Four days after leaving Vera, Rosen and his group finally arrived at their destination, Rengetti. Their first stop was the mansion of the merchant Homan, an old acquaintance. The main reason for choosing this stop was not just because Rosen had told Leysha to contact him in case of urgent matters, but also because Homan’s mansion was located on the outskirts of Rengetti, making it easier to move around.

When Rosen arrived at Homan’s mansion with a few soldiers from the standing army stationed in Vera, he greeted the bald man in his fifties with a smile, clearly happy to see him. The man, once infatuated with her and often visiting Vera, had aged gracefully, maintaining his kind nature.

“It’s been a long time,” Rosen said as she stepped out of the carriage, holding Elsen’s hand.

Homan’s face reddened like a young boy’s. “Yes, it’s been a while. I heard you retired, and I thought I would never see you again.”

“Why would I retire? I just wanted to spend time chatting with old friends. I thought you were so busy that you wouldn’t even want to see me anymore.”

“That’s not true! You’re still as beautiful as ever.”

“You’re too kind.”

Rosen’s face, which used to show a devilish expression when facing Elsen or Rodin, now softened into a subtle, elegant smile, resembling that of a noblewoman. Elsen and Rodin exchanged curious glances, noticing the incredible transformation. Kasha couldn’t help but notice that not only did Rosen look like her, but she also shared the same expressions and personality.

“Rodin, it’s been a while. Haha, the troublemaker from back then has already become an adult.”

Recognizing Rodin, Homan greeted him warmly, and Rodin, smiling brightly, responded.

“Haha, yes, I’m already a father of two. It’s been a while, sir.”

“Already? Time flies. Come in, come in. I’ve been waiting for the letter from Karileum, and it just arrived this morning.”

Homan extended his hand and led them into the mansion. Rosen, nodding slightly, followed him, and behind them, Elsen and Rodin gave orders to the soldiers to wait before following suit. As they entered the sitting room, the two of them took their seats, and Elsen and Rodin also sat down where Homan had gestured. After giving orders for refreshments, Homan handed Rosen a letter, letting out a small sigh. His face was very serious.

“This is a letter from Leysha… but before you read it, there’s something you need to know.”

“Go ahead,” Rosen replied as she placed the letter in front of her.

Homan glanced at Elsen and Rodin before speaking. Rosen reassured him with a gentle smile, indicating that there was no need to worry.

“They are like my sons. You can speak freely.”

“That’s a relief,” Homan muttered, relieved, though still cautious in his words. He hesitated for a moment, clearing his throat before finally speaking with determination.

“This is news I received this morning… it seems that last night, Duchess Maynon came into contact with the Red Scorpions.”

At this, Rosen’s eyebrows shot up.

“The Red Scorpions? Are you referring to the assassination group formed by the desert people who came down from the Black Desert?”

“Yes.”

The Turthan region, located to the north of Clozium, was covered in black soil, which is why it was called the Black Desert. The nomads living there were referred to as “desert people.” They typically had darker skin and black hair, and in terms of appearance, they were larger with long limbs. Among the desert people, particularly the tall men, it was common for them to be over a head taller than the people of Clozium.

A century ago, when Clozium began to rule over Turthan, many desert people migrated to Clozium. Most of them used their nomadic skills and survival tactics to become assassins. One of the most infamous assassin groups they formed was the Red Scorpions. Members of this group had a red scorpion tattoo on their left shoulder, and it was rumored that no living creature was left in their wake because they were ruthless and violent. This also meant that they were extremely skilled.

Very little was known about the Red Scorpions: how many assassins they had, how to make a contract with them, or where they usually operated. They were a mysterious organization. The only widely known information was that they were a large group, with at least fifty members. They were often employed to silently eliminate those whom powerful people wanted dead or to massacre groups that refused to follow the will of the rulers.

“…Why did Duchess Maynon meet with them?”

“I don’t know the details either, but from what I can guess… it seems she’s trying to deal with Kasha.”

The people in the room who were aware of the Red Scorpions’ existence seemed shocked by Homan’s words, their faces turning pale. As they looked at them, Homan let out a heavy sigh.

“As you know… the Duchess has an unusual obsession with Lord Regen. She won’t be able to tolerate Kasha. Especially after Lord Regen declared that he would turn his back on her.”

Homan clicked his tongue in regret. Surprised by this, Rosen shook her head, unable to believe it.

“…Regen would never do such a thing.”

“I thought the same, but people change. Perhaps you made a mistake. You shouldn’t have separated them.”

His words pierced through Rosen, making her furrow her brow in pain. It was true—she shouldn’t have separated them. From the beginning, she should have allowed them to stay together. Both of them had been searching for each other, thinking that something was wrong within themselves. They should have been allowed to stay together. The selfish desires and ambitions of the adults had caused the disaster.

“I regret that too. If I had known this would happen, I wouldn’t have separated them.”

“Who could have known this would happen? I didn’t think things would escalate this much either. I thought everything would go smoothly as long as Kasha stayed inside Vera…”

As Homan said, if Kasha had stayed within Vera, everything would have passed without incident. But Rosen had always known that Kasha would eventually break free. He was a child who couldn’t stand being pressured. If you struck him once, he would strike back twice or three times. If you told him not to do something, he would do it even more. They had misjudged Kasha, and Rosen had left an irreparable wound in her heart.

“Does Duke Maynon know that the Duchess has contacted the Red Scorpions?”

“…It seems he knows. And… I hate to say this, but… there are rumors that the Duke may have sent out his own assassins as well.”

