The arrival of these Faction members didn't just startle Lynn; it also sent a ripple of unease through the Greenvine Restaurant.
Customers on the first floor, mid-meal, visibly quickened their pace.
Those seated closer to the commotion quietly stood and hurried off, unwilling to risk being caught up in trouble.
Despite the tension, Kaharman's manner was quite polite. He looked at Lynn and said courteously:
"Third-rank apprentice Lynn, I hope we're not intruding on your… date."
Lynn's expression stayed calm, but Adeline was visibly nervous. She smoothed her hair anxiously and tried to rise.
"There's no need. You can stay seated," Kaharman said casually. "I just have a few simple questions."
Adeline instinctively glanced at Lynn, seeking reassurance.
Lynn's eyes rested briefly on the golden insignia pinned to Kaharman's chest before he replied:
"Honored First-rank Apprentice, perhaps Adeline should give you her seat so you may question me more conveniently. Would that be acceptable?"
Kaharman thought for a moment, then nodded lightly.
Adeline let out a faint sigh of relief and began to stand. But her legs were weak from nerves, and the unfamiliar dress snagged on the edge of the table. She nearly stumbled.
Fortunately, Lynn rose at the same time, catching her hand before she could fall.
"Thank you," Adeline whispered gratefully.
The surrounding apprentices shifted to the side, clearing a path.
"No need to thank me." Lynn shook his head gently, guiding her out of the seat. He added softly,
"Forgive me, Adeline. I'll make it up to you with another dinner later."
Before Adeline could respond, she noticed Lynn's movement falter just for an instant before he quickly composed himself again. She almost thought she'd imagined it.
But Kaharman noticed it. His brows furrowed, and he followed Lynn's line of sight. Realization dawned, and his expression eased into a knowing smile.
"Elena," he said lightly. "When you meet an old classmate, shouldn't you say hello?"
Elena had been standing at the very back. But now, with a path opened for Adeline to leave, she was suddenly exposed.
Lynn had been startled because he'd seen her.
Before Elena could speak, Lynn gave a faint greeting:
"Long time no see, Elena."
His tone was utterly flat. His smile was courteous, but no warmer than the most formal of pleasantries, no different from how two strangers might greet one another.
And in truth, that was exactly how Lynn regarded Elena: a stranger.
Looking at him like this, Elena felt a complicated swell of emotion rise within her. But it quickly subsided. She, too, smiled faintly and replied:
"Long time no see, Lynn."
She had always been a cold person. Once she cast off unnecessary emotions, it became clear that this distance was the best outcome for her.
Kaharman noticed nothing amiss. He glanced between the two, shrugged, and said:
"Well then, it seems you aren't close."
He didn't waste more time. Striding forward, he took Adeline's vacated seat opposite Lynn and introduced himself:
"Kaharman. I oversee the Hossens Faction's Northern Guard Post here in Emerald Forest City."
"Guard Post?" Lynn echoed.
"That's right. A new institution founded by the Faction, whose purpose has something to do with you.
"Yes… The Emerald Shadow. The Guard Post was created precisely to defend against and investigate the Emerald Shadow.
"And the reason I've sought you out today is to ask you about it."
Lynn's frown eased, a smile spreading across his face. Much of his irritation at being interrupted over dinner vanished.
After all, the Emerald Shadow was his greatest enemy.
And now, an organization formed specifically to fight the Emerald Shadow that was his greatest ally.
"Lord Kaharman, please ask whatever you wish. I'll answer everything I know."
Meanwhile, Adeline had just stepped free of the crowd. She was curious about Lynn's old classmate and turned her head for a glance.
But she found Elena already watching her.
Startled, Adeline instinctively placed a hand over her chest and gave a polite bow to the golden-haired girl.
Elena offered no reply, only withdrew her gaze, cold and indifferent.
Adeline was long accustomed to such reactions from wizards. Yet for some reason, this time, it stirred a pang of reflection.
If it were Lord Lynn… he would never behave that way.
