Halochassis

Croft had been overworking herself in the investigation unit ever since her father died. The quiet moments had become her worst enemy. Whenever there was nothing demanding her attention, her thoughts would inevitably drift back to him. She would remember his voice, his stern expressions whenever she made a mistake, and the small habits she once found annoying but now desperately wished she could see again. The memories would surface without warning, often when she was staring at an empty piece of paper or sitting alone in her office.

Because of that, Croft had made herself busy.

She buried herself in reports, investigations, witness statements, and piles of paperwork that seemed to multiply every time she finished one. When there was nothing left to investigate, she would find something else to organize. When even that failed, she would accompany her best friend Lireina simply to avoid being alone with her thoughts. As long as her mind remained occupied, she did not have to think about the empty space her father had left behind.

Recently, however, her habit of working herself to exhaustion had begun taking its toll.

Croft had been getting less and less sleep. Thick shadows had formed beneath her eyes, making her already tired face look even more worn out. Her hair was slightly messier than usual, and there were moments when she caught herself staring blankly at documents without actually reading the words. Even so, she continued working as though sleep was nothing more than an unnecessary luxury.

Her current investigation involved the remaining Halochassis.

The bulletin board in front of her was covered with photographs, handwritten notes, strings, and small pieces of paper containing everything she had managed to uncover about the Iron Bandits. Some photographs were pinned neatly into place, while others were covered in red markings and handwritten observations. The board looked almost like a battlefield of information.

Two of the Halochassis had already been neutralized.

Armaros had been captured by the Chosen One, Alexander Goldheart, during the chaos surrounding the Cathedral Exa operation. Mastema, on the other hand, had reportedly died. Their photographs had been crossed out with thick red lines, marking them as targets who were no longer active.

Croft stared at the remaining two photographs.

Azazel.

Samael.

The two remaining Halochassis had last been seen during the incident at Cathedral Exa. According to the reports, they had appeared in the middle of the raid in the slums and assassinated Saint Elwyn while everyone else was distracted by the chaos around them. The more Croft studied the reports, the more uncomfortable she became.

She slowly folded her arms and stared at the photographs.

“Something feels off,” Croft muttered to herself.

Her tired eyes moved from one report to another as she replayed the events in her mind.

“There was no way that Armaros, or Adzeel Schwarzer, was able to plan out the attack on Saint Elwyn.” She tapped one finger against the desk, the quiet clicking sound echoing through the office. “The raid in the slums was executed outright. There was barely any time for preparation.”

Croft glanced at Armaros’s crossed-out photograph.

“And I believe the Iron Bandits would prefer self-preservation over the destruction of one enemy.”

She paused. Her eyes narrowed.

“Unless…”

A realization slowly formed in her mind.

Croft reached for a red marker and stood from her chair. The wheels of the chair squeaked softly against the floor as she stepped toward the bulletin board. She lifted the marker and drew a circle around Azazel’s face.

The red ink stood out against the photograph.

“He must be the mastermind of this operation,” Croft said quietly.

Her expression hardened as she stared at the picture.

“He must have sold out his own leader just to kill Saint Elwyn.”

The thought sent a slight chill through her despite the warm afternoon air inside the office.

It made sense. Azazel had remained strangely difficult to track. Whenever the Iron Bandits carried out something that required careful planning, Azazel had been involved in some way. The Northern Fortress incident was still fresh in Croft’s mind, especially the precision of the attack and the way everything seemed to unfold according to a carefully prepared plan.

There was something different about Azazel.

He was not simply another member of the Iron Bandits.

Croft finally returned to her desk and sank into her comfortable chair. The soft cushioning pressed against her exhausted back, and she let out a quiet sigh as she stretched both arms above her head. Her shoulders cracked softly, followed by a relieved groan.

“Samael may have been the one who delivered the final blow to Saint Elwyn,” she continued, lowering her arms. “But I doubt that he is the mastermind at all.”

Her gaze returned to the bulletin board.

“That brilliant plan in the Northern Fortress…” Croft muttered.

She rested her chin on one hand, her fingers tapping lightly against her cheek as she pieced together what she knew.

“It must have been Azazel’s doing.”

She stared at his photograph for several seconds. The more she thought about it, the more certain she became. Azazel was the one Croft needed to find.

She was still trying to formulate a logical explanation in her head when three sharp knocks suddenly came from her office door.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

Croft immediately turned toward the door.

“Come in!” she called.

The handle turned, and the door slowly opened. To her surprise, Shin and Lireina stood on the other side.

Lireina immediately greeted her with a cheerful smile that seemed completely out of place compared to Croft’s exhausted expression.

“Good morning, Croft. Jeez, why are you working on weekends?” Lireina asked as she stepped into the office.

The bright sound of her voice filled the otherwise quiet room. Croft leaned back in her chair and gave her a confident smile.

“Well, everyone has hobbies.”

Shin walked in behind Lireina and glanced at the stacks of paperwork surrounding Croft’s desk. His eyes briefly moved toward the bulletin board before returning to her exhausted face.

