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― The location where Faust was found has been investigated, and it’s close to where Igor was. But… why do they seem to be in the same direction?

― Really?

― We need to double-check, but it could possibly be a trap. The last traces of Faust and Igor, the places where their mana moved, are almost the same. Uh― We can’t really assume there’s a blue beard there, but after investigating Crowly’s traces and comparing them with the current location, I’ll let you know.

The traces left behind in City Gaza were too old for Fernando to conduct a detailed investigation.

However, in the literal sense, the traces he found where the battle had just taken place exceeded expectations.

‘What’s this…? The scattered guys who’ve been hiding till now are gathering in one place? Well, we’ll need to finish investigating Crowly to be sure…’

Why?

If they were going to gather, why didn’t they do it sooner?

Why did they scatter and only start gathering now?

‘Maybe they felt a sense of crisis…? No, that alone isn’t convincing. If they sensed that we were pursuing them, gathering would make them easier to catch, especially given the difficulty of a large group conducting covert operations during the battle in Jazar.’

Originally, their dispersion might have been for the sake of leaving minimal traces.

But now, their reasons for gathering are few.

‘Because they have confidence in facing us?’

Fernando shook his head. That possibility is low as well.

Igor and Jazar managed to repel Ji-Won and Ramhua and Crowly managed to repel Ramhua, but that was because the circumstances were limited.

If Ji-Won and Ramhua were to swap opponents…

Let alone if Alexander and Baileyfus join in? The outcome could be reversed at any moment.

‘They wouldn’t be ignorant of that. So, is it because of Blue Beard’s presence there?’

First possibility.

Blue Beard and them being together at the moment.

If that’s the case, they might have confidence in facing Alexander or Baileyfus. But that doesn’t quite resonate with the ones below.

‘Wouldn’t it have been better to summon Blue Beard? At the time they were in separate battles, it would have been easier to bring in Blue Beard and deal with them one by one. Why gather themselves…?’

Strange.

Looking at their movements so far, they haven’t been making rational decisions.

Fernando felt a certain unease in their actions.

‘There’s clearly an ‘external factor’ at play with them. If that guy with an information network across the continent is involved, he could provide Faust’s group with all sorts of hidden places that no one knows.’

Yet, despite that, the enemies have gathered. In one place.

‘If one more thing can be confirmed…’

― I’ve confirmed Crowly’s location! It’s the same! Faust, Igor, and Crowly’s entire group have moved to the same place!

Fernando’s inner thoughts were interrupted by the whisper from Pharng.

“Everyone!”

While Fernando was processing his thoughts, those who were lost in their own contemplations raised their heads.

“Would you listen to me?”

“Huh, just listen. After all, you’re not going to tell us something different from what you just thought of. You always use this method to persuade us….”

Kid chuckled and spoke.

“Eek?! S-Seriously, you should listen anyway, Kid! Why do you have to say things like that? It’s unsettling.”

“Leeha, your thoughts are worth considering. Go ahead and speak.”

Perhaps, among those present, there might be someone who believes more in Fernando than Ramhua.

The atmosphere slightly softened due to that playful attitude.

Fernando began to reveal his speculations to the Demon Lord Subjugation Squad, a group assigned directly by the Pope.

“… Perhaps Blue Beard might not even be there. And maybe the ‘external factor’ enemies have let go of them.”

Fernando’s reasoning was closing in on the truth.

Only one shot remained before a direct hit.

***

Rustle, rustle.

Fernando, who had broad experience in traversing dense jungles, moved forward, pressing down the undergrowth, advancing through the darkness.

Just by taking a step and surveying the surroundings, he could gauge the nearby terrain and even the presence of monsters. Yet, even for him, this place required caution.

‘The place where all three teams gathered is definitely nearby….’

After finishing all reports for Fernando, the new order he received was to investigate the area.

Since attaching capable fighters to the trailing team had backfired, it was judged that asking Fernando for assistance from the outset would be better.

‘I don’t sense any mana in the vicinity. The mana radius of the three groups’ movement surely intersects around here…’

Even Fernando didn’t have the ability to know everything.

From the traces he found, he only knew the approximate location where the specific mana was present, so he needed to investigate anew based on various data.

‘This can’t really be considered a hideout. The terrain around here and the appearing monsters are at the level of early Middle Earth. They won’t stay long. They’re bound to move again. I need to find the place where they gathered before those traces disappear—Ah!’

Fernando’s eyes finally caught the traces as he looked through his magnifying glass.

A place with densely scattered dark blue footprints.

Once he removed the magnifying glass, the floor seemed devoid of any marked traces, but when he placed the magnifying glass again, those fresh blue footprints were revealed distinctly.

‘Found it! If it’s this color—left less than an hour ago! Right after the sun set! Where to? Who?’

He knew there was no one around, but Fernando didn’t rush. There might be NPCs immune to his “Find My Traces” skill.

While he appeared carefree when talking to someone, he was truly the “Pioneer King.”

In less than twenty minutes since he started investigating, Fernando had uncovered everything.

― Leeha, I found traces! Faust, Crowly, Igor, Jazar, even the undead and Chimera! All the traces are right here!

― Really? Nothing else? Nothing else?!

― Just as I thought, Leeha!

As Fernando had communicated with the other members, he also had something to share with Pharng.

However, until just now, it was merely Fernando’s personal conjecture. The final confirmation of turning that conjecture into reality still remained.

― If I’m right…?

With Fernando’s excited voice, Pharng could be certain.

