Count Losa walked outside the bedchamber, down the narrow, dark corridor.

A woman's voice suddenly echoed.

"Count Losa."

Losa turned around and found it was Princess Sibilla who he hadn't seen in a while. Bowing slightly, he said, "Your Highness, good evening."

The Princess's face was somewhat shrouded in the shadows cast by the corridor's lamps: "Count Losa, I've heard about the battles you've fought; they were quite impressive."

Losa's tone was polite yet distant: "It's all thanks to divine grace."

She murmured, "Indeed, you are walking the path you believe is right; I seem to understand your ambitious aspirations now."

"I've heard from Your Majesty about your intention to establish the border region. If I were to say that I'd support you in realizing it?"

Losa was slightly taken aback: "Then I would be very grateful, Your Highness."

Sibilla chuckled softly: "That's enough; obtaining a favor from you is not easy."

"Well then, good night, my lord count."

Her figure faded into the darkness.

Losa paused briefly before continuing to walk toward the end of the corridor.

Was Princess Sibilla trying to align herself with the King's Faction?

Losa wondered.

Realizing shortly after, if Sibilla sided with the King's Faction to a certain extent while supporting Princess Isabella's Noble Faction, it could very well make her a mortal enemy of the King's Faction.

In a sense, this also forces the King's Faction to move from the neutral stance and personally get involved in the struggle.

Losa furrowed his brows slightly but quickly relaxed them.

A little competition is nothing.

Once Sibilla marries Belian and becomes one of his own, it inevitably means the King's Faction must step in.

Working together sooner or later makes no difference.

He could even obtain the title of "Vassal Prince" ahead of time, rightful and proper.

At the end of the corridor.

The starlight gleamed faintly.

In the garden, the pool encircling it mirrored the stars.

"My lord!"

Hans was wearing neatly donned armor, leading the soldiers of the Royal Knight Order on patrol.

Losa patted his shoulder: "Thank you for your hard work, continue with the patrol."

For the coming period, Hans had to stay in Jerusalem, commanding the Royal Knight Order on his behalf.

This was a good thing.

In Losa's eyes, Hans had the potential to become a toolperson of the Kurs level, just needed nurturing; commanding the Royal Knight Order was also a form of training for him.

Although currently lacking internal affairs talents on hand, there was still the newcomer Chelina.

Losa didn't plan to keep her around just for show; tonight, he intended to entrust her with the task of settling the refugees upon returning.

Despite being of the Wolf Race, Chelina was as kind-hearted as Hans.

Hans hesitated, reluctant to stay in Jerusalem commanding the Royal Knight Order.

He preferred to remain by Losa's side.

"Ha, how is being my errand boy more impressive than independently taking charge and being a majestic deputy Grand Master?"

Losa saw through Hans's worry, smiling as he said, "Tomorrow, we will handle some matters with the fifty most elite knights and soldiers of the Royal Knight Order."

Hans asked perplexedly, "What matters?"

Losa's reply was succinct: "Ransacking."

Hans hesitated, "Shouldn't Lady Jeanne be more adept at this?"

"If you dare say that in front of Jeanne, I will let her take your place to handle this matter."

Hans opened his mouth but chose to remain silent.

He dared not.

"I thought Miss Chelina would be a reliable new pillar, but she turned out to be not dependable at all."

Hans sighed softly.

Losa showed a sympathetic look: "There's nothing to be done, Chelina's entire family, her whole clan, was destroyed by their own kind. You should be grateful to be an outsider of the Wolf Race."

"Keep up the good work."

After bidding farewell to Hans, Losa left the Royal Palace contentedly.

After politely declining the guards' offer of an escort, Losa walked a short distance outside and saw Prajna standing at the bottom of the stone steps.

Her face showed no emotion, and as Losa approached, she simply said softly, "Let's go."

Losa felt a bit warmed at heart; familiarly taking her hand.

"Sorry, I didn't know you were waiting for me; I've kept you waiting."

Prajna shook her head: "We didn't have a prior arrangement, so it's not your fault. As an Iron Guard, I must consider your safety."

The late night streets of Jerusalem were sparsely populated.

Yet the sky wasn't particularly dark; tonight, the moonlight was bright.

Walking side by side, when nearing Constant Manor, they released each other's hand with a tacit understanding.

Entering the room.

Furinjira was animatedly speaking with Chelina.

With a blank face, it was uncertain if Chelina was truly listening, sometimes adeptly flipping open the lid of the tin box with her thumb and pinching a chocolate stick to put into the other's mouth.

Losa and Prajna exchanged glances, and in each other's eyes, they saw a hint of puzzlement.

Considering Furinjira's childish demeanor, it was surprising she could get along with the serious Chelina.

Jeanne's voice sounded from behind them: "Truly baffling, isn't it?"

With her arms crossed, Jeanne said thoughtfully: "Maybe in making friends, personalities should complement rather than resemble each other."

"If Miss Chelina and Miss Prajna were together, they might just stare blankly at each other every day."

Losa noncommittally agreed: "Perhaps."

Jeanne suddenly furrowed her brow: "I've felt that you two have been spending too much time alone recently. If I hadn't noticed any strange smell, I might have suspected you were up to some mischief behind my back."

Prajna showed no expression as she entered the room.

Seeing Jeanne's suspicious look, Losa frowned: "Had it been you picking me up, I'd likely have been decapitated by an assassin already."

Jeanne looked innocent: "It's not that easy; you now qualify as an expert, with the Dragon Bloodline in you, brimming with the Dark Lord's aura. Who wouldn't think you're a top-tier expert?"

"By bluffing, it's impossible to fool everyone."

Jeanne nodded: "But you also possess the Talent of the Earth Dragon, Prajna's Talent, and skills plentiful for survival in Blood Magic, like, poof, transforming into countless bats."

Seeing Losa's displeasure, Jeanne slightly groaned:

"Alright, if you were to wield the Holy Spear, I would sense it and rush to your side to protect you."

"However, speaking of it, isn't Miss Chelina your chief Assassin? Shouldn't she also be fit to take on the bodyguard role?"

Losa shook his head: "I have another appointment for her; starting tomorrow, the matter of recruiting the refugees will be entrusted to her for overall planning."

"Ah, I knew nobody under your command could just eat without doing work."

Losa sneered: "Good that you know, so from tomorrow, you will be tasked with starting to train new troops for me."

Jeanne's face showed a playful smile that quickly stiffened.

"I've been idle for a few days? And though I'm good at leading troops, I think you're more suited for training them!"

Losa smirked: "Don't I know if you can train troops? Many tasks for the capable, your hard work is appreciated."

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