No Way to Begin

If a person's fate is rewritten.

So what methods can be used to identify the mastermind behind this? This is the question we need to address.

Linsey and Wala Wala sat in the room, staring at each other for a long time, but couldn't come up with a feasible solution.

The truth is, they don't have any solutions.

"When activating a skill, you don't need to be near the target."

"And even if fate has changed, those involved cannot perceive the details."

"Humans cannot see through their own destiny, let alone whether it has been changed by others."

Linsey covered her face with her right hand, feeling helpless.

Wala Wala added from the side, "Linsey, according to you, this guy guided Anthony and Lina's fate. Only a writer with at least Seventh Stage skill could possess this level of ability."

Linsey frowned and asked, "So if we have no other clues, how are we supposed to find any trace of the other side?"

Wala Wala suppressed her anger. "In short, let's analyze this situation calmly first."

The girl, speaking from the perspective of a local resident of the City of a Thousand Sails, concluded. "Since Seventh Stage Awakened has made a move, it would be best to notify Lina's family."

"In any case, she is a member of the White Star Family, and her father is also a powerful figure of the same level."

But when this was mentioned, Wala Wala's face fell. "But that guy probably doesn't want to see his daughter elope with Anthony, which would be tantamount to breaking up their marriage."

Wala Wala was in a bit of a dilemma.

Linsey then asked, "Should we notify the city's Art Association?"

"No matter how you look at it, they wouldn't allow something like this to happen so freely within their territory, would they?"

Wala Wala shook her head and smiled bitterly:

"The Art Association naturally prohibits such behavior, but without solid evidence and without the involvement of key figures in the city, they will not take action."

"..."

Linsey lowered her head in thought.

Faced with this situation where there seems to be no way to proceed, the choice should be left to the parties involved.

"In that case, let's tell Anthony and Lina what's going on."

Wala Wala shrugged, acquiescing to the choice.

Then she jumped onto the bed with a 'plop,' sinking into it and sprawling out in a wide-open position. "Linsey, who do you think is manipulating their fates?"

"And what is the purpose of doing this?"

Linsey tried to say:

"Perhaps that guy has a grudge against the Kuwait Family?"

"Anthony is just an ordinary person. Unless Lina has other suitors, who would have any reason to cause trouble for him?"

Wala Wala looked at the ceiling and blinked.

She then mentioned her experience in the small theater tonight while searching for Lina:

"Linsey, remember that actress from the Fimbul Theater? What was her purpose in kidnapping Lina?"

Linsey replied, "To steal emotions and better portray the character in the play."

"Yes, some people are just unreasonable." Wala Wala bit her lip lightly. "Do you think the person who changed Anthony and the others' fate might have had such motives?"

The Wala Wala suddenly reminded Linsey.

He recalled the group's experiences on their journey to the City of a Thousand Sails.

Mermaid Island!

"Wala Wala, back when you went to investigate, didn't you run into the Fallen Artist on the island?"

Wala Wala also suddenly stood up. "You mean— Anthony was targeted by some Fallen Artist when he was on that island!"

Linsey nodded slightly:

I think it's very likely!

Wala Wala said:

"In that case, we'll have to wait and see what the Art Association's investigation results are."

"Given the distance to that island, we should have results in a little over a week!"

"..."

Linsey then shared her discovery with the couple who were still enjoying their time together.

After providing as much help as possible.

After a busy night, he and Wala Wala went back to their room to rest, so as not to stay up all day.

The next morning.

The artificial sunlight in the Painting Space rises from outside the window.

Linsey's excellent routine manifested through his Life Source Material; he blinked slightly and got out of bed.

But when he turned his head to look to the side...

Then I found that his upper body was tucked into the blankets, while his lower body was Wala Wala off the bed.

"Your sleeping posture..."

Linsey moved closer.

Perhaps due to poor sleeping posture, a rhythmic, faint snoring could be heard from inside the closed bed.

"Well--"

Linsey sighed.

He weakly moved the girl's legs back onto the bed and straightened his body.

He then turned and left the room, fetched some hot water, and went to the manor hall to get two glasses of milk, a piece of bread, and two eggs.

He returned to the room for the second time this morning.

Then I saw Wala Wala get out of bed and rub her eyes sleepily.

"Linsey..."

The girl stretched out her arms and asked Linsey, her movements unsteady, "What time is it now?"

"You got up so early without even waking me up?"

Linsey walked over, placed the plate on her lap, and the two ate together. "You look quite tired, so I wanted you to rest more."

Wala Wala picked up a glass of milk, then winked at the eggs and bread, the girl twisting her neck to the right:

"Can I have the bread? I don't like eggs!"

Linsey nodded naturally:

"Of course, no problem."

Breakfast time ended quickly.

Yesterday was a whole day of rushing around, and I didn't have time to take care of Wala Wala. My hair was a mess, like a chicken coop.

But she couldn't be bothered to pay attention.

He then grabbed a straw hat and put it on, just to make do with his appearance.

Meanwhile, Linsey, true to form, took out an ancient scroll and began translating it on the guest room table. "A skill can lead to different paths of development. This secret originally belonged to the Divine Court, but was revealed to the world by sinners."

"The ruler dispatched an army to punish the sinners in the Withered Stone Basin."

"Countless dead and wounded, even the Essence was tainted by the aura of death, and the battlefield basin was turned into a graveyard..."

"Secrets leaked, the path of tyranny is no more. The Combat Essence and the rise of the Defender..."

"The Avengers have arrived."

"The communicators intend to build a city; may our Lord grant them protection."

"The Lord of the Divine Court perished in the civil war..."

"..."

"Linsey, what are you looking at?"

Suddenly Wala Wala leaned in from behind, throwing herself onto Linsey's back, her white arms wrapped around his chest.

The girl looked at the scroll on the table, her face full of question marks:

"What kind of scribbling is this?"

"It's not Common Language... and it doesn't look like an artistic font either. Is this the script used in some remote area?"

This action.

Wala Wala caused strands of hair to fall onto Linsey's face, making him a little itchy.

Linsey was too embarrassed to speak up and offer a reminder.

He then turned his gaze away and focused all his attention on the scroll in front of him. "This is a scroll from a long time ago."

"I found it in an ancient ruin on my way to the Seven Seas Alliance."

Wala Wala asked curiously:

"How long ago? How long ago was that?"

Linsey replied, "It must have been at least tens of thousands of years."

Wala Wala was completely dumbfounded by this number.

"Tens of thousands of years?"

"Such a long history has been passed down to this day through written records..."

Clang clang clang—

Just then, there was a knock on the door.

"Mr. Linsey, Miss Wala Wala," a waiter's voice called from outside the door. "There are some Red Robe looking for you in the lobby. Would you like to come out and see them?"