Hours passed slowly as Noah sat uncomfortably in the cell. Whether it was the damp air or the heavy shackles clinging to his wrists, everything irritated him enough to make him consider a jailbreak.
But knowing it would only make things worse, he swallowed the thought.
'I can't really expect the rest of them to come help me. Not like they'd care anyway.'
Noah had been added to the cohort because of the Emperor's antics, but he still didn't know Tirandel's reason for coming along—other than the fact that the man had been openly threatened right in front of him.
Bernard was simply there as the Emperor's eyes. Meanwhile, only Alice and Elira seemed genuinely invested in saving Iriel. It was clear they were close to her—closer than words could explain.
As for Leon—'Who knows what that lunatic thinks? We only know she's said to be his sister. But does he even see her that way?'
Throughout the journey, Leon repeatedly assaulted Noah with killing intent. Being far more sensitive to it than most, Noah had spent nearly the entire trip unconscious.
'I wish he'd just sent me away if he didn't want me as his disciple. Urgh… thinking about him only reminds me of all the imaginary blood I've spilled.'
To Noah, it felt like the Emperor was trying to belittle Leon, while Leon himself was making his displeasure painfully clear. And the one suffering between the two was Noah.
Fortunately, Leon still regarded him as a disciple—Noah was alive, which was proof enough. Otherwise, Leon could've easily left him to die at the hands of the assassins and be done with him entirely.
'It's hard to build any kind of relationship with someone who kills you over the smallest provocation. Though… I haven't exactly been friendly either.'
Trying not to spiral further, Noah glanced at the man sitting in the corner of the cell. They had been stealing looks at each other for a while now, yet neither had broken the heavy silence.
Finally, the stranger muttered, "Screw this."
Noticing Noah's confusion, the stranger continued,
"Looks like we're stuck here for a while. Might as well introduce ourselves. I'm Bale—no last name."
Noah nodded. "You can call me Noah. As for my last name… I'll tell you when I find it."
Not knowing Bale's intentions, Noah chose to keep his full name to himself.
Stretching his legs, Bale asked casually, "So, Noah, what brings you to this hellhole?"
Raising a brow, Noah asked, "What makes you think I'm not from Venis?"
Bale scoffed, sparing him a glance. "You don't look poor, and you definitely don't look like the type to visit the church. Anyone can tell you're well trained—trained enough that not many in this city could rival your strength. Yet I've never heard your name until today."
Noah wasn't used to hearing compliments, even indirect ones. But if Bale—a stranger he'd known only a few hours—could figure this much out, then there was a real chance Iriel's abductor already knew of their arrival.
Noticing Noah drift into thought, Bale clicked his tongue.
"Despite all that training, you're still just a kid, it seems. Relax, I doubt anyone else could figure out who you are. I just happen to have a good eye for people."
Noah looked up at Bale. 'Am I that easy to read?'
Shaking off his thoughts, Noah said, "Forget about me. You don't look like someone who'd get into a bar fight. What's your story?"
Bale was about to answer when Noah added, "Just so you know, I got arrested because they think I'm your accomplice."
Bale glanced at the crescent moon through the small window, silent for a moment.
With an exhausted sigh, he replied, "I guess the cat's out of the bag, so hiding it won't do much good."
Looking back at Noah, he said, "Let me introduce myself again. I'm Bale—a member of the Revolutionary Front."
Noah had expected him to be connected with the Revolutionary Front in some way, but he hadn't expected Bale to be a member.
"For the past few months, people have been disappearing without a trace. Their families have no idea where they went, and no one ever sees how it happens. It's like they vanish on their own."
The cell was barely lit by a weak lamp in the corner, the rest of the light leaking through the narrow windows above. Noah could feel Bale's expression darken as he spoke.
"Eventually, we couldn't ignore it anymore. A few of us were sent here to investigate. Unlike the Bureau, who only care about what's on the surface, we handle things ourselves when necessary."
Noticing something off, Noah asked sincerely, "But isn't that… suspicious? The Bureau wouldn't abandon cases like that just because there wasn't enough evidence. They would usually dig even deeper. And matters like these would never escape the eyes of someone like the count."
As his own words settled in his mind, several pieces clicked for Noah. But what he realized only made the situation feel darker and far more fragile.
Seeing Noah's expression turn sour, Bale said, "Looks like you figured it out. The count isn't uninvolved—he's the one behind it. He kidnaps people whose disappearances won't draw attention and traffics them like slaves."
Noah asked, concern clear on his face, "But slavery was abolished more than a decade ago. Isn't that illegal?"
Bale smirked. "And when has that ever stopped people from doing what they want? Especially someone with the power of a count. The strong prey on the weak, and the world keeps moving."
Noah felt a strange familiarity in Bale's words. He already knew the system favored the strong while the weak struggled beneath it. But he also understood something else—the weak could be the most dangerous to oppose.
Unlike the strong, they would cling to anything to avoid being crushed.
Leaning against the wall, Noah asked, "Why are you telling me all this? Did it never cross your mind that I might be working for the count?"
Bale was surprised for a moment, his eyes wide. Then suddenly, he laughed loudly. His reaction was so bizarre that Noah felt threatened for a second.
After laughing for a long while, Bale replied, "You? Working for the count?"
Noah was clearly offended by his words, "What, do I not look the type?"
Shaking his head, Bale continued, "Jokes aside, even if the count had sent you to silence me, this area is filled with our people. The building would be surrounded the moment my life was threatened. I may not look like much, but I'm fairly high up in the Revolutionary Front."
He looked back at Noah. "Honestly, we need strong people like you. If this information spreads, it'll only make it easier to rescue those being held."
Despite his sarcastic tone, Bale's words were sincere. Noah could feel the depth of the situation from his strained words, making him realize that Bale really cared about the people or even knew the victims himself.
It was also not every day that he met someone as cunning and quick-witted as Bale. And truth be told, Noah was also in desperate need of someone who knew the city like the back of their hand. Bale's timing couldn't have been any better.
'Well, it would've been much better if we weren't locked up instead.'
Exhaling softly, Noah said, "I'm guessing that isn't all there is to this city, is it?"