Rakuta was thoroughly astonished. He had no idea how to answer the sudden, probing questions from the young Sky Squad warrior standing before him. Deep down, Rakuta held immense respect for righteous martial artists.

Above all else, however, he was a man who lived for the craft of blacksmithing and weapon-making. What caught him off guard was how this youth possessed such specific knowledge regarding the weapons produced within the Golden Crane Academy's forge office.

Years ago, Rakuta had owned his own independent forge. After accumulating heavy debts, the Golden Crane Academy invited him to join their ranks. Recognizing his extraordinary talents in forging armaments, they recruited him. Previously unacknowledged by the broader community, Rakuta proved his worth directly to Drakos, who was still serving as the leader of the Golden Crane Academy at the time.

Rakuta was appointed chief blacksmith, tasked with continuously manufacturing weapons and directing the artisans under his command.

Rakuta shared his story with Aji, explaining that he only ever received paper outlines detailing the weapon specifications and production quantities. Even for custom orders commissioned by wealthy nobles, he was merely handed blueprints before setting to work. He had never once met the buyers in person.

Lately—over the past six months or so—a secretive operation had been underway that Rakuta was not privy to. He was simply instructed to mass-produce vast quantities of weapons matching provided schematics. These armaments were also embedded with high-grade magical artifacts. At the time, Rakuta had felt a sense of pride, assuming the weapons were destined for righteous martial artists preparing to fight the forces of the Demon Lord.

Aji listened attentively as Rakuta laid out what he knew. The mass-produced weapons varied widely, ranging from short-range melee gear to long-range armaments—each category fully stocked and comprehensive.

Once forged, the weapons were immediately collected and relocated. Rakuta had no knowledge of where they were taken after leaving the forge office.

Aji eventually took his leave, expressing his gratitude to Rakuta. In his heart, Aji viewed the middle-aged craftsman much like an uncle. Since Rakuta was in his nineties—or looked to be in his mid-forties—Aji addressed him respectfully as "Uncle," and a warm rapport quickly formed between them.

Aji rejoined his fellow Sky Squad members, whose weapon outlines had all been finalized. A few items had already entered the initial forging stages.

"What kind of weapon did you order, Aji? You were inside for quite a while," Barsha asked as Aji returned to the group.

"I just ordered a simple staff."

Looking at Barsha, Aji felt a wave of nostalgia for his old friend, Ganada. Ganada's grandson was cut from the very same cloth—relentlessly curious and bold. Under Warrior Jiro's guidance, Barsha had reached impressive new heights, nearly perfecting his execution of Ghost Speed.

The Sky Squad members were asked to remain temporarily in Linggar Emas, staying in private accommodations provided for them. Their custom weapons would not take long to complete. The squad took advantage of their time in the city to train and explore. The local citizens greeted them warmly wherever they went, recognizing their uniforms as symbols of continental pride.

Later that evening, a solitary figure stood near the edge of a forest beside a flowing river, far from the city center. The young woman held a drawn blade, practicing a sequence of martial forms as elemental magic swirled around every arc of her sword.

It was Alicia. She was deep in thought, convinced she needed to reach a new realm of power to restore her family's honor. Her grandfather's legendary name lived on only in memory; his sacrifices had seemingly been forgotten by the world.

Huff! Alicia exhaled softly, sheathing her sword. She sat down beside a massive boulder, leaning back against its rough surface as her mind wandered.

"Slacking off on your training, Alicia?"

Alicia flinched in surprise. She had deliberately chosen an isolated spot to be alone, yet someone had managed to track her down unnoticed. She looked up to see a young man sitting casually atop the boulder. It was Aji.

"What are you doing here, Aji?" Alicia asked, turning her eyes back toward the grass beneath her feet. Her loose hair fluttered gently in the night breeze.

"I came out here looking for a bit of peace and quiet. Ah... it's quite lovely out here, isn't it?"

"You're a terrible liar, Aji."

Indeed, she was Yonan's granddaughter through and through—fooling Yonan had never been an easy task either. Aji recalled his past with Yonan, memories of their shared struggles and the countless hours spent sparring together.

Aji leaped down from the boulder, landing lightly beside Alicia.

"Listen, Alicia. I carry a special mandate from your grandfather, Yonan."

Alicia’s eyes widened in shock. She stared directly into Aji's firm, unswerving gaze. Had she misheard him? How could her grandfather have left a message with Aji, and when could they have possibly met?

"What do you mean, Aji? How could my grandfather..."

"I am a disciple of the Three Legends," Aji said calmly. "I carry their mission with me."

That was the simplest way Aji could frame the truth. It was far easier to explain it this way than to detail a story so improbable that few would believe it. In truth, he had mastered every martial discipline during his twenty-year seclusion in another realm.

"When did they ever take a disciple?"

Aji exhaled slowly. Explaining complex truths was never easy. Choosing not to dwell on words, he drew out a prepared scroll from his robes.

"It is time for you to inherit the power of Saint Yonan. Study this carefully. You will need great strength very soon to face the enemies ahead."

Aji handed over the scroll, which was bound neatly in the middle with a thin cord. Hesitant yet intrigued, Alicia took it. Unsure of what else to say, Aji turned to leave.

"Oh, and Alicia," Aji paused, looking back briefly. "You don't have to believe that I'm a disciple of the Three Legends. But remember this: your grandfather, Yonan, loved you dearly."

Aji walked away into the night, leaving Alicia increasingly bewildered by the sudden turn of events. Just moments ago, she had been wallowing in sorrow over her family's grim fate, only for a young man claiming to be her grandfather's disciple to hand her an ancient scroll. More than anything, Aji's final words about her grandfather's love resonated deeply within her.

Deep down, Alicia felt it was the truth. For reasons she couldn't explain, she sensed no deceit in Aji, despite his stilted demeanor.

Meanwhile, inside a luxurious private residence, a man was enjoying himself in his chambers, attended by two young women. He was indulging in a life of complete decadence.

Knock! Knock! Knock!

A rap on the door echoed from the hallway. "Lord Nasura, Lord Night has arrived to see you."

The servant's voice annoyed Nasura, but he had no choice. Keeping Lord Night waiting was out of the question; Lord Night was a figure whom Drakos had explicitly commanded everyone to obey. Furthermore, the Golden Crane Academy relied entirely on Lord Night's financial backing to fund its vast operations.

"Leave us for now. I have a guest," Nasura instructed the two women gently. They complied immediately, exiting his private chambers.

Moments later, Nasura dressed fully and hurried toward the main reception room of his sprawling manor.

Damn that Lord Night, always interrupting, Nasura cursed inwardly. Still, the man is terrifying... I have no choice but to follow his orders. Those were Elder Drakos's instructions.

He couldn't help but wonder nervously what Lord Night wanted from him this time.