Walking through the village, all Glyn can see is how desolate the island really is. When Morgan arrived, she swept through the island, destroying most of the settlements and only leaving the one around the castle. The people who attempted to defend the castle were slaughtered or converted into more of Morgan’s puppets. Now in charge of the island, she forced the remaining people to serve her in various ways. Some worked in the fields, others worked to make weapons, and even others focused solely on cleaning the castle and the airship. Anything more important, such as hunting monsters, was delegated to her own people or the puppets she commands.

  Morgan soaked up all the resources the island could provide her. Without a second thought or a moment of hesitation, she left the island destitute and how few people were left on the brink.

  “Walking through the village is dangerous.” Xia Bei says.

  Glyn nods. “Might be.”

  “We could be attacked or spotted by one of Morgan’s puppets hidden among the crowd.”

  He nods again. “That’s very true.”

  “Then why are we walking through the village!?”

  “To be seen.”

  “What?”

  Anluan nods. “I see you’re waiting for someone. So, you're making yourself noticeable.”

  “Exactly.”

  “Wait, who are you waiting for?”

  Glyn smirks. “That’s the question, isn’t it?”

  “Can you please explain!?”

  “Sorry, I can’t. You’re still connected to that fake Isaac, and Anluan isn’t completely bug-free. If I tell either of you the finer details of any plan, I cook up has a higher chance of being leaked to the enemy.”

  Xia Bei pauses. “You have a point there.”

  “Then we go about business as usual then. I shall prepare dinner.”

  “Good. I was hoping we could have some bread.”

  “Unlikely.” Xia Bei looks around at a small building. Inside, a woman holding two children looks on, shuddering. “They will not give what little they have to outsiders, even for money.”

  Glyn nods. “Can’t hurt to try. Maybe we’ll get something else out of it. Anluan, you go fishing, while the fiery girl and I will go talk to the people around here.”

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  “As you wish,” Anluan says, walking off.

  As he walks off into the distance, Xia Bei relaxes her face. “You sent him off because he freaks the people out, right?”

  “Yup. Even if he’s no longer her puppet, he still has nothing else to wear but that cloak. Not to mention I don’t know if anyone got a good look at his face while he was under her control. It is kind of hard to explain to the average person he had no control over his body during that time, and I was able to use a tiny magic statue to set him free.” Glyn explains.

  Xia Bei nods. “Alright then. Let’s do whatever you have in mind since I’m out of ideas.”

  “Good. Now let’s check out the local scene.” He says with a grin on his face.

  Glyn and Xia Bei walk through the village and make their way to the market. Stalls sit empty, with only one or two shopkeepers manning their stalls. Glyn, with a smile on his face, approaches one of these shopkeepers, a large man smoking from a pipe. The man eyes Glyn up and down before turning to the side and examining Xia Bei.

  “Got nothing to sell. Go along.”

  “Come on now. I’m not here for product. You should know what I’m here for.”

  “Yeah, you’re the crazy guy trying to pick a fight with that witch. Sorry, but I’d rather not get involved with you. Good luck though. I’d pay a fortune to have that woman killed.”

  “She got someone you care about?”

  “My son. Was one of the ones in the castle when her crazy squad massacred everyone inside. Left his wife a widow and left his kids without a dad.”

  Glyn nods. “So, you’d do anything to see her taken down?”

  “Most things. But I’m not insane enough to work with you. Maybe if you had an army or two, then that’d change my mind.”

  Glyn nods. “Well, what if I could get an army?”

  “What!?” Xia Bei asks.

  “Oh?”

  “You look in the know. You should know the comings and goings of this village, right? And if you’ve noticed any extra bodies appearing and disappearing.” Glyn says with a smirk.

  He pauses. “I don’t know what you're talking about. Your crazy talk might draw the wrong attention.”

  “It’s fine if you don’t want to talk about it. But I’m sure you’ve noticed them, right?”

  “Listen, kid. I don’t know what you're talking about, and I have better things to do than humor you.” He places a slip of paper in front of Glyn. “Now the shop is closed.”

  Glyn smirks. “Thank you for that.”

  Glyn walks away with a confused Xia Bei at his side as she stares at him.

  “What was that?”

  “Drawing attention. One of them should be here by now. Even just to investigate.”

  “Who?”

  “Sorry but…”

  “I know can’t say or won’t say.” Xia Bei turns around and shakes her head. “I know I should be the last person to say this, but we have to trust each other if we’re going to take down Morgan. And besides, I…. if something happened to you, I don’t know how I’d face Miller. So can you please give me a hint about….”

  She turns back around to find no trace of Glyn, who’s disappeared into thin air. She pauses for a moment and shakes her head. “Where did you go now!?”

  Elsewhere inside of a dilapidated building, Glyn stands with a figure cloaked in black holding a knife at his throat. He looks down at the figure’s masked face and does not resist as the knife inches closer to his throat.

  “How?”

  “Here’s the thing I’ve noticed about Shadows. You guys think you are invisible and you want us to think you’re all-seeing. But you can’t have eyes everywhere, so that’s when you have to rely on local agents. Just needed to find the most well-fed man in the village. Although I think he’s sharing his rewards with his neighbors.” He laughs. “Not to mention he signaled you with that paper he pulled out. That proved to me you were watching.”

  The Shadow retracts their blade. “Talk.”

  “Fine then. I have a proposal. Let’s work together to take out Morgan.” He says happily.