Olmedo thought Annan had a "fear of insufficient strength," but she understood. She even felt the same way.
No one wanted a repeat of what had happened to Breeze City and Star-Moon Bay. Free City was a Floating City, yes, but it wasn't meant to help them run away.
At that moment, Annan was brimming with the will to fight.
If you ignored the fact that he had secretly asked Lilith to draw up a "Ratfolk Invasion Evacuation Guide for Residents."
"We can't be deserters, but if things become impossible, we still have to preserve the spark!" Annan declared with conviction.
The next day, the Ratfolk Elder came to see Annan.
"We've identified the ratfolk who slipped in among your humans. They're eyes planted by Crippleclaw and Plaguetail."
"Crippleclaw? Plaguetail?" They sounded evil already.
"The other two of the Three Rat Elders." The Ratfolk Elder's voice was as cold as if it had been dug out of the Snow Mountain Range.
Their full names were Crippleclaw Skrik and Plaguetail Fenzul.
Together with the Ratfolk Elder, the "Three Rat Elders" made up the three Stuen Clan factions operating in the Northern Frontier.
As it happened, Crippleclaw Skrik had a history with Free City: he had masterminded the plot involving the Rikaner Kingdom and Breeze City.
Annan committed both names to memory but still didn't promise to kill them for the Ratfolk Elder.
The Ratfolk Elder was the one in a hurry. Annan had no personal stake in those other two elders.
As for revenge... that could come whenever.
If there was something to gain, the sooner the better. If the cost outweighed the reward, Annan wouldn't mind digging an enemy out of his grave after he died and giving him a whipping to count as revenge.
In the end, Annan told