The Gathering Ends / The Tavern and the Investigation

"Let me think... First of all, it's impossible to soothe everyone's pain with just singing; it's an impossible task."

"However, some aspects are absolutely achievable, so Miss Eden, feel free to do whatever you wish. If it doesn't ultimately meet your expectations, you can always choose another method."

At this point, Swire paused, then looked earnestly into Eden's golden eyes and smiled, saying, "After all, making yourself happy is also a very important thing, isn't it?"

"... Pfft, I think Miss Swire is right, thank you for your explanation."

As he spoke, Eden couldn't help but recall the words Eden had spoken to him in his memory, "If you're going to live, live a brilliant and dazzling life, just like before."

Because of being influenced by memories, worrying that singing cannot soothe the pain, worrying that art will be tainted by other things, and thus stagnating, this is truly... a loss of Signet of Gold.

To illuminate all that can be illuminated, to acquire all that can be acquired, to gather all the wealth and glory that the world desires in one's own body—this is the inscription of [Gold]!

"It seems Miss Eden has found her answer. Congratulations."

From the conversation just now, Swire had a general idea of what Eden's goal was, something far greater than her own ideals.

The little tiger will not look down on someone who has such a goal and takes action to achieve it, even if she hesitates for a moment.

Moreover, she could sense that no matter which method this elegant Miss Eden chose, the path she would take would remain unchanged.

However, at this point, Swire couldn't help but mutter to herself. While she respected Miss Eden's choice, it was just... someone as dazzling and radiant as her definitely belonged on a grand stage!

"Thanks to Miss Swire, I was able to make a decision so quickly. In retrospect, it seems rather ridiculous that I had pondered for so long."

Eden first gave a self-deprecating smile, then spoke gently, "So, I wonder if I might have the honor of inviting you to watch my first performance on this land in the future?"

"I think it is my honor, Miss Eden."

Chapter 171 Gathering and End

Just as Eden and Swire continued their pleasant conversation, Pardofelis appeared behind them without them noticing, then smiled and put her arm around Swire, saying, "I told you, Swire, you'd get along well with Eden."

"You rascal..." Swire glanced helplessly at the person who had wrapped their arms around her neck, and unusually, didn't say anything in rebuttal.

After all, this time Pardofelis hadn't lied to her; Miss Eden was indeed a very elegant, outstanding, and beautiful woman with whom she shared many common interests. For that reason, she decided not to argue with her this time.

"Alright, alright, I know you're having a great time, but it's almost lunchtime." With that, Pardofelis turned to look at Mei, who was already carrying dishes out of the kitchen, before continuing, "Mei is coming out of the kitchen too; her cooking is absolutely amazing!"

Upon hearing this, Swire subconsciously turned around and looked into the room, where she saw the purple-haired girl whom Pardofelis called Mei.

Looking at her unique aura and the table laden with delicious-looking food, she couldn't help but raise an eyebrow, then reached out and gently pinched the cheek of the person next to her, saying, "Where on earth did you get to know so many outstanding people?"

"Well, that's a secret!" With that, Pardofelis took Swire's hand, which was playfully touching her face, and pulled her inside. "If you're curious, Swire, you can go and see for yourself!"

"You know, while you were chatting with Sister Eden, Lin Yuhsia was also chatting with Mei, and they seemed to be getting along quite well."

"Hmm? What did they talk about?" Swire's curious gaze unconsciously drifted towards the two of them after Pardofelis asked that.

"I really don't know, but I think it's probably related to food, right? After all, I did make plans to eat with them after that." Pardofelis said uncertainly in response to Swire's question.

"Is that so...? Then I'll ask later."

"..."

Eden, still standing on the balcony, held a wine glass and watched the two figures walking inside hand in hand, playfully bickering. He couldn't help but smile and then followed them.

After everyone at the gathering had arrived and taken their seats, Pardofelis, as if remembering something, stood up and said with a grin, "Since this gathering is being held at our restaurant, let's exchange a few words before we start eating!"

"First thing, starting today, my agency and Rope's agency are officially open for business. If you ever need my help, feel free to ask me. I'm very capable, and my prices are negotiable!"

"Besides the opening ceremony, there's also the matter of Griseo, since she's leaving Lungmen today. So this gathering can also be considered her farewell party, so please make sure you eat well and have fun!"

Pardofelis said this, regardless of whether their relationship was good or bad, everyone gave her face and rushed to agree.

Only Swire, sitting beside her, seemed to be thinking of something. She raised an eyebrow, a mischievous glint in her eyes, and asked, "Is the price negotiable...?"

