As soon as Shalotte slipped in last and carefully pushed the door shut behind him.
For a moment, no one spoke.
Then, almost at the same time, everyone let out a quiet breath.
The tension they had been carrying since the canyon, barren land, and desert… all settled, but didn't disappear.
Kiel spun his chair slightly before sitting, then leaned forward, resting his arms on the table.
Klaus took the last seat near the corner, relaxed as always, one arm draped over the backrest.
"So," Kiel said, glancing around the room, "what now?"
Shalotte stayed by the door a second longer, as if to make sure it was properly closed. Only then did he turn around.
"W-we wait," he said, walking carefully toward a chair. "And prepare. Boss will probably explain everything once he gets back."
Ulon leaned, the wooden chair groaned. Tilted his head back, staring at the ceiling.
"Don't be impatient, kid," he said lazily. "War isn't as simple as you think."
Kiel frowned slightly.
"I'm not saying it's simple," he muttered.
Klaus, looking at the afternoon sky outside. Didn't bother to look back.
"Also," he added calmly, "you'll be there as support."
Kiel glanced at him.
"There's no scenario where you'll be killing a Goblin General," Klaus continued, "not to mention a Goblin King."
Kiel sat up straighter.
"…Are they really that strong?"
He scratched his head.
"The goblins we fought before were just… fodder."
Klaus shifted his gaze slightly, though his expression remained relaxed.
"A Goblin General," he said, "requires at least two, no three Keepers to eliminate."
He paused, as if recalling something.
"One of them was Samantha Hawk, then Priestess Illumi… and another."
He didn't say the second name.
He didn't need to.
Then he continued,
"As for a Goblin King… four Keepers were deployed."
The room grew quieter.
"And they still lost."
Kiel blinked.
"…Seriously?"
Klaus tilted his head slightly.
"Tell me," he said, voice even, "how does a four-star subjugator party compare to a Keeper party?"
No one answered immediately.
Ulon, who had been staring at the ceiling, shifted his eyes toward Klaus, watching him more closely than usual.
Kiel, however, leaned back again and waved a hand.
"…Sounds boring then," he said. "If it's just goblins, it should be easy."
Maddy, who had been sitting by the table cleaning her gloves, stopped.
She looked at him sharply.
"Don't underestimate goblins," she said. "Plenty of rookies die to them."
Kiel frowned.
"I'm not a rookie anymore."
Ulon snorted.
"But you think like one."
Kiel clicked his tongue.
Before he could argue, Ulon turned his head toward Klaus again.
"Have you fought goblins before?"
The question sounded casual.
But it wasn't.
There was weight behind it, and Klaus knew it.
'This cunning priest is on it again.'
Klaus met his gaze briefly.
"Yes," he said. "Before I even had a name."
Kiel's eyes lit up slightly.
"That's impressive, Mr. Klaus—"
"Not as impressive as Petra."
Ulon cut him off, sitting up now and pointing across the room.
Petra, who's sitting quietly beside Maddy, fidgeting with her hands on her lap, froze.
"M-me?"
Ulon grinned.
"Yep. The one who carved her own name."
He spread his arms.
"Does anyone here have that kind of feat?"
Petra lowered her head slightly and continued fidgeting with her fingers.
"It… it was an accident," she said softly. "During the trial…"
Maddy immediately shook her head.
"Don't downplay it, Petty."
Her tone softened a little.
"Be proud of that."
She leaned back in her chair.
"You're on the same level as names like Peonome Webbleton—the once-in-a-century mage—or Jason Saphood, the Light Inheritor."
Petra shook her head quickly.
"But… they call me 'the Heathen One'."
Her voice dropped slightly at the last words.
A small silence followed.
Then Ulon chuckled, "Of course they do."
He leaned back again, "Churches hate anything they can't control."
Klaus added quietly, "Not just churches."
He rested his chin on his hand. "Any ruler dislikes independence."
Petra didn't reply.
But her shoulders relaxed just a little.
—
Then—
Footsteps.
Light. Steady. Measured. And confident.
Everyone went quiet.
The sound stopped just outside the door.
The handle turned. The door opened without a creak… and closed just as softly.
Shane stepped inside.
Dust still clung faintly to his coat, but his posture remained straight, composed as ever. His eyes swept across the room once, taking in everyone—their seats, their expressions, their silence.
They were all waiting.
Ulon didn't even try to hide it this time.
He leaned forward over the table, elbows planted, fingers loosely clasped, his grin gone and replaced by something sharper.
"So," he said, impatience slipping through his voice, "what's the catch, boss?"
The room held still.
Shane, seated at the head of the table, let out a quiet sigh. He rested his hands together, eyes lowered for a brief second as if arranging his thoughts, then looked up at them—calm, steady, unreadable.
