Wayfinder has its many uses, and Eli was resolved to optimize it for advancing his cause.
The first person he thought had enough influence to help him realize his goals was Sir Lancelot, of the Imperial Police.
"Did you confirm it?"
"Yes, he was a member of a syndicate targeting noble children."
"I thought so."
Lancelot continued looking at Eli with a hint of suspicion.
Two days ago, he invited Lancelot to come visit him under the pretense of showing his gratitude. At first, he was refused, with the guy saying it was only part of his job. Eli expected the response, as it was also what he had determined in the two days of "researching."
Sir Lancelot Andain, a knight who chose the Gold Order to serve the Empire and its citizens instead of a single master, was a just and loyal man. He is like the typical moral character, with an overwhelming sense of justice and abhorrence for everything and anything that could endanger the civilians.
He is the current Vice Captain of the Argent, the Imperial Police for the Duchy of Illana, which is ruled by the House of Lichtstiele, which is the owner of the Silver Order.
Thus, Sir Lancelot was a good fish as long as one has the proper bait, which is "for the sake of the people."
Argus, now Eli, still does not have any idea why the owner of his body originally wanted to go out on that specific day, even with the constant threat in his life. The original Eli, sadly, didn't leave any traces of his life—no records, no portraits. However, there were a few things he found out.
The original Elior wasn't careless. According to Alen, it was an excursion that was thoroughly planned: the disguise, covertly going out of the estate, and with only two other people knowing. The first was Alen himself, and the other was his knight escort, though that was an accidental case.
Hence, the new Eli found it suspicious and investigated the probationary knight. Fortunately, he came up with a good bait.
Of course, nothing is clearly known about the bad blood between Elior and the probationary knight. He remembered the escort shouting about something being his fault when he started chasing Eli down earlier.
Thankfully, it was one of his strengths to reveal people's skeletons.
'But damn, it wasn't easy.'
The whole thing got a lot harder in the absence of convenient technology.
Was it a good thing he came from both imprisonment and a fallen world? That prevented him from having withdrawal symptoms after being thrown into the primitive world, Renaris.
"But, young master, how did you know?"
Being able to catch a criminal wasn't the end of the story for the suspicious Argent Knight. He couldn't be blamed for questioning why the young master, who has a bad reputation and has never really ventured outside, is actively helping the Order outside their own.
'I cannot take out the possibility of someone controlling him.'
Lancelot's doubts are not addressed to the young master himself but to the people around him who might be taking control over the innocent child. He was concerned, as after all, despite being a kid, young master Elior is a citizen of the Empire that Lancelot has sworn to protect.
Moreover, their relationship between the Gold and Silver Orders isn't particularly good.
But Lancelot's idea of Eli being an "innocent child" was quickly erased at the look of the smiling face, which seemed to be up to no good. It was difficult to think of it as an act.
"Well, it's a trade secret."
Lancelot didn't pursue it any further. However, before he could go his way while dragging the unconscious probationary knight, Eli stopped him from behind.
"Why don't we make a deal?"
"..."
"How about I lure them?"
The crime of abduction has always troubled them at this time of the year-cycle. One piece of confidential information that has reached him was what happened in the capital a few days ago, which involved noble children, five of whom were abducted while two were killed.
Well, it wouldn't really end unless the source of the problem, the syndicate behind it, was completely eradicated.
It wasn't noticeable, but Lancelot's face darkened upon hearing the absurd words of the young master, who enthusiastically presented himself as bait.
***
"Hey, Caleb."
"..."
Instead of a response, only the turquoise eyes of the red-haired kid look towards another apprentice. It was the usual indifferent face that made him unapproachable, but after noticeably gulping, the other party put up a brave facade before things could get more annoying on his side.
"W-why aren't you visiting him? He has been pestering me since the day he woke up."
It has been the sixth day since Caleb's return. And as expected of him, the past few days were just him strengthening his 10-year-old body.
