April had passed, and the warmth of spring had finally settled over Clausel.
Much had happened during the previous winter. A young lady's life had been saved by materials from the Thief Wolfen that Ren had defeated. That girl was Fiona Ignat—the only daughter of Marquis Ignat, the man who served as the final boss of Legend of the Seven Heroes I after leading a rebellion against the Leomel Empire.
Ren had encountered her in the Baldur Mountains during his travels and ended up fighting to protect her. Since the mountains had been the site of the Imperial Military Academy’s elite class final exam at the time, the incident involving the Demon King Cult’s trap continued to send ripples throughout the empire.
In the aftermath, Ren had begun exchanging occasional letters with Marquis Ignat. Ren had claimed his knowledge of the cult was merely a rumor he’d overheard at the guild, and the Marquis had chosen not to press him further. Whether he refrained from questioning Ren to avoid damaging their relationship or because he simply trusted the boy remained unclear.
In truth, even if the Marquis had demanded more information, Ren would have had nothing to give. Having only played up to Legend of the Seven Heroes II, he didn’t know much else about the cult’s inner workings. He remembered where they were supposed to appear, but it was difficult to share that information now—especially since his own presence had already caused significant deviations from the game’s timeline.
Lost in these thoughts, Ren stood in the Old Wing of the Clausel estate. As its temporary caretaker, he was about to get to work on a thorough sweeping of the building.
Bathed in the mid-afternoon sunlight streaming through the windows, he mused to himself.
"I swear, the flames from Asval were brighter than this sun..."
During the winter incident, the Red Dragon Asval had undergone a partial resurrection through Fiona’s power. According to her, a Black Priestess was to monsters what a Saintess was to humanity. While her power wasn't typically meant to raise the dead, Asval’s overwhelming scale of existence must have allowed for a miracle. The Black Priestess’s ability to "grant power to monsters" had somehow catalyzed the dragon’s return.
As a result, Asval had returned in an incomplete state. Yet even as a shadow of his former self, the dragon—a creature of legend since the era of the Seven Heroes—remained terrifyingly powerful. Had Asval returned at his full strength, Ren knew he wouldn't have stood a chance.
"I guess I was strengthened by Lady Fiona's power too," Ren realized.
He reflected on the moment when the black blood flowing from Fiona’s body had surged into him.
"What exactly was that?"
He still hadn't solved the mystery of the strange world he’d wandered into while unconscious, nor the Black Magic Sword he’d found there. Even the Flame Magic Sword he had obtained from Asval’s Magic Stone had transformed into the Flame Sword Asval.
He couldn't help but conclude that these changes were linked to the Black Priestess. The fact that her power to empower monsters had vanished after the incident only reinforced the idea that his new strength was somehow connected.
As the light outside shifted to a deep madder red, Ren took a break, sitting on a chair in the second-floor corridor. The sunlight, now lower in the sky, reflected off his bracelet. He glanced down at the characters projected on the crystal.
His power had grown significantly since the beginning of winter. He had gained massive amounts of mastery from Asval and the Steel-Eating Gargoyle in the Baldur Mountains, and more still from subsequent hunts.
After the battle with Asval, his Magic Sword Summoning Arts level had increased, revealing a crucial piece of information.
Level 5: Magic Sword Evolution Unlocked.
His Wooden Magic Sword had stopped leveling up despite having accumulated enough mastery, which finally made sense if evolution was the next step. However, it was hard to imagine the Flame Magic Sword evolving in a conventional way.
(Flame Sword Asval feels different.)
Unlike his other blades, he could no longer gain mastery for the flame sword, simply because Asval was gone. Its transformation seemed tied exclusively to Fiona’s power and that mysterious Black Magic Sword.
"Reeen!"
A voice drifted in from outside.
Ren opened the window to see Licia waving up at him. Her amethyst hair shimmered like silk, and her sapphire eyes sparkled as they always did. Now that spring was here, her loveliness seemed even more refined.
"My father is calling for you! If you have time, come to the main manor—he wants you to join us for dinner!"
"Understood! I'll head over after I wash up!"
Licia offered him a radiant smile at his reply.
At dinner, the conversation turned to Ren’s twelfth birthday party, which had taken place a few days prior. Licia had been determined to make up for missing his birthday the previous year and had taken the lead in organizing the celebration.
