Bail, true to his nature as a mage, had little tolerance for pain. Under Caron's relentless pressure, he spilled everything he knew—from the locations of hideouts scattered across the capital to the ominous figure known only as the Commander.0

The only disappointment was that Caron had failed to extract any information about the organization's higher-ups. He didn't believe Bail had deliberately concealed that knowledge, though. Bail wasn't the kind of man to stay loyal to his comrades; teetering on the brink of death, there was no way he would have held his tongue.0

"I'll figure out the details myself," Caron muttered to himself as he lay in wait within the shadows of a narrow alley in the northern district of the capital's slums. Then, his eyes locked onto a crumbling stone building.0

According to Bail's confession, this was the heart of the operation. Though many hideouts dotted the city, the actual orders came from here.0

"As you instructed, preparations for simultaneous raids on the other locations are complete, Young Master Caron," Hans, a knight of the Oceanwolf Knight Order, reported in a low, steady voice.0

Caron nodded slowly and said, "Speed is key, Hans. Once I break into that place, we'll need to sweep through all the others at once."0

"You seem excited," Hans observed.0

"Do I?" Caron...0