"Yes." The woman imdiately lowered her head. If Amanda was so humble in her presence, then she herself was nearly as much so before her teacher. However, since her teacher hadn’t denied it, that ant the situation truly existed. She just didn’t know the specifics that made the Elders so nervous.
After the Spirit Communication Ritual was disconnected, the woman fell into contemplation. She realized that Tamara wasn’t the key to everything; the man was the reason for the Elders’ reactions. Having made this move, she had already offended him, and the likelihood of gaining support was slim. But what if he also failed to gain support? If negotiations completely fell apart and war was launched, her weight in the secret departnt would naturally rise... It was a terrifying thought, one that she feared even her teacher wouldn’t support. This was the terrifying aspect of internal strife. She didn’t consider the impact her actions might have on the collective, focusing only on ensuring her opponent gained no advantage, even if it damaged the collective’s interests.
「...」
"She hasn’t stepped outside at all these past few days, just tinkering with sothing inside all day long. But I can see that she won’t last much longer," Tamara said, unable to suppress a gloating smile, her schadenfreude completely undisguised.
Lance, on the other hand, remained composed as he reviewed the notes he had just taken. Only after she finished speaking did he ask, "Why do you think she doesn’t choose to leave this place?"
At this, Tamara grew slightly more serious, pondering for a mont before explaining, "First, she isn’t sure about the situation. Given her character, she wouldn’t act rashly. Staying here is the safest option without more accurate information.
"Second, if the organization were to label her a traitor, she understands that without the Sacred Object or any special ans, she couldn’t escape. It’s better to stay here where, under the rules, at least no one will directly attack her.
"Third is..."
Tamara’s expression turned sinister as she added another possibility. "Also, these past few days she’s been preparing to kill and take the Sacred Object. Whether she plans to rejoin the organization or use the power of the Sacred Object to evade pursuit, either would be the ideal solution. As long as I’m here, she won’t leave."
Lance, upon hearing this, didn’t show the expected understanding. Instead, he sighed, "Alas... why bother..."
With that, he got up and walked outside, leaving Tamara sowhat confused.
When she followed him out, she saw Lance entering Amanda’s carriage. She hesitated and stopped, unsure whether to go in.
"What are you doing in here?"
Amanda showed resistance to Lance’s intrusion. Though she dared not express it openly, her aversion was hard to conceal.
Lance looked at her haggard face and her spirit, exhausted by anxiety. She was utterly devastated, bearing no resemblance to her forr confidence and composure.
As Lance stepped forward, his movent seed to touch a raw nerve, and she reacted defensively at once. "What are you going to do! Don’t co any closer! If you do, I’ll..."
As she spoke, she fumbled for various strange tools.
Unafraid of whatever hidden thods Amanda might have, he approached with steady steps and said, "Do you think I’ve destroyed everything for you?"
If he hadn’t said that, she might have held together. But upon hearing it, Amanda’s already frayed psyche completely collapsed. She threw things at him and scread, "Get out!"
Lance didn’t dodge, unflinchingly letting the miscellaneous items hit him. He reached out, swiftly grabbed her wrist, and subdued her.
"Enough! Am I really the one who caused all this? Who barged into Hamlet? Who was fighting and brawling? And who plotted to imprison ?"
Lance grasped her chin with one hand, forcing her head up to et his gaze, and questioned her sternly, "Am I the one who did all this?"
"Go ahead, do it!" Amanda turned her head away. Even though she didn’t want to admit it, the facts were undeniable.
For a mont, Amanda, who had been fiercely resistant, cald down. But she looked more like she had given up, knowing she couldn’t harm the man before her.
"Heh!" Seeing this, Lance laughed instead and casually let her go. "I’ve said many tis, I don’t like killing. If I really wanted to kill you, I wouldn’t have waited until today. I ca here today to ask you one thing."
"Are you planning to attack Tamara and steal the Sacred Object she has?"
Amanda didn’t speak, massaging her wrist. From his words, she could tell Lance intended to protect that wretch Tamara. Originally, she had the organization’s backing to hunt down the helpless fugitive Tamara. But unexpectedly, she was now the one without support, while that fiend Tamara had found a backer. Such a role reversal was a severe blow to Amanda. Why had things turned out this way when she hadn’t done anything wrong?
"If you’re not going to kill , then why bother coming to ?" Amanda looked at Lance, her eyes downcast and sorrowful. Paired with her delicate features, it was a look that would arouse tender pity in many n.
But Lance saw sothing else in her expression. He realized Tamara’s guess was indeed correct—those two really understood each other.
"I’m not fond of fighting in my life, but I am good at resolving them." Now that things were out in the open, Lance didn’t hide his purpose. "I ca to you for the sa reason as before: I hope you two can set aside your conflict and coexist peacefully."
"Impossible!" Amanda was uncompromising. "You might as well kill ..."
But before she could finish, Lance’s hand was already wrapped around Amanda’s throat. The smile on his face didn’t fade as he spoke calmly, "My peaceful disposition and kind attitude don’t an I’m a pushover. When I offer you a way out, you’d better take it. Understand?"
Amanda still didn’t speak, but her tense body and panicked expression showed what she had just experienced.
She was acutely aware that he could have snapped her neck with just a little more force. Sotis, the fear of death was just that pure.
"Now that you’ve been abandoned by the organization, why cling to that aningless mission?" Lance leaned close to her ear. His hand softened its grip, gently stroking her neck. This made Amanda’s hair stand on end. The discomfort caused her to swallow repeatedly, and her face began to flush.
"Understood~?" Lance seed to notice sothing and teased. As he spoke, he deliberately or inadvertently blew hot breath on her ear, making Amanda shudder violently.
"Fine! I promise I won’t go after that fiend Tamara, but you have to guarantee my safety." Amanda could no longer endure it and took a step back, creating distance.
"Good. I hope you keep your promise. Three strikes and you’re out; my patience has its limits too."
Amanda looked at the man before her, her expression indescribably strange.
To be honest, having worked as an investigator, she was naturally prepared to face severe interrogation or various forms of torture if captured. But the problem was that Lance neither interrogated nor tortured her. Instead, he was consistently forbearing towards her actions. This soft approach, paradoxically, left Amanda feeling out of her depth, even causing her to gradually yield her bottom line. Yet, there was one thing she couldn’t comprehend, no matter what.
Finally, she couldn’t help but blurt it out, "Why won’t you kill ?" Amanda was full of bewildernt. "Don’t give that nonsense about loving peace. I’m not a fool like Tamara."
With that, Amanda preempted Lance’s potential excuses. Truth be told, no one would believe such a reason, but she still didn’t forget to insult Tamara.
Lance didn’t seem to mind much and smiled as he explained, "Whether it’s you or Tamara, in a way, you are both geniuses. Humanity’s geniuses can die on the path of fighting evil, but they absolutely should not die in humanity’s ridiculous internal strife.
"The enemy is too powerful. I must unite everyone to confront humanity’s true enemies. I can’t control others, but within my sphere of influence, I am doing my utmost to achieve this.
"That is my responsibility—the responsibility of a Lord, the responsibility of a human being..."
Amanda stood there stunned, lost in thought...
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