"Continue. What does this group represent?"
The other person's gaze became evasive. Even just mentioning the name, Sean could see a state of fear appearing above the girl's head.
"Is it related to the Old Ones? Are the followers of the Old Ones active in the northern part of the empire?" Sean suddenly asked.
The state that suddenly appeared in the girl before him was strikingly similar to what was common in Takoma City at the time. This realization also reminded him that followers of the Old Ones might not only be active in the Basharan Empire but also in other countries. Without effective countermeasures, it would be difficult to completely eradicate them.
Sean used a calming spell and tapped Darshi on the shoulder. Her fearful state instantly vanished.
She lifted her head and looked at him with a very complex expression.
But there was more hatred in her eyes. If she had enough food to replenish her strength right now, Sean believed this girl would not hesitate to take him down with her.
"You're lying. This thing wasn't found on our companions. You want to frame us so you can execute us in front of your beloved people and make it look justified." Admittedly, this girl had quite an imagination.
To be honest, Sean hadn't even thought of that method.
Due to past events, the people of the Oro region both feared and hated followers of the Old Ones. If he used the excuse of involvement with Old One followers to deal with them, he might even gain some goodwill and win back the favor of those citizens he had lost.
"You've actually given me an idea. But dealing with you is easy for me. I don't need to put on any show for the people. On the contrary, the fact that you can pretend not to believe even after seeing your companion's handwriting is what truly opens my eyes." Sean sneered and put the thick parchment away. If she wasn't willing to talk, he would have to wait for Freya to send someone or find a wizard in Oro City with relevant knowledge.
"They are Borgs."
Just as he was about to leave, the girl behind him finally spoke.
"Borgs?"
Looking at her face in the firelight, it was already filthy beyond words.
Eating, drinking, and relieving herself all in this cramped cell. Honestly, if not for her voice being too soft, Sean wouldn't have even wanted to come in.
The smell was too strong, too foul.
"Be more specific. Also, are the cultists you mentioned earlier followers of the Old Ones?" Sean's questioning only provoked her displeasure, and she deliberately shut her mouth and refused to speak.
"Even if you don't tell me, it doesn't matter. I already know that your targeting of me is to curry favor with the Borgs. The Borgs are ready to strike in the north, but it's hard to breach the Basharan Empire, which has stood for centuries, through external attacks alone. So they need insiders. If I'm not mistaken, you are those insiders. But given the Borgs' overall distrust of us, they need you to prove your sincerity, right?"
Sean looked at her. The clues from the past few days had connected everything.
He had originally thought this was just a matter of conflict between two empires and internal strife, but he never expected that the booklet he received today would involve the Old Ones. That meant he had to dig deeper.
Even now, Sean felt a deep sense of helplessness when facing such beings. He could hardly think of any ability to counter the Old Ones. Even the power of the Eye of Gehros could at most take down a few followers. If the Old Ones themselves truly appeared, he feared nothing short of Gehros's own arrival could face them.
"So the Borgs need you to do something—preferably take out a high-ranking noble in the region. That way, you'd be fully committed to the battlefield. But since your forces are scattered and can't effectively deal with the local nobles, you traveled all the way to my city. Oro City was newly established and suffered heavy losses in the last incident, so you thought this city was the most likely place for an uprising."
Sean laid out the rebels' plan in full. Based on the clues from the past few days, this should be correct.
"But—"
"I didn't expect you to dabble in the power of the Old Ones. That's something humans should never touch. Bringing them in will only bring endless disaster. Your talk of liberating the suffering people is just a lie to make yourselves feel better. In truth, you are just as bloodthirsty!" Sean said coldly.
"I don't know anything about followers of the Old Ones! That's the Borgs, not us!"
Sean's words seemed to provoke the girl, and she screamed hoarsely.
"Then what is this?" He pointed at the thick parchment in his hand.
"I don't know either. They call it the Lovecraft Pendant—something that can make the body stronger. I only heard someone mention it in a meeting. The Borgs have been looking for this thing, but I didn't know it had anything to do with the Old Ones."
There was no sign of lying above her head. She was probably telling the truth.
She likely didn't even know why followers of the Old Ones had infiltrated the revolutionary army, and that those followers were her own companions.
"What are they looking for these things for?"
She fell silent again, just glaring at him viciously.
"They're looking for many things, but I won't tell you a single one!"
"Ah!"
Sean squeezed her face hard. For a moment, he actually felt the urge to kill.
He took a deep breath.
"Fine. Even if you don't tell me, I'll find out eventually. But you still don't get it. If the Borgs really came here with the intention of searching for Old One artifacts, then you're just one of their sacrifices. Victory? Hah, a huge joke."
Sean released her and walked straight to the cell door.
"Chaos will begin. You'll all die at the hands of the people you once oppressed. You're so capable, aren't you? Then go find it yourself. I heard the Borgs want most is a silver key that glows under the moonlight. Find it, and you'll know everything."
Darshi's mocking laughter came from inside the cell.
"Is that so? Then let's make a bet. Let's bet on whether the empire or you will survive to the end. Take good care of her. Move her to a cleaner place. I don't want her to die just yet." Sean spoke to the cell and also to the soldier at the door.
"Yes, Count."
He left the cell with a heavy expression.
Meanwhile, somewhere on the northern border of the Basharan Empire, all soldiers on the towering border wall were ready.
The wind was strong today. It seemed winter was approaching.
In previous years, this was the time when all cities stored grain for the winter. But now, they had to face a greater threat.
"How many are there?" A general stood at the highest point of the wall, gazing at the dark mass in the distance.
"Countless."
The sound of cannon fire came from afar.
"Take cover!"
Shouts rang out among the soldiers.