Ace's POV
As we distanced ourselves from Chief Gareth, Philip suddenly broke the silence.
"A, R, I want you to trust me. Let me reintroduce myself," Philip said, his voice steady yet tinged with urgency.
I quickly turned to Philip, confusion knitting my brows. "What do you mean by that?" I asked, my tone sharper than intended.
I noticed Ray's gaze fixated on Philip, equally intrigued.
"I'm Philip Grunoa, from the Amethyst Kingdom. I worked at the palace as a spy for several years. After a while, I realized I wanted to be a merchant, so I resigned. But King Alfred VI wouldn't let me go easily, probably due to my successful missions. I was his best spy," he proclaimed, pride swelling in his chest. "He made a deal with me: I could leave the palace to pursue my dream of being a merchant, but I still had to serve as a spy when he called upon me."
