I finally understood many things about Barbara's mother's behavior that I didn't understand before.

Andrew thought for a moment and comforted, "It's not your fault; the tragedy was ultimately caused by your brother-in-law's magic scroll. Even if you hadn't asked your older sister to help you buy pastries, that scroll would have exploded eventually."

But Barbara shook her head.

A moment later, she said, "These days, I've been walking and chatting with mom every day. Mom only told me that over the years since my older sister's death, my second sister kept persuading her, saying that the accident wasn't my fault. But my mom didn't listen. Later, my second sister always asked me to help her buy something, take a detour to bring some magic materials, or local specialties."

Andrew laughed, "Your second sister is really thoughtful. Is she trying to prove to your mom that it's not a problem about taking a detour to buy things?"

"Yes." Barbara looked over, "Andrew, did you know? The reason I went to Wildfire Town and met you was actually because when I was about to return to Warm Fire City after finishing my coming-of-age journey, my second sister messaged me, asking me to help her go to Hunting Wasteland City in the Inner Sea Desert to bring some things. Only then did I go to Wildfire Town on the way, and as a result... because of Humboldt, I was the only one who survived, while the knights died."

"Ah, this..." Andrew felt a chill in his heart, feeling a bit uneasy, "So you really shouldn't casually ask someone to take a detour to bring things? Is this... a ghost story? The story's name would be 'Don't Detour to Buy Things for Others'?"

Barbara said, "Because of this, my mom said she already scolded my second sister. My second sister also said she would never do such things again. It's truly... terrifying."

"Alright..." Andrew nodded, "By the way, you just mentioned your brother-in-law is a high-level master, and your older sister was even stronger than him?"

"Of course." Barbara said, "When she was alive, my older sister, like my brother-in-law, was a Tier Eight master. But my older sister possessed 'Formless Blade Fire,' one of the Eight Strange Fires. With this advantage, her strength was naturally greater."

The Commerce Association's young lady, possessing one of the Eight Strange Fires?

Andrew couldn't help being stunned.

He couldn't help but recall the saying that "the owners of Eight Strange Fires often encounter unforeseen calamities."

Was the Commerce Association's young lady like this, and was Barbara the same? Because of possessing one of the Eight Strange Fires, they encountered unexpected dangers; the difference being the Commerce Association's young lady died, while Barbara survived by luck?

He originally thought the so-called unforeseen calamities were just superficial, and the true reason was what Naros revealed before his death: about the Magic Guild's "tribute year," meaning that in specific years, the Magic Guild must offer the owners of the Eight Strange Fires as tribute to some unknown powerful entity.

He thought this was the truth of the curse on the owners of the Eight Strange Fires.

But now Andrew couldn't help wondering, "Could these unforeseen calamities not only be related to the Magic Guild's 'tribute year' but also have some element of mysticism involved?

Because from what Barbara just said about the accident her older sister suffered, it indeed was just an accident! If it were really related to the Magic Guild, there couldn't possibly be no trace at all, and Warm Fire Commerce Association wouldn't be entirely unresponsive."

He couldn't help but feel a bit confused.

Barbara continued, "It's strange, right? My older sister was such a gentle person, yet she possessed such a highly aggressive Strange Fire like 'Formless Blade Fire.'

"What kind of Strange Fire is Formless Blade Fire?" Andrew asked.

"Simply put, it's the sharpest fire with extreme cutting and penetrating power!"

Barbara explained, "It's probably the most popular Strange Fire among the Crimson Knights; every Crimson Knight would love to have a partner Warm Fire Mage with 'Formless Blade Fire.'

For instance, a simple 'Crimson Sprint' is the basic skill of the Crimson Knights. Once paired with the enhancement of 'Formless Blade Fire,' its power and armor-breaking capacity leap to a higher level.

That's why it's called 'Blade Fire.'

Another feature of Formless Blade Fire is 'formlessness.' Despite its aggressive nature, this fire is colorless. Its aura is very restrained. Only at the final moment of taking a life does it reveal its killer, assassin-like terrifying aura."

Upon hearing this, Andrew felt a chill in his heart.

He thought it was somewhat similar to his "Invisible Enchantment."

Then he thought: for the owners of the Eight Strange Fires, he either instinctively felt close or instinctively repelled. But if someone possesses this aura-restrained "Formless Blade Fire," would they only feel a faint sense of closeness or nothing at all?

"So does your second sister have one of the Eight Strange Fires?" Andrew asked, "In your family of three sisters, two of you have the Eight Strange Fires. Does your second sister have one too?"

Barbara was stunned, reached out, and lightly patted Andrew's head, smiling, "You're confused, my second sister is a Crimson Knight! Not a mage, so how could she have the Eight Strange Fires?"

"Uh, alright, my bad." Only then did Andrew react, then slightly annoyedly said, "Even if I'm being silly, could you please not casually touch a man's head?"

"Hmm, alright, no problem!" Barbara lightly tapped twice again, then laughed mischievously under Andrew's grimacing protest as she withdrew her hand.

The sun had fully risen.

After speaking about some matters close to her heart, Barbara seemed to become more relaxed.

At least, regarding her older sister's matters, it was now something "discussable." This was already a significant improvement.

After that, they didn't discuss anything serious, just casually chatted about other things.

Talking while barefoot on the soft sandy beach, they quietly enjoyed this rare dating time.

Until a melodious morning bell sounded.

It wasn't the distinct sound of a bell during a roundtable meeting.

It was merely a signal for the Commerce Association's high-level routine meeting to convene.

"I'll go to the meeting then." Andrew squeezed Barbara's small hand and laughed, "I only took two days off. I should have taken three days, knowing this." His eyes hinted at warmth.

Barbara blushed slightly and playfully hit Andrew, "You're annoying..."

Suddenly, Charlie's voice sounded next to them, "Andrew, hurry over. You too, Miss Third, please come to the meeting."

"Eh?" Barbara was taken aback, somewhat surprised, "Me?"

Most of Andrew's meetings with the higher-ups were about business collaborations. She was truly not knowledgeable in this area.

Beside her, Andrew detected an unusual seriousness in Charlie's voice.

He couldn't help but ask, "Did something happen?"

"Yes." Charlie replied, "On the front lines, over by the Dragon's Nest... there's been a result. Just come over quickly!"

He didn't say whether it was a good or bad result.

But anything concerning the Dragon's Nest was a top priority event, more important than business collaborations.

Andrew and Barbara exchanged a glance, seeing the seriousness reflected in each other's eyes. They swiftly headed toward the meeting room as quickly as possible.

"Hmm?" Barbara initially wanted to pull Andrew along since she had broken through to Tier Four and believed her speed surpassed Andrew, who was "still at Tier Three."

But she noticed Andrew seemed leisurely while keeping pace beside her, moving as quickly as her, keeping up with her side by side.

Barbara felt a hint of surprise but didn't have time to ponder further.

They quickened their pace, heading toward the Deep Blue Magic Tower at the city's center.

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