Thanks to the unusual name Cat’s Whiskers Trading Company, Yuder remembered it immediately.

‘Weren’t they the Southern traders who helped our people in the desert?’

They had been the ones Kishiar sent to gather information after learning that Naham had survived despite vanishing during the day of hail. The party—an unusual combination of Nathan Zuckerman, Kanna, Fruelle, and Nipolen—had happened to form a bond with a Southern trading company while exchanging help in that region.

That trading company, Donavi Manaik, meaning "Spotted Cat’s Whiskers," turned out to be affiliated with the Shuden Trading Company.

‘I remember concluding that it would be wise to contact the Shuden Company to establish a long-term relationship with them since we’d likely need a lot more intel from inside the South going forward...’

Kanna must have reported it to Kishiar, but with everything that had happened since, Yuder hadn’t followed up on what came of it. Still, hearing today that Mick Shuden was coming with people from that company implied things had progressed well.

‘He pretends it’s a coincidence, but obviously it isn’t. Mick Shuden must have been busy on many fronts.’

Running a sizable trading company, personally chasing down impostors using their name, and simultaneously strengthening ties with Southern traders—doing even one of those things properly would be difficult for most people.

With that thought, Yuder spoke in a deliberately casual tone.

“Lucky break.”

“Yes, very lucky indeed. I’m hoping they might have some information about what’s been going on... and maybe even some interesting stories about recent developments in the South.”

Kishiar smiled brightly—a smile so perfect it made it clear that the traders’ visit was no accident at all.

Looking at that flawless expression, it was hard to picture the weariness he’d shown just days ago. Yet Yuder hadn’t forgotten that both were equally a part of who Kishiar was.

“I’m looking forward to it. And... I brought a story of my own to share. Would ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) you like to hear it?”

“What kind of story?”

“You remember that before I left for Peleta, I mentioned a name that caught my attention in Pieni’s report.”

Kishiar’s eyes narrowed.

“Yes... you said it was one of the new Northern recruits.”

“Correct. Today, I learned more about the person behind that name.”

The smile slowly faded from Kishiar’s face. As he fixed his calm gaze on Yuder, as if not wanting to miss a single word, Yuder began to speak.

“The recruit’s name is Fay. In my previous life, he was the last Deputy Commander of the Cavalry I appointed. And... he was also to become the third Cavalry Commander after me.”

Yuder relayed everything he remembered about Fay, along with what he’d learned today from the Northern division members and Weliven.

“Elpokin and Gloena joined the Cavalry much earlier in this life, so it’s not exactly shocking that Fay entered earlier, too. But the fact that people trying to incite catastrophe were involved in that process makes it troubling.”

“...”

“Fay himself is still just a recruit, so as you said before, I think asking Kanna and the others to observe him closely is enough for now. But we need to begin investigating those wandering merchants who visited his village immediately. I’m certain they’re the same ones we’ve been tracking.”

“Yes... let’s do that.”

Kishiar nodded slowly. After a moment, he let out a faint, almost imperceptible laugh.

“I’m glad to finally get clarity on something that’s been bothering me... but it makes me want to ask a foolish question.”

“What kind of question?”

After a pause, he replied in a dry voice that sounded uncharacteristically brittle.

“If you had the chance to never see him again... would you take it?”

Yuder blinked.

‘...Never see Fay again? But he’s already rejoined the Cavalry. So why—ah!’

Suddenly, it hit him what Kishiar was really suggesting.

“You’re saying that since we haven’t met face-to-face yet, you could make arrangements so that I don’t have to see him?”

“If necessary.”

“No. That won’t be necessary.”

Yuder answered firmly.

“Whether I see his face or not honestly makes no difference to me. If I thought I needed to avoid him, I wouldn’t have joined the Cavalry in the first place. I wouldn’t even have gone near the Imperial Palace.”

But he hadn’t done that. And he had no regrets about that choice.

Had he chosen revenge, he wouldn’t be here standing before Kishiar like this.

Even without saying it out loud, the message passed clearly between their eyes. After a long pause, Kishiar lowered his gaze.

“...Yeah. I figured you’d say that. Of course you would.”

“......”

“It’s silly, asking something when I already know the answer...”

The man who could charm anyone with his tongue trailed off in a rare moment of silence. But eventually, responding to Yuder’s gaze, he spoke again.

“...Maybe, just for a moment, I thought you might give a different answer this time. Foolish, right?”

Yuder shook his head.

“It’s not foolish. And my answer won’t ever change.”

“Yeah. Got it.”