― There are none! Near this area, in every terrain, there’s no sign of Blue Beard! I repeat, it’s definite that the frontline members of the Demon Lord’s army are not with Blue Beard! They are currently moving back towards Pheubiel, about an hour’s distance from my location! All the frontline members of the Demon Lord’s army are gathering there!

“As expected!”

*Crash!*

When Leeha struck the table in front of him with his palm, the people who had gathered were startled.

“What do you mean ‘as expected’? Are you admitting that you were an idiot?”

“Hey, don’t knock the table when you’re happy, Rugar. That’s not it!”

Leeha pulled out a magazine from his bag and inserted it into Black Beth. The metallic click was as heavy as the determination in his eyes.

“Mr. Fernando contacted me. Blue Beard is not with them.”

“Then the opportunity is—”

“Yes. Right now. Baileyfus! Can you teleport all of us near Fernando?”

“Of course.”

In that brief moment when Baileyfus nodded, Alexander, Ji-Won, Ramhua, Rugar, and Kid—all readied their weapons, completing their preparations.

Watching the steady movements of the skilled fighters, Fernando could finally ease his mind.

“Well, I was a bit too angry earlier. But I was worried it might complicate things. In the end, it turned out to be a blessing in disguise—it’s a bit embarrassing to say it now.”

“…It’s okay, Big Brother. It’s my fault. I’m sorry.”

Ramhua whispered softly to Leeha as she approached his side.

“This time, I’ll make sure to kill him.”

With a determined promise that didn’t match her cute voice, Fernando could finally relax.

“Alright—Gold Dragon, move us all. Let’s go catch those guys.”

“Understood.”

*Whoosh!*

From the third floor of the sacred grill being constructed in City Gaza, where the Demon Lord Subjugation Squad had gathered, their figures vanished.

***

“Oh! You’re here so soon?”

“Yes. There’s no reason to delay knowing that Blue Beard isn’t with them. The traces?”

Fernando was momentarily taken aback by the members that had appeared beside him without notice.

But as soon as Leeha’s question ended, Fernando naturally began to speak.

“The trail is still ongoing. It’s an hour from here. More importantly, the traces keep appearing from the same place where they were first discovered.”

“What does that mean?”

“They’re moving on foot! Taking advantage of the darkness, stealthily making their way towards Pheubiel! They’re following the path without any users or NPCs. Though there aren’t absolutely no creatures around, they’ll definitely encounter monsters. I’m monitoring how they dealt with the monsters they’ve encountered and trying to figure out their approach—”

“Okay. I understand.”

Interrupting Fernando’s words, Leeha nodded. Then, he pulled the trigger of Black Beth.

“Fernando, move forward quickly. You can be a bit less cautious. Speed is what matters now.”

Leeha was certain.

In this urgent situation, the moment when they were being pursued by Top 10 rankers including Alexander, the fact that the group chose to travel “on foot” was peculiar.

Despite the circumstances, why were they choosing to walk?

Moreover, what did it mean that they were crossing through an area where monsters appeared?

“Yes? What if they realize it and—”

“No. They won’t notice us. We’ve confirmed that there’s no ‘outsider’ who will be their eyes. The one who was our informant and provided the hideout is no longer with them.”

This meant that the one who had been their source of information and provided the hideout was no longer with them.

After hearing Leeha’s explanation, Fernando could fully understand.

“Understood. Everyone, follow me closely!”

Because he had been cautious about other players possibly being nearby, Fernando had advanced slowly. However, his tracking focused on “speed” was as swift as a hunting dog.

Ramhua, along with Fernando and the Demon Lord Subjugation Squad, made their way through the dark forest path at a speed almost like running.

10 minutes, 15 minutes, 20 minutes…

Although some people might become more agitated as tension mounted, no one opened their mouth.

“Fernando, how much longer?”

“I’ve caught up to them within about 30 minutes. At this rate, I should be able to catch up to them within the next 20 minutes or so.”

“Great. Then let’s—”

“Are we just following them, or do you intend to attack them directly?”

The one questioning Leeha’s nod was Alexander.

“For now, I plan to catch up to them from behind and assess the situation… that’s the plan at the moment.”

“They are humans strengthened by the remnants of demons. I wonder if that scoundrel of a demon is testing them?”

“Testing?”

“Leeha, you said that Blue Beard isn’t with them, but it could mean that Blue Beard, like a lion testing its cubs, is lurking nearby, observing them.”

“Ah…”

Only now did Leeha understand Alexander’s concern.

Whether it was true or not was beside the point, but Alexander’s assumption matched Blue Beard’s “personality” fairly well.

Above all, the expressions of the three individuals confirmed it as evidence.

Leeha, Kid, and Rugar.

These three had likely experienced such a situation before.

“Like with Crow.”

When his subordinate Crow died, Blue Beard hadn’t moved from his spot until the moment of his death. Perhaps he was unable to intervene before the three Musketeers killed Crow.

If he had hesitated even a little, there was a possibility that Blue Beard might have taken action to save Crow.

“At that time, it was just Crow. But this time, it’s all the Demon Lord Subjugation Squad members. If Blue Beard reveals himself while even one of them is alive—no, regardless of the situation, we’ll have to fight Blue Beard eventually.”

That was the original plan.

Sweep away the Demon Lord Subjugation Squad members separated from Blue Beard, and then gather all their strength to assassinate Blue Beard.

However, dealing with the Demon Lord Subjugation Squad members wasn’t an easy task either.

But it wasn’t as if there were no other possibilities concerning Blue Beard. Suddenly, things had become complicated.

“What if he suddenly appears when the battle starts?”

Just the fact that he wasn’t nearby at this moment wasn’t enough to make the situation safe.