The Key to Listening

Backlund, Empress Borough.

The carriage traveled on a flat, wide road. The smooth road, the luxurious carriage, and the soft cushions meant that the people inside felt no bumps at all.

"Cecilia, you've already advanced to Sequence 8?"

Fors said enviously, "That's so convenient."

"It was mainly because of my brother's help."

Opposite her, the beautiful black-haired girl smiled and answered, supporting the handsome young man beside her. His eyes held a deep madness, and his entire body was wrapped in a straitjacket bound by black leather straps, even his mouth was tightly covered.

"Right, brother?"

She asked gently and helped Luther tidy his hair.

The latter could only murmur vaguely through the belt.

"... Uh, hehe..."

Fors looked embarrassed, forced a smile, and turned to look at Hugh beside her, giving him a meaningful look.

This family is acting very strangely!

Xiu returned the look with a glance.

Wasn't it you who brought them here?

Fors was on the verge of tears. This was the first time she had witnessed Luther in a state of madness, far more serious than she had imagined. Facing Miss Audrey in this state, there was no doubt she would not pass.

It has now been three days since their visit to Luther. Yesterday, they told Miss Audrey about it, and after consideration, Miss Audrey agreed to Luther's proposal. So today, they specially sent a carriage to pick them up to meet their employer.

But who could have predicted that Luther would have a relapse today?

The carriage carried the group of confused individuals forward, the scenery outside the windows constantly changing. A few minutes later, the carriage stopped in front of a villa.

This is not Earl Hall's residence, but the home of Audrey's friend, Viscount Glaint.

"Brother, we've arrived."

Fors saw that Luther's arm was gently touched by the black-haired girl. Then, as if receiving some kind of signal, Luther's originally crazed eyes gradually became clear, and finally he slowly sat up, letting the other party untie the belt and regain his freedom.

Is that all?

Fors thought in surprise.

Let's go.

Luther stretched his body and spoke to the others in the carriage. The Phantom Tide in his mind kept echoing, suppressing the frenzied part of his spirit.

After returning home that day, his mental state deteriorated. He couldn't even concoct Potion for his sister before falling into a Frenzy Illusion, leaving her to do it herself. By the time he regained Consciousness, his sister had already drunk the Potion and successfully advanced.

The True Creator's Word-Eating have been particularly strong these past two days; I wonder if it's related to the name I called out back then...

Luther thought to himself as he stepped onto the flat ground using the extended footboard outside the carriage.

Empress Borough is much better than the East Borough. The roads are not muddy at all, but wide and comfortable. Rows of tall plane trees are planted, and the pedestrians on the street are well-dressed and well-proportioned. Police officers patrol diligently every now and then. Luther recalled the situation in the East Borough, and a slightly mocking smile appeared on his lips.

However, his descent into madness unexpectedly caused his last remaining "Listener" Potion to waver slightly, and Luther somewhat guessed why.

Perhaps it was because he understood the True Creator's intention in Word-Eating. The so-called "Listening" is not only about the process, but also about the result. The ultimate goal of Listening is to fully understand the true meaning the other party is trying to express. Luther guessed that perhaps when he fully understood the True Creator's emotions and thoughts that time, he was able to digest the last bit of the "Listener" Potion.

The group arrived at the villa, and after being announced by a servant, they entered through the gate. Passing through the ornately decorated porch and hall, they met their employers in a reception room.

"Miss Audrey, these two are the Anderson siblings..."

Fors stepped forward to introduce them, but before she could finish speaking, she noticed a slight change in the expression on Miss Audrey's face, who had maintained her elegance throughout.

"It's you?"

Audrey, dressed in a white tulle dress, stared wide-eyed at her beautiful emerald green eyes and exclaimed incredulously.

"Oh, it's you."

Luther recognized the woman's face, and after a moment's thought, he realized she was the noblewoman he had met in the mental hospital. He remembered owing her several hundred pounds... If it was her, it was normal for her to know Lanevus.

He remembered that when he was examining the body of the prostitute, he had muttered the name Lanevus to himself, which was probably why the other party had started sending people to investigate.

"Do you two know each other?"

The somewhat thin Viscount Glaint glanced back and forth between the two men a few times, and couldn't help but ask.

This question voiced the thoughts of everyone else present, not just him, but also Hugh and Fors. They simply couldn't ask because of their positions.

"Yes, this gentleman once saved me."

Audrey's surprise lasted only a moment before she smiled impeccably. "It was that incident that landed me in jail... Without him, my situation might have been dangerous."

"Oh, I see. What a wonderful coincidence."

Viscount Glaint was greatly impressed upon hearing this. In his understanding, Luther might be a slightly stronger Extraordinary. But Audrey knew much more clearly that this person was likely the mastermind behind the Kaping Case, a powerful and dangerous figure who could easily wipe out the entire villa.

Calm down, Audrey, he's not an enemy. You need to make him like you... she kept telling herself, then looked at Hugh and Fors.

"Hugh, Fors, you did a great job," Audrey said with a smile. "I've already witnessed this gentleman's strength firsthand. If it were him, he could easily defeat my family's extraordinary guards."

After saying that, she pushed the envelope containing the commission across the table in front of the two of them.

"Thank you very much, Miss Audrey."

Hugh quickly took the envelope, opened it, checked it, and thanked him after confirming that everything was correct.

Audrey smiled and nodded at her, then turned her gaze to Luther and the girl beside him. "So, nominally my bodyguard is your sister?"

"Cecilia Anderson."

She saw the blue-eyed girl step forward and said.

So beautiful...

Audrey thought to herself that, given her experience in aristocratic circles, among the women she had met, very few possessed such beauty.

But she seems very dependent on her brother... No, I can't analyze this!

Almost instinctively, she wanted to use Mind Reading, but quickly remembered the lesson she'd learned from Luther and immediately dismissed the idea. "Although you two already know my name, please allow me to introduce myself. Audrey Hall." She rose from the sofa, gracefully lifting her skirt. "Welcome to be my bodyguards."

Why do I keep seeing women lifting their skirts to bow lately...?

"We can say that after we pass the test."

Luther Zedao.

"That's true."

Audrey's emerald eyes flickered slightly, and she nodded in agreement. "Then let's set off immediately; I can't be away from home for too long."

Out of courtesy, she should have entertained the two visitors, but since she was still under restrictions, she could only return to the villa as soon as possible. However, Luther didn't care about that, and so the group left the Viscount's house in a grand procession.

At Audrey's feet, a large golden retriever shuffled cautiously along her leg. After being glanced at by Luther, it immediately tucked its tail between its legs.