"Are you crazy, Ash?" Marine's voice cracked, her eyes wide as if she couldn't decide between fear and disbelief. "You can't just say something like that and expect me to—"
Ash cut her off, his tone cold and deliberate. "Then make a deal with me. You're going to help me get Perro and Robertson away from Vander. You keep quiet, and I keep you alive. But if you break that deal… if you even think about turning on me… I won't have a choice, Marine."
She froze, her breathing shallow. "You're threatening me now? Is this really you talking? What happened to you?"
"You know exactly what happened," Ash said, stepping closer so that his shadow fell across her face. "And you know I'm not joking. You help me, or you don't walk away from this."
Ash turned and left her standing there.
She just stood in the shade of the old wall, wondering when Ash had stopped being the boy she used to know and turned into someone who could say things like that without blinking.
Days passed in tense silence.
Then the news broke: the Royal Knights had arrived in White Shell Village, bringing with them a single man dressed in plain clothes but with the kind of sharp, watchful eyes only a detective carried.
Ash saw them for the first time when they passed the training yard, swords at their sides.
And then, one day, they walked into his classroom.
The teacher paused mid-lesson, stepping back. "Everyone, we have guests," she said, her voice noticeably more formal than usual. "These are members of the Royal Knights, here on official business."
The leader of the group, a man with dark hair tied back in a short tail, took a slow look around the room before speaking. "We're here regarding the disappearance of two young men and the incident involving Samantha Forest."
His voice was calm but heavy. "We've spoken to their families, the village leaders, and a few witnesses. But now, we're speaking to all of you."
He paced slowly, scanning their faces. "The killer, whoever they are, could be in this very class. Or they could be an enemy of the Forest Family. Either way, we know this much: Lamine and Robert were last seen on the same day Samantha was found unconscious outside her home. That is not a coincidence."
A murmur rippled through the students.
One of the knights, a tall woman with a scar along her cheek, added, "We're looking for someone who's been hiding in plain sight. Someone who knows this village well enough to move unseen. So if any of you have seen anything, this is the time to speak."
Ash's heart began beating faster. He swallowed his own saliva in fear.
No one answered.
Well done, Marine... You didn't betray me.
The leader gave the room one last long glance, his eyes lingering for just a moment too long on Ash, then nodded. "Very well. We'll speak to some of you privately later. For now… carry on with your lessons."
The knights left as quietly as they'd come, but the air in the classroom didn't return to normal.
Everyone kept glancing at each other, whispering behind their hands. And Ash, sitting at his desk, didn't move or speak.
He just stared at the blackboard, keeping his breathing even, knowing Marine was watching him from the corner of her eye.
---
One by one, the students were called in to speak with the Knights and the detective. When it was finally his turn, Ash walked into a small room lit by the light from a single window.
The walls felt closer than they should, and a ring of armored men stood silently behind the detective's chair.
The detective, a man in his late forties with sharp eyes and a weathered coat, leaned forward. "Name?"
"Ash Valeender," he said, trying to keep his voice steady.
"Detective Harlen from the Middle Man Police Department." He didn't bother shaking hands. Instead, he flipped open a notebook. "One of your classmates suggested you might be involved in the disappearances."
Ash's pulse spiked.
His first thought was Marine. Is she trying to get rid of me?
The anger flared hot, but then it cooled just as quickly when the truth clicked into place.
No, it wasn't her. It was Vander. That smug noble had made his move again.
He kept his expression neutral. "It's probably Vander. He's always messing with me. We used to be friends, and he thinks it's funny to throw my name into things like this."
The detective scribbled something down without looking up. "We'll see. Three questions and answer them straight."
The first was about the last time he saw Robert and Lamine. Ash described it calmly, making sure not to over-explain.
The second was about Samantha. He kept his tone even. "I only saw her once that day before she was injured. I had nothing to do with it."
The third was whether he had any grudge against the Forest Family or the two boys that disappeared.
Ash shook his head. "No reason to. They've never done anything to me."
Detective Harlen studied him for a few long seconds, then closed his notebook. "That'll be all."
Ash stood, nodded, and walked out. Inside, though, the fire was already burning.
---
Outside the school, Ash walked beside Marine, his voice low so no one else could hear.
"So, what happened to Perro and Robertson?" he asked.
Marine glanced around before answering. "They're fine. I talked to them already. You still want me to send them the deal?"
"Yes," Ash said. "Tell them I'll help them, but they'll need to do something for me first. Make it sound like they don't have a choice."
She frowned. "And what's in it for them?"
"I'll give them an ancient artifact."
Marine raised an eyebrow. "You actually have one?"
"No," Ash said plainly. "I'm not giving them anything. When I'm done using them, I'll just leave them alone. They'll think they won, but really, I just won't need them anymore."
A voice came from behind. "Talking about us?"
Oh.... Did they hear me? His heart beat fast.
Ash turned and saw Perro and Robertson standing a few meters away, looking smug.
Marine stepped aside, letting Ash handle it.
"Good," Ash said. "Since you're here, I'll make it simple. You're going to tell Vander to go to the western mountain tomorrow. Don't ask why. Just make sure he goes."
Perro crossed his arms. "And if we don't?"
Ash's tone sharpened. "Then you'll find out exactly what happens when I stop being nice."
Robertson muttered under his breath but nodded. "Fine. We'll tell him."
"Good," Ash said. "Make sure he believes it's worth his time. If you mess it up, you'll regret it."
Alright... They didn't hear me earlier.
---
The next day came faster than Vander expected, and now he was trudging along the narrow path of the western mountain with Perro and Robertson at his sides.
Vander frowned, glancing at the two men. "Alright, I'll ask again—why did you drag me all the way out here? You know I don't like surprises."
Perro gave a lazy shrug. "You'll see soon enough."
"That's not an answer," Vander said, his tone tightening. "If this is about money, I already told you—"
Robertson cut him off with a smirk. "It's not about money. Well… not directly."
They reached a bend in the path where the trees thinned out.
Vander stopped.
Ahead, the ground leveled into a flat rocky clearing, and in the center of it stood two figures.
Ash.
And right beside him, Marine, her arms folded as if she'd been waiting for hours.
Vander froze, his brow furrowing. "What is this?"
Perro stepped forward, his grin widening. "Vander, you're trapped."
Robertson echoed him with a mocking laugh. "Rich pig, you're trapped here."
The wind howled between the rocks, but Vander's voice cut through it. "You idiots better start explaining before I—"
Ash took a step forward, his eyes locked on Vander like a hunter sizing up his prey.
"No need for threats. I'll explain everything."