Destiny and Allegiance - English

Part 1

In a village inhabited by humans, disaster struck without warning. From behind the night mist, terrifying creatures resembling ferocious reptiles emerged. They were known as Lizarman. With unmatched ferocity, they swung their blood-stained weapons at the villagers. The villagers' screams echoed, merging with the silence of the night. Men were mercilessly cut down, livestock slaughtered, women and children dragged into the darkness. In a single horrifying night, the village disappeared as if it had never existed, swallowed by the shadows of the mysterious night.

Elsewhere, in a chamber of a magnificent palace, a woman dressed in royal attire stood gracefully, though her eyes were clouded with tension. Her crown glittered in the candlelight that bathed the room, but her mind was ensnared in a storm of worry. Before her, piles of papers lay scattered across a large table, each bearing the weight of secrets and decisions that could shape the fate of the kingdom. Beside her, a man quietly arranged files on a bookshelf. The silence in the room was heavy, like the stillness before an impending storm.

The woman: "Multiple attacks in three different places. Are they inviting us to war?"

The man who had been arranging the files now stepped closer. As they got closer, he lowered his head slightly and placed both of his hands behind his waist. His eyes were sharp, showing unwavering loyalty. It was obvious that the man showed high respect for the woman.

The man: "I think so, Your Highness. They want to avenge what we did 5 years ago."

The woman: "However, something is strange. They were able to attack three different places so quickly. Also, if they wanted to take revenge, why did they only do it now? Huh, what's this?"

The woman's gaze suddenly fell on a report lying among the piles of papers. On it, there was a sketch of a man's face. With a quick but careful movement, she reached for the paper.

The woman: "He is not one of the people mentioned by Omar or Mr. Ashkan. Is he a commander or something?"

The man: "No, he is just an ordinary soldier from the Taj tribe."

The woman's eyes now traced every line of writing in the report carefully.

Backstory started

Long ago, the Elves, Demons, Dragons, Avians, Catlans, Lizarmans, Wolfkins, Qlis, and Humans were appointed to inhabit the sacred land of Novus. The nine races were not only tasked with residing in the place but also tasked with building a harmonious civilization, establishing strong relationships above differences. Therefore, to maintain peace between the nine races, a great treaty was made. The treaty was not just ink on paper, but a promise etched in history, covering the division of territory, cross-border rules, trade, and laws governing inter-racial relations.

For hundreds of years, the great treaty worked smoothly, creating a seemingly unshakeable balance. However, everything changed when the Devils discovered the power of darkness. Fear began to appear on the faces of other races, making them view the devil race as a threat. Eventually, they united to seal the devil race in the underworld, isolating them from the surface world. Being isolated in the underworld only made the devils stronger. Although their bodies slowly weakened, the devils' knowledge of the power of darkness increased enormously. Before long, the devils found a way to escape the underworld, and they declared war on all races on the surface.

The war began. The dragons, with their majesty and the power of light magic, were chosen as the leaders of the battle. Long story short, thanks to the light magic of the dragon race, the demon race was pushed back to the underworld. To prevent the demon race from coming to the surface, a stronger seal was forged. The Dragon race now stood at the peak of power. However, their majesty soon turned into tyranny. In the name of maintaining balance, they forced the other races to submit to their laws and rules. Gratitude for victory turned to burning hatred. Rejecting the shackles imposed on them, various races declared war against the dragon race.

The massacre of the dragons began. Only the Azerot nation still loyally fights alongside the dragon race. The Azerot nation, which has long been inhabited by the descendants of Yudha and Astra, has vowed to fight alongside the dragons until the end of their lives. But fate was not on their side. Even though they fought tooth and nail with all their body and soul, risking everything to defend their honor and identity. In the end, the era of the Dragons ended. The dragon Race was successfully eradicated from the face of the Novus. The once exalted rulers of the sky are now mere ashes blown by the wind, legends buried in the history written by the victors.

But the destruction was not only for the Dragons. The Azerot people, who survived after the war, were not united in grief, but scattered in disunity and betrayal. The survivors blamed each other for the death of their leader until finally Azerot was divided into four, a Human kingdom and three Lizarman tribes. The Azerot kingdom, where the Human descendants of Yudha took shelter, hated the Lizarman descendants of Astra, and vice versa. But a few days ago, among the rumors circulating, the story was heard that a man had succeeded in uniting the long-dispersed Lizarman tribes. Could this be a sign of the birth of unity?

Backstory end

=Residence of the Taj Tribe, Azerot=

In a room with stone walls and a roof of leaves, several Lizarmans were seen waiting for someone to arrive. Three of them were seen as the leaders of their pack. Not long after, a male human with long black hair was seen entering the room. Without hesitation, the human walked up to the three Lizarman leaders and bowed his body as if showing respect. One of the three Lizarmans placed his hand on the human's shoulder as he spoke. His deep and authoritative voice echoed throughout the room.

The Lizarman Leader: "Honorable warrior of the Taj Tribe, Iwasaki, here you stand as the representative of the three tribes. At the request of the queen of Azerot, and with the authority of the three chiefs, you are appointed as our right-hand man, the liaison between the Azerot kingdom and the Lizarman tribe. Do you accept this position with your own life?"

The man: "I do."

The Lizarman Leader: "Then you are hereby declared as our right hand, and we grant you the traditional title of the three tribes. From now on you are given the title Iwasaki the Silver Claw, stand up!"

=Odelia, Azerot=

In a city located in the middle of a desert, Iwasaki, dressed like a traveler, was seen walking through the bustling city. He walked by while looking at the bustling city of Odelia.

Iwasaki: (So this is the capital of Azerot.)

As Iwasaki walked through the crowd, he saw many people doing business and carrying out their respective jobs. In the crowd, merchants shouted the prices of their goods, and the sound of gold changing hands echoed in the air. Blacksmiths forged iron in open workshops, where their sweat mixed with the flying dust. The aroma of spices and grilled food floated in the air, competing with the smell of livestock passing by. Even though the sun hung high up in the sky, burning the land cruelly, none of them stopped, as if the heat was not their enemy, but an ally they had conquered long ago.

Iwasaki's attention immediately caught by a large triangular building that stood firmly on a hilltop in the middle of the capital.

Iwasaki: (Looking at it, the large triangular building looks like the building in question, so as not to go the wrong way, I'd better ask first.)

Iwasaki approached someone who dressed like a knight.

Iwasaki: "Excuse me, is the building over there the Azerot royal palace?"

Iwasaki's right hand pointed to a magnificent triangular building standing on a hilltop in the middle of the city.

The knight: "Where are you from? Isn't it obvious that such a large building is a palace?"

The knight answered Iwasaki in annoyance.

Iwasaki: "Ooh.. thank you very much."

The knight: "Weirdo."

Iwasaki walked away from the knight. Suddenly he bumped into a girl who was carrying a number of buckets.

THUD!!!

The girl: "Hey, look around while you're walking!"

Iwasaki: "Sorry."

The girl: "Look at what you've done!"

The buckets the girl was carrying had spilled due to Iwasaki's negligence. The dress the girl was wearing was also wet from being hit by the spilled buckets.