"Ren, you may take some time off from your duties starting next week," Lezard Clausel said abruptly.
"Wait... you're not firing me, are you?"
"I wouldn't joke about such a thing. I’m referring to what we discussed during the winter."
"The winter... Oh! You mean my visit back home?"
"Exactly," Lezard nodded. "As I mentioned before, several construction projects are underway around Ashton Village, including the main roads and the surrounding walls."
"So, I can really go help the village?"
"Yes. We’ve grown closer to Marquis Ignat, and it’s highly unlikely that Ashton Village would be targeted now. There’s no need to dispatch you as a secret knight anymore. Go home and enjoy yourself without any worries."
Lezard had wanted to send Ren home sooner, but the chaos in the Baldur Mountains had delayed the plans.
"We won't even be in Clausel during that time, so you can truly relax."
"Wait, Father? Who do you mean by 'we'?" Licia asked, tilting her head.
"You as well, of course."
"We need to go to Erendil," Lezard explained. "As you both know, the various factions have been restless lately, and given the incident with Viscount Given last year, it’s time I made an appearance there."
Erendil was a major town near the Imperial Capital. Back when Ren had first arrived in this world, he had mistakenly assumed it was the heart of the Clausel territory.
(So they’ll probably take a Magic Ship from another territory,) Ren thought.
Lezard and Licia would travel ten days by horse to a town in a neighboring territory to the south, then board a Magic Ship for Erendil, as both the capital and Erendil had landing docks.
"Say, Ren, do you want to see Erendil too?" Licia asked.
Ren crossed his arms and looked at the ceiling. Erendil was practically a suburb of the capital. For someone like him who wanted to avoid the Imperial Military Academy, it was just as daunting a destination as the Baldur Mountains.
But could he avoid it forever?
(Probably not.)
As long as he was part of House Clausel, Erendil was unavoidable. He also had a bond with the Marquis and Fiona now.
"I can't say I'm not interested," he admitted.
"Really? Then let's go together next time!"
If Licia was going, he wouldn't be able to stay away anyway. With the Demon King Cult active, it would be safer if he stayed by her side. He couldn't imagine abandoning her now.
"You’ll love it. Erendil is a beautiful town."
"Licia, Ren is a studious boy; he likely knows about Erendil already," Lezard teased.
"Oh, Father! I was trying to be the one to tell him!"
"Haha, but you know how Ren is."
Licia stared at Ren, waiting for his answer. He didn't want to admit he knew the city’s layout perfectly, so he chose his words with care.
"I’ve heard... it has very efficient hunting grounds."
Licia and Lezard both stared at him, speechless.
On the day of his departure, Licia walked Ren out of the Old Wing.
"I feel bad for her, but I'll have to leave her with Yuno while we’re both away," Licia said softly.
"I suppose so," Ren agreed.
Soon, Weiss arrived. The three of them mounted their horses and passed through the mansion gates. As they rode through the streets of Clausel toward the city gates, they chatted casually.
"Still, it's quite a shame," Weiss remarked.
Licia tilted her head. "What is?"
"The matter of Asval. The Baron and I are both frustrated that we can't publicly announce your heroics, Ren. I just happened to be thinking about it again."
Only a handful of people in the entire empire knew the truth: Ren, Fiona, Weiss, Licia, Lezard, the Marquis, and his butler Edgar. Because of the cult’s involvement, the information was being strictly suppressed.
"Given Lady Fiona’s situation, I think everyone is better off with it being a secret," Ren said with a wry smile.
Marquis Ignat was hiding Fiona’s nature as the Black Priestess for her own safety. It was better to keep the details of the incomplete Asval’s defeat quiet.
"I mean, even if he wasn't at full strength, he was still Asval," Ren added. "How did you two even believe me when I told you I killed him?"
Subjugating a Thief Wolfen or a Gargoyle was one thing, but Asval was a legend.
"Because you said so, Ren. There was no reason to doubt you," Licia replied as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
Weiss gave a more practical answer. "Lady Fiona stated that you saved her. While the other knights and adventurers didn't see Asval, they saw the flames that struck the suspension bridge."
"Though, those knights and adventurers still have the wrong idea," Weiss continued. "They think the volcano was reactivated by cultists. They have no idea Asval even existed."
"I am still curious about how you defeated him, though."
"Weiss, that's enough," Licia warned.
