The winter wind swept fine snow across the barren clearing in the Tsukasa Empire's camp, carrying the chill of the frozen earth.
Over the past few days, Nikki had secretly followed Li Xiang's instructions.
There were people who had long grown tired of the ceaseless tension and pointless bloodshed.
In truth, everyone harbored a longing for peace, but bound by their allegiance, none dared openly resist.
With Nikki's persuasion, more and more people in the camp became willing to defect and help.
Taiju and Yuzuriha continued behaving as they always had.
But sooner or later, taking risks was bound to catch up with them.
That afternoon, the sky darkened with the promise of snow. Lead-gray clouds hung low, shrouding the entire camp in oppressive silence.
Taiju and Yuzuriha left the Cross Prayer Ground as usual.
After they disappeared from sight, Tsukasa and Hyoga approached slowly, side by side.
The instant Tsukasa's gaze swept over the ground, he stopped short.
His eyes darkened, his gaze fixed on the soil beneath the cross.
The cold wind had frozen the ground throughout the camp, but one small patch beside the cross's base was loose and fresh in color, clearly showing signs of recent digging.
An ordinary person would never have noticed, but with Tsukasa's exceptionally keen perception, it was practically obvious.
His buried vigilance surged to its peak in an instant. A dark shadow settled over his face as he realized Senku might be behind this, and the air around him turned oppressive.
Without a word, Tsukasa bent down slightly, brushed his fingertips over the soft, fresh soil, and gently scraped aside the loose dirt along the disturbed tracks.
An instant later, the yellowish-brown tip of a microphone came into view.
The microphone was connected to thin copper wires buried deep beneath the