With that thought, she quietly continued, heading toward the attendants' lounge.
...
Kaharman was an unusually energetic wizard, decisive in action, and capable of focusing intensely on a single matter.
And once he was absorbed, he tended to ignore everything else.
So although his decision to question Lynn had been spur-of-the-moment, the conversation stretched on for two or three hours.
None of the other Faction members dared interrupt; they could only sit quietly and listen.
Fortunately, Orlando was quick-witted. If Kaharman had no intention of changing venues, then at least the food could change places.
He ordered the restaurant staff to bring the dishes originally prepared for the private room down here instead.
Kaharman noticed the gesture, praised Orlando, and then told the others to go ahead and eat.
The apprentices settled nearby, chatting in small groups as they began their meal.
Over an hour later, Kaharman finally brought the exchange to a reluctant close.
He picked up the crystal inscribed with densely packed notes, muttering silently to himself, before suddenly moving over to another First-rank apprentice to discuss something else.
Lynn stayed where he was, sipping his vine juice, patiently waiting.
Just then, Faruga arrived at the Greenvine Restaurant.
He glanced around the first floor, surprised to see so many Faction members dining and even more startled to spot Lynn sitting calmly among them.
Faruga thought nothing of it, carefully skirting around the apprentices before approaching Lynn. Maintaining a lofty air, he tapped on the table and said:
"Have you thought it through, Lynn?
If you have, I can give you the chance to buy me breakfast."
Lynn set down his drink, looking at him with an odd expression.
Faruga grew impatient with the silence and was about to press further when a cold voice came from behind:
"Move."
The tone was so absolute that Faruga's heart jolted, and he instinctively stepped aside.
But almost at once, he caught himself, turned his head, and prepared to see who could be so brazen on the Golden Shadow Society's turf.
The next instant, his eyes locked onto a golden insignia.
An inverted triangle, entwined with vines…
There wasn't a wizard in Emeraldwood City who didn't recognize that symbol.
Faruga's face changed at once. With forced deference, he stammered:
"My apologies, my lord, I'll make way at once."
And with that, he plopped into the seat opposite Lynn.
Lynn gave him a strange look.
"Faruga, if I were you, I would never sit there."
Before Faruga could grasp the meaning, agony shot through his shoulder. His body was suddenly lifted and flung across the aisle.
Stunned, he scrambled to his feet only to see Lynn now sitting opposite that same First-rank apprentice from the Hossens Faction, the two of them deep in conversation.
How… how could this be? He's supposed to be just a washed-out apprentice…
At the table, Kaharman was asking,
"You're certain that when you killed Kersey, you heard his follower say something about completing the bloodline to make the sacrifice more… delicious?"
"Yes," Lynn nodded.
He hadn't concealed that detail from the beginning, nor could he have.
But compared to the Emerald Shadow, it was a trivial matter. The Faction wouldn't hold it against him… nor would anyone use it as grounds for punishment.
Kaharman nodded decisively.
"If your information is correct, then it's clear the Emerald Shadow requires sacrifices.
"That may be our key point of entry for further investigation."
Lynn nodded in agreement, inwardly hopeful.
Though Kaharman seemed unreliable with trivialities, he was serious where it counted and perhaps truly capable.
Once satisfied, Kaharman led the others out of the restaurant.
Lynn turned his head, raising an eyebrow at Faruga, who was hurrying over with a sycophantic grin.
"Lynn, I didn't expect you to know so many Faction wizards…" Faruga said obliquely, his tone dripping with flattery.
Lynn regarded him with a playful look, though he had no intention of "borrowing" the Faction's prestige.
For one thing, he didn't need to. For another, Kaharman himself had overheard Faruga's earlier words to him and had simply chosen to ignore them.
That silence already spoke volumes.
Lynn rose, unwilling to waste any more time on Faruga. He gave a faint smile and strode away, leaving Faruga alone, standing in the restaurant with a shifting, unsettled expression.
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