The road remained barren.
No presence.
No movement.
Just stillness.
The white-haired girl led the group.
Ren and blue-haired followed alongside side by side.
Wait.
The blue-haired signaled them to stop.
The white-haired turned around to look at her.
What now?
Instead of answering immediately, the blue-haired pointed towards Ren.
“You’re B.”
Then at the white-haired.
“You’re W.”
And then she pointed at herself.
“I am Bl.”
“Let’s go with these names, for now.”
That works, W nodded.
Sigh.
Fine.
Ren nodded reluctantly.
Even though it wasn’t their real name, it is still a form of information.
But proper communication also required addressing.
“But—”
Ren added.
“When we face a situation where we feel suspicious of a person, we can tell them to recall it.”
“What if we suspect 2 persons?” Bl asked.
W too stared at Ren at this question.
“Then the third person runs.”
A pause.
….
….
“Runs,” Bl repeated.
“Yeah, run.”
“Regardless of whether the two are real or something else.”
“The third person evacuates immediately.”
“And goes back to the mall where all the groups decided to meet.”
W made a gesture towards Ren.
“Please, continue.”
“If a person actually suspects 2 persons, then it is guaranteed that the third person is already exposed.”
“And the fact that they got affected even after using fake names proves it.”
Silence fell over the group after Ren spoke.
….
….
….
….
….
“Hey, B.”
She raised a finger, then placed it on her chin, smiling ever so slightly.
“You’re quite…
clever.”
Ren was taken aback.
Really uncommon.
Whether it was stepping towards a commoner or….smiling at one.
But there is that grey-haired boy.
A noble with a Vestige, yet he was approachable for commoners.
Seems like contradictions do exist.
Just not everywhere.
“Thanks…..I suppose.”
Ren replied.
“I have a plan.”
“What plan?”
Bl asked confusedly.
“You’ll see tonight.”
With that, she began walking forward, leaving Ren and Bl behind.
Ren turned towards Bl, who too at some point had turned towards him.
She raised her shoulder and made a not-knowing gesture.
Ren inhaled once.
“A plan still needs other members’ agreement to be put to work anyway,” Bl answered.
“It does, but if you play by majority….”
“I am at a disadvantage, aren’t I?” Ren replied.
Before following W.
Bl followed along.