"What trouble could that shrewd little brat run into?"

Daphne said, sitting at the round table.

"He did something he shouldn't have; he shouldn't have contacted the family." Ventel said gravely.

Daphne was stunned, then her expression turned excited:

"Wait, what did you say!?"

"Cough, cough."

In the hall, a person in armor tapped the floor with the tip of a sword as a reminder.

"Being so loud, do you want to attract the Self-Destructor?" Ventel frowned.

Realizing her faux pas, Daphne mimed a zipper across her lips.

"What did he do?" Daphne asked in a lowered voice.

"Yain Lindong, he was too hasty, he actually went to find that man."

Hearing the man's name, Daphne seemed to realize something and fell into a moment of silence.

"Yain..."

At this time, a third figure appeared outside the door; a woman with a serene smile nodded to the two in the room before sitting in her place.

"Why are you so late?" Ventel asked.

"Oh, nothing much, I met a child I really like; who wouldn't like such a strong child? I used to quietly watch over her, but today she suddenly came to find me, saying she wants to apply for temporary withdrawal."

"Sevia?" Daphne asked.

"Her name isn't Sevia; she is called Tang Xin," Fandony smiled.

"You were just discussing Yain's matters? Please continue."

"Lancelot is too young and naive, too impatient in his actions, he doesn't see the full scope of issues; he hasn't seen through Yain."

"He thinks Yain is someone like us and hasn't seen his true face as an ambitious schemer."

"The enemy of my enemy is my friend; it's an old topic, so why worry so much about his matters?" Fandony asked.

"But Yain is different; I know this guy well. He seems easygoing but is insidious beyond measure, stopping at nothing for gain."

"His real reason for marrying that woman home was to make his brothers lower their guard, shift their focus away from him, so he could embed his roots into the intricate family net; he never thought of giving up the patriarch succession."

"Just watch, when those legitimate sons fight each other to death, he will surely tear off his fake facade in the end."

Ventel's expression turned increasingly grave.

"Lancelot, oh, Lancelot. Acting in haste only causes trouble; choosing to cooperate with that man of all people, becoming a pawn."

"Things don't have to be seen so negatively; at least now, we and the family are still on the same front." Fandony spoke softly.

"True, the family is an enemy of the Starry Gallery, but events a hundred years ago proved the family is also our enemy!" Ventel spoke rapidly.

"It's just that the Starry Gallery's development has become too vast, entangled throughout the whole Star of Art's system, and the family has lost its original say."

"Yain only cares about the family's interests, he needs something to finalize his claim in the heir matters, that's why he volunteered for this Diesel-related mission."

"Once the fire of this matter burns onto him, I guarantee he will hand over Lancelot without hesitation!"

Daphne also fell into silence.

"Lancelot is the student council president and the legitimate second son of the Withered Flower family; his influence can't be ignored. He is crucial to us, and we must not let him be put in danger."

Just then, Ventel suddenly changed the topic and said:

"And Yain's purpose in marrying that woman wasn't entirely to avoid suspicion; that woman's daughter is the Starry Singer. Though her talent may not be outstanding, she has great potential."

"I remember Yain quite values this daughter, who isn't related by blood to him, although it's all for self-interest..." Ventel's tone was flat, like he was stating an ordinary fact.

"If we can control her and balance against Yain, then regarding Lancelot's matters, that man will have to think twice more..."

"Ventel!"

The two turned simultaneously and discovered Fandony's face had turned slightly annoyed; her brows arched, staring intensely into the man's eyes as if hearing something unbelievable.

"Do not drag the children into our affairs; this is our own path and has nothing to do with them!"

"Especially Tang Xin; I will never stand by and watch you use her and manipulate her!"

"Sentimentalism." Ventel said coldly. "For this path, the 'Tree of Eternal Life' has sacrificed the lives of practitioners, hasn't it? Those dead students, colleagues, and even Diesel."

"They joined our cause with naive and beautiful ideals, only to die unknown, with dimmed eyes. In the end, they didn't understand why they had to pay with their lives when they just wanted to show people the original face of art."

"You've changed." Tears filled Fandony's eyes. "What difference is there between you and Belvedere now? Cold-blooded, unscrupulous."

"Why did I marry you back then and walk this path with you."

"You really disappoint me, Ventel."

The woman left.

Leaving Daphne and Ventel in the room silent for a long time.

Ventel let out a long sigh, rubbing his temples, as if communicating with someone, but no glow lit up from the curtain by his ear.

"The afternoon is approaching; are they all ready?"

"Yes, Lancelot will be the first to bring people to the scene to cover their retreat, trying to draw the Tuner's attention."

"Gather evidence, what evidence is Lancelot gathering? Wait." Ventel stood up.

The communication seemed to be interfered with and got disconnected. At that moment, Ventel, sensing something, shouted suddenly:

"Who's there!?"

He looked toward the entrance of the underground temple, seeming to see a silhouette retract behind the ajar door.

The next moment, raging lightning surged in his palm, as he swiped down with his hand, a spiral thunderstorm tumbled from his palm to the ground, then shot explosively toward the door!

The entire door was blown open, charred black all over.

"Damn it, someone was definitely behind the door just now; she can't be allowed to escape!"

His whole body became enveloped in thunder, like a Thunder Holder, wielding whips of lightning with both hands, with ancient mysterious patterns surfacing on his skin, he sprinted on the ground, transforming into a blinding lightning bolt, flashing out the door in an instant!

Daphne also ran out, but Ventel and the figure outside the door were already gone; he frustratedly patted his head:

"Earlier they blamed me for attracting the Self-Destructor, and now this commotion..."

Suddenly, his eyes shifted subtly, noticing a piece of birch bark on the ground. Picking it up, he saw a strand of golden hair attached to the back, his expression shifting several times.

Finally, as if making a decision, he glanced around before pocketing the birch bark and hurriedly left.

At the same time, in the corridor, just two meters away from Daphne, inside a suit of armor, a golden-haired silhouette withdrew its gaze, with the flame in its palm gradually extinguishing.

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