Sai began to ponder whether he should consider this or not. Right now, he was just a nobody—no backing, no connections, no influence—only himself. If he joined, would it open doors for him, or would he just be throwing himself into another dangerous situation?

  Pushing his doubts aside, he decided to gather more information first. "What exactly does this organization do?" he asked, his voice calm yet firm.

  The receptionist gave him a polite, practiced smile—one that revealed nothing. "We deal in many things," she said vaguely. "Information, special assignments, protection, retrieval… among other activities."

  She only offered surface-level details, just enough to spark his curiosity while keeping the true nature of the organization hidden. It was clear she wouldn’t reveal more unless he proved himself worthy or showed genuine intent to join.

  Sai narrowed his eyes slightly. This was no ordinary group. If they were this cautious, it meant they either had powerful enemies, dealt in highly sensitive matters, or both.

  Seeing his expression, the receptionist leaned back and smiled. "For now, this is all I can tell you," she said. "But if you’re truly interested, there are ways to learn more."

  Sai exhaled slowly. This was either an opportunity or a trap. He had to decide—step forward or walk away.

  Without giving an answer, he left. His mind was a chaotic storm of thoughts—doubts, calculations, possibilities all spinning wildly. But his skill, [Calm Mind], prevented him from losing himself to panic. Before, he had been completely lost, adrift in an unfamiliar world. But now, it felt like he had stepped into a fire, where every choice he made could either forge him into something stronger or burn him to ashes.

  He didn’t return to the inn. Instead, his feet carried him deep into the forest—away from the town, away from the noise. The thick canopy swallowed the last remnants of daylight, and the quiet wilderness wrapped around him like an old friend.

  For a long time, he just walked. The crisp night air cooled his skin, and the rhythmic sounds of insects and rustling leaves filled the silence in his mind. The forest brought him an odd sense of peace—a reminder that he was alive, that no matter what happened, he could still think, still act.

  Eventually, he stopped at the edge of a cliff. Below, the town glowed in the darkness, its lantern-lit streets flickering like fireflies. From this height, it looked small—almost insignificant.

  Sai took a deep breath. He looked down at the sheer drop—the jagged rocks and trees waiting below.

  Then, without hesitation, he jumped.

  The wind howled past him as he plunged downward. His body felt weightless, his heartbeat steady. This wasn’t recklessness—it was something deeper. A test. A moment of absolute clarity.

  The moment he had broken free from his chains, something inside him had begun to stir, as if trying to awaken. He couldn't fully grasp what it was. Then, suddenly, an unknown energy surged around him, covering his body. He crashed into the ground, yet he was completely unharmed.

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  Sai sat up, inspecting himself. Nothing felt off except for a strange weakness. He glanced around at the damage he had caused and shook his head. Even with [Calm Mind] interfering, his thoughts felt clouded. He walked for a while, trying to clear his mind, and decided to head back to the inn.

  But just as he turned, a sudden commotion caught his attention.

  Sai clenched his fists, his first instinct was to walk away. It wasn’t his problem. But then, through the crackling fire and frantic shouts, he heard it a child’s cry, high-pitched and desperate.

  His steps halted. Tch. Damn it.

  Without hesitation, he slipped into the shadows and crept toward the burning carriage. The flames cast flickering silhouettes of armed figures, their rough voices barking orders as they rummaged through the wreckage. A noble’s transport, maybe? Bandits rarely attacked random carriages without reason.

  Sai crouched behind a fallen tree, his sharp gaze scanning the scene. The attackers wore mismatched armor—mercenaries, not mere thugs. That meant someone had paid for this raid.

  His eyes flickered toward the source of the cries. A woman, clutching two small children, was being dragged from the wreckage. One of the mercenaries yanked her back by her hair, silencing her screams with a backhanded slap. The children sobbed, their tiny hands clutching at her torn dress.

  Seeing this, Sai grabbed his sword and, using his observation skills and ability to see emotions, dashed forward and struck down the man dragging the woman, killing him instantly. His first kill in this world had happened.

  Without wasting a second, he dashed toward the shocked armored figures and slashed at a nearby one. The man managed to dodge the strike, but his arm was severed. The remaining figures counterattacked, but despite his weakened state, Sai handled four of them. One managed to escape and ran away.

  Sai was also injured, but he had knocked out three of them—one now armless and writhing in pain. He turned his gaze toward the woman and children. Their clothes and demeanor suggested they belonged to a wealthy family.

  They looked at him with a mix of fear and caution.

  The woman hesitated before speaking, her voice unsteady. "Who… who are you?"

  Sai didn’t introduce himself. Instead, he walked over to the injured men and began tying them up, ensuring they wouldn’t pose a threat. His movements were methodical, his expression unreadable.

  Once he finished, he turned back to the woman, his gaze sharp. "Who are you?

  The woman clutched the children protectively, her expression shifting between fear and relief. She hesitated before answering, her gaze flickering toward the tied-up mercenaries and the wounded guards lying nearby.

  "My name is Elira Vaelmont," she finally said, her voice steadier now. "I am the Duchess of Vaelmont."

  Sai's eyes narrowed. A noble of such high status traveling with only a small guard detail? That alone was unusual. But given the attack’s precision, it was clear someone had planned this ambush carefully.

  His gaze moved to the surviving guards—three in total, battered and injured but still conscious. One clutched a deep wound on his shoulder, another leaned against the wreckage, breathing heavily, while the third struggled to sit up, his helmet dented from a heavy blow.

  Sai turned back to Elira. "And your main forces? Where are they?"

  Her expression darkened. "My husband insisted I take a small escort and leave ahead of him. We were supposed to reunite at a safe house, but before we could get far, they struck. Our attackers knew our route… they knew exactly when to strike." Her hands clenched tightly. "This wasn’t a random attack. Someone wants my family dead."

  Sai exhaled slowly. The pieces were coming together. A planned ambush, a noblewoman of high status, and a missing duke. This situation was worse than he thought.

  He glanced at the injured guards. "Can you still move?"

  The one with the shoulder wound gritted his teeth. "We can manage, sir."

  Sai nodded. "Good. We can’t stay here. More could come."

  Elira looked at him, cautious but resolute. "Where can we go?"