces. Garp’s luring Jeep’s army into a Soulspirit trap!"

"Exactly," Alice hissed. "Soulspirits can infest any host—but the host’s strength shapes the new Soulspirits’ power. Jeep’s a militaristic powerhouse. Their elite troops are perfect vessels."

Larry’s jaw tightened. "If this succeeds, Jeep will be crippled. Garp uses the Soulspirits to eliminate Danka’s greatest threat... buying his kingdom time to breathe."

Though unconfirmed, their theory felt solid. Since overhearing Garp’s speech at the banquet, they’d sensed his complexity—and his lack of malice toward Danka.

Alice’s face darkened. "We must reach Aetron County now!"

If the Soulspirits succeeded, they might spare Danka as collaborators—but the surrounding nations would face a cataclysm. An army of high-grade Soulspirits could cost countless lives to eradicate. Two S Rank Adventurers failing to prevent such a disaster? The Adventurers Guild would brand them cowards for life. Their own consciences would never allow it.

Larry’s eyes sharpened. "We must warn Daisy. Tell her to prepare."

"Prepare for what? Her rebel army can’t fight Soulspirits."

"Not to fight—to seize the aftermath." Larry’s gaze swept the big picture. "Think: the sitting king rushes to surrender territory to a foreign power while conspiring with the Soulspirits—a clan publicly hunted by the Guild. Meanwhile, Daisy risks her life defending Danka from invaders. The contrast will make her a national hero. Her ascension to queen becomes inevitable."

Alice clapped Larry’s shoulder. "You’ve schemed even this far? I dub thee... Dark Strategist."

Larry rolled his eyes. "What a ridiculous title. We’ve no time. Even if we’re faster, we must reach Aetron first."

Alice whipped out her flying broom. "Aetron County it is. Off we go!"