Goatman? Is that even a creature? Sean looked at Freya and Ash, hoping to find some clue from their expressions, but both wore similar looks—furrowed brows, deep in thought. “Do you remember anything after that?” someone nearby asked. The soldier shook his head, his pained expression suggesting it was hard to recall what happened. “A horse... yes, yes. Maybe my horse led me out,” the soldier finally nodded, as if figuring it out. But this explanation didn’t convince anyone present. Prince Philip just glanced at his guard and ordered him to take the soldier away for now, temporarily assigning him to the prince’s retinue until the matter was investigated and other arrangements could be made. Everyone knew no more information could be extracted, though some were reluctant. But since the decision came from Prince Philip, no one dared to object. “Duke Haruman, what do you think?” After the soldier was dismissed, Prince Philip’s first inquiry was to the grand duke present. Through these days of study, Sean had come to understand many of the political relationships in the Basharan Empire. Prince Philip was the current king’s own brother, said to have grown up together with him—a rare status even among royalty. Thus, wherever Prince Philip went, he commanded respect from the local nobility. But respect was one thing; fully controlling a region’s power was another. In contrast, the grand duke’s family had operated in the south for centuries, and many of Sean’s own ancestors, as vassals, had been dispatched to govern various areas. From this perspective, even a prince in the south had to rely on the grand duke’s prestige, at least until the next duke emerged, avoiding direct confrontation. After all, Duke Haruman was already advanced in age, having painstakingly built his influence over decades—it wouldn’t be easy for a newly arrived prince to seize that power. This likely explained the difference in their current approaches. Duke Haruman, aware of his age, was eager to topple his opponent while he still had energy. In his words: rally all vassals into an anti-prince alliance and seek evidence of treason. The prince, meanwhile, remained almost motionless, calmly weathering whatever tactics were thrown at him. Caring for the people, boosting prestige. He consistently did what a prince should do, yet what most provoked the other side. Rumor had it that the heir to the Count of Koga was nearly decided. If the prince didn’t intervene, Ryan Hamilton might ultimately inherit the title. That was quite surprising... Prince Philip showed no interest. But then again, so far, Sean had only seen Prince Philip interested in matters concerning the Eye of Chaos; everything else drew no strong reaction, especially regarding the Koga succession. Such a cautious man... This made Sean somewhat believe Duke Haruman’s words. Because being too cautious made it hard not to suspect him. “What does the prince refer to?” The grand duke spoke with his head held high, not at all like a man in his sixties or seventies. “The grand duke knows the old nobles of the south well. Could something like this really happen in the southeastern region?” The prince’s tone was tactful, almost like a junior seeking advice. “The Francis family is an old noble with a century of history. They wouldn’t be foolish in a crisis. That no news has leaked suggests something must have happened there!” “Then what should we do?” “Send troops.” The grand duke’s answer was blunt. This silenced everyone present. Sending troops was indeed the best and most effective solution. “Whose troops should we send?” the prince asked again. “This isn’t about you or me, Prince Philip... The southeastern empire borders the Edac region with no natural barriers. If we can’t grasp what’s happening there, the consequences could be unimaginable—not something you or I can bear,” the grand duke said discontentedly. Sean chuckled inwardly. Even at a time like this, they were still scheming. Status truly mattered most. He kept seeing a [Being Watched...] prompt in his vision. Looking up, he noticed a noble accompanying Ash staring at him—likely the one who had spoken earlier. Had he crossed paths with this guy? Why did that look seem so displeased? “The grand duke is right. We should each send our best troops to investigate, given the southeastern region’s importance. And about that goatman—does any wizard know of such a monster?” the prince asked the room. No one answered. Sean observed that aside from himself, nearly everyone present was a wizard of Order Level 10 or above, yet none could respond. Finally, Ash stepped forward after some thought and said: “I’ve heard a legend similar to this, but it was a tale from performers. It just feels familiar.” Another legend... It had been nearly half a year since Sean arrived in this world, and he still hadn’t properly consulted scholars about the power rankings of different nations. Was his own country weak? Weren’t they supposed to have advanced machinery? Why did magic always seem to start with legends? Last time, Freya mentioned the “Mad Girl” story, and now there was a goatman?! “Performers’ tales aren’t entirely fictional. Tell us,” the grand duke pressed. “It’s a creature with a goat’s head, a woman’s chest, a pentagram on its forehead, and green flames between its horns. Legend says it’s an incarnation of a demon—summoned by sorcerers who broke the boundary between life and death. It matches what the soldier described, and it brings chaos and disaster!” It felt like listening to a story. Sean hadn’t expected Ignia’s mentor to be so knowledgeable. “Just a story,” the grand duke muttered, stroking his beard. But unlike others, his state wasn’t [Speculating] or [Thinking]—it was [Unease] and [Fear]. “Perhaps we should discuss who to send, Your Highness,” the grand duke suddenly said. “Indeed. This can’t be delayed...” Prince Philip called Freya and Ash over, while the grand duke whispered a few words to the girl beside him and led several others into a small room. “Sean, wait here with Sohana.” Sending troops wasn’t something to be widely known. Only a few key figures would participate, while most stayed outside. That included the wizards and the nobles. Just then, Sean saw the girl who had been standing with the grand duke walk toward him. “Baron Sean Weigel~” “What is it?” “My name is Talisa... of the Haruman family.” Huh?!!!!