Legacy of the Dark Sage

Kyran did not say anything.

Taking his silence as a form of acknowledgement, Dante lowered his hand and followed the rest of the members.

Kyran watched Dante's back with a complicated expression. He could tell the man did not know who he really was. But he was a mercenary and a veteran at that. Staying around him for a longer period of time, might let him pick up some clues— not that Kyran would slip or make a mistake that would expose himself.

Nevertheless, Dante still had a first hand experience with Kyran's magic. That time, Kyran was still unfamiliar with his magic and barely knew how to control it, not to mention conceal its signature when he used it.

The only thing that kept it from getting detected by the Royal Army's magic detector in Starhorn was Chairman Noir's adjustment to the large-scale array around the city, as well as a formula in the Mercenary Hall's defensive array.

Sighing inwardly, Kyran followed behind the rest of the Conclave members.

He had a few ideas to what Celine wanted to convey. Either they found some suspicious movements on the Lumley Family while mercenaries from the Mercenary Hall were stationed at the Blacksmith Order, or it was an update on the discussion of resolution to what happened at the order yesterday.

The discussion between the Blacksmith Order and the Lumley Family which would be held at the Courtenay residence, was currently in progress.

Sigma went there with Albert, and Emmet serving as direct witnesses, as they were two of whom suffered severe injuries.

Celine had been asked to come since she was there when Tobias attacked Kyran, although her participation to the discussion was a third party observer only.

Thinking of this, Kyran hoped Sigma would do a good job in extorting— ahem, negotiating some compensations, with the Lumley Family for the damage they had done.

Because of the Royal Family's intervention, not to mention, having the Crown Princess heal the injured members of the Blacksmith Order, Kyran was not optimistic. At least he managed to stop the former in intervening with his matter against the Lumley Family. Kyran could still use that to demand compensation.

Millie led the Conclave participants to the third floor.

The whole journey was done in silence. There was nothing else to see as the corridor they tread to was empty and devoid of furniture. To be honest, it felt a little suffocating because of the painted wall's light gray color. It gave most of them the feeling of being enclosed in a steel room.

Identical black single doors could be seen alternating on each side, leading to a single room.

It made them wonder if the whole third floor of the dome only served as a quarters.

"Sorry for the lack of furnishings," Millie suddenly said, breaking the silence.

She glanced at them and smiled bitterly, "This place has been recently built for the joint military exercise."

The Conclave members were surprised to hear her. Some whispered to one another regarding their own thoughts at the matter.

Indeed, the dome looked and 'smelled' new. They did not think much of it at first because there were other reasons why it could look and smell new. One such reason was it had been renovated or cleaned, after not being used for years.

Millie focused her gaze upfront and continued, "To be honest, this land is the Courtenay's property, but the dome has been commissioned by the Montgomeray Family while the surrounding terrain has been arrange by the Lumley Family."

"So this place is considered the Three Noble Families' property?" A male Conclave member wearing a silver plate armor over a red coat, with short black hair and eyes asked. Just like Carol, he was a combat specialist from the Chamber of Commerce.

Kyran recalled his name as Rob.

Millie looked at him and shook her head, "No, this is still the Courtenay Family's property. Instead they asked to—."

Her eyes widened suddenly and she abruptly stopped talking. She lowered her head slightly before saying, "I'm sorry. I can't say anything more."

Her response made all of the Conclave members narrow their eyes. Even though they were not considered top talents under the Conclave constituents they represented, they were still among the outstanding members. They were able to read between the lines and also understand subtle clues.

From Millie's response, most of them already guessed that the changes in the events had something to do with the Three Noble Families.

Kyran, on the other hand, more or less understood everything and he was felt an incoming headache.

If he was correct, the other two Noble Families acted as additional sponsors for this joint military exercise, and in turn, they could participate in some of the events. One of which was the Team Competition.

But if this was the case, then it would no longer be considered a joint exercise between two sides but three or possibly even five, depending on if the Three Noble Families would team up or send out a team per family.

