Ten days after leaving their own country, the army of the Republic of Serencia finally arrived at the south bank of the Gehr River. As long as they cross this great river, the destination of their march, the city of Ventona, will be within close reach. This army, excluding supply personnel and civilians, has only a thousand soldiers and cannot be considered large in scale. However, among them are a hundred knights and dozens of mages. Each of them is an elite who can be worth ten ordinary soldiers. This army has come to the territory of Westrick at the request of the king of this country, who is also the co-sovereign of the United Kingdom of Catalis, Finn II, to assist him in suppressing civil unrest. Recently, his perverse actions have finally led to disastrous consequences, with rebellions breaking out frequently everywhere and the whole country falling into chaos. Most of the civil unrest instigated by the nobles has been quelled, but the uprising of the heretical "Correctionist Sect" is growing more and more intense. His mismanagement has led to several defeats for his army. The heretical rebel army is advancing triumphantly and approaching the capital, Ventona. And his allies on the other side of the continent cannot come to his aid in a short time. In desperation, he had to ask for help from Serencia, his former enemy. And the head of state of Serencia and the twelve officials of the cabinet, for some unknown reason, actually agreed to support his request. The people of Serencia pride themselves on following the system of the great empire, but their power is less than one percent of it. "Don't get involved in disputes on land." This is precisely the lesson that the small republic, after experiencing several disastrous consequences in nearly a thousand years of rise and fall, has summed up. But the people in the cabinet and the Senate seem to have forgotten it. What they have also left behind are the blood feud of ten years ago and the imminent threat of the demons. "What are you daydreaming about?" A call reached the riverbank. Aurelio didn't hear it. He stood by the river thinking: "What should I do? Use his lords or bribe his servants? No, these methods are too old-fashioned!" "Hey! What's wrong with you?" Aurelio's shoulder was patted. Only then did he turn around and glance at the owner of the voice. It was a young man of about the same age with a somewhat strange appearance. He was not tall, five inches shorter than Aurelio, only five feet nine inches. He wore thick glasses and a blue velvet coat. That coat was very expensive, but he didn't cherish it. It was worn a bit old, with traces of wear and shedding all over it, and there were even several strange reddish-brown stains—because after so long and many cleanings, they couldn't be removed. However, the strangest thing was not the coat but his hair, which was blue-green. But Aurelio was not surprised. Because this young man, Valentino, was an old friend he had known for more than ten years. The two of them met almost every day and were extremely familiar with each other. He knew that it was the strange characteristic passed down from father to son in Valentino's family for generations. He just glanced at his friend, still remaining silent, and then turned his head to continue staring at the river. "You look very listless, as if you've been stimulated by something." Valentino walked around to Aurelio's front and leaned forward and said, "Are you okay?" "No." "You've been staring at this river for more than two hours." Aurelio shook his head and said, "My gaze hasn't moved, but the river is flowing. This is equivalent to me moving. I didn't stare fixedly." Valentino looked at his expressionless profile and said with a wry smile, "I don't want to discuss philosophical issues with you. Aren't we good brothers? Is there something you want to hide from me?" Aurelio glanced at him but still didn't want to speak. He just thought to himself, "I can't involve others." "If you have any problems, remember to tell me. Even if not as your friend, I also..." Valentino smiled. "Before departure, the old man told me that if I want to be a good military doctor, I should pay attention to the mental state just like I pay attention to the soldiers' injuries. Looking at you like this, I can't ignore it." "It's fine, really." Aurelio flatly rejected the kindness. After a pause, he suddenly quickened his speech and said, "Doctor Valentino di Claudio Michelangelo Morin, if you pay back the money you owe me, I will be happy." Valentino was stunned for a moment, then touched the back of his neck and replied with a smile, "I know! I will pay it back, but... it must be after we return to the country. Five hundred serlings is not a small sum, right. You shouldn't need it urgently, right? Hahaha... Moreover, don't try to deceive me. I know that you're not worried about money." "Of course, because I'm not worried at all." Aurelio deliberately emphasized the word "not". Valentino, seeing that he didn't want to answer, sighed and said, "Let's go first and return to the camp together. There's something good for dinner today." "What's the good thing?" He pointed at several fat pigs tied not far away and said, "We bought them when we passed by a town today. The general said to slaughter them. I don't know why he's being so extravagant all of a sudden." "There