Jialinna did not conceal the Witch Council's movements from Xia De:
"There are thirteen Great Witches in the Witch Council. I am the seventh, and the third is going to Coldwater Port this time. You might have heard her name, Hivi Aurora. The last time I saw her was last summer when I went on vacation to the beach. At that time, she was a Twelve-Circle Arcanist, a twelfth-tier Witch. I don't know if she has made any new progress this past year."
The Outsider pondered for a long time before realizing what the name meant.
Ms. Hivi Aurora, twenty-nine years old, comes from the ancient Aurora Family and is a world-renowned shipowner. She inherited her family's wealth and, through her own efforts, controls several trade routes between the Old Continent and the New World, holding shares in nearly one-third of the shipyards on the east and West Coasts of the Old Continent.
This lady is the most legendary female figure in the eyes of people living by the sea today. Even the Pirate Kings who roam the Eye of the Storm cannot compare to her legendary stories.
Of course, there are also many other rumors about this lady. For example, some pirates on the new trade routes are actually funded by the Aurora Family. Another example is that the Aurora Family can communicate with creatures in the sea, so the probability of their cargo ships having accidents is much lower than that of their peers. Of course, people's favorite gossip is that this lady, who is still unmarried, actually likes women because no men are ever seen around her.
Thinking about it this way, the fact that the descendants of the Aurora Family, famous on the seas for centuries, are Witches seems quite easy to deduce.
Jialinna continued:
"It's very convenient for her to handle matters on the West Coast of the Old Continent. The Aurora Family itself is a Ring術士 family that has been passed down since the last epoch (Note). It is said that in the fifth epoch, they were involved with primitive tribes and Xenomorph forces in the ocean. Although this ancient lineage has declined, every few generations, various strange Ring術士 are born, and Xi Wei Aurora is one of them. With the family's secrets and the Witch Council's power, besides the Witch Council's Speaker, that Thirteenth Ring lady, Hivi is probably the strongest Witch."
It seems that the Witch Council has put a lot of effort into finding the second Chosen One.
"Although she is in Coldwater Port and we are in Tobesk, I still have to remind you, Xia De, not all Witches are friendly to someone like you."
Jialinna looked at Xia De:
"The outside world speaks highly of 'ordinary people' like her, but how to put it, we bear curses and cannot touch men, which is why some people say the Witch Council is a handkerchief enthusiast association. Oh, have you heard this saying?"
Xia De blinked, not knowing how to answer. Fortunately, Jialinna was not waiting for his answer:
"Of course, this saying is correct, very correct. After all, before you appeared, we had no other choice."
She smiled ambiguously, not knowing what she was thinking. Xia De suddenly thought that if the Black-haired maid had not gone out and was standing here, perhaps a strange blush would have appeared on her face too.
"But Hivi strongly agrees with this single-choice question with only one option and believes it is the price of power and absolutely correct. The appearance of a person of unknown gender who can be touched by a Witch will certainly not make her happy. I cannot guess what she will do to you, but you'd best stay far away from her."
Xia De was not surprised by this; it would be strange if every Witch was friendly to him.
"I am not a person of unknown gender; I am indeed male."
This point still needed to be corrected.
"Then, Jialinna, what is the maximum range of your perception of me?"
Xia De asked again, as he would definitely be going to Coldwater Port.
The Red-haired Witch thought for a moment:
"Do you remember our first meeting? At the Lucky Southern Cross Club, perceiving you using a spell related to an Old God is my unique ability. Then, when I sent you to the study on the top floor, separated by a wall, I first vaguely sensed something was wrong, but confirming it was when Tifa gave you the vampire ring."
Although Tifa Servett is not yet a true Witch, because she has the power of a Witch, she also bears part of the curse.
"Is that the limit of perception range?"
Xia De asked again.
"More or less, and it requires intense concentration to detect, but we usually don't concentrate on observing a man. Also, obstacles like walls will greatly weaken this perception, and the best way, in fact, is for you to stand with other men. That way, even a Great Witch won't be able to detect your difference."
Then she immediately gave an inappropriate example:
"After all, if a fresh fish is thrown into a pile of rotten fish, people certainly won't be able to find where the fresh fish is if they don't want to smell the stench."
"So as long as I don't approach Witches excessively by myself, they won't be able to immediately discover me."
Xia De concluded. Seeing his worried expression, Jialinna smiled and shook her head:
"Tobesk is my territory; I will protect you here. Xia De, you are one of my most precious collections. Look, even the Witch Emperors couldn't do what I did."
After receiving the money, Xia De chatted with Jialinna about his studies for a few more minutes before ending the visit.
With the cat still angry at home on his mind, Xia De specifically asked the coachman to take a detour on the way back so he could go to a shop and buy a small can of the fish oil that the cat particularly liked. This was, of course, very expensive, but Xia De wasn't paying for it; Gaode was providing money for the cat's high-quality life, and Xia De was just spending it reasonably.
When he got home, he indeed didn't hear Mia running down from the second floor to greet him. Xia De went up to the second floor and saw Dorothy sitting on the sofa, flipping through Detective files, while the orange cat, even cuter after its bath, was lying on the dining table, staring at him by the door.
"Your cat is still angry."
The Golden-haired girl said with a smile, finding the scene amusing.
So Xia De put down his hat, hung his overcoat by the door, and took the bottle of fish oil to the dining room.
He placed the bottle with a 'thud' in front of the cat. The cat, lying down, rested its head on the table, its long neck, and narrowed eyes, wiggling its little nose to sniff, then looked up at Xia De.
When it looked up from below, its eyes always appeared especially large.
"I'll give you cat food mixed with this tonight."
Xia De said, pointing to the expensive food.
"Meow~"
So Mia, who had just been angry, suddenly sprang up, supporting herself on her two hind paws, wanting Xia De to hold her.
"It seems Jialinna really gave you a lot of money. Leia will probably be unhappy."
The Writer in the living room said teasingly.
"I'm not taking other people's money for nothing; this was obtained through a transaction. Besides, the money for this was given by Gaode."
Xia De emphasized, then extended an invitation:
"If tonight's transaction goes smoothly, I will enter the past at midnight to explore Felianna's past. Do you want to watch this scene here? Although it's only three seconds, I can bring back a good story afterward."
"I don't want to hear you tell your adventure stories that drive ordinary people mad."
Dorothy shook her head and refused:
"However, if you get the youthful immortality leaf this time, remember to let me keep a piece for you."
She winked at Xia De, who was fumbling to calm the excited cat:
"I don't have a magic potion to return to youth after aging, but at least when I'm young, I can take care of myself a little."
Although this sentence sounded fine, Xia De always felt she was subtly mocking Jialinna for being older than them.