Zigor and the elders changed their opinion about Kyran after learning the truth behind the Emperor''s intentions and realizing an important point.


    In all the things that happened after Kyran appeared before them, he never mentioned having any intentions of assuming leadership over the de Dancer n. True that he appointed an overseer over them who possessed more authority than the current Head of the n, but he appointed someone from the n as well, Uilleam. Moreover, Zigor and the elders knew Uilleam''s unwavering loyalty to the n.


    But his loyalty was not blinded like most. To give a betterparison, if he had to make a decision between saving the majority of their members but risking the n''s future or sacrificing the majority to secure a better future, Uilleam was thetter.


    A good example of this was how Uilleam chose to perform an oath with Kyran and work for him to protect Shiloh— someone who could be one of the n''s pirs in the future, a beacon of hope for the n''s future.


    Looking at Uilleam''s decision at that time from another perspective, one can see that he actually gave their n a chance to bepletely free from the Emperor''s rule, a weighty decision that could change the course of their n''s history.


    Kyran said he would establish a new force and that the de Dancer n would be a part of it. However, Zigor and the elders noticed that he did not mean to use the n as the starting group. Rather, it was a separate group among several others.


    Zigor and the elders did not know how Kyran would grow his force, but the fact that he did not ask their n to find others to recruit to their cause was proof that he did not want to take advantage of them.


    Of course, Zigor and the elders might be overthinking a lot of things just from their short interaction with Kyran. Nevertheless, they already changed their perspective about Kyran the moment he chose to have a proper conversation with Zigor.


    "Establishing a new force is no easy feat," Zigor warned Kyran after a moment''s pause.


    "I know."


    "Are you sure you are not going to use our n?"


    "As I said, I only want you to focus on stabilizing your n, building a proper stronghold on this ne, and strengthening yourselves."


    "What will you do then?"


    "I''m expecting some guests in a few days. You''ll meet them, too, since they can be considered part of that new force."


    "If that is the case, I suggest we have Teh join in," Geir suggested. "You seem to have enough understanding of our n, so you may have already known that the Sound House has good connections outside of the n."


    Kyran did not respond at once. He looked at Geir with a thoughtful expression before saying, "I''ll keep that in mind."


    Kyran''s hesitation did not go unnoticed by Geir and Zigor. However, they did not voice their doubts because they had an inkling that that subject should only be discussed behind closed doors between a few n members— specifically, members with enough authority and integrity.


    They talked some more about the construction of the walls and exploration of the region before Kyran dismissed them.


    While the elders were preparing to leave the room, they could not help but give a sympathetic look at the elder who suffered from Kyran''s force. The elder regained consciousness sometime while they were busy discussing the construction project. He appeared confused, but since no one appeared to have any lingering hostility toward Kyran, he could only stay quiet and listen.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Sensing the tension, Zigor was about to call the elder to give him one of his treasured healing pills, but Kyran did something that surprised them.


    Kyran came up beside the elder and handed him a glowing multi-colored pill.


    "Use this to treat your wounds."


    After that, Kyran left without looking back.


    The elder''s eyes almost popped out of their socket the moment he realized what kind of pill was handed over to him.


    He was not the only one because the elders who were still there and saw the whole ordeal were also shocked.


    The pill did not emit the fragrance that high-grade pills usually had. Instead, it was odorless, yet the radiant glow it emitted and the multi-colored magic energy that swirled within were obvious traits of a saint-grade pill.


    Zigor retracted his hand from his storage pocket with a nk expression. He felt somewhat relieved that he had not offered his treasured pill because its efficacy and quality were far from the one Kyran gave. In any case, Zigor''s thoughts did not dwell on that but wandered off to another point.


    How could Kyran just give it such a rare pill as if it was no big deal? Could he have more of those? Where did he even get such a pill?


    While Zigor was caught up in his thoughts, he heard a voice in his head and looked to his side.


    Geir stopped beside Zigor, telepathically spoke to him, and said, ''I have my suspicions. But I feel there is more to him than what he let on.''


    ''Meaning?''


    ''Because Array is pretty much amon magic branch to us, we overlook his knowledge level. But now that I think of it, his proficiency with Array might be far greater than what we initially believed since he managed to transport the whole de Dancernd to another ne. The same thing can be said with his Alchemy Knowledge.''


    ''I don''t remember him showcasing his Alchemy skill, so it is far too early for us to assume that he concocted that pill.''


    ''True. However, I have reasons to think that he concocted it himself...''


    Geir then recounted how Shiloh and Uilleam had been in a state ofa that not even their Alchemists could do anything. He then shared that he had the feeling that Kyran gave Shiloh and Uilleam a pill or potion that would make them appear to be in aa when they were only feigning sleep.


    He also exined that the reason he believed this was how Kyran would sometimes say that he heard from Shiloh or Uilleam about this and that. But when Geir tried to guess when Shiloh and Uilleam could have talked to Kyran, he could not think of any good time at all. Initially, he guessed that the two updated Kyran on the situation the moment he woke them up.


    But the very fact that he managed to wake them when the Alchemist could not was already suspicious.


    Besides, Geir did not know how Kyran managed to keep track of the situation in their n if not for Shiloh, and Uilleam gave him constant updates.


    Zigor was silent after Geir finished sharing his thoughts. After a moment of pondering, he shook his head and said with a wry smile, "How did he manage to go off our radar for a long time? For a mage— no, rather, abat mage— to be proficient in Array and Alchemy to such a level... Just who is he?"


    Geir shook his head, "I''m just d that he took an interest in our n."


    "Hm..." Zigor could not agree more.


    *


    After Kyran left the room, he went to meet the de Dancer n''s Alchemist. There, he checked the materials the expedition team collected and made a mental note of the things they could use it for.


    Fortunately, the Head Alchemist was very weing. He did not fear Kyran, nor did he show any hostility. As a matter of fact, he was a bbermouth the moment he started talking about the different rare materials they managed to get from the beast carcasses.


    Kyran did not mind. He even felt entertained because it was rare to find a mage in the Higher Realm that was that friendly. The citizens in Ogen were pretty friendly, which was true, but that was only because he seemed harmless, and yes, they found his appearance very interesting.


    Kyran and the Head Alchemist, Yazu, a bubbly middle-aged man with a small stature, talked for a long time, and some of the alchemists with them gave up following and listening in on them.


    Initially, they were quite interested in their discussion, but when their topic jumped from one to another and theplexity became far too deep, they could only give up and focus on dissecting the beast carcass before them.


    Five or six hourster, Kyran and Yazu left the area where the other alchemists were dissecting the beast carcasses and went to an Alchemy Room.


    Fortunately, there was still an Alchemy Room intact for them to use.


    The two went there to concoct potions and pills. However, Kyran proposed it. He nned on teaching Yazu a more effective healing potion and pill to ensure the wounded members of the de Dancer n would recover faster without suffering anysting side effects.


    Yazu weed the idea without any qualms. This made Kyran like him more.


    As far as his experience in the Higher Realm had been, most of the high-level mages with good specialties tended to be obnoxious. Kyran could only count on his hands those he met who were friendly or did not act arrogant in front of him.


    Yazu was, in fact, one of the few mages in the n who held little interest in the n''s politics or the overall happenings outside. He was only interested in learning and improving his Alchemy. Thus, he dly epted when Kyran offered to teach him a new recipe.


    Still, Yazu did not have many expectations for the new recipe. He believed that it might be an improved version of a simplified one of a moreplex and high-grade healing recipe.


    However, the moment Kyran started, Yazu was entranced. He did not expect that the rumored new ''head'' of the n was proficient in Alchemy!