"Please take good care of Nora, and help him grow stronger," Advisor Alex requested, turning to Barsha and Aji. Across the yard, Nora was still happily preoccupied, engaging in playful exhibition spars with Alex's young students.

"Lord Advisor, but we..." Barsha began, her tone carrying a slight hesitation.

"We will look after him. You have no need to worry," Aji interrupted smoothly, cutting off Barsha's protest. "He has long wished to fight alongside you, holding you as his ultimate role model. I hope you will always remember that."

Advisor Alex fell silent for a moment. Aji's words carried a strange, heavy weight—sounding almost like a quiet directive. For reasons he couldn't quite grasp, the aging advisor felt as though he were standing before a senior master rather than a youth. It felt as if Aji possessed an age and authority far exceeding his youthful appearance.

"I will keep that in mind, Vice Commander of the Sky Squad," Alex replied softly.

Barsha glanced at Aji, puzzled by his lack of formal deference toward a continental advisor. Yet, Alex showed no offense, addressing Aji with a quiet, uncharacteristic respect.

"We know you held back during your spar," Aji added, delivering another observation that caught Alex off guard. "You yielded so Nora could feel proud demonstrating his progress before you. I appreciate your thoughtful gesture."

Alex stared at the youth. Aji... he is truly extraordinary. The boy had read his suppressed strength with effortless ease. Alex had indeed held back during the match, withholding his absolute limits to give Nora his moment.

"You have keen eyes, Aji," Alex acknowledged with a subtle smile. "You are a remarkably talented young man."

Aji returned a faint smile. "You should also note that Nora is far from the boy he was before joining the Sky Squad. He didn't unleash his full strength today either. His growth has been extraordinary."

Both men shared a knowing look. Nora had indeed reserved his highest techniques; the spar had been an informal test. Nora's primary objective had been to verify whether Alex utilized any corrupt dark magic in his martial arts—a suspicion completely cleared by the match.

Aji, however, viewed the situation through a sharper lens. While his senses confirmed that Alex's internal cultivation remained untainted by dark magic, Aji picked up a faint, persistent shroud of dark energy hovering around Alex's immediate environment.

Aji kept his observations to himself, silently monitoring the elder master to discern the exact nature of the dark influence surrounding him.

As the sun reached its zenith, lunchtime arrived.

An elderly woman dressed in simple, dignified attire approached the pavilion. Despite her age, her features remained elegant, her hair neatly styled in a low bun. Offering a polite greeting to Aji, Barsha, and Nora, she turned to her husband.

"Husband, lunch is prepared. Please invite our guests to join us."

With a soft bow to the visitors, she turned and departed. A subtle flicker of discomfort crossed Alex's expression—an instant reaction so fleeting that no one else noticed. Aji, however, caught the shift immediately.

It was as though Alex resented the interruption while conversing with his guests.

Regaining his composure, Alex introduced the woman as his wife before inviting the trio inside for lunch. He instructed his young students to head to the rear dining hall for their usual meal before dismissing them for the day.

The children obeyed promptly, offering polite farewells to Alex and bowing respectfully to the Sky Squad—especially to Nora, whom they now idolized.

Following Alex through the compound, the trio navigated a series of well-kept gardens framed by towering shade trees.

Alex clearly took great pride in maintaining his private estate. Having retired from active duties with the Martial Arts Association, he rarely took on external assignments unless a critical crisis demanded his personal intervention. His current responsibilities were restricted to his role as a continental advisor, offering strategic guidance on policy decisions affecting the Emerald Continent.

"Do you have no official duties scheduled today, Lord Advisor?" Nora asked, matching Alex's pace along the stone walkway.

Alex confirmed that his schedule was clear, with no summons from the capital of Elenoir. Consequently, he was free to spend his day relaxing and instructing local children in basic sword arts.

Nora listened intently to every detail Alex shared. Seeing his idol enjoying a peaceful, fulfilling retirement after decades of distinguished service to the Martial Arts Association brought him deep satisfaction. Alex had spent his youth fighting for justice across countless battlefields, leaving behind an impeccable legacy.

Thus far, Nora had uncovered zero evidence of treason, filling him with overwhelming relief. He felt entirely confident that Advisor Alex harbored no ties to the dark army.

Entering the main dining room, they found two women waiting beside a table laid with a generous spread. One was Alex's wife, who had greeted them earlier. Standing beside her was a mature woman holding a young girl in her arms.

Alex introduced the second woman as his daughter, and the young girl as his granddaughter.

Both women offered warm greetings, welcoming the guests with genuine hospitality. Delighted by the reception, Nora bowed respectfully. After setting the final dishes on the table, Alex's wife and daughter excused themselves, heading toward the rear quarters to leave the men to their meal.

Seated at the dining table, the four began their meal. Alex urged his guests to eat heartily and make themselves at home.

The table offered a rich variety of local dishes, which Nora devoured with enthusiasm. Barsha served herself modest portions, while Alex ate with a healthy appetite.

Aji joined in, quietly sampling the dishes. Nora's appetite proved so immense that he requested second and third helpings, prompting amused nods from Aji. Alex welcomed Nora's enthusiasm, warmly encouraging the young warrior to finish whatever he liked.

Nora happily obliged, thoroughly enjoying the meal.

When lunch concluded, Advisor Alex invited the trio to remain as his guests for the night. Nora hesitated, eager to accept but deferring to the judgment of his squad leaders.

Neither Barsha nor Aji raised any objection, recognizing that staying overnight would allow Nora precious time to reconnect with his mentor. The two had been separated for years while Nora pushed himself through non-stop conditioning to earn Alex's recognition.

They agreed to accept the hospitality, scheduling their departure for the following afternoon to resume their official Sky Squad duties.

Barsha explained that beyond escorting Nora, their visit aimed to establish strong diplomatic channels with senior continental advisors. The Sky Squad could not operate in isolation; securing the counsel and institutional support of elder leaders across all continents was essential for their long-term operations.

Building solid rapport with continental advisors ensured the Sky Squad would receive full regional backing during future deployments. Alex readily agreed to the proposal, pledging his complete support to the squad's mission.

Late that evening...

A cloaked figure utilizing high-tier stealth magic—completely erasing their physical presence and internal energy signatures—glided silently across the roof tiles. Peering through a skylight, the intruder scouted the two guest chambers occupied by the Sky Squad members, separated only by an interior wall. Both rooms were quiet, the occupants tucked under heavy blankets.

In one room, Barsha slept alone; in the adjacent chamber, Aji and Nora lay motionless in deep slumber. Satisfied with the observation, the shadowy figure dissolved into the darkness and vanished.

The moment the intruder's presence fully dissipated, Aji opened his eyes. Sitting up silently, he arranged his pillows beneath the blanket to mimic a sleeping frame. Slipping out of the chamber, he glided to Barsha's door and tapped twice softly.

A second later, the door slipped open. Barsha stepped out, fully geared and waiting. Exchanging a brief, silent nod, the two vaulted into the night sky, vanishing into the shadows. Deploying the absolute peak of master assassin techniques—complete energy suppression and optical camouflage—they melted into the dark, ready to uncover the truth.