Actually, the little tiger had long coveted the cat's intelligence-gathering abilities, but she hadn't considered it due to her identity. Now that she's cleared her name, wouldn't she take advantage of the cat's abilities?

"... I have a feeling that Swire is thinking about something bad."

Perhaps because they were sitting too close, or perhaps because of intuition, Pardofelis, after finishing her speech and sitting down to let everyone start eating, noticed the expression on the face of the person next to her and said with some suspicion.

"Heh~"

Meeting Pardofelis's probing gaze, Swire returned a bright smile, "How could I? I was just thinking about how I could patronize your business. What bad intentions could I possibly have!"

"Hiss..."

If Pardofelis had only vaguely sensed that Swire might have ill intentions before, seeing her radiant smile now is practically confirmation.

However, before Pardofelis could say anything more, Swire reached out and gently tapped her head, saying, "Alright, stop looking like I'm going to eat you. Hurry up and eat. Mei- san's cooking looks delicious."

"Hehe~" Upon hearing this, Pardofelis teased herself a little before picking up her bowl and chopsticks and joining in the fun of tasting Mei's cooking.

"Mmm! It's so delicious! Mei- nee's cooking is amazing!"

"Eat as much as you like, there's plenty of food prepared today."

"Um!"

"Hmm... Hoshiguma's alcohol tolerance is truly admirable."

Having drunk quite a bit, Eden's delicate cheeks were flushed and burning hot as he looked at Hoshiguma, who had also drunk a lot but showed no signs of drunkenness, and raised his Hoshiguma in admiration.

"No, Miss Eden's alcohol tolerance is also quite good. And it's because of your generosity that we were able to taste so many rare wines and enjoy ourselves so much." Upon hearing this, Hoshiguma laughed heartily, then glanced at the row of empty wine bottles with packaging she had never seen before, and said.

"Heh~"

"Sharing these with everyone now, rather than drinking them alone, has a unique flavor."

"Another drink, Miss Hoshiguma."

"Good."

"Oh dear, it's almost over and I just remembered. Come on, everyone, let's have a toast!" Pardofelis, whose face was slightly flushed from drinking, belatedly realized what was happening, raised her glass, and gave everyone a slightly excited smile.

Hearing Pardofelis's words, the others echoed her sentiments, then smiled and raised their glasses. Even Griseo, who had already finished eating, picked up her glass full of juice and returned to the table.

Cheers! ×10

"Thump--"

With a tacit agreement, everyone's glasses clinked together softly, producing a crisp sound that imprinted the lively scene before them in the hearts of everyone present.

After a lively and joyful gathering, it's time for a bittersweet farewell.

Of course, although everyone expressed their reluctance at Griseo's departure, only the Lungmen 4 were truly saddened by it.

Because of the other people's status, they could easily contact or even go to the little girl's place instantly if they wanted to. So, there wasn't much reluctance... After all, would you feel reluctant to part with someone you can see anytime?

Then, for the reasons mentioned above, when Griseo was preparing to leave in the afternoon, it was mainly Chen and the others who accompanied her and kept giving her instructions.

As their final farewell drew near, Griseo gave each of the four women a big hug before stepping back and waving, saying, "Um... I'll remember to send you things regularly. See you next time, sisters!"

"Okay, goodbye."

"Goodbye, goodbye... Sigh... I really will miss you. Little Griseo, you must come to Lungmen to play with your big sister when you have time!"

Goodbye, Griseo. Remember to take care of yourself.

"Goodbye, next time Griseo comes over, I'll take you out to play!"

"..."

Finally, under the watchful eyes of the group, Griseo followed Hua and the others away, disappearing from their sight.

Having been away from home for some time, Griseo, carrying a large amount of supplies and gifts, embarked on her journey home... what a load of rubbish!

After leaving their sight and getting out of the city by car, the little girl immediately contacted Sakura and had her summon her instantly.

At this moment, her journey through the Lungmen has come to a perfect end!

Iberia Volume (Main Aponia, Secondary Mobius)

Chapter 1 Tavern and Investigation

In an ancient town, Saltwind City, a dilapidated tavern stands alone, like a sentry on guard, silently watching the lightless night. Its door is partially obscured by the darkness and the surrounding mist.

The mist, seemingly alive, undulated slowly, adding an indescribable eeriness to the already dimly lit street. Few pedestrians were on the street; a few figures occasionally passed by, all with their heads down and hurrying on. This town was mostly filled with silent statues, like ancient creations occupying its territory. They hardly spoke or moved; every night, they would stand there...

Inside the tavern, candlelight flickered, casting dappled, yellowish light that distorted shadows on the uneven stone walls. A damp, mingled scent of aged ale and sea salt filled the air, along with an indescribable, unsettling aroma of spices—a scent that seemed to belong to another world, capable of stirring the deepest fears and curiosities within one's heart.

