Input One Soldier, Then Input Another

To his surprise, Garland hadn't written a bad check this time. Instead, he was giving away a massive discount, practically handing it over for free. Even Huai Shi found it hard to believe.

"This is mine to handle?"

"Who else would handle it?"

Garland shot back, "You can't possibly be expected to do alchemy while an old fool like me, who doesn't even know what a battlefield looks like, commands the troops, can you?"

"Well... that wouldn't be impossible."

It wasn't the first time a Grandmaster had spoken nonsense. Huai Shi was already well experienced in dealing with it, so he gave Garland no chance to snap back at him and asked again, "Then what if I need to contact you?"

"...Just find Raziel."

After a brief silence, Garland glanced at the timid alchemist behind him. "He'll contact me. Any other questions?"

Huai Shi shook his head, and Garland turned to leave.

But Raziel, left standing where he was, instinctively hurried after him and called out, "G-Grandmaster..."

Garland turned back and looked at him.

Yet Raziel froze in place. Several times, he seemed on the verge of speaking, only to stop himself. In the end, he lowered his head and merely asked, "Do you have any other instructions for me?"

"No. Take care of yourself."

Garland coldly withdrew his gaze and vanished, leaving Raziel standing there in a daze, utterly dispirited. Before long, he noticed Huai Shi watching him with great interest.

"I get the feeling there's some kind of friend business between you two that I don't know about." Huai Shi rubbed his chin curiously. "Care to tell me?"

"None of your business!"

Raziel glared at him. He wanted to say more, but when he saw the pile of strange and grotesque things behind Huai Shi, all his courage