As both a guard and a guide, Zani had sharp observational skills.
From the start, she noticed Lucian frequently glancing at the second daughter, unsure if it was out of attraction or suspicion about her identity.
Zani shrugged. If it was the former, it only proved Lucian's title as the God of Universal Love was well-earned.
But she hoped it was the latter, which would align with her impression of Lucian: a flirtatious but reliable person.
On second thought, if it was both, wouldn't that fit his character even more…
Zani: "…"
Rover's eyes narrowed slightly. She was tempted to ask if Lucian was pretending she didn't exist.
Was he bold enough to flirt with another woman right in front of her?
But Rover held back. Lucian had only stopped the elegantly dressed lady for now.
As a good wife, she should first see if he had another reason for doing so.
If he was indeed trying to flirt, there would be time to administer some domestic discipline later.
Carlotta paused, her lips curving into a charming smile. She turned her head, her dazzling eyes fixed on him.
Carlotta chuckled lightly, "May I ask what this gentleman wants?"
Lucian smiled, "I'm just curious. You seem familiar, like I've seen you somewhere before."
Carlotta squinted playfully. "If this is your attempt at a pickup line, it's a bit too cliché, don't you think?"
Rover grabbed Lucian's arm expressionlessly, ready to enforce discipline at any moment.
Lucian shook his head. "No, no, you misunderstand."
"When I first set foot on the island with the Resonance Beacon, I caught a glimpse of you."
"Then I saw you again near the Resonance Nexus, the Averardo Bank, and around Margherita's Restaurant."
"And now, we meet here at the mask shop."
Carlotta inwardly chuckled. He was more observant than she'd expected.
She hadn't planned to interact with Lucian and his group here, only intending to drop a subtle hint, but he'd stopped her directly.
Carlotta laughed, "…You're quite perceptive, Mr. Lucian."
Lucian nodded slightly. "So, why have you been following us, Miss Carlotta?"
Rover was startled, looking Carlotta up and down. "She's the second daughter of the Montelli Family, Carlotta?"
Carlotta nodded slightly, adjusting her attire. "As you can see, let me introduce myself."
"I am Carlotta Montelli, the second daughter of the Montelli Family."
"To answer Mr. Lucian's question, as the one who invited you to Ragunna, isn't it reasonable for me to assess your character?"
Zani shrugged. "So, I guess I'm not needed anymore, right?"
At that moment, Zani just wanted to clock out.
Carlotta shook her head. "Of course not. You still need to ensure the safety of our honored guests."
Zani muttered, "Their strength surpasses mine, yet I'm the one protecting them… Who's protecting whom here?"
Rover asked curiously, "So you're the one who sent the invitation?"
Carlotta nodded. "Our Montelli Family has collaborated with the Black Shores."
She stepped back with a slight smile. "Well, I have other matters to attend to, so I'll leave it at that."
"Zani, make sure to protect our two honored guests."
"With that, I'll take my leave."
Carlotta winked. "I believe we'll meet again soon."
With that, Carlotta left with her attendant, this time truly departing.
Lucian didn't stop her again.
Watching her leave, Lucian sighed, "Compared to being a son-in-law for the Ma family, being one for the Montelli Family sounds much better…"
While Jinzhou was vast and resource-rich, it was plagued by Tacet Discords.
Ragunna, on the other hand, had no such troubles. The Shorekeeper had mentioned that no Threnodian frequencies had been detected.
Rover pinched Lucian's ear. "Compared to being a Montelli son-in-law, wouldn't traveling the world with me be better?"
Zani laughed, "First impressions of the second daughter?"
Lucian's expression turned serious. "Though she's short in stature, her presence is as tall as mine."
Zani: "…If she heard that, I wouldn't be able to protect you."
Rover recalled, "She's not very tall, maybe just a bit taller than Encore."
Zani: "…Can you two stop talking about the second daughter's height?"
Rover nodded slightly. "Fine, let's get back to business."
"What about that Gilberto she mentioned?"
Lucian waved his hand. "Hold on."
"Is it possible that the man was actually from the Montelli Family, and Carlotta is deliberately leading us in the wrong direction?"
Rover clicked her tongue. "If that's true, her scheming runs deep."
"If you became a Montelli son-in-law, you'd probably be chewed up and spit out, wouldn't you?"
Lucian sighed wistfully, "To die beneath a peony flower, even as a ghost, I'd be content…"
Rover slapped Lucian to the ground.
Zani said helplessly, "I can vouch with my honor that the second daughter wouldn't lie."
Nyarla, the shop owner, also laughed, "I've dealt with the second daughter for years, and I can tell she wasn't deceiving you."
Rover crossed her arms and huffed, "You're obviously in cahoots, of course you'd defend her."
The Montelli Family was definitely up to no good!
To 'coincidentally' show up at this moment to guide them.
And for the family's second daughter to personally step in.
Rover didn't believe there wasn't some ulterior motive.
This trip to Rinascita was clearly fraught with danger—first the Order of the Deep's priestess Phoebe, and now the Montelli Family's second daughter.
Tonight, she'd have to exhaust Lucian until his back ached and legs wobbled, leaving him no energy to think about these things.
Rover made up her mind.
Zani rubbed her forehead. "You two are too paranoid."
"Let me explain…"
"The Fisalia Family is one of the oldest families in Rinascita. Legend has it their ancestors once sparked a war in Rinascita… but later fell into decline and left Ragunna City."
"Members of this family are often independent, caring little for family reputation. There are both notorious scoundrels and genuinely remarkable individuals among them."
"They used to keep a low profile, but in recent years, they've become very prominent."
"Many family members have moved their residences back to the city, aggressively expanding their mining business, as if they suddenly gained some powerful backing… and their actions have grown increasingly arrogant…"