She is not an investigator.

There's really nothing she can do.

As Nolan, and as the vice-principal of the Witch Academy.

However, she seems to have another identity.

For example... Tina.

…………

The night was long, and Isabella had some clues and information, but she couldn't find a good way to help.

But it doesn't matter, she's always good at doing things that are unimaginable to ordinary people.

For example, write a pre-announcement letter.

Threatening letters? Invitations? Call them whatever you want, but she didn't believe those people would really let the young lady of Somerset be in danger without doing anything.

So that's what she has to do. She'll take all the problems upon herself. The group will figure out a way to rescue Miss Somerset. Others might have to rely on luck, but that's not her concern.

Anyway, Igris can't go anywhere now, so she can get away with it and pretend she knows nothing about what's happening in the Arctic.

The person who appeared there was not Igris, but her, Isabella.

"What a lame excuse... but it seems there's no other way."

She was used to being wanted, but not Igris, and she wasn't going to let Igris get involved in this mess again.

As for the rest... we'll talk about it later.

Anyway, she's going to take action.

…………

"Your Excellency Ivan, the only information we have at the moment is... that the young lady has indeed appeared in this city, but other than that, we have not been able to track her signal."

"...You mean, even after all this time, the tracking device on her still hasn't triggered an alarm or sent a signal to you?"

“Sir, I am quite certain that even if that device is destroyed, it should still be able to transmit a signal. Therefore, I request that the large-scale search in Bayanka continue…”

"There's no time... It's been a full four days since she went missing..."

The man named Ivan looked utterly exhausted. He was tired, whether from the current battlefield situation or... something else entirely.

He never expected that his daughter would also encounter problems at this critical juncture, and this news almost devastated the already exhausted man.

But there are reasons why he was able to get to this position.

"Phew... How's it going over there? Any progress... or bad news?"

No, there is no news at all.

Another man, who appeared to be Ivan's adjutant, stood beside Ivan, holding a notebook for taking notes.

"From the start of the project until now, we have only received three communications from there, two of which were bad news, and the third... was not so good news."

The adjutant paused for a moment, then finally couldn't hold back any longer and put down his notebook.

"Your Excellency Ivan, have you really considered the feasibility of this plan? We have made great sacrifices for it, and even... I don't think it's a good idea, nor do I think it can really help us."

"...You're just an adjutant, don't bring this up again..."

"No, Your Excellency Ivan, I must make myself clear today, even if you execute me."

"..."

Seeing Ivan remain silent, the adjutant continued earnestly.

"The crisis we are facing is by no means urgent enough to warrant sacrificing proof of our existence. What we are doing, what we are doing, and what we have always been preparing to do is never a simple math problem. There is no comparison between numbers... Each of them is a living, breathing life!"

"...You know, this decision wasn't something I could change alone. It was the best solution reached after voting, considering the judgments of various forces, and taking into account multiple factors..."

"But they failed, didn't they? They transformed their soldiers into those inhuman, ghostly creatures, expecting them to protect humanity, to protect us? We should have stopped them when they started harming civilians!"

"Lieutenant, as I've said before, this problem isn't something that can be solved so easily."

Ivan finally couldn't help but frown and look at his adjutant, whose emotions had never been so high.

But he could understand his anger; he always had.

He never agreed with this plan, but due to the situation, the pressure, and many other reasons, he had no choice but to make this decision.

In this life, we never have any real choices.

The Gods' Fools - Beyond the World: Chapter Fifty-Four, but people often just need a reason.

"Sir Ivan, Sir Ivan—! You are the Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces, the helmsman of the army, the role model for those soldiers, their idol! Their families entrusted them to you with their lives, hoping that you would contribute to humanity, but you, you all…! What did you do? You…!"

"Lieutenant! You're tired, go back and rest. That concludes today's work report."

"No, sir, I'm not tired. I can talk to you all day long. I can repeat every word those soldiers said to me. I can tell you the beautiful hopes those families once had over and over again... I won't get tired, sir. I never will."

"..."

Ivan sighed silently, slowly stood up from his seat, and went to the window.

The moon outside the window was bright enough that its pure light fell on his face, revealing traces of time, as well as the weariness and self-reproach on his face.

"Yes, you're right. I remember them. They were my soldiers, my warriors. They weren't weapons, and their only purpose wasn't to bring victory. But... nobody cares. Someone puts in the money, someone puts in the effort. They want it all to happen. They don't care about the casualties of war. They only care about the outcome and whether the final result benefits them."

He turned around and looked at his adjutant.

"But what are we fighting for? For humanity, for the future... We must consider sacrifices and make choices, which is why this damn bill has the support of the majority...!"

boom--!

He slammed his hand heavily on the table in front of him, his anger finding no outlet, but he had no choice; he...had to back down.

If he doesn't do it, someone else will.

If he refuses, someone else will take his place.

He is the supreme commander of the joint forces and a direct bridge between the various forces and the front-line battlefield. If he were not the commander, if he were replaced by someone else, if that bridge did not even care about the lives of the soldiers.

What's the point then?

What can he do?

Rights, power?

He could only feel sadness and helplessness.

For those who died, for those... who were unwilling to die.

Excuse me—

"...?"

"Who's there! Guards! Police..."

"Wait a moment."

Ivan raised his hand, interrupting his adjutant's call, and slowly looked towards the window at the black figure that had slipped in.

He recognized the man; he was the thief who had wreaked havoc on the entire city of Byanka, and even the army had been involved in the manhunt for a time, though ultimately without any results.

And yet, this wanted criminal has now delivered himself right to our doorstep?

He even appeared in his office, the supreme commander of the coalition forces.

If she wanted to turn herself in, she should be at the police station right now, not here.

and so…

Why did you come here?

"My Lord Ivan, let me guess... your last name is Somerset, isn't it?"

"so what?"

His surname is transparent, though few people care about it, as most would prefer to call him His Excellency Ivan, or Commander Ivan.

Isabella nodded in satisfaction upon receiving the response, slowly sat down by the windowsill, and said softly.

"I guess you have a daughter."

"—!"

"Judging from your expression, I guessed right?"

"What did you do to her...!"

"Hey, don't slander me! I didn't do anything, but I do know where she is..."

"...What do you want, money?"

"You'll find out about this soon enough."

Isabella shook her head and said calmly.

"Guess where she is now?"

"..."

Frostville.

“...You overheard our conversation, and...she couldn’t possibly be there. To get to Frostville from here, even by high-speed steam train, it would take at least three days, not to mention the route has been blocked. No one can cross the wilderness to get there.”

Ivan was unwilling to believe her side of the story, but that didn't matter; Isabella didn't need him to believe her so easily.

"Nothing is impossible in this world. You wouldn't believe it, but I just got back from Frostville not long ago."

"..."

“If I’m not mistaken, she’s your only daughter, and I can tell you that she’s in absolute danger right now. It’s up to you to decide.”

After saying that, Isabella stretched her legs out the window and gently waved to Ivan.

"I hope you've thought this through, Your Excellency Ivan. Your daughter is in danger right now, and could even lose her life. Do you really want to continue standing by, or... try to rescue her? That's all, I have other matters to attend to, so I'll be going now."

"stop!"

Ignoring the adjutant's calls, Isabella quickly jumped out of the window and disappeared into the night.

The adjutant watched her figure disappear completely, then turned to look at Ivan.

"Lord Ivan! Should we give chase?"

"No need, we can't catch up. Compared to this... do you think what she said is true?"