Angel found Lord Reine in the Glorious Cathedral.
When Angel saw Lord Reine, he was quietly gazing at the stained glass window at the front of the cathedral. The window seemed unremarkable, yet his eyes remained fixed on it, as if he was peering through the dawnlight-touched glass to another sight.
Only when Angel’s footsteps echoed through the solemn and silent cathedral did Reine lower his head and slowly come to his senses.
"Lord Reine." Angel approached Reine and called softly.
Reine turned around, his expression shedding the solemnity from his previous gaze at the window, revealing a smile as he said, "You’ve come. I just heard from the Tree Spirit that Sanders also came in. How is the situation on his side?"
Though Reine appeared relaxed, Angel could still perceive lingering emotions behind his placid exterior.
From the corner of his eye, Angel noticed an open book on the table in front of Reine, a book constructed with illusion techniques titled "Culori Chronicles XIV"... Was Reine’s emotional anomaly perhaps due to news about Audrich?
Could the news about Audrich be of such import to evoke such sentiments in Reine?
Angel didn’t understand the relationship between Audrich and Reine, nor was it appropriate to inquire, so he simply responded according to Reine’s words, "The mentor is doing well, just left the Chaos Market."
Reine: "Did you see Sumishe and Flora?"
Angel shook his head. "Not yet, but soon."
After pausing, Angel added, "This time, the mentor came because he received a message from the Chaos Market, specifically to inform me."
Angel conveyed the information Sanders had gathered to Reine. Upon hearing, Reine’s brow slightly furrowed: "The believers of the outer realm’s Seed have reappeared? These people are truly persistent."
Reine pondered for a moment: "Sanders is correct; since Dororo saw them at the Starwatch Day entering the Barbarian Cave, they will surely seek you. Now that they have appeared, the prophesied day of their arrival is likely not far off, so you need to be vigilant."
Angel nodded.
Reine contemplated for a while: "Later, I’ll borrow your mini signal tower to communicate with Rosen. Inquire about the current situation and formulate subsequent response measures."
"You need not worry too much. Since we’ve received this information in advance, we won’t let the Seed’s followers return peacefully. Even if they attempt to infiltrate during the Tea Party, with the Tree Spirit present, it’s absolutely impossible."
Reine continued: "However, your mentor advised enhancing your defenses on the off chance, which is indeed wise. I already have leads on the host that carries the Seed of Distortion and will deliver it to you in the next couple of days."
Reine paused, adopting a rather mysterious tone: "This host is exceptionally peculiar. If the Seed of Distortion truly can parasitize it, you’re in for quite the benefit..."
Even Reine’s high praise piqued Angel’s curiosity about the host. But Reine merely smiled mysteriously, offered no further details, and said that Angel would know once it arrived.
After finishing discussing the host, Angel shared his plans to leave the Barbarian Cave for regions beyond the Outer Sea.
About Angel’s decision, Reine did not obstruct him.
With the Wilderness of Dreams for contact anytime, and Angel possessing the teleportation formation disk, he can teleport back from anywhere in the Southern Domain; moreover, with the Seed’s followers appearing, leaving temporarily is a wise choice in facing these madmen.
Reine’s only regret was: "I had intended to find a chance to test if the formation disk can teleport across dimensions, but it seems it will have to wait for next time, or you’ll have to test it yourself."
Angel: "I’ll test it when I have the chance."
"Right, before you leave, don’t forget to refine the log-in device. Also, if you need any materials, remember to ask the Tree Spirit."
Reine instructed on a few matters and then allowed Angel to leave.
After Angel departed, Reine’s previously easy expression vanished. After a prolonged silence, his eyes fixated on the open "Culori Chronicles" on the long table before him.
His gaze riveted on the line Culori had written: "Audrich, a natural researcher of the Greenwald Magic Research Institute, is said to originate from the Barbarian Cave. Additionally, in recent years, the newly risen legendary wizard, Uli Witch, also comes from the Barbarian Cave."
Reine’s attention was drawn to that name.
However, contrary to Angel’s earlier speculation, Reine’s focus wasn’t on Audrich, but rather...
The "Uli Witch" Marisa.
Reine stared at that name for a long time, ultimately letting out a deep sigh and closing the book pages.
...
When Angel returned from the Wilderness of Dreams to the present, his mind was still filled with the sights seen through God’s Eye.
Yes, although Angel had left the Glorious Cathedral, his curiosity about Reine’s prior solitary contemplation led him to activate God’s Eye to observe inside.
And he saw Reine’s gaze fixed on Marisa’s name, silent for a long while.
"Could it be, Lord Reine has some hidden relationship with Marisa?" Angel muttered to himself.
As soon as Angel uttered the words, he heard an exclamation: "Huh? Reine and Marisa?!"
Angel lifted his head to find that the Tree Spirit had already returned from the Wilderness of Dreams, sitting across from him, holding the open "Culori Chronicles" with a look of shock.
"What did you just say? Rhein and Marisa have a secret relationship? Really? Where did you hear that?" Tree Spirit put down the chronicles and looked at Angel in shock.
Angel sighed inwardly, not expecting Tree Spirit to be here.
To avoid being a rumor-monger and fearing Tree Spirit might spread it, Angel quickly explained, "No, I just saw some images and had some doubts."
"What images?"
Angel hesitated for a moment and then described the scene he saw with God’s Eye. However, to avoid being labeled as a voyeur, Angel rephrased and embellished it: "I just went to seek Lord Reine and saw him open ’Culori Chronicles,’ staring seriously at the name of Witch Yuli, which made me a bit curious."
After hearing Angel’s description, Tree Spirit suddenly realized, picked up the ’Culori Chronicles’ again, and waved his hand, saying, "I thought you heard some earth-shattering secret, turns out it’s this... Rhein gazing at Marisa’s name doesn’t mean they have a secret relationship."
"Then why?"
Tree Spirit raised an eyebrow and looked, "Why are you so gossip-minded today?"
Angel blushed slightly and said, "I’m just a bit curious. Besides, Lord Reine’s expression seemed quite heavy..."
Tree Spirit hesitated for a moment when he heard this, then said, "This is not really a secret, I somewhat know Rhein’s thoughts, I might as well tell you."