As a wandering warrior, Gavin was also a mercenary for most of his life, although he took on jobs based more on mood than pay.

He knew the mercenaries, who had no faith to speak of. Even if some of them are not afraid of death, their smiles in the face of death are more contemptuous. They don't have the kind of death-defying smiles that are calm to the point of being holy, and fanatical to the point of madness.

"He was a devout believer. "There's an old wound in his chest that you'll have to cut open to find out that he's carved the sign of Nesses into his bones." ”

Ed shuddered involuntarily.

“...... But you're not surprised. Alan looked at him, "You guessed it. ”

Many voices and emotions collide in the mind. They were frantically entangled, along with Ed's overwhelmed soul.

"I've seen it. He spoke with difficulty, tearing his dry tongue from the roof of his mouth with great difficulty, "I've seen one of them in the temple of the Sidney Basin. ”

“...... And yet you didn't tell anyone. ”

Ed couldn't tell if there was blame or not.

"I can't confirm ......," he muttered, "I thought it was just someone who looked very similar...... We used to walk face to face, and he just bowed respectfully to me, and he didn't seem to be a little flustered or afraid......"

He didn't look at all like a murderer with blood on his hands and a guilty slate.

"So you don't even dare ask. "Don't dare ask him, nor Scott—I thought you really cared about the priests and knights who died in the temple of Collins." ”

“...... I care!"

Ed growled, almost jumping.

"And what are you afraid of?" Alan forced his gaze, "afraid to find out that Scott actually knew all this—afraid that he knew exactly who he had teleported from Hilborn Ferry back to Collins...... Is it actually wrong to be afraid that you trust him?"

Ed's face turned pale.

He really couldn't trust Scott to allow the followers of Nethers to harm his former companions...... If even this is shaken, then how much of what he tells him can be believed?

"What the hell are you trying to say?" said Iss, frowning.

"I'd say," Ellen said, sitting precariously, "we can't be led by Scott anymore—yes, it's him, not Ancrane or Lydia...... I know how important he is to you...... He was just as important to me as he was, but it couldn't go on like this. No matter what he wants, even if he has countless last resorts, as long as he has the possibility of being controlled, we must jump off the path he pointed out to us and find another way. ”

“...... He never showed us the way. Isis said, full of resentment.

"Probably not. Alan sighed, "But every time he appears or disappears, every time he acts unexpectedly, you can't help but follow him." He is like a light that is too hot for you to see but Him. ”

Ed thought about it and had to admit that it was true.

"So, what do you want us to see?" said Is, in a stiff tone. He admits that Alan is right, but that doesn't mean he's willing to hear him. What's more, now, who is trying to lead them away?

Alan looked at him. The old man's eyes made the spikes that stood up all over his body retract silently.

"Look at those who hide in the darkness and shadows. Alan replied.

After realizing the true identity of the enemy, Eren and his friends change ways. Ostensibly, they worked tirelessly to find the mercenaries, and found two more of them, and tortured them to death, but secretly, they spared more of them, and just silently watched their every move.

"Every city they visited, every person they touched, every word they spoke...... At first, that seemed pointless. ”

But the long perseverance finally paid off.

"These people are messengers. "If it weren't for the constant focus on them and the people they came into contact with, it would be difficult to spot such a mobile rather than a fixed messenger." ”

“...... How many friends do you have?" Ed finally asked.

Alan smiled.

"A lot. He said, "Friend...... and friends of friends. The hard part is not what they are asked to do, but that they do it without fully knowing what they are for. ”

Split tasks, fragmented clues, boring surveillance day after day, long accumulation and reflection...... At the time when they thought that Alan was in Christus' peaceful "retirement", the old man might have done much more than they did.

"We ...... Actually, you can help......" Ed whispered with some guilt.

Alan shook his head: "Too many pairs of eyes are staring at you. It's true that you don't have the brains to run around, but the enemies who are watching you secretly are probably comforting. ”

Such teasing made the corners of Is's mouth twitch, and even Ed, who had always been thick-skinned, blushed slightly.

In short, the followers of Nesses have their own organizations in many places. Alan lowered his eyes and hid an involuntary smile on his lips, "They all have different tasks. In the current situation, there are some that may be more concerning. ”

He dipped his fingers in the water and drew a zigzag line on the table. Looking at the map for days, Ed could tell at a glance that it was the Vinez River.

Then Allen nodded a little at the north and south ends of the river.

"Neo City. "Héctor Kahlo is the person with whom the messengers have the most contact." He's been active lately, so often that he seems to have no intention of hiding it. This is a far cry from the low-key image he's always had, and Archmage Tari may have changed recently. ”

"Balach. "His finger moved to the north," said Balach City, which has had a few slight ground movements lately. I asked the pastor of Andukh and it was man-made...... The latest news is that the lord of Balahe, the consul of Anktan, has asked them to remain silent. And in that city, some of the followers of Nethers have been very unusual lately. ”

"Silence......" Ed muttered repeated, "Doesn't that cause panic?"

When danger strikes, people who don't get any explanation brew all sorts of rumors, and rumors usually only bring more confusion.

"Eli Croefler is said to be going back to Balach. "That's his city, the place his family guards...... I don't think he's going to want to cause any confusion. ”

Ed's eyes lit up: "...... He wants to take advantage of people's panic!"

.