Hugo and Flynn stood before the main building of the count's residence, waiting for the door to open out of courtesy. Even without looking inside, they could sense the turmoil within.

After several minutes passed, just as Hugo was about to force the door open, the central door swung inward, and the count himself appeared, greeting them with an awkward smile.

"It’s an honor to welcome Your Excellency from such a distant place."

At the count’s words, Hugo fixed him with an unwavering stare before replying.

"Today, I stand here as the commander of the Council’s army. I suggest you refrain from using that title."

"Pardon? The C-Council... you say?"

Count Servia’s politeness was excessive, but expected. Flynn, well aware of his superior’s position, was used to seeing nobles grovel before Hugo. The count, clearly rattled, stood awkwardly before the unannounced visitors at his mansion.

"Haha... what brings the commander of the Council’s army here today..."

His voice trembled as sweat beaded on his forehead, his mind teetering on collapse. He was already nearing a breakdown upon hearing that the Council had entered the neighboring town—now, Hugo Agrizendro himself, practically the head of the Council, had shown up at his doorstep.

Among nobles, visiting someone’s residence uninvited was considered a grave breach of etiquette—but if it was done under the Council’s name, the rules changed entirely.

Count Servia, his mind in disarray, desperately prayed that the grand master of the Delberg Merchant Group and that thug-like mage, who had been here just moments ago, wouldn’t suddenly reappear nearby. Rubbing his hands nervously, he forced a smile and guided them to the reception room.

As Hugo lifted the cup on the table, the steaming tea instantly turned cold. Taking a sip of the chilled liquid, Hugo set the cup down and spoke bluntly.

"My adjutant and I visited the neighboring town on official business. This morning, we apprehended a mage who was tailing us."

"You... arrested a mage?"

The count’s head spun. That mage was undoubtedly the one he had sent. He had ordered his subordinate to investigate the identity of the suspicious outsiders snooping around town.

But never had he imagined that the outsiders the mage was tracking would be none other than Hugo Agrizendro himself. Who would have thought the newcomers in the neighboring town were Council members—let alone their commander and adjutant?

"So," Hugo continued, "do you know anything? About that mage."

"..."

As the count’s lips sealed shut, Hugo leaned back, his cold gaze locked onto him. Though Hugo remained silent, the pressure was suffocating. It felt as if Hugo already knew everything, and the count’s mind raced, scrambling for an answer.

Time dragged on. The crackling of the fireplace faded, the flames steadily dying. As the room chilled, Flynn quietly shivered.

The count, thoroughly unnerved by the icy aura radiating from the commander before him, finally managed to speak, albeit with difficulty. He was certain they’d come prepared, fully aware of the situation.

"Indeed... I sent that mage. I heard rumors of outsiders asking questions in the neighboring town. I merely ordered them followed to investigate—but I never imagined it {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} would be you, Commander."

"You expect me to believe you sent a mage simply to investigate outsiders? That seems... excessive."

Hugo’s voice prodded at the glaring flaw in the count’s story. Silence enveloped the room once more.

"Is there a reason you’re so sensitive to outsiders? Something you're hiding? Something that mustn’t be discovered?"

"N-No, that’s not it!"

Startled by Flynn’s casual remark, the count’s expression twisted with discomfort. Observing his reaction, Flynn suspected the count was hiding something related to the disposal of monster corpses.

Hugo suspected the same. It made sense that the count, harboring a secret, would react defensively to strangers and go as far as sending a mage to spy on them. And that secret, Hugo guessed, might concern the monster corpses.

But what the count finally revealed after a long silence was entirely unexpected.

"The mage followed you because I heard the two of you were looking for Leonardo Blaine. I assumed anyone pursuing such a dangerous man must be dangerous themselves, so I ordered a discreet investigation."

"...Leonardo Blaine?"

Flynn’s eyes widened as he looked to the count, then turned to Hugo, who also wore a puzzled expression. Neither expected that name to surface here. Hugo quickly asked Flynn,

"Flynn Levernil, during your inquiry, did you ever mention his name?"

"Absolutely not. I swear. I only showed the photograph—never revealed his name."

Flynn’s voice was firm, as though making an oath.

"...Which means..."

A faint smile crept across Hugo’s lips. His sharp features became all the more striking with the cold smile. But to the count, clueless about their reaction, it was the most terrifying smile imaginable.

"Someone recognizes his face."

At Hugo’s words, the count realized he'd made a grave mistake.

"How did you know? That the man we’re searching for is Leonardo Blaine? During our inquiry, we only showed his photograph—never once mentioned his name."

The count’s eyes darted anxiously. His mind blanked, desperately retracing his words.

The mage he’d sent to shadow them had reported that the outsiders were showing a photograph—but had failed to mention they never revealed the man’s name. The count, unaware of that detail, had unwittingly exposed himself.

