'Rose…? Why would she be here…?'

Seth remained frozen in the shadows, his gaze fixed on the girl standing in front of Darius Velon.

The original Seth Arden's younger sister was the person receiving goods from Darius Velon...

She was connected to the world of demonic weapons?

The shock forced his mind into high gear.

He had to push past the emotional surprise and analyze the facts as this now changed certain things he knew...

According to Phoebe, the original Seth had begun acting strangely before his death, and the Sins inside his body had become chaotic for no clear reason.

Back then, Seth had been too ignorant to understand what could have caused it.

Now, with his new knowledge, he could form better guesses.

He mentally reviewed the possibilities...

His first initial assumption was that the original Seth had contracted a peculiar demon, which changed his personality and memories.

In a world where demons were common, this was the most obvious guess.

But there were problems with this theory.

Phoebe had recalled no presence of a demon when the original Seth begun acting strange.

Furthermore, demons fed on Sins...

The demons Seth had encountered so far were not very intelligent, more like hungry beasts. If a demon was involved, the Sins would likely have been consumed, not just turned "chaotic."

So, this cause seemed unlikely...

His second assumption was that the original Seth had involved himself with a strange witch or even a Progenitor.

Now that Seth knew how many different Sins and abilities existed, it was possible one of them could cause such mental and personal changes.

However, the motive was unclear...

The original Seth was just an ordinary person.

Why would a powerful supernatural being target him?

And if they did, why wasn't the "mad" Seth later used or controlled by them?

He was just left to wander until his death... It didn't fit the pattern of manipulation he'd experienced.

Of course it could also be possible that the strangeness of the original Seth was just a product of an "experiment" by a witch... just like how Seth went around testing his abilities around the city.

Now, he had a new, third guess.

One that felt much more plausible...

It was likely the influence of a demonic weapon!

Seeing Rose connected to demonic traders made this theory click into place.

It made more sense now!

Seth reasoned further...

The reason Miss Brown and her employers were investigating Darius Velon probably wasn't just because he was a small-time courier.

The demonic weapons being traded likely included high-level, dangerous artifacts.

At least one of their transactions must have involved something powerful enough to draw serious attention from several witches...

If his guess was correct, high-circle demonic artifacts would definitely radiate a certain madness or corruption that ordinary people would not be able to resist.

They didn't need to be "used" on someone... just being near them could be enough.

After all, even looking at a higher existence just like that fleshy demon brought upon madness.

'Could it be that the original Seth was accidentally exposed? That Rose brought something home, or he stumbled across something she was hiding, and it broke his mind?'

Seth thought, a cold understanding dawning.

This theory connected the dots...

Rose's secret life, the dangerous goods, and the original Seth's unexplained madness.

Another troubling fact resurfaced.

Since his resurrection, Rose had shown surprisingly little attachment to him.

She had hugged him and acted empathetic when they first met again, but she had barely requested to see him afterwards.

At first, Seth thought it was fear or confusion about his return from the dead.

But now, seeing her here, in this secret apartment in the middle of the night, conducting a coded exchange… it suggested her distance might not be about fear.

It might be about secrecy and her guilt of affecting her brother...

His thoughts were cut off as he watched the interaction at the door.

Rose did not immediately let Darius in.

Her small eyes scanned him carefully.

She asked questions in a low, firm voice.

"Last week's shipment was late..."

Rose said. It sounded like a test.

"The river roads were flooded, it was in the report." Darius answered quickly.

"Who takes the blame for that?"

"The courier takes the blame. But the fee covers the loss."

Rose watched him closely.

"What's in the case tonight?"

"Unmarked clay. Ready for the kiln."

"What's the kiln's password this month?"

"Crimson Gate," Darius said.

Four questions with four precise answers.

Only after this verbal handshake did Rose's serious posture relax a fraction.

She gave a small nod.

"Come in."

'Quite cautious... I wonder if it's because there are witches with peculiar abilities that can copy someone's appearance?'

Seth thought. With how absurd the powers in this strange world was, it was not impossible...

Darius nodded back and stepped inside.

Unbeknownst to both of them, as the door began to swing shut, Seth under [Null Presence] slipped through the gap after Darius, entering the dimly lit apartment.

