Chapter 316

Chapter 316

C316 - Secondary Images of the Past or Future (2)

Valeria's gaze leaned further to the left.

Her confusion and tension were on the rise. In her wildest dreams, she had never imagined that Jin would be reading her subconscious, barely perceptible features.

It was no surprise. Even in her past life, the only ones who knew her features, apart from Jin, were the mercenaries of the Gray Owl who had raised her.

Jin felt just as tense. It was unlikely to happen.

But if Valeria were to give up the other half of the magic tome, there wasn't much he could do to improve their relationship.

The sound of flames over Jin's hand and the blood dripping from Yorke's corpse echoed in the silence.

"Why don't we extinguish the flames and talk about this?"

It worked.

"I won't remove the flames until I get a definitive answer."

Jin felt relieved deep down but shook his head to make the point clear. Valeria nodded.

"Fine. I'll help you. If the recording device is something I can work with, I'll have it restored."

"A wise decision."

"But this is only an exchange. I'm not saying I'll join you. I hope we both understand that clearly."

Fwoom.

Jin closed his hand and extinguished the flame. Valeria's eyes directed another straight gaze.

"After all, continuing the alliance is the result of mutual need. You won't regret this decision."

"Show me the object."

Jin produced the two Shadow Energy pearls.

The pearls surprised Valeria once again. They closely resembled the various recording devices she had seen in her clan's heritage places. They only differed in color.

"It seems the device is made of Shadow Energy. Were they made by the god you contracted with, Solderet?"

"Yes."

"Then why can't you just ask Solderet to restore them?"

"For some unknown reason, I am unable to communicate with Solderet."

"So how are you so sure these are recording devices? What if they are just pieces of Shadow Energy?"

"It's because I've seen video recordings stored inside them."

"But how?"

"Is that something you need to know to work with them? I thought we were just making an exchange, and you wouldn't be joining me. You seem to demand a lot of information for someone in such conditions."

Valeria shrugged. "You're right. Will you leave them with me for a moment?"

Valeria took the Shadow Energy pearls and raised mana over her hands.

A mysterious resonance began forming between her hand and the pearls.

It had been a long time since she had seen something like this.

Valeria was casting the Histor clan's registration magic. She wondered if her magic would work with a Shadow Energy device as well.

Jin observed her for a while, pretending not to know what she was doing.

And shortly after...

Tsst, zzzt...

Tsst!

Jin widened his eyes.

The pearls began emitting the same sound as when they were first activated.

Meanwhile, Valeria nodded, as if she had expected this to happen. "They are undoubtedly recording devices, but they are damaged. They don't activate correctly."

"You could have checked it. Did you have to ask so many questions?"

"Thanks to that, I now know you can't communicate with Solderet."

Jin's eyes widened when he saw the address.

"This is the center of Sameel."

Sameel. The city of assassins, the Anonymous.

Only the families of the Anonymous assassins and those whom the Anonymous owed favors could reside in the center of Sameel. It was the only non-lethal area within the city, which Jin had used in the past to win the bet against O'ul.

Valeria had no family, but she had earned the right to own a house in the center of Sameel as a benefactor to the Anonymous.

"Well, now that I think about it, the Zipples could have always contacted the Anonymous to locate or assassinate my teacher in my past life. Maybe that's why she was never harmed by the world's top assassins."

She had never thought much about it in her past life, nor had she thought that Valeria might have a hideout in Sameel.

"I don't actually stay there. But I can check any letters that arrive at that address. So, if there's something you want to ask of me, get in touch with me there."

Valeria had a reason for giving Jin an address where she could be located.

She wanted to know more about Jin. It was true that she was disappointed by how different he was from the man in her dreams. But for some reason, talking to him made her feel something.

She felt like she had found someone she had been missing.

He was the first person to make her feel this way, apart from the deceased mercenaries of the Gray Owls.

"I had no idea the Anonymous treated you as a benefactor."

"Your reaction tells me the Runcandels still didn't know this location. I hope you're not foolish enough to come here yourself."

Valeria got up. "I must leave now. I hope you'll keep my ancestor's magic tome safe until I return with your restored device."

"You can ask me for anything you need to restore the recording device, as long as it's something I can get. And one more thing, I'll send you an item to Sameel once I return."

"An item?"

"You've dyed your hair brown, but anyone could tell you're actually a redhead. Your disguise doesn't seem very good, so I'll have them send you good dyes and disguise tools. Don't worry. I won't poison them. Think of it as an extra layer of protection."

"Hair dyes and disguise tools?"

"You'll see what I mean after using them. They'll allow you to have a thousand faces."

Valeria burst into laughter. "I didn't think you were capable of joking."

She got up and extended her hand to Jin.

"For now, it seems the meeting has been mutually beneficial."

Jin silently looked at her slender wrist and tiny hand.

Is she acting like this just because she's younger than when I met her in my past life?

From what he remembered of Valeria, she would never have offered a handshake in such situations.

Jin didn't hesitate to take Valeria's hand. Her hand felt warm in his.

"Aria Owlheart."

"What?"

"When you first saw me, why did you call me by my first name as if you knew me?"

Out of habit from my dreams.

Valeria didn't say those words. Instead, she just gave a mysterious smile.

"Who knows? Until next time."

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Right after Jin returned to the Garden of Swords, a meeting was held.

It wasn't just for the flagbearers. The meeting was attended by the heads of the elders' council and other key figures of the council. This meant the meeting wasn't about mere mission assignments. It was about critical matters within the clan.

Everyone rose from their seats when Rosa entered. She indicated they should sit back down with a look and spoke.

"Today's meeting will focus on a person named Aria Owlheart."

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