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"My Lady, I'm worried that even you...

" The messenger bit his lips before finishing his words. Whether he was scared to potentially infringe on Irea's pride or just couldn't be bothered to explain the matter didn't matter.

"I will do it right away,

" he said instead, backing out of the building.

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"I wonder what happened for someone to come out of the schedule,

" Irea muttered to herself, wiping clean the same part of the cooking desk's surface for the nth time. At this point, there wasn't even a single speck of dust or fat left on it. Yet, as her attention was already on a different plane, Irea was simply unable to notice that fact.

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"I told you! I will only report the news to Al or Ation themselves!

" the man shouted from behind the doors of the kitchen.

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"Just get inside,

" the voice of the messenger from before sounded right before the entrance of the building slammed open.

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"What news do you bring?

" Irea asked, finally taking another part of the kitchen under the scrutiny of her wiping cloth. As her thoughts were already somewhere else, she didn't pay attention to the man that was thrown inside.

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"I told everyone already!

" the man argued.

"I will only report the news to Al or Ation themselves!

" he added in a disgruntled tone.

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"I'm the wife of Layn, the first to settle this land, the protector of the Camp and the lord of this dominion,

" Irea said, squeezing the words one by one through a fake smile that she put on her lips. She then turned around, allowing the unruly informant to notice her smiling expression oozing with annoyance.

"I'm also one of the six officers that manage this entire place. Now, am I worthy enough to hear what news do you bring?

" she said, caressing her bracelet once again to calm herself down.

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"I said it many times already. I will only report to the leaders themselves!

" the man shouted, slamming his fist into the nearby chair.

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"You just destroyed Al's chair,

" Irea pointed out as she put a lovely smile on her lips. But rather than keeping the ongoing farce, she sighed and put her wiping cloth away.

"Al, Ation, Markus and Layn are all away. They departed the camp several moments ago to deal with some major threats,

" she said before leaning her head over her shoulder.

"As for now, Yelna and I are the only ones you can report to. So, are you going to talk, or should I ask someone to throw you out to the desert?

" she asked, finally revealing just how annoyed she was by the man's presence.

nWhat Irea said wasn't a lie. Right now, the two most influential people in the entire camp were Markus's wife, Yelna, and Irea herself. In a sense, the camp entered a period where it would be ruled just by the wives of the two of its leaders.

nThe only reason why Yelna didn't join the sabotage force was simple. With most of its capable warriors away, someone powerful enough had to stay back and ensure nothing would happen to the camp itself.

n'I guess that's also the reason why Layn wanted me to stay back as well,' Irea thought, analyzing the situation for the first time since she talked about it with her husband.

nYet, there was no pride in the girl's thoughts. While she had no problem considering herself as one of the most powerful people in the camp, she could not put that kind of position as something to have pride in. 'After all, my power is not the effect of my hard work, but rather Layn's gifts and teachings,' she thought, keeping her humble attitude from before.

nEver since the mishap at the desert where she almost died in Layn's hands, Irea's power continued to surge. Most likely, it was an effect of what Layn did to heal her. Yet, even since then, even with how happy she was to see how dedicated he was to her, she couldn't help but hate herself for putting him through such ordeal.

nAnd right now, some random man of Al's clan dared to disrespect her position. The position that she never craved for nor had any personal pride in. Yet, it was a position bestowed upon her by Layn.

nAnd disrespecting something of Layn's origin was something that Irea would never allow anyone to do.

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"So am I to believe that you are one of the two highest-ranking people in the entire camp right now?

" the man asked, throwing Irea a scornful look, one that he would give to some misbehaved child that unknowingly caused a lot of trouble for adults.

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"Yes, that's what you need to believe unless you want to go and bother Yelna,

" Irea said, forcing all the annoyance out of her face.

nFor some reason, the perspective of throwing this man into Yelna's hands appeared to be pretty enticing. 'After all, out of the two of us, she seems like the one to snap at this kind of guy way easier,' Irea thought, barely stopping a small chuckle from escaping through her mouth.

nThe man turned silent for a moment. Right in the doors, the same messenger that brought the news continued to watch how the events unraveled, ready to step in and punish the messenger the moment he would step out of the line.

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"Fine,

" the man finally said. Yet, instead of revealing what dire news he was bringing, he just stood there, taking deep breaths.

"Do you have something to write?

" he then asked, raising his eyes back at the girl.

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"Just tell whatever news you bring,

" Irea ordered, putting away the wiping cloth and crossing the arms on her chest.

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"The thing is,

" the man averted his eyes,

"I don't really know calculus...

" he said as his cheeks turned slightly red.

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"And what do you need numbers for?

" Irea asked as a bad premonition suddenly washed through her mind.

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"To report just how massive the army of cultivators is currently heading to destroy this place!

" The man shouted, slamming his fist in powerless fury against another innocent chair.

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