In the first-class cabin, the room temperature was pleasant due to the heating.
The chestnut-haired woman was not wearing overly thick or heavy clothes; she was dressed only in an Intis-style ladies' shirt, paired with dark riding breeches and long boots, giving her a very capable overall appearance.
She picked up a cup of coffee, took a small sip, and continued reading.
"...According to my investigation, Major Lex comes from Enki Town, and his father is a baron in the Town. This lord has now moved to Backlund and seems to be attempting to enter the House of Lords."
"Although Major Lex belongs to the Navy, he holds a position in a newly established department that mirrors Military Intelligence Section 9. I paid a certain price to find out that the department is 'Black Sail', and their work is mainly on the Sea."
"Sea..."
A Light flickered in the chestnut-haired lady's azure eyes, as if she had thought of something, but she did not stop reading because of it.
"...Additionally, on the evening of last Friday, a disaster occurred in Backlund. A Plague spread through the dense fog in the East District, the Dock Area, and the factory area, resulting in over three thousand direct deaths in the fog. The subsequent Plague caused over six thousand more deaths."
"Behind this tragic disaster, I heard it was caused by a 'Witch', but I don't know much more than that."
"Above is the content I need to report to you this time. I look forward to your early return."
At the end of the letter, the signature was 'Viscount Yelise Stanwillie'.
The chestnut-haired lady shook the letter, and it transformed into colorful ribbons that fell to the ground. She put down her cup and softly said, "Last Friday, after I left, the great fog disaster occurred in Backlund."
"Witch... Was it done by the Witch Sect?"
"A disaster with nearly ten thousand deaths... If I had stayed one more day, I might have been able to prevent it. In that case, I would have been able to complete the ritual to advance to 'Sage'."
"To advance to 'Sage', one must prevent a disaster involving high-level powers. I foresaw such an opportunity in Backlund, which is why I made arrangements here years in advance, but the disaster I predicted was not supposed to happen this year."
"This is the unpredictability of 'Fate'."
While sighing, the lady gently patted the table. A bronze pen on the table jumped up by itself, as if controlled by an invisible spirit, writing freely and smoothly on the paper.
It wrote two letters. One was sent to Backlund, and the other was sent to a certain place on the Sea.
Afternoon of December 31st.
Lex's spiritual intuition was stirred, and then he heard a phantom knock on the door.
"Come in."
With his permission, Osweld's headless messenger walked out of the wood. This time, the messenger no longer held its head high, but rather in a hurried manner, entered the room, placed a box and a letter down, and then quickly departed.
It seemed to fear that if it lingered any longer, it would be caught by Kardashian and thrown into her 'prison', serving her as a prisoner from then on.
Lex shook his head, cut open the envelope, and took out a letter.
On the paper were graceful and flowing Loen script characters.
"I am delighted to receive your letter, my dear Duke. You probably don't know yet, but just recently, in Backlund, a terrible disaster occurred. For an old man who managed to survive, there is nothing more comforting than receiving a letter from a friend. It's proof that I'm still alive, isn't it?"
After reading this passage, Lex smiled and did not take Osweld's exaggerated rhetoric to heart. As a high-ranking member of the Antiquities Recycling Association, and possibly even a noble himself, Lex believed that such a disaster would not claim Osweld's life.
He continued to read.
"I have carefully read your letter. The materials you wish to obtain are precisely what our Association possesses. I must say, your luck is excellent. However, your contribution points are not sufficient to exchange for those two materials, and our Association does not lack money, so we will not sell them in the form of pound."
"But I said your luck is excellent, didn't I? Because you have a superior like me who is considerate of his subordinates and appreciates you. So I used my own contribution points to exchange for them and sent them to you along with the letter."
"I don't mind doing this for you. I believe with your ability, you can certainly repay it."
"The New Year is approaching, so consider it my New Year's gift to you."
"Wishing you a Happy New Year, your old friend, Osweld."
Lex's lips curved slightly upward. He knew very well that obtaining these two materials was not without cost; Osweld would certainly have work for him next. That old fox would not be so generous to an employee.
But he didn't mind; getting the materials sooner was always a good thing.
Lex opened the box and saw a rock inside that resembled a heart, but this 'rock' seemed alive. It constantly swelled and contracted slightly, like the heart of a living creature. Each time it contracted, a faint yellow Light would precipitate, but as it swelled, it would be absorbed back into the core.
As for the blood of the rock giant, Osweld had it in a glass bottle, placed next to the core.
"Hmm, it's actually earthy yellow." Lex picked up the glass bottle and glanced at it, then summoned the spirit world treasure chest and stored these two materials.
Adding to that the Dark Flower roots that Miss Justice sent via Mr. The Fool two days ago, the 'Reaper' potion materials were now complete.
Once he figured out whether a ritual was required, Lex could consider advancing.
Evening.
Mr. Macht's house at Backlund Street Number 39.
Lex dismounted from the carriage, followed his adoptive parents, and with Levto and his younger siblings, walked past the gurgling fountain reflecting the lamplight, slowly heading towards the main entrance of the house.
Upon entering the gate, Councillor Mori Macht and his wife, Lady Liana, came forward to greet them.
As the host of the ball tonight, Mr. Macht was wearing an olive-colored army officer's uniform, adorned with an orange-red sash, and several medals pinned to his chest. Wearing a military uniform to a ball was common in Loen; both active and retired officers liked to display themselves this way to guests.
So tonight, Lex also wore his Navy uniform.
"Apologies, we're a few minutes late."
Bison had already begun greeting Mr. Macht. After the adults had exchanged pleasantries, at his mother Amelia's signal, Lex stepped forward a few paces and saw Mori Macht pointing to a young girl beside him.
"My daughter, Hazel. Major Lex should have met her last time."
Lex knew he was referring to the previous 'chance encounter' at the Intis restaurant. He smiled and nodded, "Good evening, Miss Hazel."
Her expression was placid, her gaze arrogant. Even when facing an officer like Lex, she merely responded with a faint, polite smile: "Good evening, Major Lex."
Just as they had greeted each other, a sound came from the sky.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Fireworks ascended into the sky, exploding into brilliant flashes of Light and shadow. They vied to bloom, illuminating the night sky and Lex's face.
It was New Year's!