The girl: "You have to pay compensation, 50 Rials!"

Iwasaki: (Oh no, I wasn't even given a single Rial before I came here. I'm not sure Azerot people accept Yak)... "I am so sorry, but can I help you get this water instead?"

The girl: "What? I already gave you the easy solution."

Iwasaki: (What do you mean easy solution?)

The girl: "But if you insist, then fine, you take this!"

The girl handed Iwasaki 2 buckets. Iwasaki carried the buckets with both hands. Without question, without complaint, he followed the girl's steps, walking towards a river that flowed quietly beside an old shop. On the riverbank, a man seemed busy taking care of the pipes that connected to the river. His hands were seen deftly fiddling with the large pipes that extended into the water, while his face was wrinkled because he was concentrating. Once they arrived at the riverbank, Iwasaki and the girl put the buckets they were carrying near the man.

The man: "Oh Luna! Did you come to get water again?"

The girl: "No, Mr. Farhan, this person spilled the bucket I was carrying earlier."

The man: "Oh I see, 50 Rials!"

Mr. Farhan held out his hand as if he wanted to collect the money from Iwasaki.

Iwasaki: (So that's why paying this earlier would be easier.)

Iwasaki: "Um, is 5 Yaks enough? Iwasaki took five buffalo hides from his bag and handed them to Mr. Farhan."

Farhan: "Huh, what kind of barter do you think this is? I don't need hides-..."

Suddenly the sound of a door slamming broke the calm of the river. A man came out of a shop next to the river while being chased by an old woman. The man was dressed like a fighter, but his right hand was tightly gripping a sack that did not belong to him. The old woman who was chasing him was dressed like a baker complete with a rolling pin in her left hand. Her face looked full of anger.

The old woman: "STOP YOU THIEF!!"

Iwasaki: (Thief?)

It turned out that the man who came out of the shop was a thief. The thief kept running without anyone coming to stop him.

Iwasaki: "Wait a minute, mister!"

Iwasaki immediately ran in front of the thief.

Farhan: ".....or animal claws like this-..... HEY, I'M NOT FINISHED TALKING!"

The thief: "Get out of my way! I don't want to share this with anyone."

Iwasaki: "Return the property you stole NOW!"

The thief: "What do you want? Want to be a hero?"

Iwasaki took out a machete from the sheath he was carrying.

The thief: "Tch!!"

The thief looked annoyed by Iwasaki's action. He immediately took out a knife from his pocket. He then held the knife with both hands.

The thief: "LINK SWORD!!"

WOOSH

As soon as the knife was in his grasp, something strange happened. A bright light flashed from the blade, pulsing like a heartbeat, and then in an instant, the knife turned into a sparkling sword of light. Confidently, the thief smiled as he held the sword in his left hand.

Iwasaki: (So this is the Link element.)

The thief: "HEEAA...."

With a single breath, the thief dashed forward, his sword raised high, ready to strike without hesitation. However, in a split second, Iwasaki had already reacted. Without wasting any time, he ducked down as fast as lightning, his hand reaching for the machete that he always carried. With one precise swing, he threw the machete behind the thief and then pulled it following the movement of his right hand that had been electrified. There was an electric current from his right hand that spread to the machete, making it seem as though the machete was completely under Iwasaki's control.

KLANG

The machete that Iwasaki threw hit the sword held by the thief real hard, making the thief's sword fall and stick to the ground, turning it back into a small knife like before. The machete that was originally floating in the air spun back into Iwasaki's hand smoothly, as if called by its owner. Quickly, Iwasaki re-sheathed his machete, although his eyes were still locked on his opponent. The thief then rushed to grab a large piece of wood that was nearby, gripped it tightly with both hands, then ran and was about to hit Iwasaki with the wood. However, Iwasaki easily caught the wood used by the thief and pulled it behind his body, slamming the thief's body to the ground. It was briefly seen that the thief's body was floating in the air due to the resistance given by Iwasaki.

THUD

While the thief was still lying in pain, Iwasaki easily grabbed the sack that had been snatched by the thief. However, the fight was not over yet, the thief immediately got up, dragged the girl who was previously with Iwasaki, and then pointed the gun at her.

The girl: "LET GO!!"

The thief: "SHUT UP!! HAND OVER THE BAG OR THIS GIRL WILL GET HURT!!"

Iwasaki then realized that the gloves the thief was wearing were covered in metal. A plan formed in his mind. Quickly, an electric spark emerged from his right hand, traveling through the air, and finding its way to the thief's glove. Iwasaki then moved his right hand to the right away from his body. The thief's right hand immediately followed the movement of Iwasaki's hand, as if pulled by an invisible force. The gun that was previously aimed at the girl's head now changed direction. Realizing this, the thief immediately fired his gun in panic.

BANG

The shot hit a wooden pole. Several people around looked shocked and immediately left the scene.

The thief: "D-Damn it."

Without wasting any time, Iwasaki dashed towards the thief and then swung his machete upwards, hitting the thief's right hand and dropping the gun the thief was holding to the ground. Iwasaki immediately swung his machete at the thief's left hand and then pulled the girl with his left hand to get her away from the thief.

The thief flinched, his body slightly unsteady, both hands shaking due to the wound on his left hand which was now bleeding. Quickly, Iwasaki pointed his machete at the thief's face. Their eyes met, Iwasaki's cold gaze pierced the thief's soul, making him freeze in fear. The thief then turned his gaze to the old woman whose money he had stolen.

The thief: "You bastard.... this time I forgive you."

With hasty steps, the thief chose to run away, leaving the sack containing his stolen goods. As a result of Iwasaki's slashes, each of his steps left a red footprint on the ground. His breath was short, but he continued to run, hoping to disappear from the incident that had just happened. Iwasaki remained standing straight, watching the thief leave. He then took the sack left by the thief and saw the contents of the sack which was full of money. Roughly around 6000 Rials, not a small amount.

The old woman: "Hey, that's mine, give me back my money!"

Iwasaki: "Here!"

Without hesitation, Iwasaki handed the sack he had managed to snatch to the old woman. However, she just stared at him with eyes full of confusion.

The old woman: "Huh... you..."

Iwasaki: "What's wrong, ma'am?"

Farhan: "Here, if the stolen property is successfully reclaimed without the owner's intervention, then the property belongs to the person who managed to seize it."

Iwasaki was silent for a moment. He looked shocked after hearing the strange rule.

Iwasaki: "Just take it all, ma'am!"

The old woman: "You don't-..."

Iwasaki: "The property does belong to ma'am, so I'll hand it all over to ma'am."

The old woman was silent for a moment. She still seemed confused.

The old woman: "Thank you very much, as a token of gratitude I will buy all the buffalo hides you have."

Iwasaki: "All of them?"

The old woman nodded.

The old woman: "Yes, I will buy them for 150 Rials each."

Iwasaki: "Deal!"

Iwasaki handed over 5 Yaks to the woman and the woman handed 750 Rials to Iwasaki.

The woman: "Oh yeah, if you stop by my bakery. I will give you a discount."

Iwasaki: "Thank you very much."

