In Valentina’s eyes, the mist within the Ice seed to co to life, swiftly swirling around. Although it moved irregularly, it inadvertently ford vague images. She was transfixed by the scenes within the Ice, not noticing that the rims of her eyes were slowly reddening under its glow.
"Miss Valentina?"
It was not until the Officer Mia next to her noted her unusual deanor and spoke up that she snapped out of her daze. Sowhat surprised, she rubbed her eyes, only then realizing the intense pain both in her eyes and her stomach.
She turned her head to find Fisher intently watching her, his face expressionless, and the uninterrupted stares of others helped her recover from her earlier state. She explained to them,
"It’s nothing, I just feel a little... uncomfortable."
"Ah, I apologize, this is indeed our oversight for not informing everyone not to stare at the Ice for too long. We’ve had quite a few researchers experience severe discomfort from doing so. It’s inevitable since this is a mineral used by Phoenixes, and we must be careful when handling it."
Valentina listened to the officer nonchalantly but deep down she felt that staring at the Ice wasn’t rely uncomfortable—it felt more like so kind of... guidance?
It was as if the mist within the Ice wanted to show her sothing. But just as she was about to see it clearly, she was interrupted by the officer, and only after snapping out of that state did a strong wave of discomfort surge.
First ca a burning sensation in her eyes, nausea in her abdon, and finally, intense phantom pain in her legs which she hadn’t felt in a long ti. The feeling of discomfort also made her increasingly suspect that the Frost Snow Phoenix Tree or the mythical Phoenixes had a significant connection with hereditary diseases in her family.
Valentina kept her composure, serene in front of others, as usual, she casually looked at the officers and said,
"We have other matters to attend to, so let’s cut to the chase. Regarding the disposition of this piece of Ice... the family suggests that either you discuss privately with the Sardinia Female Country on how to share this Ice, knowing very well the temperant of their people and who ends up owning the Ice could be contentious; or, leave the Ice in our custody for now, so you don’t have to worry about it being coveted, and you can take it back whenever the ti is right."
The two officers looked at each other, indecisive for a mont.
If Mia wasn’t such a traditional small nation, they could straightforwardly claim the legitimacy of the Frost Phoenix faith with the Ice. But the world doesn’t simply value the purity of faith but also who has the stronger fist.
The more powerful Sardinia Female Country always had the leverage to overturn the table, and clearly, Mia didn’t want to gamble on whether they would do so.
They simply nodded and then stood up, saying to Valentina,
"We understand, but we’re still undecided. Please allow us to convey the Turand Family’s intentions to our superiors... Please rest here for a while; we will return soon."
"By all ans."
Valentina closed her eyes and nodded slightly. After the officers and maids left the room, Balzac imdiately began speaking to Valentina,
"This piece of Ice is a raw gem with excellent quality. If it was unearthed from the Grey Bird Species tomb, it likely indicates that ancient Phoenixes had the custom of rewarding their subordinates with Ice... This is strange because if Ice is a kind of mineral, even if the Phoenixes disappeared, other pieces of Ice should have been discovered by now."
"So this rare item must be quite valuable, right?"
Balzac gave Philis, whose eyes were gleaming next to him, a look of disinterest, and the wheelchair-bound Valentina, who had already grasped Balzac’s aning, mused aloud,
"Are you suggesting that Ice might be an artifact made by the Phoenix Species themselves rather than a naturally occurring mineral?"
Just as Balzac was about to nod in agreent, Fisher lightly tapped on the table and interjected,
"There’s another possibility, that Ice is a naturally occurring mineral, but not from this world."
Fisher’s statent left everyone...except for the oblivious Philis and Celti, sowhat surprised, looking at him as if they completely did not grasp the implications of his words,
"Wait, what do you an? If it’s not a mineral from this world, then it could still be..."
Balzac was the first to question, puzzled, even Valentina quietly looked at Fisher, seemingly waiting for him to continue.
Fisher had his reasons for saying this. Counting this ti, he had encountered Ice thrice, with no significant findings in the first two instances. However, this ti was different because he had gained the enhanced Spirit Realm Vision from the "Demi-human Girls Completion Manual," allowing him to realize the miraculous nature of this mineral when he saw the Ice.
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