"Why?" Billy asked visibly confused.
"Before that, may I ask if you were the one who decided to help her?" Jean asked.
"No, it was Kate and some others decided to help her," Billy replied.
"If that is the case, then I can be honest with you since you saw that helping her would be too dangerous to our state," Jean said. "The truth is, I am planning to use her to restore a part of her state and make them help us when it is time to face the beast masters. They won't work with us unless she is on our side."
"I see…you think that their soldiers will revolt if they realize that one of their former leaders is still alive, even if she is a child…" Billy said. "Still, using a child is…"
"I am not planning to take over both states, I just wanted to prevent us from being destroyed due to numerous wars," Jean explained. "I have many issues with the former Toles state, but I do know that conquering others indiscriminately will only bring trouble down the road. Besides, I don't see the point in blaming a child for the crimes of her relatives."
Jean was being reasonable, but maybe he was just saying that to get Billy's cooperation. Still, considering that he accepted the terms of the truce, it was only natural that he was that kind of person. In any case, apparently, things were going to roll out way differently than he had expected. That wasn't a bad thing per se, but Billy felt that it was felt that it was slightly off.
"Do you have the cooperation of the people of that state?" Billy asked. "They didn't join the war, so why are they taking risks now?"
"They know that they will be the next if we fall, besides, they assumed that we didn't have any chance," Jean replied. "Riormi state doesn't have a strong military force and they are smaller even than us, so now that they know that the enemies have been trying to weaken us from inside, they fear us in a direct confrontation."
"They sure are cunning when they don't have much power," Billy said.
"Putting that aside, are you willing to help?" Jean asked. "I know that you are taking many risks in doing this kind of job, but aside from the guild masters, I can't count on anyone to do that as quietly as possible. Naturally, you will be rewarded for your efforts."
"That goes without saying…" Billy said and then rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Their actions will affect my people sooner or later, so not doing anything would be stupid, so I am going to help."
"You have my thanks," Jean said and then bowed slightly. "We should hurry up with this… go meet Marie near the border, she will help you guys."
"Okay," Billy said.
Billy thought that Marie wouldn't participate in that kind of thing anymore, but in the end, it seemed that she was working in the shadows to help her people. Nevertheless, Billy left the city in a hurry to catch up with his friends. Now they were in a race against time to prevent the states from losing their strength and prevent the enemies from getting rid of people who could cause trouble.
In the end, Billy ran as fast as he could and only stopped to sleep while avoiding all the main roads. His friends predicted to meet him in four days in the dungeon town, but he met them after only two. Although he had Vigor to recover his stamina faster, his muscles still weren't strong enough for him to endure so many hours of running at his top speed, so Billy's body was itching all over when he met his friends.
"Why the hurry? Did something happen with Jean?" Kate asked when she noticed Billy's condition.
"Change of plans, it seemed that Jean was aware of you guy's presences in his state for a while," Billy said while looking at Rosalie. "To avoid problems, he didn't contact any of you, but he has a plan to help you guys to stay safe. We have to head North."
Billy explained the rest of the situation. Jean and the leaders of Riormi state were preparing for the next conflict, and they think that Rosalie's presence might make the people of the former Toles state to fight against the beast tamers if she helped them.
"That makes sense, even if they surrendered after losing their leader, they might follow someone close to Ignace instead of someone who betrayed them in times of crises," Sarah said.
"That is how it is, are you going to follow Jean's plan or do you have a better one?" Billy asked.
"We will follow his plan… by the way, Billy, I am sorry for causing you problems this time," Kate said and lowered her head slightly.
"Don't be, that is just who you are," Billy said. "You can't abandon someone in trouble. You should take pride in that."
"I see, thanks…" Kate said. "So, are we fine now?"
"We are completely fine," Billy replied.
"Aren't you thinking of leaving the party, are you?" Kate asked.
"This is this and that is that," Billy said. "We can work together from time to time since we are friends, but working together all the time is impossible now."
"Is that so…" Kate said with her head down.
"There is no need to become depressed," Billy said. "I am someone who would abandon strangers in trouble in order to avoid causing a war. Even if one of them is a kid, meanwhile, you didn't abandon them. Would you rather follow the lead of someone so cold? You should strive to become a better leader while you follow your own ideals."
"I think it would be fine if you were the leader no matter what," Kate said.
"That wouldn't do, the same thing would happen again and again," Billy said.
