[South of Artemis City]
Old Taso stood by the roadside, haphazardly fanning away the dust stirred up by the horses' hooves.
He squinted, watching the "Rebel" officer ride away, admiring the officer's handsome and efficient horsemanship.
"What a Dusack! Everything he says and does is like a real man." Old Taso muttered in confusion to himself, "But how did he get mixed up with the rebels..."
Watching the "Rebel" officer's back with equal attention was Majia Lauer.
But unlike the admiration and wistful regret in Old Taso's eyes, Lauer's gaze was full of envy, longing, and defiance.
Lauer's eyes were fixed in the distance, but his mouth still stubbornly quibbled: "How did you figure out he's a Dusack?"
"Do I even need to look?" Old Taso paused, then burst into laughter on horseback, pointing at himself, "I can smell it with my nose!"
Lauer fell silent, but his cheeks still puffed with indignation.
