"I found this at the border where Ryan passed through Orlin to return from the South. On this branch was a dried blood stain found by one of the soldiers. From the rancid scent, this blood is quite familiar, Your Majesty." Shan explained after finishing with the problem of him being tired of looking for Leon.
"If it is indeed Ryan's blood, it is obviously quite familiar to you as well as to me. Then what's so special about it?"
"No, Your Majesty. This is not Ryan's blood," Shan denied, handing the twig to Leon. "It's Mateo's blood," he continued.
Leon examined the bloodstains given by Shan, and it was true that it was very familiar, but not Ryan's. "Mateo?" he said quietly.
"Yes, Your Majesty. That means Ryan was with Mateo on that day. And perhaps, it was Mateo who had given the information about Amethyst to Rhys and Ryan. Otherwise, how would they have known?"