If this was a normal military exercise, the Conclave could choose to pull out after another faction joined without them knowing.

However, the exercise had been the Royal Family was included. They could easily have the Three Noble Families participate as guests. As long as they did not affect the overall purpose of the exercise, having them join a few events was okay.

Still, Kyran was sure there was more to the reason behind the changes in the event. If this was true, then the Royal Family did not plan to only control some of the Conclave's members but there was something else.

Unfortunately, with ambiguous clues, he could not come up with an explanation. Since this was the case, Kyran chose to push any unnecessary thoughts to the back of his mind.

His priority was to observe.

After a few minutes they reached a spacious half-circular room with a bar located at the far end and high tables and chairs lined up at the center. There were also several numbers of billiard tables and, on another side, five pairs of two tables with long tables could be seen.

At the moment, no one was at the bar, but different drinks were lined up on the shelves mounted on the wall.

The mercenaries immediately approved of the place.

"This area is the lounge area. You will share this place with the Royal Army's participants, however, we are confident that it can accommodate everyone," Millie explained as she turned to face them. "They have not arrived yet and their roos are located at the hall we have just been to. As for your rooms..." she turned to look at the opposite side near the other end of the half-circular room.

The Conclave members followed her line of sight and saw a path leading to another hallway that likely housed their rooms.

"... Please follow me," Millie continued and looked back at them with a smile.

The group crossed the room and continued down the opposite hallway.

Soon, Millie called them one after another as she issued them a card and a white three by three inches disc. The card served as the key to their rooms while the disc was a communication device wherein the information about the exercise would be sent to.

They could also input their own schedule into the disc and it would memorize it for them. When the event in which they would participate would start, the disc would advise them ahead of time.

Millie only advised them to bring the disc with them at all times.

The Conclave members did not mind this, since the disc's functions were favorable for them.

To Kyran, however, the disc was like a leash and a tracker that the Royal Family wanted to place on them

A leash because the Royal Family would have a better grasp of their schedule once they use it to remind them of their events. A tracker because the disc would let the Royal Family know their current location— thus Millie's reminder to have the disc with them at all times.

When Millie finished distributing all the items, she then led each participant to their rooms.

Unsurprisingly, Millie made sure to have Kyran be the last one to receive a room. Apart from that, the room Kyran had been assigned to, appear larger than the others.

The few mercenaries who noticed this could only smile wryly. To possess almost all the ideal qualities a woman such as Millie, could ever think of a man, they all knew Kyran got an obvious better treatment.

To be honest, if they had not been from the same faction, they might feel a little annoyed. But since they were, and Kyran was also Chairman Noir's disciple, they thought nothing much of it.

Kyran retained an amiable smile all the time, even when Millie led him to his room.

Before she bid him farewell, however, she said, "Disciple Tyr, w-will it inconvenient you i-if I... come with you when you decide to look around?"

"No," Kyran answered at once with a smile. "Having someone who knows the way is actually helpful."

Millie beamed as she flushed in anticipation, "T-Then—."

"I'll let you know."

Millie's smile froze sensing Kyran's curt response. However, she did not take offence and simply nodded her head, "Alright. Uhm... use this channel when you contact me through the disc."

She waved her hand and a short Array formula appeared before her.

Kyran let the formula enter the disc and said, "I will. Thank you."

"T-Then, I'll leave you to rest first."

Kyran only nodded in response, before turning and entering his room.

As he closed the door, his gentle smile faded as his eyes turned cold.

A wry smile tugged at the corner of his lips as he muttered, "You haven't changed at all. Still currying favor to people you deemed 'useful,' but then..."

His eyes flashed dangerously as he remembered a younger version of Millie, with an angel-like smile calling him...

"Kyran! Do you have time today? I... don't understand this part, will you teach me?"

Kyran closed his eyes and pushed the image out of his mind.

That was right.

The very reason why Kyran had issues trusting women who were not part of the Regis was because of Millie.

The girl who also betrayed him and had the seniors in the military school gang up on him.