As the ghost ship flew above the clouds, Varian fell into contemplation.
He explained the whole thing—including his dreams and his guesses to Boo, and soon, one man and one ghost were racking their brains.
"I'd like to consider that Enigma saved Sia," Varian said after a while.
He was rejecting the possibility that Enigma killed her.
"Also, given the peculiarities of Enigma, she might as well be another Hybrid." He added.
He didn't have much information on Hybrids. But given the peculiarities shown by Enigma, it was very likely that she was one.
He didn't see her face, and couldn't guess her age. But if she was a hybrid…
'System, what are the talents of hybrids?'
[They start from Celestial grade.]
And it went on to explain the speeds of advancement each celestial grade talent would have on Earth.
A low-grade celestial talent would reach level 7 by the age of 20.
A mid-grade would reach it by age of 17 and a high grade by the age of 14.
But like Sia, Enigma herself could have had her talent increase all of a sudden. So he had no way of accurately guessing her age and narrowing down on her identity.
"Master, we know literally nothing about her.
Before Sia incident, Shadow Guardians were already established, but their actions were very not so high profile.
They were fighting against Shadow Order in secret, but made sure to erase their presence." Boo said with a solemn voice.
"Was it because Sia is also a hybrid?" Varian quirked a brow and wondered.
"Master, could Enigma be Sia?" Boo asked suddenly.
Varian already had an answer. "She can't be."
First, Shadow Guardians were already fighting against Shadow Order before Sia's incident.
The biggest differentiator was their levels.
Sia was just level 4 last year. Enigma was level 7.
Roxana held Sia in captivity for almost 3 months. She noted in her journal that Sia was approaching the peak of Level 4 five days before her death.
Even a high-grade celestial talent couldn't go from level 5 to level 7 in five days.
Besides, according to Roxana, the special prison for Sia could not be broken even by Level 7s from inside.
Even if she awakened again—this time in space path, Sia can't teleport outside as the space itself was sealed by a formation.
Besides, she already awakened in Gravity Path. So abiding by the rules of Divine Paths, she could not awaken in the same Avenue.
So, the only way to save her would be from the outside.
Enigma was necessary.
"Enigma likely saved Sia. But what are her intentions?" Varian furrowed his brows.
At last, he had a definite location to find Sia.
But the definite location was a person whose whereabouts were always indefinite.
"Sia never appeared in public. She didn't even contact me once." Varian's eyes narrowed. He didn't like this train of thought.
"Meanwhile, Enigma's shadow guardians took off. They who always lurked in the shadows and kept a low profile suddenly made big moves.
In a short time, Shadow Guardians went from barely injuring Shadow Order to severely contesting it." Varian's hands balled into fists and his voice was slowly turning cold.
Boo shuddered at the iciness before speaking up. "Master, you mean…Enigma is forcing Sia's specialty to strengthen her group?"
Enigma must've found out about Roxana's research and how she changed Charles' talent.
Then she could've saved Sia for her own selfish reasons.
Perhaps she was being kind to her…perhaps not.
Varian looked at the clouds outside the window and sighed. "Only she knows. But looking at the speed at which they gained strength, I can be sure Sia's specialty is being used."
He gnashed his teeth and said. "I just hope Sia is doing it voluntarily and is not forced by Enigma. Else…Shadow guardians, whatever their noble cause is, they'll be on the list with Xanders."
'Extermination List.' He added inside.
Boo shuddered.
After the last incident, it was starting to get afraid of Varian's emotional swings.
If he became that black and white light man once again, then its humble wish of survival would end.
'I can't let that happen. I must keep him calm.' Boo cheered itself and said in an optimistic tone. "Master, Shadow Guardians' track record so far has been clean.
The so-called terrorist attacks done by Enigma are all orchestrated by Xander Family or their vassals.
The only times Enigma took action were against anti-human elements. Her enemies are Shadow Order, Abyssals, and…Xanders.
She might not be a good person, but she is not a bad person."
Varian's eyes lit up.
'Yes. That's it!'
Some obscure things in the past that seemed unrelated now suddenly connected.
Enigma appeared in the Red fief during the entrance exam. She must have come for the Cross Tunneling Formation, but she could have gotten it elsewhere.
Besides, she must have known that the entrance test was going on.
Out of the countless choices she had, she picked the same location as him.
Then, there was another news he previously ignored.
According to Boo, small-scale attacks on the three clans started right after he disappeared into the lost dungeon.
Apparently, Shadow Guardians gauged the strength of the three clans and collected important information.
By the time he returned, all the information was in place.
Then, Enigma personally took the shot and killed off the geniuses of Astor, Martin, and Ganbold clans.
Right then, Varian also posed as 'Dreamer' and released the 'keys' to the hideouts.
The government announced the mission 'Purge' to kill every abyssal.
Public attention was drawn to the mission and everyone didn't realize the severity of the situation that the three clans were going through.
In a few days, Enigma destroyed the Astor Clan, Martin Clan, and Ganbold Clans.
Only the level 9s of these clans were not killed by her. Her strength was still in Level 8.
But they weren't alive for long.
Sarah sent the evidence of Astor Clan cooperating with Shadow Order. Stacked with that were the Abyssal corpses found in Astor Clan's estate.
Astor Clan were branded as traitors overnight.
The level 9 members of the Astor Clan were personally killed by Evander himself.
He also suspected the Martin and Ganbold Clans and killed their level 9s.
According to the insiders, after his wife's death, Evander 'hated anything that is not human'.
He apparently said those who cooperate with Abyssals are not qualified to be even a human's pet.
Coming back to the incident, these three clans were vassals of the Xander Family.
Neither the clans nor the Xander family provoked Enigma during that time.
She was the one who ignited it. Right after he disappeared.
It was like…avenging him.
"If…and I'm saying if, Sia's condition for helping Enigma might be protecting me." Varian's shoulders slumped as he said after a long time.
"After Roxana's death, the Xanders must have investigated into Sia. Even though Roxana erased all information about her, I'm sure Xanders would have found out about a thing or two.
Since she escaped, then their natural target would be me, her only family." Rubbing his chin, Varian speculated.
"Given their nature, I should be captured by the Xanders. They would threaten Sia with me.
But they didn't. So, Enigma must have forced them to compromise." He slammed his palm with his fist.
Without anyone forcing them, Xanders would've captured him for sure.
"Since Sia is so important, Enigma must have asked them to not target me in any form.
But Shadow Order and Abyssals, while trying to assassinate Sarah, pulled me into the conflict. These two are supported by Astor Clan.
Sia would've thought I died. To placate her, Enigma launched the attacks on the Xander Clan." He concluded.
Boo on the side nodded. "Yes, master. After you appeared in the academy, Enigma stopped her attacks. Or else, the Astor Clan remnants you hunted in planetoid Rena…they would've been long killed by her."
Varian's expression brightened and he said. "If Enigma is going to such lengths, then at least Sia is being treated properly and joined Shadow Guardians on her own accord."
Then he smiled wryly. "She's safe…but why did she never contact me?"
Regardless, Varian felt a burden was lifted off his chest.
Boo could feel it clearly.
Varian was...excited like never before.
"Enigma, it's time to meet you.." He said with his biggest grin.