"I know, I know. As I said before, I have no intention of prying," Weiss said, looking a bit flustered. "Special power attracts trouble. It's best not to speak of it or expose your weaknesses."
Weiss truly cared for Ren’s well-being. He didn't want his own curiosity to cause the boy any harm.
They soon reached the city gates.
"I suppose this is it," Licia said, her voice tinged with sadness.
Ren would be traveling with a group of knights waiting at the gate. Io—the horse formerly belonging to Jelkku—let out a short neigh as she looked toward the open road.
"Take care, Ren."
"And you as well, Licia-sama. Safe travels to Erendil."
Ren visited several villages on his way home. It wasn't an order from Lezard, but Ren had suggested it himself. Just as Licia had done before, he believed it was important for someone of his standing to tour the territory. He spent his time hunting monsters and helping with labor in each village.
Eventually, his own home drew near.
"Look, Lord Ren," one of the knights called out.
They were galloping across a sunlit plain when a brand-new road came into view.
"Is that the new highway?" Ren asked, impressed.
"Yes. It looks like it's reached nearly all the way to the village."
Ashton Village was just a short ride away now. While no road was perfectly safe, major highways were maintained to discourage monster appearances. Since the village was nestled near a forest, the road had been cut straight through the woods—a massive undertaking.
As they rode, the familiar Sword Rock appeared. Ren remembered his battle with the Thief Wolfen there vividly. They bypassed the rock and took the new road, which was a far cry from the narrow animal trail it used to be.
"Hey! Over there!" a voice shouted from just off the path.
Ren and the knights exchanged nods and turned their horses toward the sound.
"There are so many today!"
"Lord Roy! Don't overdo it!"
"I know, I know!"
Ren recognized the voice instantly. "Father!?"
He urged Io forward. The monster-blooded horse accelerated with terrifying speed, leaving the knights’ horses in the dust.
Ren burst into a clearing where Roy and two knights were fending off over a dozen Little Boars. Using the trees as springboards, Ren moved like a gust of wind, cutting down the monsters in seconds. Roy and his companions stood frozen in shock.
When the last boar fell, Roy dropped his guard and ran to embrace his son.
"Father, be careful. You're still holding a sword," Ren said, embarrassed but returning the hug.
Roy laughed, wiping a tear from his eye. "Quite the dramatic homecoming, my boy!"
"I'm the one who's surprised. I didn't expect to see a swarm of boars the moment I arrived."
"Ah, the road construction agitates them. It happens."
Ren sighed as the other knights finally caught up. But the reunion was interrupted by a single Little Boar that had been hiding in the brush. It lunged at Ren’s back.
Ren and Roy both moved to react, but—
Thwack.
Io, the horse, simply bucked her hind legs and sent the boar flying. She then let out a triumphant neigh and went back to grazing.
Ren and Roy could only stare in silence.
As they walked toward the village, Roy explained the situation. "Do you remember the bridge by the forest? Where I barely escaped the Thief Wolfen?"
"Of course. What about it?"
"We reinforced it recently. I was heading upstream from there today when those boars appeared out of nowhere."
"Was it just the construction?"
"I don't think so," Roy said, looking thoughtful. "The carpenters say the boars have been fleeing from the upper reaches of the river lately. It’s more than just the noise of the work."
"Is there a powerful monster up there?"
"I doubt it. We haven't heard of any attacks or damage."
Ren wasn't so sure. "I'll go take a look."
"Wait! Let us handle it! You just got home!"
"I'm too curious to stay put, Father."
The knights from Clausel offered to join him, but Ren asked them to stay and guard the village instead. Despite their duty to protect him, they were cowed by the sheer authority in Ren’s voice and nodded.
Ren rode Io past Sword Rock and followed the river trail into the deep forest. A single gallop from the mare sent a breeze through the trees. When he reached the upper river, he found a beautiful, serene waterfall pool. There was no sign of monsters.
He dismounted and looked around. The only sound was the rushing water. He was about to write it off as a misunderstanding when his body tensed.
(...)
Something was there. Something powerful.
He drew his Iron Magic Sword and approached the pool. He had expected a monster, but instead, he saw a brilliant radiance shimmering beneath the surface.
He summoned his Wooden Magic Sword and used Nature Magic to grow a path of roots over the water. Approaching the center of the pool, he looked down.