The woman went back into her shop.

Farhan: "Hey, are you going to pay or not?"

Mr. Farhan looked at Iwasaki from a distance with annoyance.

After paying Mr. Farhan, Iwasaki and the girl walked together in the middle of the city while carrying buckets of water.

Iwasaki: "Sorry about earlier."

The girl: "It's okay, I can actually protect myself. But it turns out.... you're a good person. I didn't expect you to return the money you seized. Most people would definitely take it."

Iwasaki: "It can't be helped, the money belongs to that woman. I indeed took it without her interference."

The girl: "Then why didn't you take it?"

Iwasaki: "I think a rule like that is very unfair. Imagine if your treasure was stolen and then successfully taken by someone else and became their property without your knowledge. A rule like that makes the person who snatches the treasure no different from a thief."

The girl seemed to smile.

The girl: "By the way, my name is Luna, Luna Fahmi."

Iwasaki: "Iwasaki."

The girl: "Iwasaki huh... Thank you for helping me earlier"

A flow of memories suddenly flushes into Iwasaki's mind. He suddenly reminded something that happened in the past.

Flashback Started

In front of Iwasaki, a little girl was seen crying non-stop. Her tiny body was shaking, her hands were tightly clenched in front of her eyes as if she was trying to hold back the pain that was too heavy for her age. Iwasaki looked at her with a gentle gaze, then slowly stroked the child's head with his right hand.

Iwasaki: "Come on, don't cry."

The child continued to cry.

Iwasaki: "What you did was the right thing, I'm sure they just misunderstood. Don't go out alone next time."

The child started to stop crying.

Iwasaki: "If there is a problem, call me, I will help you immediately. Here, I made your favorite cupcakes."

Iwasaki handed the child 2 cupcakes.

The child: "Sob.. sob... Thank you, big brother."

The child slowly wiped away her tears while trying to smile. Suddenly, a girl's voice was heard calling the name 'Iwasaki'. The voice sounded familiar but it didn't come from the child.

Flashback End

Luna: "Iwasaki!! Iwasaki!!"

Iwasaki snapped out of his daydream.

Luna: "What's wrong, Iwasaki?"

Iwasaki: "Nothing. I was just thinking about the lady who bought my buffalo hides earlier. I felt guilty because the hides I sold smelled so bad."

Luna: "Hehe. I'm sure she'll find a use of it."

Luna tried to hide her small laugh.

Iwasaki and Luna then arrived at a tavern with an old wooden sign that read 'Crescent Moon Tavern & Inn'. They entered the tavern while carrying buckets.

As soon as the door opened, the distinctive aroma of spices, toasted bread, and freshly cooked meat immediately assaulted their sense of smell. The sound of laughter, noisy chatter, and the clinking of glasses filled the room, creating a warm yet noisy atmosphere. The customers of the tavern seemed to be enjoying their food and drinks, some were seen playing cards in the corner of the room, while others were busy chatting, lost in their own stories.

Not long after, from the corner of the room, a young man rushed towards Luna, pushing his way through the crowd in the tavern.

The young man: "Luna where have you been?"

The young man then saw Iwasaki who was carrying a bucket with Luna.

The young man: (whispering) "Luna who is that person next to you?"

Luna: "Oh, him? His name is Iwasaki he helped me get water near the river."

The young man: "Tch, just because you helped her get water, do not believe you can get close to Luna!!"

The young man looked annoyed. It seemed that the visitors were too busy with their own activities so they didn't pay attention to their conversation at the entrance of the tavern.

Iwasaki: (whispering) "Who is he?"

Luna: "He's my friend, Harun. I am sorry, he's a bit like that."

A woman came out from the back entrance of the tavern. She then immediately approached Iwasaki and Luna.

The woman: "Luna, welcome home."

Luna: "Mom!"

Luna and the woman hugged each other for a moment.

Luna's mother: "Earlier Harun was worried that something would happen to you, he was just about to go look for you."

Luna: "Harun, didn't I tell you that you don't need to protect me all the time, I can take care of myself. Besides, wasn't I the one who taught you how to use Link magic?"

Harun: "Humph!"

Harun still looked annoyed. Luna's mother just realized Iwasaki's presence who was still carrying a pair of buckets.

Luna's mother: "Oh, Luna's friend huh?"

Iwasaki: "Yeah, my name is Iwasaki. I was helping your daughter get water, sorry because me, Luna become so late."

Luna's mother: "It's okay, we're short of people, so it's natural for there to be delays like this."

Iwasaki: "Oh, so you're the owner of this place?"

Luna's mother: "Yes, I founded this shop before Luna was born. Back then, I still been able to get water myself."

Iwasaki looked at the clock on the wall of the tavern.

Iwasaki: "Sorry, it seems like my time here is up. I will excuse myself."

Iwasaki put the bucket he was carrying on a table, then hurriedly walked out through the front door of the tavern.

Luna's mother: "Go straight away? Come back anytime soon!"

Iwasaki left the shop in a hurry.

Luna's mother: Harun, can you help me move these buckets to the kitchen?

Harun: "Okay."

Luna and her mother went to the back of the shop. One of the shop visitors approached Harun and patted his shoulder.

The visitor: "Looks like you're not handsome enough, Harun."

Harun: "SHUT UP!!"

In front of the Azerot Palace, a magnificent triangular building that towered firmly on the top of the central hill of Odelia City, Iwasaki was seen running towards the palace gate. Four guards stood straight in front of the palace gate, their spears crossed after seeing Iwasaki about to enter the palace. Two of them immediately stepped forward, staring at Iwasaki with wary eyes. One of them raised his hand, stopping the man's progress. Iwasaki then spoke to one of the guards.

The guard: "Stop!! What is your purpose in coming here?"

Iwasaki: "I want to see Her Majesty. This is the letter I received from Her."

Iwasaki showed no signs of being intimidated. With a firm movement, he pulled out a rolled-up letter from under his robe. He then handed it to one of the guards. The guard's eyes narrowed suspiciously, but when he opened it and read the contents of the letter, a look of shock immediately covered his face. He then hurriedly turned around and rushed into the palace while carrying the letter Iwasaki had given him. One of the remaining guards was seen observing Iwasaki closely, his eyes never leaving Iwasaki, observing his every movement carefully. Not long after, the sound of footsteps was heard from inside. The guard who had previously entered the palace returned with a slight gasp and then signaled to his colleagues. The palace's gate now opened.

The guard: "You may enter. Her Majesty is waiting for you."

Iwasaki entered the Palace. He was watched and led by two guards to the throne room through a long hallway dimly lit by gently swaying lanterns. The walls of the hallway were decorated with various ornaments and paintings depicting the long history of Azerot. As he walked, Iwasaki saw several paintings, one of which was a painting of a king holding a little girl on his lap. The king's gentle gaze and the little smile of the princess were captured in the brushstrokes full of emotion, making the painting seem so alive.

After passing through a seemingly endless hallway, they arrived at the throne room. The room was vast with towering pillars. At the end of it, on a magnificent throne decorated with gemstones, sat a woman. The woman was Queen Azerot. The dim light of the candles cast shadows on her face, adding to the aura of elegance and determination that radiated from her eyes. Her crown glistened under the light, while the royal robe wrapped her body with undeniable authority.

