NOVPUB"Huh, a cat that can talk?"
Elsa looked down in surprise, holding the little black cat in her hands.
"Of course! Haven’t you seen a second-order elf cat like me before?"
Cat Boss proudly lifted its head as it spoke.
"..."
Lanci leaned on the door frame with one hand, just looking at it with pity, not saying a word.
That gentle gaze seemed to tell it—
You’re really embarrassing yourself.
"Meow meow, I don’t want to talk to you anymore!"
Cat Boss curled into a black ball, whimpering with full resentment.
Cats are good, people are bad!
"Elsa, is there anything else you want to say?"
Lanci looked at Elsa’s face and asked gently.
Ever since he first met Elsa, he felt she had a hesitant demeanor.
"Brother, I heard you’ve become quite involved with the Empire’s Special Operations Department and have become their honorary advisor, even catching Duke Dex’s favorable attention. Is that true?" 𝘯𝑜𝘷𝘱𝘶𝘣.𝘤𝘰𝑚
Elsa hesitated for a moment, her purple eyes filled with a trace of worry, before she finally spoke up.
Although she was more eager to talk about her own physical changes, she felt unable to utter those words and didn’t want to trouble her busy brother, thus she expressed her long-stifled concern for him instead.
"Yes, it is a rare opportunity for me to contribute to the Empire."
Lanci openly admitted,
"What’s the matter, Elsa? You seem disapproving."
He bent slightly to bring his gaze to Elsa’s level, ensuring he wouldn’t pressure her.
"Brother, I know you’ve always wanted to serve the Empire, but the Special Operations Department... it’s not that simple a place. I’m just worried you might get involved in dangerous affairs."
Elsa sighed softly, voicing her concerns.
"I know my limits, I won’t put myself in danger."
Lanci replied with conviction, his unwavering gaze locking onto Elsa as if to reassure her that he had matters to attend to.
"Brother, I trust your judgment."
Elsa pursed her lips,
"But please, take care of yourself and tell me anything, alright?"
"Alright, I promise you."
Lanci nodded solemnly.
"Just remember not to go to those grey zones in Blielda where the city barrier isn’t fully covered."
Lanci reminded the pair standing outside the door.
In both large Kingdoms and Empires, once streets in core towns enter combat mode, they trigger safety alerts and suppression, and most combat magic with power and destructiveness cannot be used, whereas life magic has a broader range of use.
Only in certain special areas is the use of high-level magic permitted, such as inside the buildings of the Holy Silver Vine Arena in the Poseen Kingdom, as well as the unadministered areas at the fringes of the Posen Demon Realm.
The Capital Blielda also has such areas,
Divided into legal combat zones and grey zones.
For example, the Midnight Council that has been frequently talked about among Blielda citizens lately, the Mist Watchers, a city legend, the Dawn Church responsible for maintaining the Temple of Gods’ order, and the Voice of Truth group controlling Blielda’s most authoritative news media company, and the long-established Bulida Mafia at Moat Harbor, they either have permission for legal combat areas or occupy a grey zone.
Compared to public information, these insights can be seen in more real-time intelligence in the chat group of the Mysterious Organization where Landry resides, with the Bulida Mafia being the most recently active without a doubt.
The group has a long history and is the largest crime organization in Blielda City, controlling a major portion of the city’s underworld activities.
Their main activities include smuggling, black market transactions, assassinations, and other illegal undertakings, with a strict hierarchy and set of rules within the organization and a high degree of loyalty and discipline among members. The Mafia’s headquarters are located in a large warehouse district at the Blielda Moat Harbor, serving both as their office and the base for various secret activities.
They possess an abundance of resources and advanced magic devices to support their criminal activities.
They themselves have substantial business dealings, and sometimes the nobility of Blielda also turn to them, needing their rule-abiding services, especially now that external warfare has started, and the Capital Garrison Headquarters gendarmes have no time to bother with them.
Even Captain Nikola of the Empire’s Special Operations Department’s Red Falcon would not go out of his way to trouble the Bulida Mafia unless necessary. This was also considered a rule; as long as the Empire’s Special Operations Department and the Bulida Mafia did not cross each other’s boundaries, no one wanted an all-out confrontation.
"Rest assured, brother, I will only operate in the absolutely safe districts."
Elsa promised.
She understood her brother’s point of view.
Professor Landry, a prominent figure in Blielda City for his academic achievements, was now a noted magic engineer with many people watching him; some appreciated his talent, some were greedy for benefits, and some had malevolent intentions, simply wanting to eliminate him.
Fortunately, her brother was strong in his own right, not only resolving the danger on the Bulida Magic Energy Train but also successfully assisting the Empire’s Special Operations Department in cracking a major case of enemy infiltrators, just recently praised by Duke Dex.
As a sixth-order mage, he had adequate self-protection and also enjoyed dual protection from Saint Kray Monastery and the Empire’s Special Operations Department.
But as a second-order, she was undoubtedly the vulnerability.
