Chapter 131: Chapter 130: Assignment of Duties, Confession Session

After returning to the Golden Maple Leaf Trading House, Jon first comforted a frightened Reya. Then, he informed the Professionals in the trading house of everything that had happened that morning and offered a summary.

"No matter what methods the enemy uses or what conspiracies they plot, their ultimate goal is to gain something—like controlling Viscount Paris and, in turn, all of Birch Town."

"This is what the Blood Eye Association has done in other places."

Jon scanned the crowd. His tone wasn’t intense, but it carried a convincing power.

"We can’t do anything about what happens elsewhere, but here in Birch Town, we absolutely cannot let them succeed."

"If a puppet Viscount Paris returns to Birch Town, the situation we face will become dire."

Everyone’s expression grew grim at his words.

Reya, having composed herself, chimed in at the right moment.

"Yes, just as Mr. Jon said. We cannot allow our enemies to succeed in their plans."

"Furthermore, if we rescue Viscount Paris, we can combine the forces of the Birch fief and the Sun Church to deliver a crushing blow to any invading enemy."

"However, this plan is not without risk. We would have to face the Eternal Frost Sect, a dangerous enemy. So before we decide whether to proceed, I want to hear everyone’s thoughts."

The Professionals present didn’t hesitate for a moment. They unanimously passed the resolution to send a force to rescue Viscount Paris.

Unlike the younger Jon and Reya, they were far more experienced; it was a simple principle they understood all too well.

As Ivory put it, when you’re dealing with rats, you go after the ones that have already shown their tails.

In the end, based on each Professional’s specialized skills, they decided that Ivory and Evans would lead the operation.

Ivory, the most powerful among them and their only true Caster, would provide Magic support. She would be responsible for confronting the Priests and Fanatics of the Eternal Frost Church.

Evans, whose superb Swordsmanship made him an expert in direct assaults, would select a squad of skilled fighters from his own men and Vedri’s guards to set out with personnel from the Lord’s Mansion.

With his flying mount, Big Mimi, Jon would act as a mobile unit, free to engage as he saw fit—something he excelled at.

The others would remain at the trading house to ensure Reya’s safety.

Once the plan was settled, everyone immediately began their preparations, throwing the entire trading house into a flurry of activity.

This operation was tantamount to a small-scale battle, and no amount of preparation could be considered excessive.

Jon, however, pulled Reya and Rosalind into his private lounge.

He had two important matters to resolve before he departed.

...

The warm lamplight cast a soft glow, and the faint scent of incense drifted through the air.

Reya sat on a plush sofa, watching with curiosity as Jon laid out a red, fur-wrapped orb of ice and various materials from the trading house’s inventory. He sorted them neatly before adjusting several potion-making instruments.

"Mr. Jon, what potion are you making?"

"A potion to help someone awaken their bloodline Power."

Jon replied without looking up. But standing to the side, Rosalind suddenly went rigid, her slender fingers tightening on the hem of her dress, afraid to make the slightest sound.

From where she sat, Reya couldn’t see the change in Rosalind and continued to ask with curiosity.

"Awakening bloodline Power... is that the kind you told me about before? The one about discovering your own origins?"

"Mr. Jon, are you going to awaken your bloodline?"

"No, not me. Someone else."

Once he finished his preparations, Jon let out a soft breath and looked up at Reya.

"But before I begin, there’s something I need to tell you."

He looked into her clear, emerald-green eyes, saw them filled with affection and curiosity, and felt a pang of pity. But in the end, he steeled his resolve and spoke, enunciating each word carefully.

"Reya, Rosalind has become my follower."

"This potion is for her."

Reya’s expression froze.

She instinctively turned to look at the woman beside her, the woman she considered a sister. Seeing the unprecedented loss of composure on Rosalind’s normally cool face, she instantly knew Jon was telling the truth.

But a final, desperate sliver of hope made her turn back to Jon, her voice trembling.

"M... Mr. Jon... what do you mean... by ’follower’?"

"Exactly what it sounds like."

It pained Jon to see her like this, but to make himself clear, he forced his expression to remain impassive, making himself appear cold and pragmatic.

"To thank me for rescuing you, and in exchange for my continued help in protecting you, Rosalind voluntarily offered me a Soul Contract and became my follower."

"Once the threat from the Blood Eye Association is gone, she will leave the trading house and work for me."

At Jon’s words, Reya swayed. Her body went limp, as if all her bones had vanished, and she collapsed into Rosalind’s arms.

She instinctively grabbed Rosalind’s arm as tears streamed from her eyes.

"How... how could this happen... Rosalind... why... why would you do something like that?"

"But we... we promised..."

Rosalind, faced with the accusation, also burst into tears.

She lowered her gaze, holding the sobbing red-haired girl in her arms and apologizing over and over.

"I’m sorry, Reya... I’m so sorry... I truly had no other choice... I couldn’t find you anywhere..."

"I was terrified. I was afraid something terrible had happened to you, afraid you were gone forever... And when I finally found you, I was still so afraid—afraid some hidden enemy would hurt you..."

"I don’t have the Power to fight our enemies... My only option was to beg Mr. Jon for help..."

Hearing Rosalind’s confession, Reya cried even harder.

"Rosalind... *sob*..."

"Reya... I’m sorry..."

The two women, like sisters, held each other, letting loose all their pent-up emotions.

Jon could only sigh as he watched the scene unfold.

He had anticipated this reaction, knowing Reya’s personality, but he’d had to go through with it.

Dragging it out would only have caused more pain for everyone.

He had to be the one to rip the bandage off and reveal the secret; only then could he minimize the fallout.

He waited until the two had calmed down and caught their breath before speaking again at the opportune moment.

"Reya, Rosalind had originally planned to tell you the truth only after the dust settled. But after everything we’ve been through, and knowing how you feel about me, I decided that wasn’t the right way to handle it."

He looked into Reya’s tear-filled eyes and said earnestly.

"I can’t let her face this alone, and I can’t let you be kept in the dark. It’s not fair to either of you."

At his words, Reya’s crying began to subside.

She keenly sensed a different layer of meaning in his words.

The girl wiped away her tears and asked tentatively.

"Mr. Jon... you mean..."

"As a man, I have a responsibility to address both your feelings for me and my relationship with Rosalind."

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