Iwasaki and the guards who escorted him stopped in front of the woman.

Queen Azerot: "Guards, you may leave."

Guards (in unison): "Yes, Your Majesty!!"

The guards bowed, then turned and walked out of the room, closing the great doors of the throne room behind them. The great doors closed with a thunderous sound. Now, there were only two people in the room, Iwasaki and the queen. Silence pressed on the air, as if waiting for who would speak first.

Iwasaki: "An empty room like this is not very advantageous. Is Your Majesty not afraid of something happening?"

Queen Azerot: "Not even a little."

Suddenly, the air around Iwasaki vibrated. A flash of gold flashed in the corner of his eyes, and before he could react, three glowing spears had floated behind his neck, threatening him with their sharp, gleaming tips. These spears were not ordinary spears, but rather spears created using the manifestation of Link magic. They vibrated subtly as they were ready to lunge and pierce Iwasaki at any moment.

Iwasaki: "So it is true. Unlike the Lizarmans, the leader of the Azerot kingdom is indeed quite strong."

Queen Azerot: Mr. Iwasaki, the man who managed to unite the three tribes, stop the Lizarman rebellion, and get the nickname Silver Claw. You even managed to thwart a theft on the first day you came here.

Iwasaki: "How did you know?"

Queen Azerot: "Your arrival here has been monitored since you set foot in this city, the letter you brought earlier has been installed with Link magic to record all events around you while you are in the city."

Iwasaki: "...."

Queen Azerot: "By the way, do you know what your purpose for being called here is?"

Iwasaki: "Not at all."

Queen Azerot: "I want you to work for the Azerot."

Iwasaki: "What if I refuse?"

Queen Azerot: "Don't you have no other choices? Let me guess the chiefs allowed you to come here as long as you were willing to become a spy for the Lizarman, right?"

Iwasaki: (She... She even knew my mission from the start.)

Queen Azerot: "The Lizarmans did not have an interest in our affairs, surely there must be something you want to find in this kingdom, right?"

Iwasaki could only remain silent. He could not say anything because everything Queen Azerot said was the truth that he could not deny.

Queen Azerot: "Don't worry, we have no intention of making you a double agent."

Iwasaki: "What is your true intention? Why don't you just choose one of your best knights instead?"

Queen Azerot: "Because there is a part of this kingdom that has always influenced my people to oppose our decisions. As for our intentions, you do not need to know."

Iwasaki: "Is this kingdom's hope so small that the queen orders a foreigner to work for her?"

Queen Azerot: "I don't know what kind of person you are but the lives of the Lizarmans are also in danger."

Iwasaki: "You...are you threatening me?"

Queen Azerot: "Not at all."

Iwasaki was silent, his throat feeling tight. The words spoken by Queen Azerot echoed in his head. There was no room to deny, no room to avoid. His eyes dimmed slightly, his jaw clenched tightly. He wanted to fight, but he was not sure he would win. In the end, with a heavy heart, he took a deep breath and lowered his head. There was no other choice. Like it or not, he had to follow Queen Azerot's order.

Iwasaki: "Okay, I will do it."

Queen Azerot: "Good choice, now rest for a while, you have traveled a long way. We have prepared a place for you to stay. Tomorrow someone will come to see you."

Part 2

=Odelia, Azerot=

The next day in a room with wooden walls and floors, Iwasaki was seen lying restlessly on his bed. His breath was labored, and his forehead was wet with sweat that flowed profusely, wetting the pillow under his head. His body moved erratically as if trapped in a dream that was strangling him mercilessly.

In his dream, Iwasaki sees a little girl that Iwasaki had once dreamed of. Her head and arms were covered in bandages but she still smiled.

The girl: "Big brother, you promised to come home early, right?"

The dream then changed. The image of the girl faded, replaced by the figure of a green-haired man wearing a hood that he had torn open from inside. He stood on a high platform, arrogant and full of authority. His eyes were sharp as if he despised the people in front of him, including Iwasaki.

The man: "You're all just trash! You shouldn't have come here in the first place"

Suddenly, his dream changed again. Now, in front of him, a Lizarman chieftain was lying on the ground in front of Iwasaki as if he had just been defeated by someone. But he knelt not because of resignation but because of unwillingness. An angry expression was clearly visible on his face. His eyes were burning, filled with anger and wounded pride.

The Lizarman chieftain: IF YOU UNDERSTAND HOW IT FEELS TO BE THROWN AWAY, THEN WHY ARE YOU GO AGAINST US, HUH?!

Iwasaki woke up gasping for breath. His face was shocked as if he had just seen the angel of death. Cold sweat ran down his temples, wetting his neck and back. 

Iwasaki: (AAH!).... 

Iwasaki sat momentarily on the bed, his breath gasping, trying to calm himself down. 

Iwasaki: (Where am I?) 

Iwasaki looked at the room he was in for a moment while remembering the events of the previous night. Slowly, his memories began to return. 

Iwasaki: (oh yeah last night.)

Iwasaki began to remember what happened last night.

Flashback started

The night sky stretched darkly over the city of Odelia, only lit by the dim light of lanterns hanging in front of the shops that were starting to become deserted. The night wind blew softly, carrying the aroma of spices and firewood from the shops that were still standing. Iwasaki walked beside an Azeroth soldier through the city center. They walked past dozens of shops and stalls. There were only a few people passing by during that time.

Iwasaki: "Are guests supposed to stay in the city center like this?"

The soldier: "No, this is Her Majesty's own request. This is the first time Her Majesty has chosen a place for her guests to stay. Usually, the inn is the one that offers its services to our guests."

The soldier and Iwasaki continued walking, walking through the city that felt increasingly quiet. After a while, their steps stopped in front of a tavern.

The soldier: For the time being, you will stay here.

The soldier raised his hand, pointing to the tavern in front of him.

Iwasaki: (Isn't this..)

The tavern the soldier pointed to had a wooden board that said 'Crescent Moon Tavern & Inn'. The soldier and Iwasaki then entered the tavern. Inside there was only Luna who seemed busy cleaning the tables in the shop.

Luna: "Sorry, we're closed, please come again tomo-... Iwasaki?!"

Luna seemed surprised by Iwasaki's presence in the tavern considering it was already night and most people had gone home.

Iwasaki: "Hi Luna!"

The soldier: "Excuse me, can I speak to the owner of this place?"

Luna: "Wait a minute!"

Luna walked into the kitchen. A few moments later Luna's mother came out of the kitchen followed by Luna who stood behind her with a curious expression.

Luna's mother: "I am the owner of this inn. What business do the royal soldier have coming at this time of night?"

The soldier: "Sorry to disturb your time, ma'am, Her Majesty has a special request for you."

The soldier handed a roll of paper to Luna's mother. Luna's mother read the first half of the paper.

Luna's mother: "It is written here that the kingdom has appointed this inn as a temporary place for Mr. Iwasaki to stay."

The soldier: "That's correct."

