"What do you an by that?"
Ronald could previously dismiss their conversation as an encounter he need not take to heart.
But when the girl said this, the situation was completely different.
Not to ntion the friends from the [Grid] fleet he was close with, even considering only Costate and Il, Ronald could not ignore it.
"It's just as it sounds. Is it hard to understand?"
On the other side, seeing Ronald standing still, the girl who succeeded in holding his attention appeared quite pleased.
She continued advancing towards Ronald while explaining:
"The cult sorcerers never had a good relationship with [Grid], and now with the fleet passing through their country — even if they can't act openly due to certain issues, they're certainly not short on tricks."
"..."
Ronald's expression remained unchanged, but he knew in his heart that she had moved him with her words.
Though he'd already parted from the fleet, matters concerning them.
He couldn't possibly ignore.
"Ronald, I've heard about your way of doing things too." At this point, the girl was already in front of Ronald and proactively continued the conversation, "So, let's make a deal."
"I help you thwart the cult sorcerers' plot against the fleet, and you help deal with these cult sorcerers. Our objectives align, and it makes things easier for both of us. Why not?"
As she finished speaking, the girl extended her right hand, inviting Ronald with a completely amiable smile.
And on that outstretched hand, Ronald saw for the first ti the magic fluctuations surrounding the girl.
Powerful and stable spells entwined around this soft and fair hand.
The excessive power made clear its purpose to the surroundings — it was a contract for alliance.
And the way to agree was naturally to grasp it.
"..."
Standing opposite the girl, Ronald carefully observed her eyes.
Finally, confirming the contract in her hand bore no traps, he said nothing further, yet eventually raised his arm and took the girl's right hand.
...
After the alliance.
Ronald and the girl in a long dress traveled together to the town on [Anluo Island].
Along the way, they exchanged brief dialogue, and Ronald learned more about her.
Firstly, the girl had two nas.
One was given by the cult sorcerers, which she had abandoned.
The new one, which she nad herself after finding Ronald, was Gwendolin.
According to Gwendolin herself.
The multi-layered factors Ronald had observed about her were all due to her special nature, her true abilities lying sowhere between an original holder and a top-tier ordinary caster.
Her extensive knowledge of Ronald ca rely from spending too long in the cult sorcerers' environnt, absorbing information over ti.
In Gwendolin's original plan.
After escaping [Rooney Kingdom], she intended to sneak aboard the [Grid] fleet, which was soon to arrive at the port on [Anluo Island], to escape the cult sorcerers' controlled land.
But as fate would have it.
While hiding invisibly on the deserted shore and quietly waiting for the [Grid] fleet, Ronald appeared.
The information obtained from the cult sorcerers, her harboring resentnt, and this rare opportunity collided.
Gwendolin decided to take a risk and approach Ronald to seek vengeance against the cult sorcerers.
...
For Gwendolin's words, Ronald held reservations.
Firstly, because Ronald couldn't use spells to verify this person's real state, not to ntion [lie detectors] or [Fury]'s emotional perception, even [Greed's Original Sin] yielded no further information on Gwendolin.
And secondly, due to Ronald's skepticism towards Gwendolin.
Much like the 'once-in-a-lifeti' opportunity the girl ntioned, their eting in this state seed too coincidental to trust.
But Gwendolin didn't seem to mind this estrangent much.
After successfully forming an alliance, she dutifully led the way, answering every question Ronald posed.
This cooperative deanor made Ronald even more uncertain of her true nature.
Ronald considered this —
If this person crafted by the cult sorcerers wasn't an unfathomably wise creature, then they were a puzzle-minded fool.
What other possibilities could there be!
...
Ronald and Gwendolin, one leading and one advancing.
It didn't take long before the sole city on [Anluo Island] ca into view.
As an outpost for [Rooney Kingdom], the city on this island bore no other na, simply using the island's na as its own.
anwhile, the city's managent level was quite unremarkable.
This city suspended alone at sea had few guards; there was no effort needed for Ronald and his companion to enter — they walked right in.
The city had no particularly striking features.
A bustling port, ancient city, people hustling for a living — only the increasingly prevalent casters due to the world's changes indicated the city's ongoing transformation.
"..."
"Ronald, why do you keep frowning?"
Seeing such a landscape under cult sorcerer managent puzzled Ronald naturally. And noticing his expression, a chipper Gwendolin inquired:
"Is sothing perplexing you? Ask if you do, as an ally, I'm sure to provide you with answers!"
Ronald glanced at Gwendolin.
She bore no unnecessary movents, nor did she display even slight human expressions. Trying to discern the other's thoughts through re observation was like chasing dreams.
Thus Ronald half-tested, half-inquired as he spoke:
"A city managed by ordinary people exhibiting such a condition, of course, I understand. However, being a place ruled by cult sorcerers, it confounds ."
"Oh, so that's what confused you!" Gwendolin suddenly realized, "There's actually a reason for this. Currently, [Rooney Kingdom]'s ruler is the cult sorcerer's leader, Bapulor."
"That guy's internally unique approach to managing [Rooney Kingdom], yet he adopts a milder treatnt towards [Anluo Island]'s external ports, establishing foreign connections in a more secure manner."
Gwendolin explained the reason straightforwardly.
It was then she halted her steps and introduced to Ronald:
"Alright, we've arrived."
"Ronald, see there — that's the administrative center on [Anluo Island]!"
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