“You’re no longer the ignorant One Ring術士 you were when we first met; I don’t need to give you extra warnings, you can understand them yourself. Oh, speaking of which, the relic I promised you last time has been found. When you leave Yodel Palace later, have Tifa take you to retrieve it.”
The Duchess said.
“That’s wonderful. Miss Jialinna, what have you been busy with lately? Is there anything I can help you with?”
Xia De was also slightly polite. He didn’t expect Miss Jialinna to think for a moment and then actually tell him what she was going to do:
“The Blood Spirit School’s people sent from the New World to support Mercury Blood are arriving soon, probably around next weekend. The news is that it’s one Eight Ring and one Nine Ring, bringing some decent relics. The Witch Council knows I’m in Tobesk and wants me to capture them. The Council wants to ask some questions… about the Creation Birthing Chamber.”
She glanced at Xia De, who blinked back at her, looking as if he understood nothing. So the Duchess continued:
“I’ve been busy with this lately, but I don’t think you can help me. So, Detective, what have you been busy with lately?”
Perhaps because she had nothing to do at the moment, or because Xia De saved Queen Diana today, Miss Jialinna didn’t mind chatting with him more.
“I’m looking for the forged philosopher’s stone, a relic hidden by Mercury Blood. Also, I’m looking for the location of the Silver-Eyed One; my friend needs to see him.”
“That Two Ring Sorceress from the Sun Church?”
She teased, then said something very unexpected:
“I don’t know where the forged philosopher’s stone is, but I have a clue about the Silver-Eyed One.”
Xia De immediately pressed:
“Where is he, please?”
He thought Miss Jialinna would only give a clue, requiring further investigation, but the answer was even more surprising:
“After you severely wounded him, he hid in the underground ruins they discovered, personally guarding that sage-level relic, and letting the ruins protect himself. But unfortunately, I don’t know where the ruins are, so you’ll have to find that yourself.”
Xia De nodded, leaning back slightly on the sofa. He had already known the location of the ruins on Monday’s rainy night. And now knowing that the Silver-Eyed One was hiding in the ruins meant he could provide this important information to Miss Bei Ya Si.
With such important information, Miss Bei Ya Si would surely not mind his constant deception and concealment.
“However, if you really catch the Silver-Eyed One, remember to bring the body to me. I might be able to use this guy as bait.”
The Black-haired maid bent to pour tea for Miss Jialinna, who looked at Xia De:
“Although it’s unlikely, you always do all sorts of strange things, so I trust you very much.”
“No problem. My friend just wants to dig out the Silver-Eyed One’s eyes herself. Excuse me, Miss Jialinna, there’s actually something I’ve always wanted to ask…”
He hesitated, looking at her. The atmosphere of today’s conversation was good, so some things could be asked naturally.
“It’s fine, ask.”
“Sometimes I feel that your attitude towards me… Excuse me, what exactly about me caught your eye?”
Xia De had thought about this question for a long time. Perhaps the initial cooperation was normal, but afterward, it seemed off no matter how he looked at it. The most crucial point was that multiple sources confirmed that “the Great Witches of the Witch Council dislike men,” so Xia De believed he wasn’t overthinking it.
“I’m quite surprised you’d ask directly.”
Miss Jialinna smiled, picking up her teacup but not drinking:
“There is indeed a reason for my friendly attitude towards you, but I don’t want to tell you now. However, I can assure you it’s not harmful to you.”
The lid of the porcelain teacup rubbed against the rim. She thought for a moment and said:
“How about this: I’ll give you a nearly impossible task. If you can complete it, I will not only answer your question but also tell you the secrets of the Witch Council. If you can’t complete it, I’ll answer your question after you advance to High Ring.”
“What task?”
Xia De asked, worried she would ask him to pluck the moon.
“Bring me the keeper-level relic collected by the Peace Church.”
“Which one?”
He was a little curious. The Duchess shook her finger, which had no ornaments on it:
“You should be very familiar with it, the Ring of Metamorphosis.”
The appearance of the pebble ring immediately appeared before Xia De’s eyes. He was, of course, very familiar with this relic; strictly speaking, it was this item that dragged him into the major incident at Lakeview Manor.
Miss Jialinna put down the tea she hadn’t drunk at all, stood up, and let the Black-haired maid help her smooth the wrinkles in her skirt:
“Detective, it doesn’t matter if you can’t do it. When you reach High Ring, you’ll still get the answer from me. However, I’m really looking forward to a scene where you can greatly surprise me. After all, it’s not the first time you’ve surprised me.”
After speaking, she bid farewell to Xia De and left, while Miss Tifa Servett, the Black-haired maid, remained in the room.
“metamorphosis ring?”
This couldn’t have been a random relic she mentioned. Xia De even thought she truly wanted to acquire this relic.