Luna's mother read the remaining contents of the paper. After reading the letter, the woman smiled.

Luna's mother: Haah Your Highness, you never changed. Okay, we are willing to accept this offer, it is truly an honor for us to be appointed by Her Highness.

The soldier: "So how much will it cost?"

Luna's mother: "It's free."

The soldier: "Okay, I'll take the... Eh?"

The soldier looked surprised.

Luna's mother: "Mr. Iwasaki is one of our acquaintances and we don't want to burden the kingdom with Mr. Iwasaki's needs. Besides, this letter asks for the lowest cost to be applied."

The soldier: "Thank you for your cooperation."

Iwasaki: (What kind of poor kingdom is this?)

Luna's mother: "But in return, we hope that Iwasaki also has to work here for a while."

The soldier: "Then we don't mind at all."

Iwasaki: "Eh?"

The soldier: "How about it, Mr. Iwasaki, do you mind?"

Iwasaki: "No-.. not at all."

Iwasaki seemed hesitant to answer the question at first.

Luna's mother: "Okay then. Luna, please take Iwasaki to his room!"

Luna: "Okay, mom."

Luna moves closer to the stairs.

Luna: "Come on Iwasaki!"

Iwasaki: "Thank you, ma'am."

Iwasaki is expressing his gratitude toward Luna's mother.

Luna's mother: "No problem."

Flashback end

In the previous room Iwasaki was seen thinking about something, he then stood up from the bed, putting on clothes. A small lizard nimbly crawled out of his pocket towards Iwasaki's right shoulder. Iwasaki stroked it with his fingers, the lizard looked happy. The lizard then slipped into Iwasaki's sleeve, hiding on Iwasaki's left wrist. Iwasaki then stepped out of the room and entered the hallway of the inn. Suddenly a man's voice asking for help was heard echoing from the end of the inn hallway. Iwasaki rushed to the source of the sound.

???: "Someone please help!!"

The voice was heard from inside an old warehouse located at the end of the hallway near Iwasaki's room. Iwasaki immediately approached the warehouse and opened it carefully. A person was seen being crushed by dozens of objects so that not a single part of his body was visible. It was difficult to identify the person because of the many objects that fell on the person's face and body.

???: "Help!!"

Iwasaki: (What's going on here?)... "it's okay, hang in there!"

Without thinking, Iwasaki started lifting the things that had hit the person one by one. Cardboard, cloth, tools, until finally, a large pot that covered the person's entire head. The person's face was visible and it turned out to be Harun.

Harun: "Wait a minute, you-... YOU WERE THE PERSON WITH LUNA YESTERDAY. WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?!"

Iwasaki: "For the time being, I'm staying and working here. You're Harun, Luna's friend, right?"

Iwasaki was still slowly moving the things that had fallen on Harun.

Harun: "GO AWAY, I DON'T WANT YOU TO HELP ME!!"

Iwasaki: "Oh well, okay then."

Iwasaki put the pot back on Harun's head and was about to leave Harun alone in the warehouse.

Harun: "OII DON'T LEAVE ME LIKE THIS!! PLEASE!!"

Iwasaki helped Harun again. Not long after, Iwasaki managed to help Harun out of the pile of stuff. Harun seemed to be free and could stand without any problems.

Iwasaki: "Can you stand up now?"

Harun: "Yes, but don't think that you've won this time!"

Iwasaki: "I don't remember joining a competition."

Harun: "Even though you've helped me, I still won't let you get close to Luna."

Iwasaki: "I have more important things to do than taking care of you and Luna. What makes you think I'm hitting on Luna?"

Harun: "Her face and behavior-... She's never been that nice to a stranger, you know!"

Iwasaki: "Including you?"

Harun: "Humph-..."

Harun looked annoyed by Iwasaki's last statement.

Iwasaki: "You better take care of yourself. I won't be staying in this city for long anyway."

Harun: "AAAAH okay. You better not talk about this conversation with Luna."

Iwasaki: "I didn't want to. By the way, is there a bathroom in your tavern?"

Harun: "There is a public bathroom, it's at the end of the hallway near the stairs."

Harun and Iwasaki were seen still together in the warehouse. They were seen standing facing each other awkwardly.

Harun: "What's wrong? Why are you still here?"

Iwasaki: "I feel like you haven't thanked me enough for what I did to you this morning."

Harun: "Okay-okay. Thank you."

Iwasaki: "You're welcome... Pothead."

Harun: "You bastard... Don't think our business is over!"

Iwasaki: I was just kidding. Why are you so easily offended?

Iwasaki then left the warehouse. He then rushed into the bathroom. A few moments later, Iwasaki came out of the bathroom. Outside the bathroom, Iwasaki met Luna.

Luna: "Iwasaki, Mom is looking for you downstairs."

Iwasaki: "Okay, I'll be right there."

Iwasaki then went down to the ground floor. He saw that the tavern was still empty and there was only Luna's mother who seemed to be waiting for someone to arrive.

Luna's mother: "Iwasaki, you look quite fit this morning."

Iwasaki: "Yes, thank you, this is all thanks to the facilities in your inn."

Luna's mother: "Ohoho, no need to thank me. Are you ready to work today?"

Iwasaki: "Yes ma'am, I'm ready."

Luna's mother: "Then wait a minute, sit down!"

Iwasaki sat on a chair. Luna's mother went into the kitchen to get a plate of curry and a bowl of chicken porridge.

Luna's mother: "One of our specialty menus is this curry, eat it but first try this porridge!"

Iwasaki tasted a spoonful of porridge.

Luna's mother: "How is it?"

Iwasaki: "How should I say it...."

Luna's mother: "It's okay, I want you to critique this porridge."

Iwasaki: "I think this porridge tastes bland, it lacks seasoning."

Luna's mother: "What do you think could be added to make this porridge tastier?"

Iwasaki: "For porridge this size, it should need 4 or more garlic, this porridge also lacks spices like pepper. Ginger can also be added to make this porridge even tastier."

Luna's mother: "Your assessment is pretty much correct. That porridge is not yet suitable to be served to customers. Luna forgot to add the ingredients you mentioned earlier. Then try this curry now!"

Iwasaki took a mouthful of curry and ate it until it was finished.

Luna's mother: "How does it taste?"

Iwasaki: "Delicious, thank you for the food."

Luna's mother: "What if you are in charge of cooking? I will teach you how to make it."

Iwasaki: "Really?"

Luna's mother handed Iwasaki an apron and went to the kitchen. Iwasaki followed behind her while wearing the apron she gave him.

In the kitchen of the tavern filled with spices and cooking utensils, Luna's mother was seen patiently teaching Iwasaki various recipes on the menu, Iwasaki repeatedly tried to make the dishes she taught, his hands skilled but careful when processing the ingredients. His face was serious, sweat flowing down his temples as he continued to try to perfect each dish. After several failures, he finally managed to make a plate of curry that smelled so tempting, followed by several other dishes taught by Luna's mother. Luna's mother tasted Iwasaki's cooking and then gave a thumbs-up sign indicating that Iwasaki's cooking was worthy of being sold.

