In the meeting room, the atmosphere was much heavier than during the anniversary.
Saito sat at the head of the table while the mayors, Kaito, Bomb, Takeru, Kuro, and Shiro listened.
Shiro looked at the red mark report and sighed.
"So you got threatened by Rin, huh."
Saito nodded.
"From what I heard...he might be the dangerous one."
Shiro leaned back in his chair.
"Indeed."
"Even I don't know what his goal in life is."
He counted on his fingers.
"Fun."
"Kill."
"Destroy."
"Betray."
"Who knows."
The room fell silent.
John frowned.
"That's not very reassuring."
Kuro crossed his arms.
"It gets worse."
Everyone looked at him.
Kuro continued.
"Rin doesn't usually stay in one place."
"He appears."
"He causes trouble."
"Then disappears."
Takashi adjusted his glasses.
"So we can't predict his movements."
"Great."
Fein looked at Shiro.
"Can you beat him?"
Shiro thought for a moment.
"Probably."
Then added.
"But catching him is another matter."
Kaito finally spoke.
"So what do we do?"
Everyone looked toward Saito.
Saito stayed quiet for a moment before saying,
"We do what we always do."
Bomb smirked.
"Which is?"
Saito grinned.
"We wait for him."
Kuro groaned.
"That's not a plan."
Saito pointed at the table.
"It is now."
At the center of Lorum Village, Tina threw her hands into the air.
"Again?!"
Feina laughed proudly while holding up two fingers.
"Paper beats rock."
"I win."
Tina pouted so hard her cheeks puffed up.
"It's not fair!"
Feina put her hands on her hips.
"The game doesn't change just because you lose."
"You definitely cheated."
"How do you cheat at paper-scissors-rock?"
Tina opened her mouth.
Then stopped.
"...I don't know."
Feina burst out laughing.
Before Tina could demand a rematch, the ground began to tremble slightly.
Marching.
Both girls turned toward the road.
A long line of Hiraki soldiers was already gathering at the village center.
Their armor shined under the morning sun.
Wolfbeasts and humans stood side by side holding spears and shields.
At the front, Gein rode his horse while wearing full armor.
The horse snorted proudly.
Gein looked over the formation.
His voice boomed across the square.
"Today we patrol our territory!"
The soldiers immediately straightened.
"We search for enemies!"
"If you find anything suspicious, report it immediately!"
Several soldiers shouted back.
"Yes, sir!"
"Understood!"
Gein nodded approvingly.
Nearby, Rick suddenly raised his hand.
"I want to come too."
Everyone looked at him.
Gein blinked.
"...Rick."
"No offense."
"But this isn't a vegetable delivery."
"It's dangerous."
Rick crossed his arms.
"Exactly."
Gein sighed.
"You're not helping your case."
Fein stepped beside them.
"You sure about this?"
Rick nodded.
"Of course."
"Whenever trouble happens, I always stay behind."
He pointed at himself.
"This time I want to help Saito too."
Fein rubbed his forehead.
"You're as stubborn as he is."
Rick smiled proudly.
"I'll take that as a compliment."
"I didn't mean it as one."
Rick ignored him.
Gein looked between them before giving up.
"Fine."
"You stay with me."
Rick raised a fist.
"Excellent."
Then Fiona suddenly appeared behind him.
"Dad."
Rick froze.
Slowly turning around.
"...Hello, Fiona."
Fiona narrowed her eyes.
"Where are you going?"
Rick pointed toward the soldiers.
"Just a little patrol."
"Bad idea."
"I'll be back quickly."
"Worse idea."
Several soldiers tried not to laugh.
Rick pointed dramatically at himself.
"Have faith in your father."
Fiona immediately answered.
"No."
The soldiers burst out laughing.
Even Gein coughed to hide a smile.
Rick looked wounded.
"That hurt."
Fiona folded her arms.
"Good."
Gein finally raised his trumpet.
The loud horn echoed throughout the village.
BWOOOOOOO!
The soldiers immediately grabbed their weapons.
Gein pointed forward.
"Move out!"
The formation began marching.
Boots struck the road in unison.
Rick hurried after Gein.
"Wait for me!"
Fiona watched them leave and sighed.
"...He's definitely getting lost."
Beside her, Tina nodded seriously.
"One hundred percent."
And the patrol force disappeared beyond the village gates.
Inside the mansion, the atmosphere was serious.
A map of Blue Scarf territory was spread across the table.
Saito stood before it while Bomb, Kaito, and Takeru listened.
Saito pointed at one part of the map.
"Bomb."
Bomb looked up.
"You go to Bypass Village with Mayor John."
Bomb nodded.
"Got it."
Then Saito pointed somewhere else.
