"Is it Julius?" asked Ren directly, his voice barely audible.
The surprise that crossed Zhao's face was revealing. His eyes widened momentarily before he could control his expression. He quickly looked around, ensuring no one else had heard.
"Yes," he finally confirmed, placing a finger over his lips in a clear gesture for silence. "But you shouldn't know that, and we definitely shouldn't be discussing this here."
Without further explanation, Zhao took Ren lightly by the shoulder and guided him toward the professors' tent. The guards appeared surprised but didn't question the professor as both entered, the heavy canvas flap falling shut behind them.
The tent's interior wasn't new to Ren. Detailed maps covered a central table, illuminated by soft light crystals that cast a warm glow over the gathered faces. Lin and Wei were discussing in hushed tones when Zhao and Ren entered, their conversation halting abruptly.
