Kagel and Kailan, the Martial Fighters from Class Two, were both the quiet, head-down-and-get-things-done type. In situations like this, they listened without a word and rarely offered opinions.
Nora copied Ye Chuqi, propping her chin in her hand as she looked at the pastries on the table. She sighed wistfully. "Why do I feel like these sea beasts are smarter than me?"
Ye Chuqi couldn't help laughing. "There's really no need to go that far."
Holly, however, obligingly nodded. "Sea beasts know to run when they can't win. Nora doesn't."
Therefore, it could be proven that sea beasts were smarter than Nora.
Nora stared wide-eyed at Holly, who had delivered that jab with a perfectly straight face, then laughed too. "I'm serious. These sea beasts are really smart. Haven't you noticed something wrong with that?"
"What do you mean?" Ferrandi looked at Nora in confusion.
"The town chief said they're all low-level sea beasts, the kind that run as soon as they see adventurers. But do you really think low-level sea beasts could be this clever? Could they find gaps in the guards' defenses, selectively attack fishing villages, and retreat immediately when things turn against them?"
Ferrandi froze. "I've certainly never heard of anything like it." Small magic beasts would instinctively flee from powerful enemies out of fear, but creatures like that couldn't possibly carry out organized, disciplined harassment, attacks, and retreats.
Even high-rank magic beasts couldn't manage that unless they had undergone specialized training.
Cyril set down his teacup and said quietly, "You mean someone is controlling these sea beasts from behind the scenes?"
Nora wagged a finger. "Or some other, smarter magic beast is controlling them."
Ye Chuqi tapped her fingers against the table and said thoughtfully, "It could also be a higher form of being." A demon