Ryan

The incident involving Karen and Perik, upon reaching the City of Moon Worship, changed in nature immediately. To those in the city, it was no longer a simple conflict or murder between Karen and Perik; it had escalated into a strategic contest between the City of Moon Worship and the Forest Guardians over the project at Dole Village.

In their eyes, this was a test from the Forest Guardians. If they yielded in this matter, the Guardians would surely press their advantage in the future. The project was difficult to secure, and they were determined not to let the Forest Guardians interfere.

Thus, the City of Moon Worship took a hard stance: regardless of the truth, they would not bow their heads, nor would they show mercy to Karen, who had killed Perik. Equally resolute, Old Jack stood firmly by Karen's side.

From the moment the matter was brought into the open, the dispute was no longer about the incident itself. Whether Karen intended to kill Perik was already irrelevant; what mattered was that Old Jack must withstand the pressure.

As for the affair with the Phantom, they had no leverage—indeed, they were at fault and had no choice but to acquiesce. But this time, though Karen had meticulously planned Perik's death, it was the City of Moon Worship that appeared to be in the wrong, at least on the surface. In such circumstances, the always assertive Forest Guardians would never yield to the city.

One side fought for the Dole Village project, the other for the honor of the Forest Guardians. Thus, the two factions clashed.

As the situation grew increasingly tense and seemed impossible to resolve, the city's lord, Ryan, sought out Old Jack.

"Hand over that man named Karen, and let's call this matter settled," Ryan declared as soon as Old Jack arrived.

Old Jack frowned. "Is this what you called me here for?"

Seeing Old Jack's displeased expression, Ryan slammed the table in anger. "I don't want to beat around the bush with you. Do you really think we're fools? If that insignificant Karen hadn't had your covert support, would he have dared to defy Perik, organize a militia, and ultimately kill Perik outright? I know your grievances over the Phantom and the Dole Village project, but you need to remember your place. You're soldiers of the kingdom, not a band of lawless thugs!"

Ryan's words provoked Old Jack's fury. "Bailin Ryan! Mind your words. We, the Forest Guardians, would never—"

"One-Arm, you might fool others, but you can't fool me. Don't forget who I am—I've been your comrade for over ten years. Others may not know you, but I do."

"Can you look me in the eye and tell me you acted without violating the knight's code in this matter?" Ryan demanded.

Old Jack was left speechless. He knew full well that, though Karen appeared to have acted alone, none of this would have happened without his deliberate indulgence. He could deceive others, but never Ryan.

Seeing One-Arm's silence, Ryan shook his head and sighed. "You disappoint me."

Old Jack answered only with a cold snort, refusing to speak.

"I'll say it again: hand over Karen, and this ends here."

"Impossible. I won't hand him over. If you have any grievances, direct them at me—I orchestrated all of this."

Old Jack's outright refusal enraged Ryan. "One-Arm, you're an old man now—can't you show some maturity? Can't you consider the greater good?"

"The greater good? Sacrifice my subordinate's life to serve your greater good? Sorry, that's not a greater good I can support."

"You—!" Ryan pointed at Old Jack, speechless with rage, then finally let his hand fall in defeat. "Is it worth it for someone so insignificant?"

"Insignificant?" Old Jack repeated, his expression growing complicated. "And what of it? Should insignificant people die for your so-called greater good? I was born insignificant, and you, the lord of this city, weren't you also once insignificant? Now, just because you—"

"One-Arm!"

Ryan's furious shout echoed as his chair shattered beneath him. It was clear he was truly enraged.

Seeing Ryan in such a state, Old Jack fell silent, then sighed deeply after a long pause. "Let it be. This matter ends here. I promise the Forest Guardians will not involve themselves in the Dole Village project from now on. I won't return to Dole Village, and after the Phantom is dealt with, I'll reassign Karen."

With those words, Old Jack turned to leave.

"Wait!"

Old Jack paused, glancing back at Ryan. "What else? Are you dissatisfied with the outcome?"

"No, that's not it."

"Then what do you want?" Old Jack sneered.

Ryan fell silent, head bowed in thought for a long time, before finally looking up at Old Jack. The anger had faded from his face, replaced by a trace of hope. "Since you've returned after so long, why not share a drink with me?"

Old Jack stared at him, his expression conflicted, then finally shook his head. "No. I fear you won't enjoy drinking with me right now."

As Old Jack strode away, Ryan stretched out his hand, opened his mouth, then swallowed his words of farewell.

"It's you who can't stand to drink with me," he murmured.

After Old Jack left, Ryan rummaged through his desk drawer and pulled out a battered leather wine pouch. Staring in the direction Old Jack had gone, he whispered to himself, then drank alone in silence.

Meanwhile, Old Jack had not gone far after leaving Ryan's manor. He sat beneath a tree outside the city lord's residence, drew from his breast an identical leather wine pouch, and drank while gazing toward the manor.

The two elderly men, their combined years exceeding a century, thus sat on opposite sides of the estate, quietly emptying their flasks while looking toward each other.

Time and fate—sometimes, they are utterly helpless things. Friends who once seemed bound to walk together for a lifetime drift apart as the years pass, and under the whims of destiny...