"Drifted all night, finally getting close."
On the sea surface tinged with dawn light, Ray rowed a gondola alone toward the gradually clearer silhouette of Ragunna.
He let out a soft sigh, his tense nerves finally relaxing a little.
Yesterday, he'd spent a leisurely, peaceful day at the Fool's Troupe.
After saying goodbye to Roccia and Brant, he set off back to Ragunna.
The sea breeze was cool, the night long, but now he was finally about to dock.
As agreed, Carlotta should already be waiting for him at the dock.
Not long after, the gondola slowly approached shore.
In the morning light, Ray vaguely saw a slender figure leaning against the dock, holding a bottle of milk, waving lightly at him.
"You've worked hard." The moment he stepped ashore, Carlotta approached and handed him another bottle of milk. "Here, having some milk in the morning is good for you."
Milk?
Ray took the glass bottle, still slightly cool and damp. His gaze inadvertently swept over Carlotta.
A thought suddenly popped into his head: 'Wasn't it a bit late to start drinking milk now? After all, the growth period was long over.'
Carlotta keenly caught his shifting gaze, narrowing her eyes slightly. "I feel like... you're thinking something very rude?"
Ray paused briefly, then immediately shook his head, his expression firm. "Absolutely not."
"Really?" Carlotta leaned in closer, standing on her toes to scrutinize his eyes carefully.
After finding nothing, she turned away, idly twirling a strand of hair, speaking in a deliberately casual tone. "I just genuinely like drinking milk, that's all. No other reason. Understand? Just like some people love coffee in the morning, others prefer energy drinks and I, I just like milk. Got it?"
Ray saw through it but didn't expose her, simply smiling. "I understand, Second Young Miss. I understand."
"That's good." Carlotta nodded with satisfaction before changing the subject. "Oh, right. You've tested the device by now, right?"
"Tested it." Ray replied. "It does provide good concealment in front of Echoes and Remnants. But the noise it releases can still be detected by Resonators, which might alert them."
Carlotta seemed thoughtful. "Is that so... But considering Giacomo's cautious nature, the security in his core areas besides his close associates probably mostly relies on Echoes. Just be extra careful with your movements then. Even if occasional noise leaks, those Resonators will likely just suspect they misheard. So speed is key, quiet, clean, leave no traces."
Ray nodded. "I understand. By the way, Second Young Miss, how did things go with Phrolova?"
Carlotta leaned lightly against the dock railing, her tone sounding relatively even. "Mostly settled. The cooperation arrangements are made. It's just... I feel something is off."
"Off?"
"Mhm." Carlotta pondered for a moment. "I offered many generous terms, but she didn't want any of them. Money, status, fame... all the things ordinary people pursue, she seemed utterly indifferent to. Phrolova... isn't like anyone I've dealt with before."
"Oh?" That certainly piqued Ray's curiosity. Though he was the one who asked Phrolova for help, the specific terms of cooperation were all negotiated personally by Carlotta; he wasn't aware of the details. "Then what... does she actually want?"
"Yeah, what does she actually want?" Carlotta turned around, a meaningful smile on her face. "Want to take a guess?"
"Uh..."
A faint chill suddenly ran down Ray's back; a sense of foreboding quietly surfaced.
'Could it be...
Phrolova really has feelings for me?
This whole substitute thing...'
"Alright, just teasing you." Carlotta chuckled lightly, her tone softening. "Phrolova didn't actually specify any conditions. But... I get the feeling she has some special interest in you. After the cooperation ends, she might still come looking for you. Of course, how you handle that is up to you. But if she really bothers you... you can come to me anytime. I'll help you deal with this trouble."
"Deal with it physically? Invite her to the Ricoli Islands for fishing?"
"Ah, the Montelli family isn't a mafia; we wouldn't do things involving violence and killing." Carlotta blinked innocently. "Just invite her for a meal, have a good chat~ Maybe during the chat, she'll realize it's difficult and back off on her own?"
"It doesn't sound like just a simple meal." Ray said. "But Phrolova... doesn't seem to have bad intentions."
"Perhaps she was just hurt too deeply in the past, lost hope in this world, and that's why she seems so detached. Besides, this time, I reached out to her, not the other way around."
"If possible, becoming friends with her, helping her slowly move past the shadows of her past, might also be a good option."
Hearing this, a playful glint flashed in Carlotta's eyes as she teased lightly. "Seems you have a good impression of that woman. Already planning for the future?"
"Well, it's true... she's beautiful, has a unique aesthetic. It's not strange if you like her. Oh, right. I just remembered, your relationship with a certain Sister at the Order is also quite good, isn't it?"
"Why do I feel... your tone is a bit strange, Second Young Miss?" Ray said seriously. "As for Phoebe, our relationship is even simpler."
"Simple now doesn't mean it won't change in the future." Carlotta snorted lightly, her gaze turning toward the distant Cathedral of Mercury. "You've been to Penitent's End, so you must have seen the other side beneath the Order's glamorous exterior, what kind of bloody, terrifying rule lies hidden under those magnificent robes."
Her tone grew colder. "Claiming to be messengers of God, yet committing despicable deeds in secret. In the Order's eyes, any questioning or criticism is absolutely forbidden. Only endlessly praising the Sentinel's virtues is Ragunna's eternal truth."
"How hypocritical."
Carlotta was right.
After witnessing the Order's atrocities firsthand, he held no further illusions about them.
But...
"She's different," Ray's face flushed slightly.
"I'm not denying her kindness. In fact, I've interacted with her a few times on some occasions in the past."
"A pure, budding lily, her kindness is as unquestionable as her piety. But without sufficient strength, kindness and piety can only lead one down the path of blind faith."
"No offense, but this is a dilemma every believer faces, what they truly believe in: is it some purposefully crafted illusion, or is it principles and creeds with tangible meaning?"
"Crafted illusion?" Ray paused, not understanding Carlotta's meaning.
"In short, the Order has concealed part of the truth about the past. The Sentinel might not actually look like the horse-headed, fish-bodied figure we see today." Carlotta continued. "The reason the Montelli family pursues freedom and openness is to uncover the long-lost truth of the past. Of course, that's a topic for later."
Carlotta turned to face Ray, asking softly in a subtle tone.
"If—and I'm just saying if."
"One day in the future, if the Order and the family come to blows... would you stand by my side, or hers?"
This was practically a trick question.
The best response might be silence.
Or perhaps...
she suddenly posed this question with another purpose in mind.
"Second Young Miss, before you asked this question, did you already have an answer in mind?"
Carlotta nodded. "Mhm."
"Then you're not asking me a question; you're looking for trouble. It's probably because I doubted your motives for drinking milk earlier, and you're angry."
Carlotta nodded again, her smile gradually growing stiffer. "A little."
Ray swallowed, speaking sincerely. "I've deeply realized my mistake... Can you give me another chance?"
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Bonus Chapter Alert!
If we cross 100 powerstones, there will be a bonus chapter.
Read advance chapters on [email protected]/lost_moon