Even after hearing about Elric's situation, which he already knew ahead of time, he decided not to pay him a visit to even check on his well-being. It was out of his guilt, both with the accident that has already passed and the other events that were part of Elric's story.
Then some of his fellow trainees have been tormented by Elric.
"I'm busy."
Like the other times, he gave a short answer and continued to eat his lunch. The other kid looked at him, wondering if Caleb and Elric had a dispute between them, but just shut his mouth and went away.
Finally getting some quiet, he continued to eat at the corner of the training center, close to the room where instructors and guards would frequent. It was his only means of listening to news about what is currently happening to Renaris.
As a knight, even in his previous life, he was able to attract mana and circulate it through absorption, though the amount was meager after having undergone a reset due to regression.
However, his absorbed mana is enough to use for eavesdropping.
Whenever he got the time, he would listen to the conversations; mostly they were about the village, hunting, and even gossip, but there was no information he missed.
He focused as he heard about something that interested him.
"...yes, you know how noble children, especially young heirs, are sent to the capital at this time of the year-cycle. Three days ago there was a tea party at a certain count's capital townhouse, and that's where the incident happened."
"The same group?"
"Yes. I am really not sure what the Gold Order's been doing; it's been five years since they've become active."
"What then? How does that relate to Sir Melicor?"
It has been days since the instructor has been absent from his duty; Caleb continued to listen and was able to understand why.
"Why would Sir Melicor leave this place if not for being called back to the estate? You see, the young master almost fell victim, as he was also invited to the tea party."
The young master they were talking about was none other than the only son of the Baron of Klein.
"Almost?"
"Yes, thankfully, he was saved by the dragon slayer's son."
"Hah, the Eisenvant was involved again? Isn't it for the third time already?"
"Well, yeah, if he hadn't missed the other two instances, I would have said he was the target."
"Anyway, where's our young master now?"
The case that the two guards were talking about was dark and dangerous, but the tips of Caleb's lips unnoticeably rose at the mention of the young master he served.
Unfortunately, it would still be a long time before they could meet again.
The lunch break ended, and soon the training routine started with the main instructor still not around. It was the only thing Caleb was determined to do for now.
There are only two ends for the current storyline, victory or defeat. But although the plot has been fixed, Caleb's growth, as an intervention, is variable. Him getting any stronger would only lead him to the desired end, which is why it was allowable.
At the thought, he suddenly remembered the conversation he had with the Saint of Lohiya, and the pounding of his heart grew louder because he was anxious.
There was more to the regression that Asher initiated because it was done at the most favorable time, the Guardian's Descent.
The Guardian's Descent, which happens only once in every thousand god-years of a Guardian, answers the most powerful prayer at a great but worthy price.
To be able to last until the Guardian's Descent is one of Caleb's missions.
But it takes the Saint for the descent to happen, which is why the primary mission was to keep the Saint of Renaris safe.
'I need to be stronger than before.'
It was his greatest fear that something might happen to the Saint when and where his hands couldn't reach. The only thing that calmed him down was thinking that things would go as they should as long as he didn't start the ball rolling, creating a chain of drastic changes and thus losing his future knowledge, which is his greatest advantage.
The last words of the otherworldly Saint, however, distress him each time they cross his mind. It was during the descent, at the brink of the last moment, when the Guardian of Lohiya delivered his blessing.
'Gadiel was grateful to you for opening the opportunity where he could help Althaea.'
Lohiya was reduced to a place that could no longer be saved at that time, thus Renaris became the point of reversal.
So instead of intervening at Lohiya, Asher's prayer was for something else.
'He prepared a countermeasure that would help you.'
Somehow, it was more perturbing than relieving, at least for Caleb.
'Fortune is going to be on your side this time.'
He couldn't ask any more due to the sudden arrival of the Demon King.
But it was a promise, and Caleb trusted it because the Guardian of Lohiya is not one who speaks two words with one mouth.
'Surely, things will go accordingly.'
Later did he know that he couldn't be more wrong.