The tavern was then opened. Customers came to order all kinds of drinks and food. Iwasaki and Luna's mother cooked in the kitchen, while Luna was the waitress, and Harun took care of the inn. Many customers were seen in the tavern enjoying Iwasaki and Luna's mother's cooking. When she saw Iwasaki cooking, Luna's mother noticed something on Iwasaki's face.

Luna's mother: "You look very excited. Like someone who has just found joy again in his life."

Iwasaki: "Yes ma'am, it's been a long time since I cooked."

Luna's mother: "I knew you had a talent for cooking. It helped me a lot."

Iwasaki: "You're welcome. By the way, why did you hire a foreigner like me so quickly?"

Luna's mother: "Luna told me about what you did yesterday. Kind people like you are so rare in Azerot. Since King Yaksin's reign, most people are prefer to do their own thing and don't care about others."

Iwasaki: "Oh, I thought you entrusted me because I was entrusted by the queen."

Luna's mother: "That's also one of the reasons. I have known Her Highness since she was a child. Back then, this tavern wasn't as good as it is now. Thanks to the help from the royal family, this shop was finally able to compete with other shops built by people outside of Azerot."

Iwasaki: "Excuse me, ma'am, are you always alone when cooking in the kitchen?"

Luna's mother: Yes, but I don't mind at all. Apart from you, I am the only one who can cook here. I used to think that I could pass on this tavern to Luna, but until now she doesn't even know how to cook. She hasn't continued her education because she really wants to help her mother. Haah, that stubborn child."

Iwasaki: "Then what about Harun?"

Luna's mother: Harun is a hard-working man, but I don't want to burden him with too much work. Harun is the son of my close friend. He has been working here since his parents passed away. They are both proud soldiers of the Azerot. Before being assigned to leave the kingdom, they always told me to look after Harun if one day they didn't come back, i didn't think that one day that would come true.

After hearing what Luna's mother said, Iwasaki suddenly thought of something.

Flashback started

Amidst the billowing smoke and the still-burning flames, a blonde-haired adult woman sat covered in blood. Her breath was labored, her body trembling, but her eyes remained open, staring at the chaos around her. Explosions shook the ground around her, and the sound of gunfire echoed endlessly. Beside her, a boy was holding her hand while crying.

The woman: "Please take care of your little sister!"

The woman slowly closed her eyes, while the boy beside her continued to scream trying to wake the woman up. Even so, her hearing was starting to fade so she couldn't hear what the boy was saying. The woman only smiled thinly, a faint, weak smile, but full of the last warmth she could give.

Flashback end

Suddenly Luna came into the kitchen.

Luna: "Iwasaki, someone is looking for you."

Iwasaki looked hesitant to leave the kitchen.

Luna's mother: "It's okay, go! I'll take your place in the kitchen."

Iwasaki: "Thank you, ma'am."

Iwasaki took off his apron and folded it neatly before placing it on the kitchen table. He took a deep breath, then stepped out into the tavern. There, his gaze was immediately greeted by a bustling atmosphere.

There were many customers who visited the tavern that day. They sat eating their food while chatting about their respective topics. However, amid the bustle of the shop, a pair of sharp eyes were staring at him.

A man sitting alone at the middle table raised his hand, gesturing to Iwasaki. There was no smile on his face, only an expression that was difficult to guess. The empty chair across from him seemed to challenge Iwasaki to come closer. Without hesitation, Iwasaki stepped forward, approaching the man.

The man: "Yo!"

Iwasaki: "Do I know you, sir?"

The man: "Sit down!"

Iwasaki was silent for a moment then sat facing the man. The man took out a piece of paper and a pen from his pocket then placed it on the table.

The man: "Omar-... My name is Omar".

The man spoke, but his hand began to move on the piece of paper, writing something on it. Even though he was writing, his gaze never left Iwasaki's eyes. The writing he wrote was not like any usual writing.

Iwasaki: (This-..this is Lizarman's letter.)

Iwasaki seemed to understand the meaning of the writing. The meaning of the writing was "Your name?"

Iwasaki: "Iwasaki".

Omar: "Ah, so you are quite familiar with this kind of thing. It's really interesting to meet a waiter like you this morning."

Omar spoke while writing something on the paper. He wrote, "The Queen told me to meet you". Omar then put on the table an earring similar to the one worn by Queen Azeroth when she met Iwasaki.

Iwasaki: (This earring)... "Excuse me, I have a question."

Omar nodded, he put the pen he was using on the table, his head pointed towards the paper as if he was telling Iwasaki to write his question on the paper.

Iwasaki: "Have you ordered a food yet?"

Iwasaki spoke while writing something on the paper. He wrote, "Why are we communicating like this?" Like Omar, his eyes did not need to follow the movement of his hand to be able to write his question.

Omar: "I have ordered something, wait a moment, besides there are still some flies right now."

Omar spoke while writing something on the paper. He wrote, "Someone is eavesdropping on this conversation."

Iwasaki: "I'm sure you will be happy with our food and service."

Iwasaki spoke while writing something on the paper. He wrote, "I understand what you are talking about."

Omar smiled.

Omar: "This is not my first time here, I am always amazed by the service you all provide."

Omar spoke while writing something on the paper. He wrote, "It's better to prevent it even if it doesn't happen."

Iwasaki: "Then what food did you order, sir?"

Iwasaki spoke while writing something on a paper. He wrote, "Get to the point!"

Omar: "Chicken-.. a big roast chicken. By the way, there was a stage in the middle of the city recently, I want you to come see it too.

Omar spoke while writing something on the paper. He wrote, "There is a traitor among the ministers, the queen wants to catch him."

Iwasaki: "What is so interesting about this stage?"

Iwasaki did not write anything.

Omar: "Many people say the content is not interesting but if you see the main attraction you will be amazed."

Omar spoke while writing something on the paper. He wrote, "That person is the cause of the attack on the Khar tribe".

Suddenly Luna came to the table while placing a large plate of roast chicken on the paper.

Luna: "One special-sized roast chicken coming. Oh, Iwasaki, you are the one who ordered this, right?

Omar: "Eat with me Iwasaki, there's no way I can finish this big roast chicken."

Iwasaki smiled.

Iwasaki: "With pleasure."

Part 3

=Odelia, Azerot=

In the midst of the crowd in the shop, a mysterious orange-haired woman sat in the corner of the shop, barely attracting attention. The hood she wore covered most of her face, but she could still observe every movement of Iwasaki and Omar from a distance.

In front of her, a bowl of curry was still intact with steam slowly disappearing, indicating that it had been left cold for a long time because she didn't eat a single spoonful of it. She wasn't here to eat. She was here to wait... watch... and judge someone.

The woman: (What are they talking about? I can't see the contents of the paper that the person brought. Maybe I should use this potion?)

The woman showed a bottle of potion in her pocket.

The woman: (But if he notices me it would be a disaster, I have to wait for the right time to make a move.)

After eating with Iwasaki, Omar got up from his table and walked away. Before leaving, he pressed Iwasaki's shoulder as if sending an unspoken message, then left the shop without saying anything. Not long after, Iwasaki was seen approaching Luna, whispering something to her ear, before finally the two of them slipped into the kitchen in an urgent and worried conversation. After seeing the table was starting to empty, the mysterious woman slowly approached the table that was previously occupied by Omar and Iwasaki.