"Star Agate?"
The same gemstone he had seen in the Baldur Mountains was glowing at the bottom of the water. He used a vine from his magic sword to wrap around the stone and began to pull. It was incredibly heavy. He braced his legs and hauled with all his might.
"What the...!?"
As the object broke the surface, Ren realized it was massive—far larger than he’d thought. Most of it had been buried in the silt. It was as large as four horses, a long, twisted, spiraling shape that ended in a sharp point.
Hee-hee-hin! Io neighed in surprise.
"It’s huge. But why is there Star Agate here? This only grows in special places like the mountains..."
Ren examined the object. At the base, opposite the sharp point, the surface was jagged, as if it had been sheared off by something even sharper.
——, ——!
The memory of the dragon’s roar echoed in his mind.
He looked at the cross-section again. It felt familiar. A crack formed in the Star Agate crust, and a piece fell away, revealing the material beneath. If this thing had been sitting in the pool, it was no wonder the Little Boars had fled in terror.
"But how did it get here from the Baldur Mountains?"
Ren crouched by the water, lost in thought. He was looking at Asval’s horn—the one he had broken off during their battle.
Unable to carry it alone, he summoned the knights.
"Incredible... This is Star Agate?"
"What is this core? Is it some kind of fossilized monster part?"
Ren looked at the bewildered knights. "I need to get this to Clausel. It's... a long story."
"Well, the road is under construction, so we have large wagons for moving materials. If we hitch two together, we can move this. We’ll keep it strictly covered with tarps."
After finalizing the logistics, the knights insisted Ren go home. "Leave the rest to us, Lord Ren. Go enjoy your time with your family."
"Thanks! I'll see you later!"
Ren galloped back toward the village. The roads were well-maintained now, and a stone defensive wall was rising around the perimeter. The village center was paved with cobblestones, replacing the old muddy paths. The new mansion stood proudly on a hill, accessible by a wide, grand road.
Villagers working in the fields waved as he passed. Ren smiled and waved back, his heart full.
The old, rickety wooden gate of the mansion had been replaced by a sturdy stone one. His parents were waiting for him right outside.
"Ren!"
Mireille didn't wait for him to dismount; the moment he slowed down, she pulled him into a fierce hug.
"Mother! I'm home!"
"Welcome back, my boy!" She was already crying.
Ren noticed a new stable on the grounds. He told his mother he’d take Io there first.
"That is a truly magnificent horse, Ren."
"Yeah... she is..." Ren said, looking away.
"What's wrong? Why the long face?"
Because Io was the horse that had belonged to the man who nearly destroyed their home. While he was debating how to explain it, Roy chuckled.
"That belonged to the Beast Tamer who attacked us, didn't it? Good on you for taking such a fine prize."
"Father!? How did you know?"
"The knights mentioned it. They figured you might be too modest to say it yourself, so they gave us the heads-up."
"A horse isn't responsible for its master’s sins," Mireille said, stroking Io’s mane. "Don't you worry about it, Ren."
Dinner was a feast, featuring ingredients Ren had never seen in the village before. The new dining room was beautiful, with white walls and dark wood floors. Gone were the earthen floors and drafty corners of the old house.
"I'm going to go unpack," Ren said after the meal.
"Want some help?" Roy offered. Mireille stayed behind to clear the table, insisting the boys go on ahead.
As Ren walked down the hallway with his father, he noticed the lack of creaks in the floorboards.
"It really is like a different world."
"It's thanks to you and the Baron. Though, the library is still empty. Everything burned."
"It couldn't be helped. That fire was intense."
The layout of the house was similar to the old one, though the wing that used to house the library now ended in a large window.
"Speaking of books, yours burned too, didn't they?" Roy asked as they climbed the stairs.
"Did you have many books in your room, Father?"
"A few. My father’s journals, mostly. And some old family records."
"Records? What kind?"
"Old legends, mostly. Who knows if they were even true? Apparently, the Ashton ancestor was a famous adventurer. They said he traveled to the Sky Continent and searched for an ancient city beneath the sea."
They reached Ren’s new room. It was slightly larger than before, but the furniture had been arranged to match his old room perfectly. Only the bed was bigger, suited for his growth.
"Father, tell me more about that ancestor."
Roy leaned against the doorframe. "Well, there was the story of the Dragon Elder."