A faint, wistful smile flickered across Kishiar’s lips—a beautiful expression, but tinged with something sorrowful. Yuder didn’t point it out. Instead, he stepped closer and let himself be pulled into the arms that reached for him. As their bodies pressed close, lips met as if they’d been waiting, the kiss rich and desperate despite them being apart for only a few hours.

Kishiar’s scent, which always grew more intense since arriving in Peleta, wrapped around him—desperate, hungry, possessive. Yuder thought to himself:

‘The Kishiar I know wouldn’t have asked that question. He already asked something similar once. And he knows that. So why ask again...?’

Perhaps Kishiar now saw himself as no different from Fay, or from Kachian, or even from the Cavalry.

As someone Yuder could have chosen revenge against—but didn’t.

As someone Yuder might have chosen never to see again—if he could.

If Kishiar had such thoughts, then Yuder could easily guess what triggered them.

‘It must be from the information he absorbed in that dream...’

Yuder still didn’t know exactly what Kishiar had learned, or where it had led him. He wasn’t in a hurry to find out—but when moments like this gave him glimpses of Kishiar’s pain, it was hard not to feel his own heart twist in response.

Still, he knew that even this pain would eventually dissolve into the great, unnamed feeling that bound him to Kishiar. That everything—love, sorrow, trust, longing—was mingled into something too precious to name.

And he knew it was the same for Kishiar.

So in the end... it was okay.

***

“Well now, it hasn’t been that long since we last met in the South, but it feels like forever, doesn’t it?”

Mick Shuden greeted them with a cheerful grin. He now wore glasses, but otherwise looked the same—his tousled black hair messy like a bird’s nest, unshaven stubble across his cheeks, and the lazy charm of a man who seemed more suited to drinking and lounging than running a major trading company.

Seated beside him were a man and a woman with Southern features, both visibly tense. Though bundled in thick Northern coats that obscured their faces, their expressions were still easy to read. They were the representatives of the Donavi Manaik Company who had come with Mick.

‘Even while nervous, they can’t take their eyes off Kishiar...’

It was only natural. No one could not look at Kishiar when he was actively using his appearance to its full effect. While the two merchants stared half-dazed, Yuder watched them silently—and Kishiar, every bit as shameless as Mick, began to speak.

“Ha! It’s the first time I’ve seen you in glasses, so I’d say this is more like a first meeting than a reunion. They say it’s hard to adjust to them when you get older—are they working for you?”

Mick had previously injured his eyes using Awakener abilities to peer into the deep rift under the Southern sea. Though Lusan and Inon had stopped the bleeding, he was told to protect his eyes for at least a year. Hence the glasses.

Though he didn’t say it outright, Kishiar’s joking tone held a hint of concern. Catching it, Mick grinned and proudly took off his glasses and put them on again.

“Oh yes, just look! Made from monster materials—light as a feather, top quality. I’ve adapted so well, it feels like I was born with them!”

“You still talk like a master salesman. Be careful or I’ll have to demand you offer those up to His Majesty the Emperor as tribute.”

“Goodness, as a trader, of course I talk well. And if it’s for Your Grace and the glorious Emperor of this Empire, I’d gladly offer these glasses or anything else. Just say the word.”

Seeing Mick act far more theatrical than usual made it clear—this was how he behaved when conducting business. Trading witty jabs with Kishiar, he soon shifted the conversation smoothly to the Southerners beside him.

“As you may know, these folks here are representatives of Donavi Manaik, a trusted partner of the Shuden Company. This time, we happened to be traveling the same route. The one on the left is Gohum, and the one on the right is Aym.”

‘Now that I see them in person... they’re definitely different from someone like Aton. Even their eyes are completely different.’

As the two Southerners bowed, one of them cautiously spoke.

“Greetings. I’m Gohum. We were told Your Grace wished to meet with us. May we ask why?”

Today’s objective was to build rapport with Donavi Manaik and directly obtain information about Southern affairs and potential threats.

To do that, they needed to break the tension—shock them just a little and set a tone of honest conversation.

And the man sitting beside Yuder was particularly skilled at that.

“Pleasure to meet you. I am Kishiar la Orr, Duke of Peleta and Commander of the Cavalry. This refined classic beauty beside me is my dear guest and one and only Aide-de-Camp, Baron Yuder Aile. The reason I called for you is simple.”

Without pausing, and leaving no room for anyone to react to his flamboyant praise of Yuder, Kishiar smiled brightly and continued.

“Shall we make a deal?”

“Pardon...?”

Yuder had no doubt—Kishiar would get exactly what he wanted, and it wouldn’t take him more than half a day.