The customers sat in twos and threes, rarely exchanging a word. Their gazes would sometimes fall on the half-full glasses on the table, and sometimes rise to look at the clock hanging on the mottled stone wall. If the taverns in Victoria or the Great Knight's Territory were bustling nightlife hotspots, then this tavern was a long-dormant, abandoned graveyard.

In the corner of this dilapidated tavern sat a figure that seemed completely out of place, drawing frequent glances from others.

Despite such offense from others, the beautiful figure in light green sitting in the corner did not take any action, because she didn't care at all.

Mobius casually swirled the enamel glass in his hand, gazing idly at the wine within, which reflected a faint glow in the dim light due to his movement...

After a short while, as if she had grown tired of the tedious activity, she shifted her gaze from the wine glass back to the recording device in her hand and began to review the notes on it.

To be honest, Mobius has gained quite a lot during his short time in Iberia.

Her previous guesses and ideas have been largely confirmed in the past few days. The unfamiliar knowledge and samples stirred up a wave of emotions within her.

The residents along the coast here are indeed different from those in other places.

Recalling the corpse dug out of the ground, and the various inhuman changes and enhanced physical functions it had undergone, Mobius's desire to investigate Seaborn intensified even further.

Adaptation and evolution... what enticing terms!

However, the time is not yet right. Let her capture some individuals for research after she has achieved her goal this time.

After all, the fact that Seaborn connected by blood and shares the same thoughts is quite troublesome; one wrong move and it's easy to alert the enemy.

Just as Mobius was reviewing the records and thinking about the next steps, a slender figure wearing a hood that concealed her face entered the tavern and then, as if with a purpose, went straight to the corner where she was.

Perhaps it was because her actions were too direct, or perhaps it was also because her attire was out of place, but many other customers in the tavern, just as they had with Mobius, subconsciously focused their attention on her.

But that's about it. Apart from the occasional peek, most of the customers here just enjoy their cheap beer, letting themselves get lost in the alcohol and becoming detached from the world.

The cold, salty sea breeze gently blew towards Mobius as the "uninvited guest" arrived, causing her to gently put down the instruments in her hands and squint as she looked up at the newcomer.

"Wow, to be honest, the atmosphere here is really weird, Mobius!" After sitting down in the chair opposite Mobius, Pardofelis couldn't help but lower her voice to complain.

Upon hearing this, Mobius did not directly respond to Pardofelis's words, but instead glanced at the people who had been secretly watching and thought to himself.

'What were the results of the investigation? By the way, Felis, you weren't just busy admiring the scenery, were you?'

"Haha, how could that be? You can rest assured when it comes to handling things, Mobius!" Hearing Mobius's words in her mind, Pardofelis seamlessly changed her contact information.

'We've already searched the surrounding area and roughly know the location; all that's left is confirmation.'

Although it's said so casually, in reality, Cat's investigation this afternoon didn't go very smoothly. As an outsider in a place like Saltwind City, she was too conspicuous and too eye-catching.

'Speaking of which, was Mobius's lunchbox delicious?' As if suddenly remembering something, Pardofelis asked the person in front of her curiously in her mind.

Mobius raised an eyebrow slightly. 'Heh~ barely acceptable, not nearly as convenient as instant noodles.'

"It's clearly because Mobius let it cool down..." Pardofelis couldn't help but mutter under her breath after hearing Mobius's words.

Others might not know, but as one of the individuals who shared the same thoughts, how could the cat not know what the Mobius had done?

She had specifically instructed him before going out to investigate at noon, but once he got into the research, Mobius completely forgot about lunch and let the Mei had prepared for him go cold.

"Um?"

"We didn't say anything! Mobius, you misheard!" Meeting Mobius's ambiguous smile, Pardofelis reacted with lightning speed.

"Heh~" Looking at the satisfied little expression on Pardofelis's face, Mobius couldn't help but chuckle softly, then continued in his mind: 'Alright, enough of the unnecessary nonsense, let's talk about your investigation plans~'

Because they understood each other perfectly, the two did not engage in the complicated information exchange that others did, but instead completed the task in their minds very efficiently and quickly.

After exchanging information, Mobius raised an eyebrow slightly, rested his chin on his hand, and smiled as he mentally reminded her, ' Felis, be careful with your investigation at the church. I think his name is Quintus; he's been here for quite a while now.'

'If things go wrong, I think I'll be very sad~ If I don't get the guinea pigs, I might have to...'

"Alas!"

Pardofelis, having grasped the unspoken meaning of Mobius's words, instinctively trembled, and the fur on her tail stood on end.