I had read the original novel, but during the ten years of searching for the missing Ascan, I had learned a lot about the Kallua Empire.

The Black Owl carriage belonged to the Shadow Guild used by the dark guilds of the Kallua Empire. The guild’s name was Parusa, and it wasn’t just any ordinary guild; it was the top guild of the dark guilds.

Unable to speak due to the snake’s paralysis venom, I looked at Ascan with surprised eyes.

‘Did you have a connection with the dark guild?’

The question I couldn’t bring myself to ask lingered on my lips.
As Ascan approached the creaking carriage, the coachman descended and bowed his head.

“Leader, have you arrived?”

What? What did he say?

If I didn’t mishear, something was strange.

The title of “leader” couldn’t be used casually. Moreover, in the well-organized Shadow Guild, such a title was allowed for only one person.

‘Could it be that Ascan is the leader of the Shadow Guild?’

The Royal Guard captain and Count Atreus, and now the leader of the Shadow Guild… The more he was dismissed, the more new things emerged. I couldn’t figure out where the end of his hidden self was.

‘In the original work, there was no such content…’

Somehow, Ascan seemed more evolved than what I had seen in the novel.

Due to the change in the story from the beginning, I hadn’t found Ascan in ten years. I didn’t even know what he was currently hiding.

It seemed that I wasn’t the only one surprised. Carlton, with wide-open eyes as if he couldn’t believe it, asked with a trembling voice, “C-commander, could it be…?”

“Explanations can wait. Get in for now.”

Ascan boarded the carriage first and said.

Carlton nodded and followed, and Zen entered the carriage as well.

Several carriages were waiting. Since everyone couldn’t fit in one, the rest climbed onto the carriage behind.

Once everyone was on board, the coachman started moving.

Clatter, clatter.

In a breathless state, I heard the sound of the carriage wheels rolling.

A while later, the northern gate opened, and armed people poured out from the palace. Their rough voices echoed from behind.

“Jegiral, find the Royal Guard commander!”

“I’ll issue a nationwide wanted order right away.”

It was already too late. The carriage we were in had already come out onto the street and blended into a crowded area.

More than anything, it seemed like a dream that we were riding in a carriage with the symbol of the Shadow Guild engraved on it.

Ascan slightly opened the curtain covering the carriage window, looked out, and judged it safe before closing it again.

There were numerous questions I wanted to ask him, but I couldn’t speak yet, so I could only look at him.

Carlton, sensing my frustration, took care of it for me.

“Commander, what’s going on?”

Zen remained silent, just staring, but even his indifferent gaze couldn’t hide his curious eyes.

Ascan adjusted his posture to make me sit comfortably, unable to move, and answered in an indifferent tone.

“It’s nothing. I just prepared various identities in case of unexpected situations.”

Carlton, with a surprised expression he didn’t bother to hide, asked, “Various identities? So, besides the leader of the Shadow Guild, are there others?”

Ascan didn’t answer with a smile, but the silence was affirmative, leaving me shocked once again.
It seemed like an endless revelation, not an onion that you peel layer by layer.

Zen, who had been silently listening, spoke up.

“Where is the carriage heading?”

“To avoid pursuit, we’ll change the means of transportation frequently, but we’ll eventually head straight to the Arwen Empire. At the moment, it’s the safest place. We’ll be going there.”

Zen nodded very satisfied.

Since the Brellof family belonged to the Arwen Empire, as long as we went there, it would be challenging for Helsion to harm us.

It hadn’t been a long time since I was poisoned by Helsion with paralysis poison, but Ascan’s escape route was so well-planned that it was astonishing.

He took off the coat he was wearing and covered me with it. Then, he gently stroked my hair and said,

“You’ve been through a lot today, so if you’re tired, sleep. I’ll be right here.”

I responded with eyes containing a smile and a nod, expressing that I understood.

Until we crossed the border, I couldn’t relax, but for now, since we safely escaped the palace, I could let out a sigh of relief.

I didn’t realize, but my body felt heavy, like a soaked cotton. Ascan was right; I had been tense from the various incidents today.

Gradually, as if lying, my eyes closed, and the view became dark.

Ascan’s affectionate touch, stroking my head, continued to be felt, so I could relax and fall into a deep sleep.

When I woke up again, I was in a slightly disoriented state. Despite trying to suppress it, Carlton’s voice, which sounded agitated, reached my ears.

“…I never dreamed that the deputy commander would betray us.”

Betrayal?

At the mention of this piercing word, I opened my eyes and Ascan was the first to notice, approaching.

“Are you awake?”