What’s worse, the count hadn’t even seen the photograph himself, and so didn’t realize the "Leonardo Blaine" they referred to wasn’t someone else entirely.

Terror coursed through him as he realized if they discovered that the mage recognized Leonardo Blaine’s face, everything—including the fact that thug-like fellow had been here moments ago—would unravel.

Panic rising, the count’s thoughts echoed the grand master of the merchant group’s suggestion from earlier:

If we leak information about that man first, perhaps we can negotiate with the Council by offering up Blaine.

But what she failed to consider was that the one she’d be negotiating with was none other than Khazhad of the Council—Hugo Agrizendro’s notorious alias, earned for his ruthless principles and cold-blooded nature.

And Hugo despised that nickname. Few dared utter it to his face.

Count Servia knew full well Hugo Agrizendro was not a man to negotiate with. He valued principles and justice above all—any attempt to bargain would only provoke him.

Cornered, the count decided to redirect the crisis toward the grand master of the Delberg Merchant Group, who was already entangled with Leonardo Blaine.

"The Delberg Merchant Group is currently operating within the territory. It was their grand master who informed me."

"The grand master of the Delberg Merchant Group?"

"Yes. When they arrived in Frost territory, the grand master visited my residence to pay respects. During the meeting, they hinted that dangerous outsiders were inquiring about Leonardo Blaine. They suggested I be cautious."

The count lied as skillfully as he could to divert suspicion. The grand master might be enraged when she learned of this, but the count believed she deserved some of the blame for bringing Blaine here in the first place.

He also thought the wisest course was to find her quickly and align their stories before these two left.

Hugo observed the count intently. If the story were true, either the grand master herself was among those they questioned, or someone relayed the information to her.

Hugo immediately thought of the two young men he’d shared drinks with the previous night. They’d introduced themselves as low-ranking members of the Delberg Merchant Group, claiming ignorance about the group’s purpose here.

But if they recognized Blaine’s face yet pretended not to...

Hugo’s mind clicked into place. Before testing the count’s words, there was something else to consider: if that young merchant deliberately hid his knowledge of Blaine’s face yet casually mentioned the monster corpses, which could implicate the merchant group...

"One more question," Hugo said.

"Y-Yes, what is it?"

"I heard an interesting rumor in town. About a fortnight ago, burned monster corpses were discovered on the mountainside. I heard the lord of Frost ordered them collected."

"That’s...!"

"I’d like an explanation."

The count’s face blanched, panic flashing across his features. His lips moved hesitantly before he latched onto what he thought was a plausible excuse.

"Those weren’t monster corpses! They were... animal carcasses."

"...Animal carcasses?"

"Yes, well... as you know, Commander, Frost’s land is dry and barren. It’s unfit for livestock. We import slaughtered meat through the merchant group. There was an accident—a fire broke out. But monsters? That’s absurd. Haha..."

The count forced a laugh, wiping cold sweat from his brow. His excuse was plausible enough to make Flynn briefly waver, but Hugo pressed on.

"A fire broke out? What caused it?"

"Isn’t Frost’s climate notoriously dry? Forest fires happen often. There’s plenty of dry brush. I heard a merchant accidentally dropped a cigarette butt, igniting the flames. The fire spread fast through the dry grass and trees. That’s why I dispatched my water mage to suppress it immediately."

Flynn, listening carefully, cautiously spoke.

"I know forest fires are common here... but what about the fire in the neighboring town last night? It took hours for the guards to arrive after I contacted the Council branch."

"Ah... I’m aware of that. The fire started near town, not the mountains. The detectors were delayed in picking it up."

The count pulled a small device from his inner pocket—a thermal detector.

"I’ve installed these throughout the mountains to detect fires quickly. But fires near residential areas are rare. We didn’t place many detectors there, so detection was delayed."

"May I examine that detector?" Flynn asked.

"...Go ahead."

Reluctantly, the count handed over the device. He believed they’d find nothing unusual—truthfully, the detectors hadn’t sounded the alarm during last night’s fire; they discovered it too late.

Flynn inspected the device from several angles, while Count Servia, watching uneasily, wiped his sweat again and turned to Hugo with a forced smile.

"By the way, Commander... were you the water mage who extinguished last night’s fire?"

"I was."

"Oh, I can’t thank you enough! If not for you, the fire would’ve caused major damage. On behalf of the townspeople, I express my deepest gratitude."

Hugo nodded curtly as the count fawned over him, desperately trying to appease him. Carefully rubbing his hands together, the count continued, adopting a cautious, deferential tone.

"By the way... when will the mage I sent be—"

"We’ll interrogate him. If there are no issues, he’ll be released promptly."

"Ah... thank you."

Though the mention of interrogation unsettled him, the count reassured himself—the Council’s interrogations weren’t brutal, merely formal questioning.

But watching the count, Hugo couldn’t shake the feeling—the water mage they’d caught earlier likely knew far more than expected.