haven't been any battles for several days. We need other ways to boost morale." "If that's the case, it seems to be quite effective. Everyone is very happy to hear that there's meat." "However, this shows that General Corne has some premonition." "What premonition?" Valentino asked. "How can I say it clearly? But for sure, be careful tonight." Valentino nodded and then pointed at the barricades and other fortifications around and said, "The general gave the order like this too, asking people to be vigilant. But it seems that every night you will say 'Be careful tonight'." "..."Valentino smiled, pointed around, and then said, "In short, there are a lot more fortifications than a few nights ago. There are also magic traps, the kind that will freeze or burn you if you step on them." "I know what kind it is." "Yes, you are a mage. Also, the general said that we can't stay up too late tonight." "That's even better. I can get a good sleep early." The two returned to the camp and sat down by the fire. Soon, pork chops were distributed to them. Valentino put the pork chop on the fire to roast, and his movements were surprisingly skillful. While waiting for the meat to cook, he ground spices such as garlic and pepper in a small stone mortar while approaching Aurelio. "What... what's wrong with you again? Why are you still in a daze?" Aurelio was silent. He glanced at Valentino and then stared at the campfire again. "Always staring at bright things will damage your eyesight. Then you will be like me and can't do without glasses." "Don't deceive me." Aurelio said, "Your poor eyesight is hereditary." "Ha, you're really hard to deceive! But when I say that bright things harm eyesight, there is scientific basis. Leaving that aside, why have you been like this since we set off, always liking to be in a daze?" Aurelio didn't answer. Instead, he asked, "Do you think how long will this war last?" Valentino replied, "The reinforcements from Safinia will arrive within two weeks, right? After that, it will take at most another week to wipe out the rebels. That is to say, in another three weeks, we can go home. I understand! Is this homesickness? Could it be... that you are missing Viviana?" "Don't guess randomly." Aurelio said in a low voice with his head down. But in his heart, he thought, "Three weeks... What can I do in such a short time? No, this is not important. What's important is that I must do it for revenge." "Could it be... I guessed right? If so, why did you insist on stopping her when she wanted to come along? And you could have stayed in the academy originally, right?" Aurelio turned his head, glared at Valentino fiercely, and raised his voice a little: "I said, don't guess randomly!" Seeing the sharpness in the other's eyes, Valentino felt a chill down his spine. He didn't dare to say more and quickly changed the topic: "Look... it seems not... heheh... I know, I won't say anymore. I've prepared all the seasonings. We can eat in a while. I still hope that you will tell us your problem. You always... hide so deeply." "Sorry." Aurelio sighed softly. While cutting off the fattest part of the pork chop and putting it in a small wooden dish, sprinkling sauce on it and handing it to Aurelio, Valentino said, "Eat. As long as you are full, all annoying things can be forgotten." "I don't believe it." "Eat. And then at the right time, tell us. Me, Luciano, and... Viviana." At this moment, a third voice came: "What's wrong with Viviana?" As soon as the words fell, a silver-haired mage in a white robe had already stood in front of them. After listening for a while, he sat down at Aurelio's right. This mage was also very young, only a little older than Aurelio. But at less than twenty-five years old, his hair was already all white. However, he was also an acquaintance of the other two, so they didn't find this strange. Valentino hurriedly changed the topic again and said enthusiastically, "Luciano! Nothing... You must be tired from setting up the traps! Here's your share." He cut off a piece of pork chop, put it on a plate, and handed it to the silver-haired mage. Luciano didn't take it. Instead, he glanced sideways at Aurelio. Seeing Aurelio frowning, he intended to make a joke. So he picked up a fork and stabbed at the pork chop on the other's plate. "Yours seems better. If you don't eat it, I'll take it." Aurelio seemed absent-minded but was still vigilant. He transferred the plate to his left hand and moved it to the left side of his body, using his body as a barrier to block the fork's attack route. When he did this, there was still a dull expression on his face. After Luciano's fork missed, he pretended to be dissatisfied and said, "You don't eat it but won't let others eat it either?" "Did I say I wouldn't eat it?" Aurelio glanced at Luciano and then picked up a knife and fork and cut off a small piece and put it in his mouth. "How is it? The barbecue of Chef Valentino?" Valentino asked as he put a large piece of meat into his own mouth. That piece of meat couldn't fill his mouth, and he could still boast, "So delicious!" "Hey! You two have both started eating. Where's mine?" Luciano asked with his hands spread out. "I gave it to you just now, but you didn't take it. It seems you don't want it! So it's mine now." "I didn't say I didn't want it!" "Stop arguing. Cut him a piece quickly and then be quiet!"