Desert Airfield

Even though Shadu had decided to ignore him, he paused briefly when he heard the name.

"-Who?"

"She was a merchant in my service, trading between the Pearl Duchy and the Gravel Scale Desert."

Hairspring elaborated.

"Fifteen years ago, Leonite disappeared in the desert."

"She possessed Legendary power-what you call Saint Rank. Ordinary people couldn't have killed her."

His voice grew heavier.

"So you must have had something to do with it!"

Although Leonite was only a Quarter Hand, she could replenish herself by devouring the souls of living beings, allowing her to maintain her power for a long time after descending without dropping in rank.

Hairspring had placed great importance on the plan to infiltrate the Gravel Scale Desert and had specifically sent Leonite to oversee it.

The mention of fifteen years ago reminded Shadu of something from the past.

"Was she a red-haired druid?" he asked.

"She did have red hair, but Leonite wasn't a druid," Hairspring corrected him. "She was a soul hunter. Some of her abilities were just a little similar."

Shadu grinned.

"Then that's right. I killed her!"

Back then, he had invited Stacy and Ruixiuli to investigate the source of the disease that caused the Gravel Scale Tribe to go into heat out of season. Their investigation had led them to Leonite.

Afterward, Shadu and Ruixiuli had joined forces to kill her.

As she lay dying, Leonite had tried to take Ruixiuli down with her.

Jielusi, who had still been a child at the time, had blocked that inexplicable attack.

Fortunately, Stacy had been there and had managed to save Jielusi.

"I'll give you that. You've got some skill." Hairspring got straight to the point. "Where was Leonite buried?"

Shadu raised his eyes, as if trying to remember.

A long time passed before he