Ren’s heart skipped a beat.
"They said it was a terrifyingly powerful dragon that loved to fight, always looking for a worthy opponent."
Ren went silent.
"Ren? You okay?"
"I'm fine! Please, continue!"
"Well, the ancestor supposedly fought this Dragon Elder. He wanted a piece of its horn and begged the dragon for just a fragment. The dragon refused and told him to try and take it by force."
Ren listened with a strained smile.
"So the ancestor took the dragon up on the offer and sliced an entire horn right off. He won the fight and, believe it or not, the two became friends."
"Is that it? That's the end of the story?"
"That's all the journal said. It sounds like a tall tale, doesn't it? If someone was actually strong enough to do that, you’d think they’d be in the history books, or that we’d be some high-ranking noble family."
Roy clearly didn't believe a word of it, but Ren couldn't dismiss it.
"Dear! The knights are asking for you!" Mireille called from downstairs.
Roy left to attend to the knights, leaving Ren alone. He leaned against the window, the spring breeze at his back, and remembered Asval’s words.
——Ashton? Why... that name has a nostalgic ring to it.
I remember nothing... but I do not like that a weakling like you utters that name.
Asval had been missing a horn when Ren fought him. If an Ashton had taken it, everything made sense. That ancestor must have defeated the dragon in its prime, long before the Seven Heroes ever fought it.
"He called me a weakling... and compared to a guy who could do that, I guess I am," Ren muttered. "But why isn't this in the records?"
There was no mention of an "Adventurer Ashton" in any history book or even in his knowledge from the game. It was as if they had been erased.
"Maybe it was intentional."
Perhaps the Leomel Empire had a reason to hide the Ashton name. But if the family was a threat or a disgrace, why were they allowed to survive at all? The pieces didn't fit.
The next morning, Ren woke up feeling refreshed. The scent of soil and grass drifted through the window.
"Merchants have been coming by once a month now," Mireille said during breakfast.
"It's not just for construction, either," Roy added. "They’re coming for trade. Now that the road is safer, they see this village as a useful transit point between Clausel and the former Given territories."
Ashton Village was no longer a dead end; it was a hub. Adventurers were stopping by to hunt the local monsters, which provided a steady supply of meat and fur for the common folk.
"It sounds like you’re going to be a lot busier, Father."
"Oh no... I forgot about the paperwork," Roy groaned. Ren laughed; some things never changed.
"So, Ren, we heard about the Baldur Mountains," Mireille said. "You saved a Marquis’s daughter?"
"The Demon King Cult, right? We were shocked to hear about the volcano, but even more shocked to hear you protected that girl to the end! That’s my boy!"
"Ahaha... yeah, it was quite an ordeal."
Ren kept the details about Asval and Fiona’s power to himself. He wanted to dig deeper into the "Adventurer Ashton" legend, but it seemed the journals were truly lost.
Meanwhile, in Erendil.
Licia was walking through the bustling streets with Weiss.
"It really is a world of difference from Clausel," she noted.
"It is a city of history and growth, Milady. I look forward to the day you govern it."
"I might just appoint a governor, like my father does."
"A wise choice. However, you will still be the lord. Perhaps you should consider attending a school here... like the Imperial Military Academy?"
Licia went quiet. "I wonder why Ren was so adamant about avoiding that place."
Suddenly, a commotion broke out. A snatcher had stolen a bag and fled into a back alley, chased by a lone girl.
"Weiss, come on!"
"Milady! Sigh... Wait for me!"
Licia navigated the alleys expertly, cutting the thief off at a junction. The man, a rough-looking former adventurer, drew a knife.
"Weiss, is the security in Erendil always this bad?"
"There are criminals everywhere, Milady."
"I suppose so."
Licia held out her hand. A blinding flash of light erupted, staggering the thief. He tripped and fell right at Weiss’s feet, where the old knight promptly pinned him.
"It looks like his pursuer has caught up," Weiss noted.
Licia turned to see a girl with brown hair skidding to a halt.
"L-Licia Clausel!?" the girl gasped.
Licia smiled. "It's been a while, Sera."
After turning the thief over to the guards, the two girls caught up.
"Thank you for the help, Sera," Licia said.
"It was nothing. As a member of a Heroic Ducal House, it was my duty."