The serious tone in Homan’s voice made Rosen’s body tremble slightly. She appeared dizzy, and Rodin quickly supported her shoulder, helping her stay seated. Watching her with sympathetic eyes, Homan continued.

“Duchess Maynon’s father is still in good health, isn’t he? It’s possible he also sent out assassins. This is a sensitive time. Lord Regen is about to rise from third in line to the first in line for the throne. As you know, according to the laws of Clozium, the emperor is supposed to be the closest blood relative of the royal family, someone with both parents from the imperial bloodline, not just a son born of an emperor and a concubine. If that happens, Kasha’s existence could turn Clozium into chaos.”

Rosen knew this very well. No, she knew it even better than Homan. But knowing it didn’t mean she could accept it. She couldn’t sacrifice her son for the emperor’s throne. No, even if the entire fate of Clozium were at stake, she had no reason to sacrifice Kasha. He was her precious, precious son. He was more important to her than the man she had once loved with all her heart. Even if thousands of people bled, she would make sure Kasha was saved.

“How many assassination groups are following that child now?”

“I estimate around ten. If the Red Scorpions are involved, no matter how clever Kasha is, it will be too much for her.”

It wasn’t just “too much.” The chances of survival were almost nonexistent. With a group that size, it would be wiser to start preparing for a funeral. No matter how clever and extraordinary Kasha was, she couldn’t withstand that kind of assault. By now, unless something special happened, they were probably already entering Rengetti. The fact that the Duchess had contacted the Red Scorpions was tragic, but it also meant that Kasha was still alive. There was still a chance.

Rosen slowly gathered her thoughts and asked Homan, “Do you have any business with the Duke’s house?”

“I’m planning to stop by tomorrow morning for a brief visit.”
“Then please convey this to them. I will leave this mansion immediately and head to the Makhan territory. If I hear any news of harm coming to my son by the time I arrive, neither that person, nor the Duchess, nor ‘their’ son will be safe.”

Her voice, trembling as if holding back anger, made Homan jump out of his seat.
“Rosen… Don’t say such things. How could you—how could you say that about Lord Regen…?”

“I will repay those who try to harm my son in kind. Kasha is my only son. If anything happens to him, I will destroy them, even if it means sacrificing my own life. I will crush their ambitions. I no longer have any reason to cover up their wrongdoings.”

“That can’t happen! We’ve covered it up until now! Above all, Lord Regen will be deeply heartbroken!”

“Even if Kasha dies, it will be the same. If everyone is doomed, those who caused this should fall along with them. I will also pay for the sins I’ve committed. These are the ones who sent poison to my son. They are the ones who urged my son, who had given up everything, to take his own life. If my son dies, they will have no reason to live either.”

At her firm words, Homan let out a small sigh. He had known her for a long time and understood her well. Once she made up her mind, she would see it through, no matter what. Even though it seemed like she had raised Kasha with a strict hand, he knew how deeply she loved and cared for him. To her, Kasha was her life itself.

“Have you made up your mind?”
“Yes. I owe you a great debt, and I am deeply grateful. You’ve always treated Kasha and me well. I will never forget your kindness.”

As she bowed her head deeply in thanks, Homan shook his head.
“There’s no need for that. I considered Kasha as my own son. If there had been no other issues, I would have wanted to adopt him… It’s such a shame. If that child had inherited my guild, I could have helped him grow even more.”

“Thank you, just hearing those words means a lot.”
“Ah, for now, let me read the letter first. There are some other people coming and going along with it. I heard someone from the imperial family is among them… They were asking about the paths that lead here.”

At those words, Elsen responded most quickly.
“From the imperial family?”

Rosen, who was already slowly opening the envelope and reading its contents, glanced at the tense Elsen. Homan folded his arms and asked.
“Yes, what’s going on? Why would they be concerned even in Carilleum?”

Seeing someone from the imperial family involved, Elsen sighed deeply, while Rodin pressed his forehead in frustration. Despite this, Rosen continued to read the letter carefully.

“I told them I couldn’t give a definitive answer yet… but something strange is happening…”

Homan trailed off suspiciously, and Rosen, having quickly finished reading the letter, nodded and folded it back into the envelope.
“There’s a bit of a situation. Where are they now?”

From the contents of the letter, Rosen could roughly grasp the situation. Leysha had assured her that they could be trusted, and Rosen also decided that she needed their help. No matter how much the Maynon family had power, they wouldn’t be foolish enough to directly challenge the imperial family of Karileum. Leysha’s letter confirmed that the people from the imperial family were now looking for Ruth, and had given their word that they would not harm Kasha. Although she couldn’t be sure how much she could trust them, Rosen realized that she needed their power—at least for Kasha’s sake.

“They should be on their way here now. The news was sent through the letter courier.”
“And Kasha?”
“I’ve sent people to every possible route leading into the Rengetti region. If Kasha comes through, I’ll be notified immediately.”

“Then please tell them the route. They’ll help us. Rodin, Elsen, you stay here and verify Kasha’s whereabouts. I will head to Makhan, just in case.”
“Understood.”

Rodin nodded in agreement, and Rosen stood up, still holding the letter in her hand. When Rodin and Elsen also stood, Homan, looking worried, tried to stop her.
“Please rest for a bit.”
“No, there’s no time. I can’t stay long. I will make sure to visit and thank you properly next time.”

She bowed politely, and Homan stood up as well.
“Thank you… but there’s no need to thank me…”