The first thing he noticed wasn't the furniture, but the walls...

Pieces of paper were stuck everywhere.

On the window, the door, even on the cupboards.

Every single one had the same word written on it in bold, black letters...

Secrets.

Secrets.

Secrets.

'A ritual... using the word "secrets" to lock this room?'

Seth guessed.

He could feel a familiar power within it...

It felt like Lady Light's authority over "secrets", but much weaker.

It felt like a cheap copy...

Still, it seemed to be effective...

Seth could vaguely feel that the sounds omitted in this room would be harder to hear from the outside, and that it would muddle any weak attempts to spy on them...

'The power of secrets is quite interesting... I wonder how my "Silence" compares to it?'

Darius walked to the small table in the middle of the room and placed the black suitcase on it with a soft thump.

He looked at Rose, his earlier calmness gone.

"Lately, I feel like there have been people tracking me and following my routes..."

"It's just a feeling in my gut. Luckily, they can't get too close, or I'd spot them for sure. I don't have proof, but I've always trusted my intuition as it has saved my life before."

He tapped the side of his head lightly.

Rose, who was checking the locks on the window, didn't turn around.

"It's better to be cautious than dead."

She replied flatly.

"Mm," Darius grunted, agreeing.

"With all the dangers popping up in Matamisan lately, and with the prophecy of that man going around... we ought to be more careful than ever."

Seth's ears perked up.

The word "prophecy" was something he's heard quite a lot recently.

Now, his curiosity was definitely aroused... luckily Miss Brown at the Black Lantern had offered to say it as payment for this job, so Seth was not too worried about not being able to know about what the prophecy was.

Rose finally turned and walked to the table.

"What's the item this time?"

She asked, her eyes on the suitcase.

Darius patted the case.

"A demonic artifact coming from the Sin of Arrogance."

"I don't know its circle level... the seller was vague. But it's powerful and apparently, someone from one of the ancient families needs it delivered urgently."

"Ancient family?" Rose frowned slightly.

"Which one?"

"Didn't say. The contact was through three blind drops. All I know is the price is high, and the buyer doesn't want questions."

Darius shrugged.

"Our job is just to move it, not to understand it."

Rose was silent for a moment, thinking.

Then she changed the subject.

"There's been trouble between the Coven of Abomination and the Coven of Solace."

She said, her tone implying this was more important than the artifact.

"I've heard as well," Darius nodded.

"What's the cause?"

"According to the vagrants and homeless people we've paid to watch, the Coven of Solace has been snooping around the Abomination's territory and poking into their businesses. It's not an all-out war, but it's a clear provocation."

Rose leaned against the table.

"I don't know all the details, but it has something to do with Fredero Tangen... He's involved again somehow."

Darius let out a low huff.

"Fredero... Is that cursed woman you're close to still after him?"

"Yes." Rose said.

"She is."

'Cursed woman?'

Seth's mind latched onto the phrase.

'Are they talking about Phoebe?'

It had to be...

A cold understanding settled in Seth's gut.

Remembering the warning of that mysterious kid about how it was impossible to help Phoebe, Seth could not help but ponder over it once more...

Now, hearing Rose and Darius call her "cursed" so casually proved it.

Her fate was definitely not just attributed to bad luck...

'The fact that they're both calling her cursed proves that her fate really is entangled with a higher existence.'

Seth reasoned.

'But why? Why would a higher existenced need someone as weak and vulnerable as Phoebe? What's the point?'

She wasn't a powerful witch...

She wasn't a Progenitor.

She was just a girl trying to get revenge for her family, caught in a storm she couldn't control.

Perhaps it was because she was a perfect pawn... filled with strong intentions and emotions, but with no real power to resist manipulation.

Maybe that was the point.

Maybe she was supposed to be weak, so she could be moved around the board without breaking the game.

Darius shook his head, bringing Seth back to the conversation.

"A dangerous game, getting involved with a cursed one. Their misfortune has a way of spreading."

"I know," Rose said, her voice lowering.

She pointed at the suitcase.

"Now, let's verify the artifact. I need to confirm it's authenticity and not a cheap replica that'll explode. Then we discuss your fee and the next drop point."

As Rose reached for the suitcase latches, Seth remained still, his mind racing.

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