The Black-haired maid saw his thoughts and softly said:
“Detective, don’t misunderstand. The Great Witches of the Council can only be pure women. Even if one becomes a man after becoming a Great Witch, she would lose her qualification. None of the thirteen Great Witches can hide such a thing.”
“Since she’s not using it herself, what does Miss Jialinna want this ring for?”
He asked, but the Black-haired maid, of course, would not give an answer:
“My lady just wants to conduct an experiment… an interesting experiment.”
She answered hesitantly, then she saw Xia De looking at her with a strange gaze, and the Black-haired girl’s face immediately flushed:
“Of course, it’s not for me to use, Detective, your gaze is truly rude.”
Not long after Miss Jialinna left, the King’s attendant finally announced that Xia De was to be summoned. Since his clothes had been changed in the afternoon, there was no need for special preparations.
The middle-aged attendant, who spoke with a somewhat effeminate voice, originally wanted to tell Xia De about etiquette, but when the Black-haired maid Tifa explained that she had already told the Detective in the afternoon, he said nothing more.
Not only Miss Jialinna, but even her Black-haired maid seemed to have an unusual status in this palace.
The Black-haired maid Tifa stayed here to wait for Xia De, while Xia De followed the attendant, passing through the complex, labyrinth-like corridors of the building, stopping in front of a door guarded by two royal guards in metal armor. This was the study of King Larus III, “the Fire-Leaper,” where he often received guests.
After opening the door, the attendant bowed slightly, signaling Xia De to enter. The Outsider adjusted his emotions before walking in, and the door closed behind him.
This study was unusually spacious, larger than the first floor of Xia De’s house, but it was pentagonal in shape. Five or six bookshelves and low cabinets were scattered along the walls. The floor of the spacious room was covered with a consistent red carpet, and in the center of the room, there was only a single desk, behind which was a grand floor-to-ceiling window that almost occupied the entire wall.
Outside the window was the night view of Yodel Palace’s garden, and the room’s soundproofing was quite good; the sounds of summer cicadas were almost inaudible.
The garden lights illuminated the room through the window, and the room’s lighting was no less impressive than those soft, warm lights. Gas lamps of different designs were placed at intervals along the walls, crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling with constantly lit candles, and a bright gas desk lamp was placed on the desk.
However, there were no visible pipelines connected from the walls, suggesting that the table was connected to underground, safe gas pipes.
There was only one person in the room: the 43-year-old King of Delarion, Larus III, “the Fire-Leaper.” He put down the steel pen in his hand, folded the finished document, and placed the paper next to the crown on the soft pad of the desk.
He looked up at the young man entering. As he was sitting, his height couldn’t be discerned. His hair was somewhat sparse, and his hairline was high, but his features were strong, indicating a person full of determination.
His eyes sized up Xia De, and he clasped his hands on the desk, saying:
“Xia De Hamilton, you did very well today. MI6 and Anlos will be proud of you.”
His voice was deep, but it didn’t seem feigned; it was purely due to not speaking for a long time.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Xia De merely said this, observing the King as the King observed him. The man before him was arguably the highest-ranking ordinary person he could meet in this world, yet compared to him, the nervousness he felt was less than half of the nervousness he felt when talking to Miss Jialinna through a door.
“What reward do you desire?”
Xia De had thought about this question long ago, even privately asking the Black-haired maid in the waiting room:
“Honor, nothing more.”
Money doesn’t necessarily include honor, but honor always includes money. This was a Delarion proverb the Black-haired maid taught Xia De this afternoon.
“Good, you may leave.”
Throughout the entire process, the King spoke three sentences, and Xia De spoke two. Compared to the long time he waited, this conversation seemed meaningless. But the Outsider didn’t care about that; as long as the King gave him money, it was fine.
As he turned to walk towards the door, he caught a glimpse of the King, whose hair was fiery red but very sparse, already picking up his steel pen again.
Unexpectedly, as Xia De’s hand grasped the doorknob, he heard a voice from behind him again:
“How did you and Aunt Jialinna meet?”
He probably intended to ask suddenly at Xia De’s most relaxed moment, and this question immediately made the Outsider, who had read all sorts of vulgar novels, think of countless complex court political struggles.
Xia De had, of course, thought about this question too. If he didn’t even have this level of caution, there would be no need to be a Ring術士; it would be better to return Mia to Miss Gaode as soon as possible and go farm in the countryside.
He held the doorknob without turning around, so the King couldn’t see his expression.
His voice was clear:
“The Duchess and I are not very familiar. We only met at a club called Lucky Southern Cross. The Duchess wanted to acquire my rhode cards at the time. You must have investigated that Origin · Silver Moon card. We met then. The Duchess greatly appreciated my talent in rhode cards.”
After speaking, he waited a few seconds. Hearing no further questions, he turned the doorknob and walked out.