In Blood Port, inside Theus's office.
The office was not large to begin with, and now it was packed to the brim. Zoe, Josh, Nini, Ash, and the others were all there. Even Alexei, Gaia, and the others who were usually stationed in Castel had attended the meeting.
Ordinarily, this group gathering together would surely have caused some trouble and amusement, but no one spoke now. They all cautiously looked at the grim-faced Theus.
Theus had urgently summoned everyone today, yet he had not said what it was about. Judging by his expression, it was likely bad news.
"Bad news, everyone."
Theus spoke in a low voice.
"According to reliable intelligence, the Resistance Army in the Northern Territory has not been wiped out. However, their current situation is extremely dire—they are on the brink of collapse!"
Everyone's gazes instantly turned toward Granny.
"It isn't news from Granny's side." Theus sighed. "Isaac's people got in touch with us."
"Isaac!?"
"Good heavens, he's still alive?"
"He's a Transcendent, isn't he? Isn't surviving perfectly normal?"
"Not normal at all! He went to operate in the Northern Territory, yet Nora knew nothing about him. Even after the Deep Sea War ended so long ago, he never contacted us. I always thought he'd defected."
"He would never defect. Isaac is loyal!"
Theus tapped the table. "Quiet."
The room fell silent.
"The Ashen Alliance established by Isaac ran into some trouble and had no choice but to migrate west into the Empire, which is why they never contacted us. But that isn't the important part."
Theus looked around the room, his gaze finally settling on Nora.
"The problem now is that the Resistance Army in the Northern Territory is already in imminent danger. They could be wiped out by Bazel's Winter Wolf Guard at any moment!"