The woman: (Now's the time!)

The mysterious woman walked closer to the table. With almost silent steps, her eyes swept across the surface of the table until they fell on an upside-down piece of paper. The mysterious woman took the paper and turned it over to see what it contained.

The woman: (Tic-tac-toe, What the heck is this?)

The paper the woman was holding turned out to only contain the results of a tic-tac-toe game, the X and O marks on the paper seemed to be mocking her. The woman irritably crumpled the paper with her hands. She immediately checked what was under the table. There, there were only the ashes of burnt paper, the remains of a mystery that demanded an answer. The woman then saw Iwasaki and Luna coming out of the kitchen and heading to the inn on the second floor.

The woman: (If I can't get information from the conversation, I have to get it from that person.)

The mysterious woman put the crumpled paper into her pocket, then silently followed Iwasaki from a distance while closing one of her eyes. The woman seemed to be able to see Iwasaki's movements from a distance as if the walls of the tavern had become windows to her eyes. Sure enough, a light eye appeared between the weathered wooden walls. The eye moved to various wooden furniture and wooden walls, absorbing Iwasaki's every movement in frightening detail. The eye watched Iwasaki enter his room and then close the door from inside.

Without wasting time, the mysterious woman immediately approached Iwasaki's room. She slowly put her ear near Iwasaki's door and then stretched out her finger to touch the iron doorknob. However, when she held the iron doorknob, a strong electric current jolted her body, making her electrocuted and stagger backward, her hand slipping from the doorknob.

The woman: "AAAARH!!"

Amid the chaos, Iwasaki appeared swiftly out of his room carrying a machete in his hand.

Iwasaki: "HAAAAAAAH!!"

Iwasaki quickly pointed his electrified machete at the woman's neck.

The woman: (He-..He already knew I was following him.) "Link Scythe!"

The woman quickly cast a spell in her hand. In an instant, two glowing sickles appeared in the air, hovering behind Iwasaki and about to cut Iwasaki's body into two parts. Iwasaki quickly ducked to avoid the deadly attack. Because of the attack, the woman managed to escape from Iwasaki's grip. It didn't take long for two more sickles of light to reappear behind Iwasaki. When the sickles were about to hit Iwasaki, Luna suddenly came out of one of the rooms and immediately pointed both of her hands toward Iwasaki.

Luna: "Link Shield!"

Suddenly a shield of light stretched around Iwasaki. The sickles hit the shield of light instead, causing the shield of light to be destroyed instantly. Thanks to Luna's shield of light, Iwasaki managed to survive the attack.

The Woman: (Damn it, this is so not according to plan.)

Without thinking, the mysterious woman threw a bomb to the floor. The bomb exploded, spewing thick smoke that enveloped the room. The smoke from the bomb managed to interfere with Iwasaki's vision and respiratory system, opening a gap for the woman to escape.

Iwasaki: "Cough, cough."

The mysterious woman immediately ran towards the inn window while taking out a bottle of potion from her pocket then opened the lid and was about to drink it. Coincidentally, Harun, who had just finished repairing the inn's wall, was walking in the opposite direction of the woman. He was seen carrying a hammer and several pieces of wooden planks in his hands.

Harun: "Hey, be careful when you walk!"

Luna: "HARUN, STOP THAT WOMAN!!"

Harun: "What? Why?"

Iwasaki: "Just do it!"

Harun: "Alright HYAAAAT TAKE THIS!!"

Harun threw his hammer at the mysterious woman and managed to hit her head. The potion the woman was carrying fell and broke. The woman's body fell sprawled on the floor.

The Woman: (I can... cannot..fail)

The woman slowly closed her eyes until she finally fainted.

Flashback started

=Tarbath, Azerot=

In the afternoon in the kitchen of a simple house, an orange-haired woman was seen slicing vegetables with great concentration. The woman was the same woman as the woman who overheard Iwasaki and Omar's conversation. The apron the woman was wearing was seen being pulled by someone.

The Woman: "What's wrong, sweetie?"

A boy around 5 years old was seen pulling the woman's apron while smiling happily. The woman seemed to ignore the boy's behavior.

The boy: "Mom, come play again with Ali, please."

The woman: "Not now sweetie, right now mommy is still cooking, wait a minute, papa will be home soon."

Suddenly a man's voice was heard from the front of the house.

???: "Daddy is home."

A man entered the house from the front door. The small child immediately ran out of the kitchen to meet the man.

The boy: "DAD!"

The boy hugged the man's legs.

The boy: "Welcome home Dad."

The man: "Ali has been waiting for Daddy all day, huh?"

The boy: "Humph."

The boy smiled and nodded his head.

The woman: "Ali is glad because you came home early today."

The man: "Hahaha... Today, Dad just got promoted so he can come home early."

Ali: "Dad-dad!.... earlier Ali and Mom made something amazing."

The man: "Oh yeah, what's that?"

Ali took a paper from the table and showed it to the man. It looked like the contents of the paper were a picture of the little boy with his parents.

The man: "Wow, that's great, I didn't think Dad's son had a talent for drawing."

Ali: "Earlier, Mom taught Ali how to mix colors. Daddy wanna see?"

The man: "Of course son. But before that, let's eat first. Dad is really hungry right now."

The man sat in a chair next to the dining table together with Ali.

The woman: "The food is ready. Tonight we're having pumpkin soup, fried liver, and potatoes."

Ali: "AWESOME PUMPKIN SOUP!!"

After dinner, the dining table used by the family was empty. The woman who had previously cooked was seen washing dishes in the kitchen while her husband was seen watching his son who was fast asleep while slowly closing the door to his son's room. He then approached his wife who was washing dishes in the kitchen.

The man: "Earlier the commander came to see me to deliver a message from the minister."

The woman: "What was the message?"

The man: "The message appointed the top soldiers to work directly under the ministry... and one of those soldiers is you."

Suddenly, the woman stopped washing dishes.

The woman: "Didn't I tell them that I had to quit? Why do they still want me to work again?"

The man: "Most likely it's because of your above-average Link ability. People without royal blood rarely have abilities as great as yours."

The woman: "Even so, I should have the right to resign and live a normal life as a mother, right?"

The man: "I know you would say that."

The man hugged his wife tightly from behind.

The man: "I'm glad during that day you decided to stay home with Ali. I don't want anything to happen to you two. You are my most precious treasure."

The woman: "Don't worry, Ali and I will always be on your side, I also don't want anything to happen to you and Ali, I'm sure Ali also wants the same thing as me.

The man: "Thank you. Tomorrow i will inform the commander about your answer."

The woman silently stared out the kitchen window.

The woman: You know tomorrow is Ali's birthday, right? I want you to be by his side just like today.

The man: Yes, of course, tomorrow I promise I will go home early. Maybe I'll bring a gift for Ali.

The woman: I'm sure whatever you bring, Ali will love it.

The next afternoon in the same house, the woman was seen with her child. Both were sitting on chairs at the dining table.

