As the cool breeze brushes against him, Henwell gradually regains his composure. While racing towards his destination, he contemptes how to navigate the imminent dangers. Upon entering the Kingdom of Billie, Henwell opts not to take the shorter route; instead, he veers southward.

  Backmount City is the rgest city closest to the southern region of the duchy. After two days of relentless travel without rest, Henwell arrives in Backmount City and immediately contacts the intelligence transmission point he has established there. He quickly activates Wolf Falcon to disseminate his pns.

  First, Peace Haven, his stronghold, needs to initiate preliminary mobilization. The army must be ready for the worst-case scenario. Next, he informs members of Pi to prepare for relocation. Lastly, the merchant convoy is notified to deliver the supplies he has prepared.

  After resting for just a day, Henwell sets off again, heading towards the warehouse near the capital for a rendezvous. Victor, who has received prior notice, is already waiting there.

  Upon seeing Henwell, Victor asks what has happened. Henwell shakes his head. "I've only figured out part of it; the specifics are still unclear, but it's definitely something big. Notify all the brothers to prepare for evacuation. We need to move quickly. How many people do we have near the capital?"

  Victor calcutes briefly. "Only seven hundred who can fight!"

  Henwell replies, "Leave me a hundred!"

  "They'll all stay with you! Only if you survive do we have a future!"

  Henwell shakes his head. "Too many people will only make us a bigger target. A hundred is perfect, and they need to be skilled in horseback riding! The rest should evacuate immediately! Blend into my merchant convoys in batches and regroup at Peace Haven!"

  After making all the arrangements, Henwell returns to the capital to meet with Daniel, expressing his desire to see Princess Catherine. By that afternoon, Princess Catherine finds Henwell hiding in an inn.

  With a frown, Princess Catherine remarks, "How long has it been since you st bathed?"

  Henwell skips the small talk and gets straight to the point. "I want to make a deal with you. The outcome of this deal is our lives."

  "Heh... Have you taken a page from those fortune-tellers, making the situation sound dire on purpose?" Catherine starts to say, but she notices Henwell's serious expression and realizes he isn't joking.

  "Go on, then."

  Henwell continues, "For the next two merchant convoys, I need you to get me as much alloy steel as you can. In return, each convoy will bring over a hundred sets of premium knight gear. Additionally, the two convoys will deliver over five thousand sets of standard military equipment."

  Catherine raises an eyebrow. "Has your smelting process improved that much? You must have been skimming off my special steel supplies!"

  Suddenly, Henwell shouts, "Shut up! Let me finish!"

  Catherine is startled by Henwell's outburst and is about to scold him when she sees the bloodshot eyes staring back at her. It's the first time she's seen Henwell so out of sorts. In her mind, Henwell is a calm, wise, courageous, and ambitious man. Seeing him agitated and losing composure is unprecedented.

  At this moment, Catherine realizes the gravity of the situation.

  Henwell takes a deep breath. "Sorry! I'll keep it brief. After this deal, we likely won't have any contact for a while. Once the transaction is complete, sever all ties with me. Every trace of our dealings must be erased. Everything! Anything that can be traced back must be cut off!"

  Catherine's eyes widen. "What on earth is happening? Is there trouble in your territory? Have you defected from the Duchy of Vorry?"

  Henwell doesn't offer further expnation. He simply gazes at the stunning woman before him.

  After a long hesitation, Henwell finally speaks up. "With all the armaments you've prepared, I suggest you stop hiding them. The time has come to bring them out. If you wait any longer, you might miss your chance!"

  Hearing this, Catherine is momentarily stunned. A thought strikes her, and she suddenly jumps up from her chair, rushing to Henwell with her face nearly touching his. "Are you saying..."

  Henwell gently pushes her away. "I haven't said anything! I'm just guessing. This isn't something you or I can handle. Even as a princess, you're just a leaf caught in the currents of this great upheaval."

  Seeing the shock on her face, Henwell continues, "Your Highness, you're a smart woman. No one would believe us if we spoke of this. And since it's been pnned for so long, with so much groundwork id, it can't be changed with a few words. Besides, we're alike.“

  ”Chaos is dangerous for us, but it's also a dder to climb. You know as well as I do that under normal circumstances, your chances aren't great. This could be an opportunity—a chance to change your own fate."

  Henwell stands and walks to the window, gazing at the night outside. He speaks softly, "As for the fate of the kingdom or the duchy, for people like us, it doesn't really matter, does it?"

  Catherine fixes Henwell with a cold stare. "You're just a minor lord. What makes you think you can compare yourself to me? I have royal blood coursing through my veins. Do you think I'm like you, a coward who scrapes by?"

  Henwell doesn't directly refute her. "Your Highness, you know. Ten years ago, I was fighting as a young gdiator in the Bloodhorn Arena. Now, I'm a legend in the Duchy of Vorry, and my story is told far and wide."

  Turning sharply, Henwell speaks calmly, "Give me another ten years, and the entire continent will know my name. I'm not a prodigy; I'm just someone fighting desperately to survive. It's people like me who can climb step by step to the pinnacle. So, Princess, why shouldn't I compare myself to you?"

  Catherine stares at Henwell, speechless. She's seen Henwell's fierce prowess in battle, his shrewdness in business, and his wisdom in uncovering traps. But she's never seen this side of him—a presence that exudes an undeniable dominance.

  For a woman, a man's allure lies in his bravery, intelligence, capability, wealth, power... And Henwell possesses all these qualities at this moment.

  Catherine is ambitious, but she is still a woman. As she gazes at Henwell, seemingly entranced, Henwell remains unaware of her feelings.

  He continues to gently persuade her, "Catherine, you're the most resourceful woman I've ever met. You refuse to be just a pawn in a marriage, a tool for childbirth, and rightly so. That would waste your talents. Think carefully! Stay calm! Standing out now won't change the big picture. Prepare yourself! This will be your first dder towards becoming a legendary queen."

  After a moment, Henwell adds, "The dder of chaos!"