“I don’t think overworking is a hobby,” Shin said.

Croft’s smile twitched. She pointed at him. “Okay, shut up.”

Then her expression became suspiciously serious.

Croft leaned forward in her chair and narrowed her eyes at the two of them.

“Are you going to invite me as a chaperone again?” she asked.

Lireina blinked. Shin remained silent.

Croft’s eye twitched.

“Because I swear to the Goddess, I can’t sleep whenever the two of you moan in the middle of the night!”

Lireina’s face immediately turned bright red.

“A-Are we that obvious!?” she cried.

Her cheeks burned with embarrassment, and even her ears seemed to betray her as they pointed upward.

Shin stared at her for a moment. Croft simply looked between the two of them.

“Yes, you are,” she said flatly.

Lireina covered her face with both hands.

“Oh no…”

Croft could practically hear the embarrassment in her voice.

Shin sighed and raised one hand toward Lireina before gently elbowing her side.

“Lena.”

The small nudge snapped Lireina out of her embarrassment, although her cheeks remained bright red.

“Ah, right.” Lireina suddenly said, as though she had just remembered something important. “I want you to join us to meet Qinglong.”

Croft’s eyebrows immediately rose.

Her previously relaxed expression disappeared, replaced by a look of disbelief. She slowly leaned back against her chair and folded her arms across her chest.

“What’s with that Ultimate Dragon asshole?” Croft asked.

Shin glanced at her, but he did not seem particularly surprised by the insult. In fact, his expression suggested that he had almost expected it.

“Hey, don’t be too hard on Qinglong,” Lireina said. She raised both hands slightly, trying to calm Croft down before she could say anything worse. “He’s a changed man. He wanted to apologize to you two for the sins he has committed in the past.”

Croft’s eyes narrowed.

She slowly turned her head toward Shin.

Shin was already looking back at her.

His expression was just as doubtful.

Neither of them needed to say anything.

Of course, Croft already knew exactly what Qinglong had done to Shin. Lireina had told her everything about the death of Shin’s best friend, including the role Qinglong had played in it. The knowledge alone had been enough to make Croft distrust him, but that was not the only reason she wanted nothing to do with the Ultimate Dragon Warrior.

There was another incident she remembered far too clearly.

Qinglong had once attempted to kill her at Saint Marian Academy.

Croft could still remember the feeling of fear and shock from that moment. She remembered the enormous lance coming toward her, the sharp glint of the weapon under the light, and the split second when she genuinely thought it was going to pierce straight through her chest. She could almost feel that same cold sensation again as the memory returned.

Her fingers unconsciously tightened around her own arm.

She had not forgotten it. Not even close.

For some reason, Croft found it incredibly difficult to believe that Qinglong had suddenly developed enough remorse to apologize to both of them. The man was hot-headed, aggressive, and seemingly obsessed with combat. He had always treated battles like they were games, charging into danger without much regard for anyone caught in the middle.

And now he supposedly wanted to apologize?

Croft found the idea almost laughable.

“Just what did you do to Qinglong?” Croft asked. She leaned forward and rested her elbows on the desk, studying Lireina suspiciously. “I find it doubtful that he would willingly apologize to both of us.”

Lireina’s lips curled into a playful smile. She slowly raised her index finger.

“Just a bit of tough sisterly love.”

Croft stared at her. Shin stared at her too.

For several seconds, neither of them said a word.

The office suddenly became strangely quiet. The only sounds were the faint ticking of the clock on the wall and the soft rustling of papers being moved by the breeze coming through the nearby window.

Croft slowly turned toward Shin. Shin turned toward Croft. They exchanged the same confused look.

Neither of them understood what Lireina’s definition of “tough sisterly love” actually involved.

Shin finally gave a small shrug. Croft did the same.

Whatever Lireina had done to Qinglong, it apparently worked well enough to make the infamous Ultimate Dragon consider apologizing.

That alone was worth seeing.

“Fine,” Croft said as she pushed herself out of her chair. “Let’s go.”

Shin nodded.

Lireina immediately brightened, her smile becoming even wider as she turned toward the door.

Croft grabbed a few things from her desk before following them. She took one last glance at the bulletin board, her eyes briefly landing on the circled photograph of Azazel.

The investigation could wait for a little while.

Besides, she was beginning to wonder just what kind of puppy Qinglong had become after receiving Lireina’s version of “sisterly love.”

The three used a teleporter until they finally made it to the faraway Oakshade Village. The moment they stepped out of the teleportation circle, the first thing they noticed was the smell of fresh leaves and damp earth carried by the gentle breeze. Oakshade Village, as the name suggested, was filled with towering oak trees that stretched high above the village like enormous green pillars. Their thick branches spread across the sky, creating a natural canopy that filtered the warm sunlight into soft patches of gold. Birds chirped from the treetops, while the occasional rustle of leaves could be heard whenever the wind passed through them. Compared to the noisy streets and crowded districts of Luminous City, Oakshade Village felt almost unrealistically peaceful. It was the kind of quiet, harmless place where beginner adventurers could start their journeys without worrying about being caught in some dangerous conflict.

