Lalaye?

This guy arrived so quickly?

Upon hearing Vilarnika's notification, Ronald immediately put away the "Organic Encyclopedia" and stood up. He briefly comforted the shaken girl, then walked downstairs alone.

Lalaye was standing at the door.

The head spy of Entrod, wearing a neat suit and a warm smile on his face, greeted Ronald as soon as he saw him coming down from upstairs.

"Mr. Ronald, it's been a while, I missed you!"

"It hasn't been that long since we last met, actually," Ronald walked to the door, eyeing Lalaye, "It's only been a month since the incident in Springs."

"It's more shocking that you could come to Kulpis so quickly."

Ronald and Costate had used the spatial rift during the anomalies of the natural world to quickly reach Berengwich, then from there, they reached Kulpis in the shortest time.

On the other hand, Lalaye—

For those just exposed to this new world.

Even for a powerful caster, it was unlikely to adapt to the terrain and travel from Springs to Kulpis in such a short time.

To this, Lalaye simply smiled lightly,

"It's just some trivial tricks, not worth your concern."

Seeing Lalaye's attitude, Ronald did not press further.

He stepped aside and invited the other to walk to the first-floor hall of the mansion.

"Shall we go in and talk?"

"..."

"Wuuu—mmm!"

Just after Ronald issued the invitation, there was a stuttering sound near the mansion's main door.

It sounded as if someone's mouth and nose were covered, struggling right there.

"..."

Ronald paused in his step towards the house.

As the weather was fine today, he hadn't activated reconnaissance spells like "Fury," simply contented to study the classic at home and enjoy a peaceful and comfortable ordinary life.

Hearing this sound now,

His gaze towards Lalaye changed in an instant.

Facing Ronald's scrutiny, Lalaye simply smiled gently, then stepped aside to open the door, silently inviting Ronald to come outside and see for himself.

"..."

The two exchanged looks for a few seconds.

Eventually, Ronald, in silence, activated his enhancement technique, then stepped out to see.

A little girl, bound hand and foot and gagged, leaned against the door.

"Wuuu!"

Upon spotting Ronald, she again began to twist left and right, struggling as if she saw a savior.

Ronald looked puzzled at the man standing at the door, smiling:

"Lalaye, what does this mean?"

It was then that the man from Entrod began to explain,

"This is a child of a friend of mine; I just saw her running away when I left Springs. Making more friends in this world is the correct path, so I thought to give a hand and brought her too."

"Pah—"

As Lalaye finished speaking, the bound little girl managed to spit out the cloth in her mouth and started to complain unhappily,

"Cultivating friendships doesn't involve tying people up!"

"To an outsider, you'd seem like you're trying to betroth your son a child bride, let me go!"

Lalaye replied in a gentle tone,

"Child, I don't think that's a good suggestion."

"You have caused enough trouble along the way— and today, this gentleman is definitely not someone I would want you to infuriate."

While explaining, Lalaye also cast a respectful look toward Ronald.

This respect was different from the formalities seen in Springs; it was a genuine attitude of respect toward the strong.

Ronald immediately understood.

He had repelled the artificial deity in Springs, and it must have been witnessed by Rallaye.

This might have been the reason for the change in their attitude.

Then, the bound girl roared again,

"I promise not to extract this gentleman's soul, nor to control his mind or seduce him into any unnecessary relationship!"

"I promise!"

Rallaye still shook his head gently,

"Child, just bear with it a little longer."

"I'll untie you in a few months."

"A few months???" The girl struggled and leaped onto Rallaye, biting into the Entrodian's body, "I'm fighting it out against you!"

"…"

Meanwhile, Ronald, completely baffled by the scene in front of him, was uncertain how to handle the situation as the girl began her inefficacious challenge against fate.

However, it was over quickly.

The commotion abruptly ceased.

Costate, emanating strong magic fluctuations, walked somberly from the direction of the town, followed by an intrigued Il.

Sensing that there were visitors at the mansion.

The maid stopped her afternoon patrol duty, and the owner of the Kurpis flower shop also came along.

"Ah, Miss Marian!"

The quickest to react at the mansion was Rallaye.

Without hesitation, this spy leader pushed the girl forward and locked her in a chokehold. Only then did he smile and greet Costate:

"Long time no see!"

"Kurpis wouldn't mind accommodating another resident," Costate naturally didn't give Rallaye a pleasant look, managing him with a brief response, while the maid first moved behind Ronald and then added,

"Also, from now and hereafter—please refer to me as Costate."

"Marian is a thing of the past."

As soon as Costate finished speaking, Ronald then said,

"Mr. Rallaye, could you please explain the situation first?"

"You've stirred up quite a situation upon meeting."

During these few words, the girl locked by Rallaye was no longer able to struggle.

So, the Entrodian released the girl.

He stood up and bowed again to apologize to Ronald,

"Sorry to have caused such a scene."

"This lady is Sheesta Baprol. Interestingly enough—Mr. Ronald, you should be quite acquainted with her father."

"Baprol?"

Ronald's expression changed immediately.

He grabbed the dazed girl from the ground with one hand, immediately noticing her gemstone-like green eyes.

A very beautiful girl.

And indeed, she bore some resemblance to that cult magician leader—especially how she reacted during her dialogue with Rallaye.

In that moment.

Numerous assumptions flashed through Ronald's mind.

The cult magician had some novel idea, Rallaye was planning to use her against him, or perhaps it was just sheer coincidence in this world…

But these things.

For now, they were just assumptions.

The real purpose had yet to be carefully discussed.

Ultimately, considering the identities of the two in front, Ronald waved to Costate standing behind him,

"Costate, prepare some tea to welcome the guests."

"…"

"Sir, understood."

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