"Kaito."
Kaito crossed his arms.
"Hiraki Village?"
Saito nodded.
"I want you there."
Kaito sighed.
"Looks like no wine for me today."
Saito ignored him and looked at Takeru.
"Takeru."
"Go to Kor Village with Fein."
Takeru immediately nodded.
"Understood."
Saito looked at the three of them.
"If Rin really enters our territory, I don't want our villages unprotected."
The room became quiet.
Bomb cracked his knuckles.
"So if something happens?"
Saito grinned.
"Beat them up."
Bomb smiled.
"Simple enough."
Kaito shook his head.
"Such an inspiring strategy."
Saito pointed at him.
"It worked so far."
"Unfortunately."
Takeru chuckled.
Then Saito looked at all three.
"Protect your places."
"Report immediately if you find anything suspicious."
The three nodded.
Then Bomb asked,
"What about you?"
Saito looked toward the window where the Blue Scarf flag fluttered outside.
"I'll stay here."
"Lorum is the capital."
"If something happens, it'll probably happen here."
Kaito stared at him for a moment before nodding.
"Try not to start a war while we're gone."
"No promises."
"Saito."
"I'm joking."
Bomb and Takeru laughed while Kaito looked completely unconvinced.
A few moments later, the three prepared to leave for their assigned villages while Saito remained in Lorum, waiting for whatever move Rin would make next.
After Kaito, Bomb, and Takeru left the village, the mansion felt much quieter.
Saito stood near the window watching them leave through the gate.
Once they disappeared from sight, he turned to Takashi.
"Takashi."
Takashi looked up from his documents.
"What?"
Saito sat down.
"Do we have any Invoker with the same power as you?"
Takashi adjusted his glasses.
"Unfortunately, no."
"I'm the only one."
Saito frowned and began thinking.
The room became quiet for a moment.
Then he nodded.
"Alright."
Takashi waited.
Saito pointed toward the village outside.
"We'll protect Lorum together."
Takashi raised an eyebrow.
"And your brilliant plan?"
Saito ignored the sarcasm.
"If anything happens, use your skill."
"Block their path."
"Don't let them get close to the village gate."
Takashi nodded.
"That I can do."
Saito leaned back in his chair.
"Good."
Takashi looked at him.
"You seem calmer than I expected."
Saito smiled slightly.
"Because panicking won't help."
Then his expression became serious.
"And if Rin really comes..."
He looked out the window toward the peaceful village.
"I don't want our people caught in the middle."
Takashi followed his gaze and nodded.
For now—
all they could do was wait.
Across all of Blue Scarf territory, the atmosphere had changed.
The celebration was over.
Now—
it was vigilance.
At Hiraki Village, patrols moved through the streets in tight formation.
The gate stood wide open, but heavily guarded.
Kaito stood at the main entrance, arms crossed, staring into the distance.
Ling and Jori stood beside him, scanning the roads.
Ling spoke quietly.
"No movement so far."
Jori nodded.
"Too quiet."
Kaito didn't respond immediately.
Then he muttered,
"That's what makes it worse."
At Kor Village, the tone was even more urgent.
Takeru's voice echoed through the streets.
"Move everyone to the warehouse!"
"Now!"
Villagers hurried through the streets, carrying children and belongings.
Soldiers guided them quickly but calmly.
A mother clutched her child tightly as they entered the large warehouse structure.
Takeru stood outside, watching every direction.
Fein walked beside him.
"If Rin appears here, we won't have much space to fight."
Takeru nodded.
"Then we don't let him reach here."
At the border roads—
a long caravan moved slowly.
Grizzly Village civilians were being escorted away from their home.
Gein rode at the front.
Rick followed beside the carts, constantly checking behind them.
A child peeked out nervously.
"Why are we leaving?"
Rick forced a smile.
"Just a safety trip."
Gein looked ahead.
"Hollow Gang territory is too close."
"We can't risk it."
Behind them—
their village slowly disappeared from view.
At Bypass Village, tension was silent but sharp.
Bomb stood on the rooftop.
Wind pushed against his coat.
Below him, Kuro leaned against the wall with his arms crossed.
Bypass Invokers were stationed at key points along the gate and rooftops.
Kuro spoke quietly.
"They're waiting for something."
Bomb grinned slightly.
"Good."
"Let them come."
But even he didn't sound completely relaxed.
At the center of everything—
Lorum Village.
The capital of Blue Scarf territory.
Saito stood on the mansion balcony.
His eyes scanned the village below.
Soldiers patrolled the streets.
Guards reinforced the gates.
Civilians moved more cautiously than before.
Saito exhaled slowly.
"…This time."
"We need to be extra careful."