The three walked along the village path for a good two minutes, their footsteps lightly tapping against the stone road. Small wooden houses and shops stood between the enormous trees, with flower boxes hanging from windows and colorful plants growing along fences. Eventually, they spotted a cafe surrounded by so much greenery that it almost looked like part of the forest itself. Thick vines crawled along its wooden walls and curled around the windows, while potted flowers and small shrubs decorated the entrance. The pleasant smell of freshly baked bread and roasted coffee drifted through the air, making the place feel warm and inviting. The cafe was being served by wood elves, who moved between tables with practiced smiles while carrying trays filled with cakes, tea, and steaming cups of coffee.

At the garden entrance of the cafe stood a round wooden table surrounded by several chairs. Sitting comfortably at the table was the tall dragon warrior, Qinglong. His large frame made the wooden chair look slightly too small for him, but he seemed perfectly comfortable as he waited. The moment he noticed the three approaching figures, his face brightened into a smile. He immediately stood up, straightening his clothes before facing them.

“Mister Rebellium. Miss Croft.” Qinglong placed a hand against his chest and bowed politely. “I am glad that you came. I never thought that you two would show up, considering that you two hated me.”

“We only came because Lireina practically begged us to.” Croft said as she crossed her arms. Her expression remained skeptical, and she gave Qinglong a sharp look that made it obvious she had not forgotten what happened between them. “So? Why did you call us here?”

“Well…” Qinglong scratched the back of his head, his usual confidence suddenly disappearing. He looked strangely embarrassed, almost like someone who had prepared an important speech but suddenly forgot how to say it. “I don’t usually say this, but Big Sis Lena made me steer back to the right path. I shouldn’t have been barbaric, especially to you, Croft. I am sorry that I attempted to take your life back in the incident in Saint Marian Academy.”

Qinglong lowered his head before slowly getting down on one knee. He then placed both hands against the ground and bowed deeply. The movement was so sudden and sincere that Shin and Croft were both caught off guard. Even the sounds of the cafe seemed to fade into the background for a moment as Qinglong remained there, waiting for Croft’s response.

Shin and Croft stared at him in surprise, neither of them expecting the proud dragon warrior to humble himself so openly. Lireina, on the other hand, was smiling like a proud mother who had just taught her mischievous child an important lesson. Her eyes practically sparkled as she watched Qinglong apologize, and she quietly placed her hands on her hips, looking more pleased with herself by the second.

After about five seconds, Croft finally sighed. She uncrossed her arms and looked down at the kneeling dragon warrior. “Stand up, Ultimate Dragon Warrior. I forgive you. As long as you don’t try to do the same thing again.”

“Will do.” Qinglong immediately stood up, his expression becoming noticeably lighter. “I’m a changed man now, thanks to Big Sis Lena.”

“Heh!” Lireina silently held her hips, her chest puffing out slightly as she became even prouder of herself. She looked as though she had personally saved the entire world through the power of friendship.

Qinglong then turned his attention toward Shin. His smile slowly faded, replaced by a more serious expression. He had already apologized to Croft, but this apology clearly weighed more heavily on him. He stared at Shin for a moment before taking a slow breath.

“Mister Shin Rebellium. I have heard that you were the best friend of Professor Emmanuel Gagarin. It must have been a traumatic sight for you to see your best friend die because of my incompetence.” Qinglong’s voice became quieter as he spoke. “And for that, I offer you my sincerest apologies.”

Qinglong bowed deeply once again. Unlike his apology to Croft, there was no playful tone in his voice this time. He remained completely still, his head lowered as he waited for Shin’s response. The breeze gently moved through the oak trees above them, sending a few leaves drifting down around the garden.

Shin simply stared at Qinglong for a good three seconds. His expression was difficult to read. The memory of Emmanuel’s death still lingered in his mind, along with the anger and helplessness he had carried ever since. He could still remember his best friend’s final moments, and knowing that Qinglong’s actions had played a role in that tragedy made the apology difficult to accept.

“Stand up.”

Qinglong slowly raised his head before standing upright. For a brief moment, neither of them spoke. Then Shin extended his hand toward him.

Qinglong blinked in surprise. His eyes widened slightly before a genuine smile appeared across his face. He had expected anger, resentment, or perhaps even another harsh word, but he had not expected a handshake. Seeing Shin’s extended hand, Qinglong reached out with his own.

However, just as his fingers were about to meet Shin’s hand, Shin suddenly pulled his arm back and swung his fist forward.

BAM!

His fist connected directly with Qinglong’s face.

The impact sent Qinglong’s head snapping backward, his eyes widening in complete shock. The wooden table rattled from the sudden movement, while several nearby birds immediately flew out of the oak trees after being startled by the noise. Croft’s eyes widened, and Lireina’s cheerful smile froze in place.

For several seconds, the peaceful atmosphere of Oakshade Village was completely shattered.

Shin lowered his fist and calmly stared at Qinglong.

“That was for Manny.”