"Kultians have been escorted into my state," he began. "Their permits are already signed and approved."
Maddy's brows knit slightly.
"That fast?" she muttered.
Shane continued as if he hadn't heard.
"As for the Keepers' request… they're already in town."
That got everyone's attention.
Even Klaus, who had been half-lounging in his chair, shifted his gaze slightly.
"They've met with Mr. Hudson," Shane added. "He said he would wait for us before making any decision."
A small pause.
"But now that we're here… he wants me to meet them and negotiate."
Ulon leaned back, exhaling through his nose.
"So we're in it now?"
Shane didn't hesitate.
"Yes."
The word settled heavily on the table.
Maddy clicked her tongue softly, then crossed her arms tighter.
"And the crystal?" she asked. "What about that?"
Shane shook his head once.
"I haven't spoken to Mayor Gordon yet," he said. "I'll update you once that's settled."
Klaus tapped his finger lightly against the table, then tilted his head.
"Anything else?"
Shane glanced at him, then reached into his coat. He pulled out a small leather pouch and slid it across the table.
It stopped right in front of Klaus.
"Your share," Shane said. "Thirty gold coins for the mission. As for the others, I will transfer your coins to your account."
He continued with a lower voice, "As for the other one, I'll update everyone once the items are sold and calculated."
The faint clink of coins inside the pouch broke the tension for a second.
Klaus picked it up, weighed it in his hand, then gave a small nod.
"Can I go now?"
He stood up immediately, as if the meeting had already ended for him.
Ulon let out a short laugh.
"There's our typical Slouch," he said. "Gets his coin, then walks away."
Klaus slung the pouch casually into his coat.
"What can I do?" he replied lightly. "I have no business here."
Shane watched him for a moment.
"Aren't you going to ask about the war plan?"
Klaus's hand rested on the back of his chair. He didn't sit again.
"I'm not going."
The answer came easily.
No hesitation.
Shane gave a small nod.
"Suit yourself," he said. "No one's persuading you anyway."
Klaus turned and walked toward the door.
His steps were quiet, unhurried.
But just as his hand reached for the handle, he stopped.
Then he glanced back.
"By the way," he said, "I need something."
Shane's eyes narrowed slightly—not in suspicion, but interest.
"Tell me."
Klaus's expression didn't change.
"I need explosive powder."
A brief silence followed.
Ulon raised a brow.
Maddy blinked.
Shalotte almost spoke, then stopped himself.
Shane leaned back slightly.
"There's no such thing as explosive powder," he said.
Then, after a short pause, he added,
"But… there are stones. Highly reactive when combined."
His tone turned more practical.
"They can create an explosion."
Klaus gave a small nod.
"That'll do."
He opened the door halfway, then paused again.
"Let's talk business the day after tomorrow."
And just like that—
He left.
The door closed softly behind him.
—
For a moment, no one spoke.
Then Shane exhaled quietly and shifted his attention to the rest.
"Alright," he said, voice firm again, "we don't have time to waste."
Everyone straightened slightly.
"We need reinforcements," Shane continued. "Try to recruit four-star subjugators. Retired, inactive—doesn't matter."
He placed both hands on the table.
"I'll speak with the Silkswords, the Brotherhood, and Tatterhide."
A faint pause.
"I'm hoping at least two of those parties will join us."
Ulon scratched his cheek.
"You sure you want the old bloods?" he said. "They're all grumpy."
Kiel smirked slightly.
"Just like you."
Ulon's head snapped toward him.
"…Say that again."
Kiel immediately looked away.
"Nothing."
Shalotte quietly scooted his chair a little farther from Ulon.
Shane ignored the exchange.
"They're veterans," he said. "They've fought in all kinds of battles."
His voice remained calm, but there was weight behind it.
"Yes, they're past their prime. But they'll still be a huge help."
Maddy uncrossed her arms.
"I'll talk to Silkswords," she said. "Keyla might agree."
Shane nodded once.
"Good."
He looked around the table—at each of them.
Tired. Worn. But still steady.
"I think that's all for now," he said.
A brief pause.
"There's no battle plan yet."
That alone made the room feel heavier.
"So use the time we have."
His gaze sharpened slightly.
"We have one month before the attack."
Silence followed.
Then—
"Don't waste it."
No one spoke after that.
But this time—
Everyone understood.
One by one, every member of the Shieldbreaker party went out, leaving Shane alone.
He looked at the blue sky at the window, and muttered, "Father, next month I will avenge you from the one who wounded you."
He paused, took the pocket watch from his pocket, "But very soon, I will avenge you from the man who took your life."