"Alan, how pretty was that big sister?"
Silas asked casually.
The connection between shepherd and flock allowed him to easily recall this little boy's name.
"So pretty, so pretty!" Alan, with his head of red curls, spread his arms exaggeratedly, seemingly trying to express his feelings.
"She was so tall, and she smelled so nice..."
Hmm, I remember this kid's Loenese grades were pretty bad... Silas felt regret for his limited vocabulary and gave a bitter smile.
"Haha, Alan's lying again!"
"None of us saw any pretty big sister!"
The other children laughed loudly.
"There really was one! I saw her with my own eyes, and she smiled at me!"
Alan's face flushed red as he argued with them, but the other children just kept laughing.
"All right, all right..."
Silas stopped this meaningless dispute. "Everyone needs to get along peacefully."
It was probably just a child's innocent imagination. No need to be so harsh about it.
However, Silas had more important matters to attend to today and didn't plan to continue listening.
He interrupted them and took the opportunity to lecture the children a bit.
"Yes, sir!"
The children immediately settled down. After saluting him, they bounced away cheerfully.
Watching their retreating figures, Silas shook his head and left the area.
***
Queens, Sodlark Palace.
"Speaking of target districts, I already have several selected locations."
[Nightingale of Despair] Panatiya said. "All of them I personally visited and confirmed."
She looked toward George III on the throne and suddenly gave a charming, sweet smile. "Plus, I had some unexpected gains during my investigation..."
"Cut the nonsense."
Across from her, the noble George III said indifferently, "Just do what you're supposed to do. I'm not interested in anything else."
"Tch, how boring."
Panatiya, who'd been eager to share, immediately lost interest, her delicate face falling slightly.
"Fine then. I'll treat it as a surprise and tell you about it later."
"Anything else?"
The king asked curtly. The meaning of this sentence was: if there's nothing else, you can get lost.
"One more thing."
Panatiya continued tactlessly, "The higher-ups in our sect are still somewhat worried, worried that after you achieve your goal, you'll kick us aside..."
"Tell them to stop worrying about such useless things."
George III grew impatient.
"Third Prince Edessak has already been seduced by the witch you arranged.
If I violate our agreement, you can use this as evidence and inform the three major churches of my cooperation with you..."
"But we still feel that just one prince might lack persuasive power..."
Panatiya could somewhat understand this reasoning.
After all, George III was completely a cold-blooded ruler who could casually discard his subjects' lives. How much affection he had for his own son was highly questionable.
"Heh. You people are just greedy and want more leverage, right?"
George III sneered. "Get lost."
"Whoosh!"
With a slight wave of his hand, some invisible force suddenly took shape within the palace hall, expelling Panatiya.
As if swept up by a wind, this Sequence 4 Demoness demigod was blown outside without any ability to resist.
She immediately concealed her form, floating and swaying, landing as lightly as a feather. The soldiers guarding outside the hall didn't notice anything at all.
"Hmph."
After leaving the emperor's presence, Panatiya no longer maintained her coquettish appearance.
Her beautiful face turned cold and gloomy. She maintained her concealment and quickly left Sodlark Palace, stopping in a small alley.
Panatiya took out a small round mirror from her bosom, then applied some black ointment to it.
The mirror's surface quickly became illusory, revealing many overlapping interfaces layer upon layer.
"Your Excellency Despair?"
A guarded voice spoke softly. A person dressed as a maid appeared in the mirror.
"How is our 'Sleeping Beauty's' condition?"
Panatiya asked.
"Trissy is gradually approaching the 'Primordial,' but she still occasionally regains consciousness and resists..."
The maid said quietly, "Some time ago, she tried to seduce the prince's friend Talim, using Talim's power to escape.
Of course, Talim has now been dealt with. The 'Primordial' cursed him through her hand."
"Very good."
Panatiya said, "Continue monitoring her. Don't let your guard down."
"Yes."
The other party answered respectfully.
"All is for the return of the 'Primordial.'"
Panatiya said devoutly.
"All is for the Primordial."
The latter replied the same way.
Her final words became ethereal and distant, and the image in the mirror gradually disappeared without a trace.
The communication had ended, and the black substance on the mirror's surface evaporated.
Panatiya put away the mirror, a cold and twisted smile appearing on her face.
His Majesty the King had his own plans, and the Demoness Sect likewise had their preparations.
That "Witch" arranged beside Third Prince Edessak wasn't an ordinary cultist but a vessel chosen by their "Mother," and She was gradually transforming her into a suitable form.
And because of the contract between both parties, the royal family would help them protect this precious "vessel" and, in ignorant oblivion, welcome "Her" arrival...
At this thought, Panatiya couldn't help but show a pleased and twisted smile on her face.
***
East Borough, 9 St. Anthony Street.
Around noon, Silas returned to his residence.
Usually at this time, he'd still be at the "pasture," but not today.
Because today was Monday, the day the "Tarot Club" convened.
To avoid being disturbed or discovered, he needed a quiet place.
"Hmm?"
At midday, there were few pedestrians on the street. Silas walked to his front door and was about to take out his key when he noticed a new letter in the mailbox.
He'd just cleared out the box this morning.
This letter could only have been placed there during the few hours he'd been out.
Opening the mailbox and taking out the envelope, the signature read "Sharron."
That "Wraith" lady sent me a letter?
Silas was curious and walked into the room with the envelope.
Come to think of it, this lady still held many beyonder characteristics that were our joint property.
Now that she's writing to me, could it be because the items have been sold...?
With faint anticipation, Silas entered his home and scooped up the black cat at the door into his arms.
Holding the cat in one hand and opening the letter with the other, he sat down on the sofa.
Unfolding the letter and reading briefly, a surprised and delighted expression quickly appeared on his face.
Just like her outward impression, Sharron's handwriting was elegant and her words concise. In summary, the letter's content was just one sentence:
The Queen has returned to Backlund.