“If a mad dog claims it’s not mad, who would believe it…….”

A lie so unbelievable that not even a fiveyearold child would believe it, yet he called it a secret known only to himself.

Though sincere, Hades spat out such a jokelike statement, leaving Latifa, taken aback, to just let out a hollow laugh.

“You have a nasty personality. Expecting others to believe your secrets while you won’t believe theirs.”

“That’s……”

He was caught off guard in an instant.

Latifa was considering, feeling the strange heat emanating from Hades’ finger tip, teasing her hair.

Should she really reveal her secret to this man?

Was it alright to reveal her mysterious ability, a secret her mother had strictly told her to hide, to Hades Caleb, a stranger and neither a friend nor a compatriot of the Empire?

‘To make him believe that rain is coming, I must tell the truth.’

“Now, come on. What’s your secret?”

With no other choice in response to Hades’ urging, Latifa eventually sighed deeply and mumbled,

“I can talk to animals. So I’ve heard what the animals say. They’re all moving to higher ground because the rain is coming.”

Latifa tightly closed her eyes. She anticipated the words that would follow.

‘Mad,’ or ‘Insane,’ such comments were obvious.

Prepared for the disbelief that would follow, Latifa was startled by Hades’ words and turned to face him. Strangely, his lips were forming a straight line.

“What animal?”

“……? Do you really believe me?!”

Latifa timidly asked. Hades then whispered softly, continuing to play with her flowing hair.

“Didn’t we agree to exchange secrets?”

“I can’t believe you trust me right away……!”

“I wasn’t wrong then.”

“What?”

“From the hunting dogs to the mad horse. And although I still don’t understand everything, if you have the ability to talk to animals, everything makes sense.”

“Oh, you knew?!”

“What did you think I brought you to the desert for?”

‘Indeed, this man is not ordinary. He knew everything!’

“Who else knows?!”

“I’m not stupid enough to blab about such things.”

“Uh…”

Thinking back, there were several clues that he had noticed.

His persistent questioning about the hunting dogs, how easily he found the mad horse’s sibling, and the fact that he said he needed Latifa’s ability.

Latifa couldn’t shake the feeling that she was always in Hades’ palm. She had to admit that she had failed in her effort to hide her ability all along.

Hades grabbed Latifa’s shoulders, looking her in the eyes.

“You haven’t had the audacious thought that I might have taken you to heart as a woman, have you?”

At his words, Latifa could only make the most incredulous face she had ever made.

‘What? Taken to heart as a woman? Do you think I would fall head over heels for the general of the enemy country just because he’s goodlooking?’

The force in Hades’ hands on her shoulders was getting stronger. A prideful Latifa stared at him and shrugged his hands off.

“I thought it was suspicious that you were being overly gracious, but I never thought that way, not even once.”

“Smart. That will make things easier. You said it’s going to rain? Tell me in detail. We don’t have time now.”

Hades hurriedly gathered the scattered scrolls inside the tent and spread them on the chests, urging her to tell him in detail.

When Hades continued to be absent, Manus entered the command tent, knelt down, and saluted. He asked for a decisive order on what to do next.

Logically, it would have been right to boldly reduce the number of the marchers and select only the remaining ones to go to the Grand Bazaar. Everyone couldn’t wait to die in the middle of the desert.

“Manus. Tell the entire army to ration water and food as usual.”

Hades was still calculating something in the corner of the command tent, tapping his abacus and sketching a map.

“Yes?”

“We will all survive and go to the Grand Bazaar.”

“Ge, General. It’s not feasible right now! Don’t you know?”

“We’ll change our course. We’ll go through the highlands.”

At the word ‘highlands,’ Manus looked at Hades more thoughtfully. The march was currently at the shortest distance to the Grand Bazaar, located in the lowlands.

Changing to the highlands would mean that the journey to the Grand Bazaar would take about two more weeks.

Changing the course when there’s a shortage of water? And ordering the same amount of rations for the entire army? Manus suspected that his lord might have gone mad.

“General!”

“Be quiet, I’m calculating!”

Finally, Hades became irritated, drew his sword, and thrust it into the chest. With this determined act, ordering not to defy, Manus lowered his voice timidly and pleaded.

“For what reason are you doing this……”

“They say it’s going to rain.”

Hades nonchalantly drew his sword again and put it back on his waist.

“Yes? Here? Who?!”

“Our goddess.”

“Go, goddess? I don’t understand what you’re saying.”

“……”

“But this is an area where not a drop of rain has fallen for 20 years?! That can’t be! I don’t even see any rain clouds!”