Chapter 61: Chapter 61: Rosalind’s Arrangement, Blood Eye’s Spying

After confirming that Jon was willing to accept her commission, Reya was clearly delighted. The smile never left her face for the entire breakfast.

She then took the initiative to offer that the trading house would provide the materials Jon needed for his research in Engineering and potion-making, and told him to just ask if he needed anything else.

When Jon casually mentioned he wanted to use materials from the Golden Scorpion Mother to craft a suit of Armor and a shield, she eagerly offered to find him the best craftsman in Birch Town and cover all the costs.

She came across as a rather naive, big-hearted girl with plenty of money to burn.

But then again, the girl certainly wasn’t short on money, so there was no need for him to be overly polite and refuse.

After breakfast, Reya informed Jon that she would be going to the Sun Church to pray in the afternoon and asked him to keep his schedule free to accompany her. Then, she departed.

And so, only Jon and Rosalind remained in the dining room.

Jon hadn’t originally intended to stay long. After all, his plan for the day was to visit a bookstore in Birch Town to acquire an excellent-grade Spellbook. Since Reya was going to the Sun Church that afternoon, he had to get this done in the morning. He also needed the rest of his time to make preparations in case the Blood Eye Association decided to strike within the town.

But when he saw his follower sitting at the table, her stunningly cold beauty on full display as she was lost in thought, he couldn’t resist the urge to tease her a little.

’Is there anything better than making an Ice Beauty look flustered?’

He stood up and walked over to Rosalind.

Because of the Soul Contract, the silver-haired woman was completely unguarded around Jon. Sensing his approach, she merely lifted her head to look at him, a trace of confusion in her beautiful silver eyes, like an innocent fawn.

Seeing her like this, Jon couldn’t hold back any longer. He gently took her chin in his hand and lowered his head.

CRACKLE—

For a moment, the only sound in the early morning dining room, aside from the aroma of food, was a subtle, soft noise.

The sound didn’t stop until Rosalind was left a little breathless.

But looking at the charming beauty before him, her thin lips slightly red and her breath coming in pants, her mischievous master still had no intention of letting her off the hook.

He smoothed out the strands of Rosalind’s hair that their recent intimacy had disheveled and asked softly,

"When do you plan on telling Reya about us?"

"Hah... hah..."

Rosalind didn’t answer immediately. Instead, she licked her lips and, after catching her breath, replied,

"For now... I don’t plan on telling Reya. Once I’ve sorted out the affairs at the trading house, I’ll explain everything to her frankly."

"As for now, only Lord Yed and Pascal know that I’ve pledged the Soul Contract to you."

"Oh?"

Hearing this, Jon asked curiously,

"The Viscount was willing to let you go? And what about Pascal? Are you sure he won’t spill the beans?"

"Although Lord Yed was regretful when he found out, he was also understanding and respectful."

"As for Pascal..."

Rosalind took Jon’s hand, her calm voice laced with a subtle emotion.

"I’m planning for him to take over my position..."

"I’ve assigned him some tasks that are excellent for honing one’s management skills. He won’t have time to worry about other matters for a while."

Jon smiled.

’No wonder I haven’t seen Pascal since that one time at the trading house entrance. So he’s been buried under a mountain of work.’

’So, my follower isn’t just the perpetually calm and detached Ice Beauty she pretends to be. She has her own little temper, but she’s deliberately suppressed it because of her personality and her past.’

’Only in front of him, her soul-linked master, would she let a little of it show without a second thought.’

’But isn’t this even better?’

’A cold person revealing a side to him that no one else gets to see...’

’How endearing...’

He took the opportunity to stroke Rosalind’s smooth cheek and said gently,

"That’s for the best. I don’t want this to create a rift between you and Reya. When you’re ready to come clean to her, let me know. I’ll be there to help you."

"Also, after you’ve taken care of things at the trading house, I have some good news to share with you."

"Mm..."

Rosalind hummed softly in agreement, nuzzling her cheek against Jon’s hand like a cat.

Jon said no more. He gave her delightfully soft cheek a gentle squeeze, then turned and left.

In the end, only his follower remained in the dining room, her eyes fixed on her master’s departing figure.

Her slender fingers brushed over her reddened lips. Then, for the first time, the corners of her delicate mouth, which seemed incapable of smiling, curled into a faint arc.

Even an iceberg will one day melt.

A laugh, so soft it was nearly inaudible, quietly vanished into the howl of the wind and snow outside.

But beyond the wind and snow, prying eyes were ever-watchful.

Atop the three-story building across from the Golden Maple Leaf Trading House, a middle-aged man with shoulder-length blond hair stared gloomily through the wind and snow at the tightly shut main doors opposite him.

His former card-playing companions had all departed on their respective missions, leaving only him, the liaison, to keep watch.

And since yesterday, the news he’d received had been far from encouraging.

First, the private soldiers sent to kidnap Reya Xavier had failed, leaving no survivors. The primary target had vanished.

Then, the group sent to test the waters had their performance cut short for the laughable reason of a "falling chandelier." This gave the trading house staff a moment of respite, and they immediately shut their doors, refusing all visitors.

’Thankfully, those idiots don’t know who their real employer is... so I don’t have to worry about exposure.’

The middle-aged man, his face grim, picked up his teacup for a sip before taking the envelope at his elbow.

’That wasn’t the worst of it.’

’What I’m holding right now, delivered late last night, *that’s* the real bad news.’

Blood Finger’s subordinates had failed in their assassination attempt on Rosalind Bennett, the director of the Birch Town branch.

Failure was bad enough, but they even lost a skilled, Knight-Level assassin in the process!

Then, somehow, the people from the Golden Maple Leaf Trading House got wind of the situation, exploited the window of opportunity, and retrieved Reya Xavier!

Every time he thought about it, the middle-aged man’s gut churned with rage.

’Hmph, Blood Finger!? A big name, but utterly lacking in experience!’

’These youngsters... completely unreliable!’

As he angrily tore the letter to shreds and set it aflame, a light, rhythmic ringing sounded from beyond the door.

RING RING RING~

The blond man didn’t rise. Instead, he reached a hand beneath the table, his voice remaining flat.

"What is it?"

"Sir, the meal you ordered has been delivered."

"Leave it in the antechamber for now. I’ll eat later."

"Of course. Enjoy your meal."

The bell’s ringing receded along with the sound of the service cart.

The man sat for a moment. Once he was sure there were no other sounds, he rose and opened the door to the antechamber.

He lifted the cover of the serving dish. Inside was not breakfast, but a letter.

It read—

"This afternoon, Reya Xavier will go to the Sun Church..."

The blond man closed the letter, his expression unreadable.

’Under these circumstances, that girl still dares to go out? Could this be a trap?’

He paced back and forth in the room, finally gritting his teeth in resolve.

’To hell with it... Even if it’s a trap, I have to try.’

’It always falls to us old-timers to clean up the messes the youngsters make.’

He walked back into the inner room, took out a sheet of yellowed paper, and dipped his pen in ink.

"My friend Larry, business has been tough recently. We need to move some ’goods.’ The specific list is as follows..."

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