The Confrontation and Temporary Truce

In a secluded part of the forest, the Sage Rat and the Wise Wolf stood face to face, aware that this was no ordinary meeting. Though neither had come to battle openly, the air between them buzzed with tension and silent challenges.

The Wise Wolf smirked slightly and began to speak, his voice calm but layered with meaning. "Do you remember the crow you encountered recently, Sage Rat? The one that brought you a message from the Wise Crow."

The Sage Rat's eyes narrowed, keenly listening. "Yes, I remember it well. It delivered a hint that was supposed to help me deal with another power."

The Wise Wolf nodded knowingly, a hint of a smirk playing at his lips. "Precisely. You see, I've been manipulating the Wise Crow's faction for some time now, guiding them to deliver that so-called 'hint' to you. But it wasn't a genuine insight from the Wise Crow—it was a trap, part of a larger plan I crafted."

Though the Sage Rat realized he'd fallen into the Wise Wolf's scheme, he remained calm, showing no sign of agitation. He knew he was facing an opponent of unmatched cunning but sensed that the Wise Wolf had a new reason for this meeting.

The Wise Wolf's tone shifted to a more serious pitch. "Understand this, Sage Rat: I'm not here seeking your forgiveness. My sights are set elsewhere… on the Wise Fox. You may not know him yet, but trust me, he's a significant threat."

The Sage Rat held his silence, his ears perking up. He trusted that the Wise Wolf's warning was genuine—at least in regard to the Wise Fox. A part of him sensed the hidden danger of this mysterious fox, though he'd never encountered him.

The Wise Wolf leaned forward, his voice low and intense, eyes reflecting resolve. "The Wise Fox is arrogant and overconfident. He believes he's the cleverest in the forest. You need to plant a misconception in his mind—make him think you're utterly reliant on the Encyclopedia Ball, and that you pose no threat."

The Sage Rat listened intently, recognizing this as a calculated strategy rather than a mere suggestion. The Wise Wolf had carefully crafted this tactic, exploiting the Wise Fox's greatest weakness: his pride.

The Sage Rat nodded subtly. "Understood, Wise Wolf. If it helps topple the Wise Fox, I'll call a temporary truce with you."

The Wise Wolf's eyes gleamed with satisfaction. "Good. Exploit his arrogance, let him bring about his own downfall. When he least expects it, that's when you strike. Never let him suspect you know the real game."

With their temporary truce sealed, the two parted ways. Their shared target was clear: the Wise Fox. The Sage Rat, though aware that he was now aligned with the scheming Wise Wolf, understood it was necessary to safeguard peace. Thus, the silent battle of wits between him and the Wise Fox had truly begun.