Before Martis could even begin explaining, a faint rustling sound echoed through the trees.
It was subtle—but sharp enough.
His eyes snapped to the direction instantly.
In one smooth motion, Martis drew a blade, the metal glinting faintly under the dim light, and pointed it forward.
"...We're not alone."
James tensed. Sampon shifted slightly, his posture relaxing—but his eyes were alert.
A few seconds later—
Figures emerged.
Eight of them.
They stepped out cautiously, hands visible, movements hesitant—not aggressive, but not careless either.
At the front, a boy awkwardly adjusted his glasses.
He looked… harmless.
Average height, messy hair falling over his eyes, a slightly oversized jacket, and a face that would've looked cute—if not for how visibly nervous he was.
He swallowed.
Then stepped forward.
"O-Oh—uh… h-hi…" he stammered, voice shaky. "W-we're not here to fight or anything… I promise."
He scratched the back of his neck, avoiding eye contact.
"My name is… K-Karria… Karria Gally…"
He hesitated again, then quickly added—
"I-I'm the clan leader of… um… Perspicientia…"
As if remembering something important, he awkwardly stuck out his tongue—
Revealing a faint green symbol etched onto it.
A clan mark.
James blinked.
Before he could respond—
Sampon suddenly stepped forward, raising his hand casually.
A faint mark glowed on his palm.
"We're already in a clan," Sampon said simply, tone light but firm. "So if this is recruitment, you can stop right there."
Karria froze.
"O-Oh! N-no! Not recruitment!" he panicked, waving his hands quickly. "W-we just—uh—we just happened to come across you!"
He looked like he wanted to disappear on the spot.
"I-I didn't even expect to run into another clan this early…"
Martis didn't lower his blade.
His gaze remained cold, locked onto the group.
"Then state your purpose."
Karria flinched slightly at the tone.
"I-I was just thinking…" he muttered, fidgeting. "M-maybe… an alliance…?"
He glanced up briefly—then immediately looked down again.
"We specialize in information… gathering… analyzing… stuff like that…"
James narrowed his eyes slightly.
Information clan?
That… could actually be useful.
Right then—
A system window appeared in front of him.
[Perspicientia Clan requests an alliance with Ashura Clan]
[Accept / Decline]
James stared at it for a moment.
No immediate downside.
And connections this early?
That mattered.
"…We'll accept," he said.
He tapped the option.
[Alliance formed between Ashura Clan and Perspicientia Clan]
Karria visibly lit up.
"R-Really?!"
Then immediately toned himself down.
"I mean—uh—t-thank you…"
He turned around quickly, gesturing awkwardly.
"T-this is my clan…"
The other seven stepped forward one by one.
Unlike Karria, they looked more composed—but still cautious.
Their eyes lingered on Martis' blade.
On Sampon.
On James.
Carefully measuring.
Meanwhile, James glanced sideways at Martis.
"…You can lower that now."
Martis clicked his tongue softly—but eventually lowered the blade.
Still watching them.
Closely.
Sampon, on the other hand, leaned slightly toward James and whispered—
"…He's nervous, but not lying."
James nodded faintly.
Then looked back at Karria.
"So," he said, calm but direct. "An information clan, huh?"
Karria stiffened again.
"…Y-yes."
James' eyes sharpened slightly.
"Then I'm sure you know something useful already."
Karria hesitated.
Then swallowed.
"…We do."
A brief pause.
"…About this world."
That—
Got everyone's attention.
Even Martis' gaze shifted.
Slightly.
The air grew heavier.
And for the first time since they arrived—
It felt like they weren't the only ones trying to understand what was really going on.