Half a month ter, Kavize calls Henwell into the tea room. After Henwell declines his offer to sit, Kavize tosses a small pouch onto the table.

  "Don't think it's too little. If it were more, it might just be too much for you to handle."

  Henwell picks up the pouch to find some copper coins and a few scattered silver coins inside.

  Kavize sets down his wine gss, "That's for pocket money. You can buy yourself something you like."

  "Now, for your real reward. I can't let you go, nor can I make any promises. But I did take a trip to your hometown. I brought some food and supplies to your family so they can continue to stay hidden."

  "Also, I can teach you some things. I know you've been training your body, so besides guiding you in physical training, I can teach you some combat skills. What do you want to learn? Archery? Swordsmanship? I can teach you both. How much you can learn depends on your own ability."

  Henwell murmurs, "I don't know what I should learn. I just want to learn how to kill."

  Kavize gently cps his hands, "Good! That's what I like about you—you always see through to the essence of things."

  "Swordsmanship, secret techniques, footwork—they're all about becoming better at killing. Learning is just about simuting responses to various situations."

  "Prepare yourself for tomorrow. From now on, I'll devote myself to teaching you. I hope when you look back on these times, they won't be filled entirely with humiliation."

  Over the next couple of months, aside from tending to Kavize's daily needs, Henwell is fully immersed in Kavize's training.

  During this period, the war situation shifts dramatically. The Grand Duchy of Vorry not only made significant contributions in the st major battle but also captured the strategic stronghold of Wilderness City.

  This achievement brought them considerable prestige within the coalition, leaving the other two allied nations feeling overshadowed.

  The Kingdom of Billie, in particur, felt slighted. During the battle for Wilderness City, they ignored the orders of the vanguard commander, Obiken, and unched a reckless assault, resulting in significant losses.

  Feeling underestimated, the three legions of the Kingdom of Billie, under their nation's directive, joined forces with one legion from the Duchy of Vorry and another from the Kingdom of Ogiro.

  Altogether, six regur legions, totaling over forty thousand regur troops, along with an even rger number of noble forces, formed a coalition army of one hundred thousand.

  Using Wilderness City as a springboard, they aimed to strike at Kuka City, the rgest city in the eastern region of the Kingdom of Ika.

  Capturing Kuka City would effectively divide the Kingdom of Ika, with the coalition occupying at least a third of its territory.

  More crucially, if the Kingdom of Ika loses this city, they would be forced to retreat west of the Mist-Shrouded Mountains. This battle could very well mark the turning point that ends the war entirely.

  As for the possibility of the coalition's failure, no one considered it, as it seemed an unlikely outcome given the circumstances.

  After the army sets out, Kavize notices a shift in Henwell's mood. "What's wrong? Are you worried about your homend losing the war?"

  Henwell sighs, "I'm worried about the coalition losing. You can't always rely on traitors to open city gates. Kuka City isn't Wilderness City; it's a key city in the eastern part of the kingdom, with tens of thousands of troops stationed there. If tricks fail, it'll be trouble."

  Kavize responds, "If tricks fail, we'll just y siege! The coalition has strength in numbers; they won't fail."

  "But what about supplies?" Henwell counters.

  "Wilderness City can send them over."

  "Six hundred miles away! How will the supply line be protected? Pull troops from Wilderness City? What if the kingdom's army counterattacks?"

  Kavize understands Henwell's point. Fighting deep in enemy territory, if the path back is cut off, the hundred thousand coalition troops would be mbs to the sughter.

  However, Kavize isn't concerned about who wins or loses. "Isn't this good for you? If your homend regains territory, you'll have a chance to leave."

  Henwell sighs, "I'm worried I won't survive until the kingdom fights back. After a major defeat, coalition soldiers might just kill prisoners like me."

  Kavize picks up on Henwell's underlying worry. "Alright, kid, what do you want to do?"

  Henwell replies, "I want a new identity—one that won't get me killed by angry coalition soldiers after a defeat."

  Kavize doesn't respond directly.

  A few days ter, Kavize instructs Henwell to stay indoors and uses a potion to dye Henwell's hair brown. On this particur day, Kavize invites an officer to his home, and Henwell conducts himself with poise.

  The officer, curious, asks, "Who's this? That little sve you captured?"

  "No! That little rascal tried to escape, so I killed him! What a waste. I should have sold him instead," Kavize says with a look of regret.

  Then, pointing to Henwell, he adds, "This is the child of an old friend. His father was a knight of the Kingdom of Billie, but unfortunately, he died in the Battle of Riptide Bay."

  "He's the second son, with no inheritance rights, so he was entrusted to me. He's here to gain some experience during this war, and who knows, he might end up a wandering mercenary like me."

  Dressed as a servant, Henwell performs a noble salute from the Kingdom of Billie for the officer.

  The officer nods slightly in response, then smiles at Kavize. "Why did you turn down Count Obiken's offer? A direct knight title and inheritance rights! With your skills, making a name for yourself in this war wouldn't be hard. You might even become a noble before I do!"

  Kavize shrugs, "No thanks! I don't like being tied down, and I don't enjoy staying in one pce. I prefer freedom, seeing the vast ndscapes of the world, and meeting beautiful women from different pces."

  Over the next few days, Kavize frequently invites officers over for drinks, casually introducing Henwell to them.

  Among the regur visitors is the officer from the beginning, Fabio, who commands a company of two hundred soldiers in the Third Legion of the Vorry Duchy.

  Fabio is a knight in name only, cking the skills typically associated with the title, and is the offspring of a prominent noble in the Vorry Duchy.

  Due to their frequent encounters, Fabio develops a fondness for Henwell and occasionally engages in conversation with him.

  He has no doubts about Henwell's current identity, as Henwell speaks the nguage of the Kingdom of Billie fluently, even with a bit of an accent.

  Henwell appears less proficient in the nguage of the Vorry Duchy, and since that day, he hasn't spoken the nguage of the Kingdom of Ika at all.

  Thus, another month passes. Bad news arrives—not that the coalition has retreated, but something far worse. The hundred thousand coalition troops have had their supply lines cut off.