"From the Northern Territory, to the White Crow Duchy, and then to the Empire's coast, I need to form a team capable of gathering information and collecting intelligence for me."
Chloe swallowed with some difficulty.
She had not expected Theus's ambitions to be this. Helping Nora and transporting refugees had merely been incidental.
Thinking about it, that was only natural. Given Theus's arrangements in Castel, he would certainly not remain confined to this small island in the future. At this moment, he was beginning to extend his reach toward the Empire.
"Miss Chloe, I know you want to demonstrate the value of Moth Chasing Flame, but there's no need to do it this way."
"I know you long for knowledge and technology. Just keep working hard in that field. There's no need to waste your life in this direction. I can find someone else to build an intelligence network for me."
Chloe fell silent. Theus's meaning was clear: what he needed was someone who could take charge of intelligence work for the long term, not a temporary stopgap.
As the chief of Moth Chasing Flame, she was willing to make sacrifices for the organization. A trip to the Northern Territory was no big deal. But if she had to handle intelligence affairs forever, unable to pursue knowledge for the rest of her life...
Even thinking about it made her feel miserable.
"All right, it seems I really can't accept that kind of life..." she said with difficulty.
"It's all right, Miss Chloe. Research is also a contribution to Castel, and a particularly great one at that."
Chloe felt somewhat ashamed. She stood up, prepared to say goodbye and leave, when a thought suddenly struck her.
"...But I have a good candidate."
Theus blinked, signaling for her to continue.
"Isaac. He