Hans and the remaining members of his party gathered inside Brian’s office.
The room felt noticeably heavier than it had during their previous meetings, and no one seemed particularly eager to speak.
What had happened beneath Srivi was still fresh in their minds, especially the absence of the person who should have been standing among them.
Brian leaned against the edge of his desk, his eyes moving across the group before finally breaking the silence.
“So? Are you willing to accompany Prince Javier to Verkes Forest?”
Hans gave no immediate response.
Jason’s expression hardened instead, his mind returning to the battle beneath the city and the companion they had failed to bring home.
“Brian, have you forgotten what happened in that tunnel?” Bitterness crept into his voice despite his attempt to control it.
“Alice died because we followed Javier there to capture Framon.”
Brian’s expression fell.
He lowered his gaze for several seconds before releasing a slow breath.
“I haven’t forgotten.” His voice was quieter when he continued.
“But Alice knew the risks. She wanted Gardo and Framon brought down long before Prince Javier ever came to Srivi. In the end, she made her own choice.”
At the mention of Alice’s name, Hans’s fingers slowly curled against his palm.
Brian noticed but did not comment.
“Besides, Prince Javier’s arrival may be the best opportunity Srivi has had in years to finally break free from people like them.”
“But Brian—”
“Jason.” Brian stopped him with a firmer voice before placing one finger against the map spread across his desk.
“This time, we’re not going after Framon.”
His finger moved toward a region deep within the forest.
“We’re going after Uranus.”
Jason frowned.
“Uranus?”
“A rare mineral. Extremely valuable, difficult to obtain, and considered one of the finest materials available for forging high-level weapons and armor.”
Aveline, the third-level Mana Mage of the party, scoffed as she folded her arms across her chest.
“Hah. And I’m supposed to believe Prince Javier intends to use that wealth for Srivi?” Her expression showed exactly what she thought of the idea.
“He’ll probably sell everything and keep the money for himself. Nobles can’t be trusted. Crown Princes included.”
Hans slowly raised one hand. Enjoying the story? Read on at g.com.
Aveline stopped.
Hans looked toward Brian and gave him a single nod.
Brian’s eyebrows rose slightly.
“Hans?”
Aveline stared at him in disbelief.
“You actually trust a noble?”
“Give it a rest, Aveline,” Carl said with a tired sigh.
“You know Hans hates nobles more than anyone here.”
“I know.” Aveline looked away, keeping her arms tightly folded.
“That doesn’t mean I have to trust one.”
Brian pushed himself away from the desk.
“Then it’s settled. We leave in five days. Make sure you have everything you need before then.”
No one answered immediately.
Even without further explanation, the name Verkes Forest was enough to make the room feel heavier.
Every adventurer in Srivi had heard stories about what waited beyond its borders, and after everything they had survived beneath the city, none of them were foolish enough to believe their next journey would be safe.
Eventually, Jason released a breath.
“Understood.”
Brian gave a small nod, and the others slowly began gathering their belongings from around the room.
Aveline was still muttering something beneath her breath while Carl quietly folded the map on the table.
Jason headed toward the door with them, but Hans remained where he was.
His eyes stayed on the map.
More specifically, on the section marked Verkes Forest.
He had already given Brian his answer.
In five days, he would accompany Prince Javier into one of the most dangerous places surrounding Srivi.
Yet now that the decision had been made, doubt quietly returned.
Hans lowered his gaze to his hand.
Alice’s face surfaced in his mind.
He remembered her trapped inside Framon’s grasp.
No matter how many times Hans reminded himself that Alice had made her own choice, one truth remained impossible to ignore.
She had died during Javier’s operation.
His fingers slowly curled into a fist.
Am I really making the right decision?
Hans had seen enough nobles throughout his life to know how easily they spoke of duty, justice and sacrifice when someone else was expected to pay the price.
Javier appeared different.
He had fought beside them instead of hiding behind his title.
He had nearly exhausted his own mana trying to kill Framon, and when Alaric fell, Javier had not abandoned him or the people trapped beneath Srivi.
Hans could acknowledge all of that.
Trusting him was something else.
His gaze returned to the map.
I still don’t know what kind of person you really are, Javier.
Perhaps everything he had witnessed was genuine.
Perhaps the Crown Prince truly intended to rebuild Srivi and protect its people.
Or perhaps Hans simply had not known him long enough to see otherwise.
“Hans?”
Jason’s voice did not reach him, but Hans noticed the movement near the doorway and turned his head.
Jason was standing there with the others, gesturing for him to come.
Hans looked at the map one last time.
He did not regret agreeing to the expedition.
Not yet.
But neither was he ready to place his complete trust in the Crown Prince.
I’ll decide for myself.
Hans turned away from the table and walked toward his companions.
For now, following Javier into Verkes Forest would give him more than enough time to discover whether the prince was truly someone worth trusting.
The group left Brian’s office together.