After resting for a while, according to the plan made in advance, the group of four took a carriage to Grimm, a border city of the Kingdom of the French Kingdom.

During this period of rest, Ivan got a general idea of the damage to Fort Webster.

Although all the ordinary magicians in the city were mobilized at that time, in the flood of wizards and elemental elves, even those ordinary magicians suffered heavy casualties, not to mention the guards who could not use magical powers. The wizards made a beeline for the office, wrecked along the way, kidnapped the clerk and destroyed the office, and then quickly left, leaving only a warning and a declaration of war.

So now, Webster Fortress is shrouded in an atmosphere of panic, anger, and preparedness.

In the darkness of the night, the pitch-black carriage silently circled the back of Webster Fortress, avoiding the road leading to the Takamo crater and into the Kingdom of Madland. With the Executor's unique badge and the prior contact with the Wizard Alliance, they were able to get help from the soldiers defending the city of the Kingdom of Phatland and stayed in the city temporarily.

Early the next morning, they set off for the Taka Desert crater to begin their covert operation to rescue the clerk. Ivan stayed in a small room arranged by the soldiers, checking the map over and over again, and he had to keep the route in mind.

Snow flakes fall from the stillness of the night. Winter nights, unfamiliar cities, and unknown tomorrows seem to be soaked in cool air, making it difficult to sleep.

In the silence, Ivan suddenly heard a knock on the wooden plank, and he was startled, not knowing when his nerves had tensed. Immediately after, there was a sound outside the door.

"I'm Carlo Plante. ”

“......”

Ivan opened the door in confusion and looked up at Carlo. Carlo is the person he knows most in this industry, and although he is difficult to get along with, he is definitely not a bad person. Carlo turned his head in surprise, then turned away, stopped after a few steps, and beckoned Ivan to follow him.

It was still snowing outside, and on the icy walls in front of them, foreign guards patrolled along the repetitive routes. Ivan saw the black mountain shadow in the distance, like a lurking giant beast, about to open its bloody mouth.

"Where are you taking me?" Ivan noticed that Carlo had reached the corner where no one was around. There are no street lights, only the faint light reflected from the snow on the houses. Carlo stood and turned, his expression as calm as ever.

Then, he said in a tone that was devoid of inhibition in his presentation.

"Ballan suspects that you are a pawn arranged by Flotica, and he wants to use this mission to get rid of you. ”

"Oh. Ivan replied softly.

Perhaps it was because Carlo's topic was a little too abrupt, and after a while, Ivan felt a chill begin to run through his fingertips, and the cold air gradually penetrated into all his veins like a poisonous snake.

"Yes...... However, I have nothing to do with Mistress Flotica. ”

He didn't know what to explain, and the sudden fear caused an uncomfortable suffocating sensation, and his throat seemed to be clogged. He didn't think of it? He didn't think that Balran would be able to do this!

In silence, the cold wind whistled overhead, and Ivan couldn't help but shiver.

"It's a dangerous mission, and Ballan doesn't think you can succeed. Carlo explained.

"Probably...... That's right. Ivan felt his voice become dry, and he slowly lowered his head, staring at the snow falling from his boots, his heart empty, but soon, his heart twitched, and he suddenly became annoyed.

"He doesn't care if the clerks live or die? He doesn't want to save them?"

"Ballan won't care. Save the clerk first, this is the decision of Flotica's faction. Carlo's voice seemed dry, too, and after a pause, Carlo continued.

"The puppets in the labyrinth have been replaced, and the kind of puppets are not suitable for the assessment of the executor. Indeed, you have met the requirements of the executor. ”

“......”

Ivan didn't know what to say, or even what kind of expression to use. He thought it was a little ridiculous, and he didn't even notice that he had been calculated. How could he have thought that Ballan was so suspicious, so paranoid, so neurotic...... Putting people to death?

"But I'm really not a pawn of Lord Flotica......"

Is it still useful to say this? It's come to this point, and even regrets have become impossible. He couldn't have left Carlo, Tracy and Darren, and the trapped clerks to run away on their own, and Ballan would have seized the handle, and he didn't know what to do with him. There was no way back for him.

"Ballan underestimates your abilities. Carlo said lightly, his black pupils lit up slightly. Ivan was stunned, Carlo meant...... Does he think the plan can succeed?

If he could really accomplish this task, even Ballan would have nothing to say!But, would it be so smooth? Ivan's eyes kept flickering. When he learned of Balran's plot, he began to find the plan very unreliable. Bribing wizards with money? Are the people of the Wizards Society so lucrative? Susie is talking about a bunch of crazy people! Not even afraid of death!

"Tomorrow—" Carlo stared earnestly at Ivan's face, as if trying to see through something, "if the identity is discovered by the wizards, kill them, and come back." ”

“...... What?"

Ivan's brain was buzzing, and before he could react from the unbelievable shock, it was as if he had been slapped in the head again. What is Carlo talking about? Kill ...... Kill the wizard?

"You should be able to deal with a small number of patrolling wizards. You are the executor, more important than the clerk, the alliance will understand your actions, and the executor sent to investigate does just that. ”

"But—"

"They must be killed, or the wizards will know our plans and will not be able to proceed with future operations. Make them think that the wizards were killed by the scouting executors—" Carlo paused for a few seconds, "before they had a chance to reformulate their plans and rescue the clerks. ”

Ivan was stunned.

Carlo stared at him sternly, and for a moment, it was so quiet that only the cold wind and the relentless solo remained. Half-paid, Ivan Mumu nodded.

"Well, I'...... I'll try to gain their trust. He slumped his shoulders as if resigned, "Uh, thank you." ”

The last word was uttered in a faint voice, and I wonder if Carlo heard it. Carlo remained motionless, his expression unchanged, just staring at him wordlessly.

"His Highness Rey and I used to be friends. ”

Suddenly, Carlo spat out a headless sentence and walked back. Ivan was stunned for a moment, silently following his footsteps. Disappointment, panic, distress and a little emotion mixed in his chest, and gradually turned into indescribable complex feelings.

Actually, Carlo didn't want him to die......

In such a cold winter, perhaps only this thought can make people feel a little more at ease.