We were suddenly invited to the knights' quarters.
Liu was hesitant, feeling uneasy, but I knew Torres wouldn't engage in underhanded tactics, so I agreed.
"Thank you for coming."
Torres personally escorted us.
Inside, the table was set with a round feast, and my eyes widened at the sight of Bertisan beef.
'Really, Bertisan beef? It's been a while since I last saw it.'
The quality was unmistakable, and I couldn't forget the taste from the prison.
"This is quite a gesture. You have a great sense of style."
"Arahan is being invited, so this is the least I could do. It's rich in protein, which helps with physical training."
I didn't mind the mention of physical training; what mattered was the Bertisan beef in front of me.
As a gourmet, I wasn't particularly greedy, but Bertisan beef was special because of its high protein content.
"Let's all sit down. Lingering over food isn't polite."
The round table had no head seat, another thoughtful gesture from Torres.
Liu hesitated, remembering past experiences, but I reassured him.
As we ate, the knights' discomfort grew, and eventually, they excused themselves, leaving only us and Torres.
"I apologize for my men's rudeness. They're not used to dining with mages."
Torres seemed flustered but tried to make light of it.
"Don't worry about it. It's natural in this world."
"Natural? You think so?"
"Yes. They've been taught to view mages as enemies from a young age."
Torres reflected on his actions.
"Actually, I wanted to get closer to you. That's why I invited you to dinner, despite knowing it was unconventional."
"Using Bertisan beef to win me over? That's very Bahl-like."
Torres smiled, offering to provide me with a route to purchase high-quality Bertisan beef in the future.
I found his offer tempting, as obtaining top-grade Bertisan wasn't easy, even with money.
"What can I do in return?"
Torres thought for a moment before speaking.
"Can you delay your trip to Prilda by a day?"
"Why?"
"I want to show my men that you're a good person. I want to break their misconceptions, just as I did."
"I see... If we delay, will you prioritize finding Liu's sister?"
Torres nodded, promising to use his resources.
I looked at Liu, who was enjoying his meal.
"It's okay. We can't find her without the knights' help anyway."
"Alright, agreed."
The next morning, we had breakfast with Torres and then headed to the southern front lines.
Liu stayed behind, as it was too dangerous.
Upon arriving at the front, we saw a formidable wall and knights on high alert.
"This is the southern front line, managed by the Bahl family. It's as strong as the western front."
Torres proudly introduced the area, and I was impressed by the scale.
The atmosphere was tense, with the knights maintaining their positions.
As we moved forward, a knight reported a mysterious trail.
"Everyone, halt!"
The knights formed a line, and Torres and I approached the trail.
It was unfamiliar to the knights, but I recognized it as something I had seen before.
"What is this?"
Torres asked, but no one knew.
I had a hunch about the trail but didn't say anything yet.