Zaki thought for a moment, then burst out laughing. "How generous of you, Dehya. Delavar is also my friend. Since there's such a good opportunity, of course I'll take you to find him. Follow me."
Lumine and Paimon followed Zaki into the desert and stopped in a valley.
Zaki said, "Alright, here we are."
[Cyno: This place isn't suitable for temporary lodging. On the contrary, it's more suited for an ambush. The terrain on both sides is higher—if you block both ends, it's a sure thing.]
[Paimon: Meaning there are fewer escape routes?]
[Cyno: Exactly.]
[Paimon: Isn't that dangerous then?]
[Lumine: When you're strong enough, you don't need to run.]
[Cyno: Lumine's reasoning isn't wrong either.]
[Paimon: ...]
Dehya crossed her arms. "But there doesn't seem to be anyone around here. What are they doing here?"
Zaki let out a hearty laugh. "Hahahaha! Do you even need to ask? We're here to surround you easy prey, of course."
Then, from all around the valley, a large number of armed mercenaries emerged.
Dehya demanded, "Zaki, what is this?"
Zaki spread his hands. "Cut the act, Dehya. You really thought those words you said in Aaru Village wouldn't reach our ears? Our brothers have been watching you ever since these outsiders set foot in the village."
"Not only do I know you're looking for Delavar, I also know there are people from the Akademiya among your companions. You're all here to investigate the missing mad scholars."
[Furina: Hahaha, this is where Paimon should step up and say, 'I knew you were eavesdropping all along! We were just turning the tables on you!']
[Lumine: Paimon might not be that clever.]
[Paimon: Lumine, what are you saying about me?]
Dehya looked at Lumine, seeming helpless. "Sigh, it looks like we were being watched from the very beginning."
Paimon said belatedly, "How did this happen? We should have brought Cyno along instead of leaving him in the village."
[Furina: Ah, so Paimon didn't see through Dehya's plan after all.]
[Paimon: Fine, call me a fool then.]
Zaki's laughter rang out again. "Hahahaha! You left the most capable one in the village, didn't you? So don't give me that business excuse. Do you really think you're that clever?"
Dehya crossed her arms. "So you're the one working with Delavar?"
Zaki said, "Dehya, as a mercenary, you're always out working. It's normal to miss out on some information. Those of us who spend our days in the taverns are more united than you'd think."
"But you were right about one thing—we're all hoping for chaos in Sumeru. Because no one wants the desert people to rise up and put the Akademiya in its place more than we do."
[Dehya: No, they don't want the desert people to rise up—they just want themselves to rise up above others.]
[Cyno: A very accurate description. A very common motive for crime.]
[Paimon: Why do they always want to put others down?]
[Dehya: They just want to bully others and get something for nothing.]
Dehya said, "Then knowing Delavar's character, he definitely wouldn't miss this kind of grand occasion."
Just then, two more people walked out from the valley. "To be honest, if we hadn't heard what you said in the village, just from your speech about the Wall of Samiel, we might have believed you were one of us too."
Dehya smiled. "Delavar, and Engur—you're here too."
Engur grinned. "Long time no see, mercenary lady. You should know that we supporters of King Deshret don't take kindly to traitors."
They seemed certain of their victory.