Sera was Sera Riohard, the daughter of House Riohard. Her ancestor was the legendary swordsman Gajil Riohard, whose skill was said to have surpassed the Hero. Sera was a main heroine in the original game, known for her bright, competitive nature.
"It’s been years since I lost to you at that party," Sera said with a grin.
"I didn't expect to see you here," Licia replied.
"I’m showing Wayne around. He's a friend who saved my life back in my village. We got separated during the chase."
Sera spoke of Wayne with a fond smile. Licia noted the description—brown hair, green eyes, slender build.
"Since we’re here, Licia, you have to spar with me! I've gotten way stronger!"
Despite the political tension between their factions, Licia couldn't say no. They went to the knight station’s training grounds.
Half an hour later, Wayne arrived at the station to find Sera sitting on the ground, completely dumbfounded by Licia’s overwhelming strength.
Licia waved as she left. "See you later, Sera!"
It was a perfect recreation of a famous scene from the game—the Saintess leaving the Hero and Heroine in her wake.
A month later, back in Clausel.
Licia and Ren were sitting on a bench after a training session.
"So that’s what happened in Erendil," Licia finished.
Ren kept his face neutral. "I see. Quite an adventure."
In the game, Wayne (the hero) saves Sera and catches the eye of her powerful family. The events were proceeding just as they should.
"Are you even listening, Ren?"
"Sorry. I was just thinking about how incredible the capital must be."
Ren helped her up.
"Thanks. But seriously, I beat Sera easily, and yet..." She pouted, looking up at him. "...You’ve gone and gotten even stronger, haven't you?"
"I'm not sure what you mean."
"Don't look away! Look at me!"
Ren met her gaze. Licia suddenly realized how close they were and turned bright red, backing away. From a window in the mansion, Yuno the maid watched them with a knowing smile.
"That was a cheap move!" Licia huffed.
Ren just gave a dry laugh. "I'm glad the situation with Viscount Given didn't cause too much trouble with the other noble houses."
"Sera apologized for that over and over. Her family wanted to help us, but Marquis Ignat had everyone locked down. He used the chaos to keep the other factions from interfering."
"The Marquis is a powerful ally to have," Ren noted.
"He really is. Anyway, enough about me! Tell me more about your village!"
Ren smiled and began to recount his trip.
That night, Weiss entered Lezard’s office with a grave expression.
"The reports match. The object found in the river is indeed Asval's horn."
Lezard laughed heartily. "I'm not even surprised anymore! If it involves Ren, I can just laugh it off. It’s a blessing it ended up in his village."
"But how did it get there?" Ren asked.
Lezard spread a map on the table. "An underground river. The caves beneath the Baldur Mountains connect to a vast subterranean network that feeds into our territory’s water supply."
"It’s almost too convenient," Weiss remarked. "It’s as if the horn was drawn back to the Ashton family."
The issue now was what to do with it. A horn of that size was priceless, but selling it would draw far too much unwanted attention.
"We’ll need to consult the Marquis," Lezard decided. "He’s hosting a party this summer through a neutral noble. We’ll discuss it then."
"Speaking of discussions," Ren said, turning to the Baron. He recounted the story of "Adventurer Ashton" and what Asval had said.
"An Ashton adventurer?" Lezard looked puzzled. "I've never heard of such a person. Weiss?"
"Nor I. But the connection between the legends and Asval’s reaction is too strong to ignore. The fact that he’s missing from the records is highly suspicious."
"I searched the village records after the Given incident," Lezard said. "There was nothing."
"Granny Rigu didn't know anything either," Ren added.
"If someone had the power to erase a man who defeated Asval from history, they would have to be very high up," Weiss noted.
"There is one place where the truth might remain," Lezard said darkly. "The Imperial Library has a section known as the Forbidden Library."
Ren recognized the name. In the game, it was a restricted area mentioned in the lore but never accessible to the player.
"Only a few people can enter," Lezard continued. "The Emperor, the Chief Librarian, the Minister of Justice... and the Assistant Minister of Justice."
Ren realized what he was implying. "Viscount Given held that position."
"Exactly. He must have found something in those restricted records. Something about the Ashton lineage that made him obsessed with that village."
Ren thought of Wayne, the true hero of the game.
"If the records are in the Forbidden Library, we have no way to reach them."
"Not yet," Lezard said. "But we’ll share this with the Marquis. He may have his own ways of finding out."