Ali: "Mom, when will Dad come home?"

The woman: "Wait a minute, sweetie, maybe Dad still has something to do on the road."

Suddenly there was a knock on the door from the front of the house.

The woman: "Ah, that must be Dad."

Ali: "DAD!"

The joy was visible on Ali's face. He immediately ran to the front door of the house. The woman patiently walked to the door and then opened it with her right hand, but the one behind the door was not her husband but a woman who was the woman's neighbor. The joy on Ali's face began to fade.

The woman: "Mrs. Nadia, what's up with you coming this late in the evening?"

The neighbor was seen whispering something to the woman. A shocked expression immediately appeared on the woman's face.

The woman: "Please take care of Ali for me!"

Ali: "Mom, where's dad?"

The woman: "Wait here for a moment, Ali!"

The woman immediately put on a hooded cloak and then rode a horse to one of the security posts at the end of the city. She saw that the post had been burned to the ground. Around it, a group of soldiers could be seen securing the scene from the crowd of people who wanted to see the scene. For a moment, the woman could hear conversations from people around the security post.

??? 1: "Is this because of a bandit attack?"

??? 2: "No, I heard that the Zur tribe attacked the security post for no reason."

??? 1: "Those lizards how long do we have to stay like this?"

The woman immediately got off her horse and approached a man who looked like a superior of the soldiers.

The woman: "Commander, has the Commander seen Anwar?"

The man was silent when he heard Amira's question. He didn't seem to have the heart to deliver bad news to her.

The woman: "He-... he must be safe, right?"

The commander: "Amira, I am sorry.... unfortunately, there were no survivors in this incident."

Tears appeared on the woman's face. Both legs immediately collapsed to the ground. She was then seen crying uncontrollably.

The woman: "No-... it's impossible. This can't be right, right? It's impossible."

A few moments later, in a military room, the woman from before was seen sitting alone among the rows of tables and chairs in the room. A few moments later, a soldier came in carrying a bottle of water. He placed the drink on the table near the woman. The soldier then sat down on the chair across from the woman.

The soldier: "Amira... I'm truly sorry. If only I had taken Anwar with me-..."

Amira: "No, it wasn't your fault, Hassan. If I could turn back time, I would definitely do the same thing."

The soldier got up from the table and was about to leave the room. At the entrance of the room, there was another soldier calling him. It seemed like he was told to leave the room.

The soldier: "Sorry Amira, I have to go. But first, there's someone who wants to see you."

The soldier rushed out of the room. A few moments later, a black silhouette resembling a man entered the room.

Flashback end

Amira, the woman who had previously followed Iwasaki, was now seen sitting unconscious on a chair in the middle of a dim room. She was in a room with Iwasaki, Omar, and an old man who was holding Amira's head as if he was reading her memories. Suddenly, without warning, an electric current shot from Amira's body accompanied by raging flames from her chest, creating a terrifying sight. The old man who had previously been reading Amira's memories immediately removed his hand from Amira.

The old man: "Crap!"

In a matter of seconds, blood flowed from Amira's mouth and nose, as if every breath she took was being choked and her chest was being pressed by an invisible force. Slowly, the electricity and fire that had been roaring in her body began to fade, leaving a gripping silence. And finally, Amira lay lifeless on the cold standing chair.

Iwasaki: "What happened?"

The old man: "Slave Seal. If someone with this seal violates the orders or prohibitions of the seal maker, they will receive a horrible punishment. But I didn't expect the punishment to be this sadistic."

Omar: "Giving a slave seal to his own subordinate, how cruel this person is."

The old man: "He uses former royal soldiers as his pawns. It seems like the person you are looking for has data from all the royal soldiers."

Omar: "If I may ask, Rudger, who exactly is this woman?"

The old man: "Amira Bhagwat, a citizen of Tarbath City and a former Janissary."

Omar: "Hmm... Amira, then I will wait for your complete report, Rudger.

Rudger: "Okay, I will send the report tonight."

Iwasaki and Omar walked out of the room to the city streets leaving Rudger alone. It looked like it was already night. Iwasaki and Omar walked around the quiet city center while being illuminated by the moonlight.

Omar: "Iwasaki, I wanted to give you something."

Omar took out a badge from his pocket. He gave the badge to Iwasaki. Iwasaki accepted the badge and then observed it for a moment.

Iwasaki: "What is this?"

Omar: "My division badge. It is a sign that you are on our side. You can show it if you are ambushed by bandits or any Azerot soldier."

Iwasaki: "I will remind you again that I am not doing this for Azerot."

Omar: "I know."

Iwasaki: "Thank you."

Iwasaki want to give back the badge to Omar. Suddenly, Omar refused to accept it.

Omar: "No-.. no you can keep it."

Iwasaki: "Why?"

Omar: "Every soldier in Odelia already know my face so i don't need it anymore."

Iwasaki: "Oh, okay then."

Iwasaki put the badge in his pocket.

Omar: "You know, it's okay if you don't wanna use it. After your business here is finished you can keep it as a souvenir."

Iwasaki: "Omar I want to ask something."

Omar: "Go ahead."

Iwasaki: "If the Link element can read people's minds, why didn't Azerot do it to the ministers?

Omar: "We've done that. And the ministers didn't show any suspicious memories."

Iwasaki: "Then why do you all suspect the ministers as the masterminds?"

Omar: "This isn't the first time a minister has betrayed the kingdom. The previous minister of mining and energy, Abbas Mustafa betrayed the Azerot kingdom during the reign of King Yaksin, and strangely he doesn't remember a single memory that shows that he betrayed the kingdom."

Iwasaki: "Are you sure this isn't the work of someone from outside the kingdom?"

Omar: "Whether or not there was interference from outsiders, the fact is that insider relations and secret data of the kingdom shouldn't be owned by ordinary people. Also if there were people who wanted to overthrow the queen, some ministers would definitely be involved."

Iwasaki: "Why is that?"

Omar: "Because the queen refused to eliminate the Lizarmans."

After a few minutes of walking in the silence of the night, Iwasaki and Omar saw a group of soldiers gathered tightly around something. Iwasaki and Omar immediately approached the crowd. In the middle of the crowd, their gaze was stopped by a terrifying sight. They were shocked by a naked corpse with various knives stuck deep in its body.

Iwasaki and Omar: "!!!"

On the roof of a house near the previous incident, a silhouette of a soldier and a black silhouette that looked like the one in Amira's memory were discussing something.

The Soldier Silhouette: "Khi Khi Khi Khi."

The Black Silhouette: "You really can't hide your filth huh?"

The Soldier Silhouette: "This is exactly what I want, to see the scared and helpless souls. I love the expressions they made, even the person you mean also shows the same expression."

The Black Silhouette: "Whatever. The important thing is don't forget that you were assigned to eliminate that Lizarman representative. Do it carefully, don't make a scene like this again."

The Soldier Silhouette: "Heh, you think you can order me around, I'm doing this solely on Miss Alice's orders."

The Soldier Silhouette was holding an object that looked like a skull.

The Soldier Silhouette: "So sit tight and look at my art closely."