Just as the black cat's gaze locked onto the young woman, the space and time around her twisted. Then she vanished.
"The Mystery Realm... And I sensed a trace of Zaratul's presence!
"So Pallez really has joined forces with Zaratul...
"That's hardly surprising. The Zoroast Family and the Zaratul Family both served Solomon. It would be stranger if they had no ties.
"And though it lasted only an instant, I sensed a hint of the Hand of Order in the Mystery Realm... The Loen Royal Family?
"Or is that what they're offering in exchange for the royal family's cooperation?"
The black cat narrowed his amber eyes but made no move.
For one thing, the power Amon could gather in such a short time was limited. It wasn't enough to defeat a Worm of Time and an Attendant of Mysteries working together, even if the Worm of Time appeared to be in terrible condition, barely able to maintain the level of an Angel.
For another, there was something troubling about the girl Pallez had used Parasite on—no, the Demoness. Stealing her fate outright carried considerable risks, and Amon wouldn't try it without confidence in the outcome.
And third, Amon had left the black cat at the ball while his Angie Loveland avatar followed Abner into the garden precisely to conceal himself. He intended to remain in the shadows and avoid acting unless he had to.
Pallez was a difficult opponent. If he realized his host had been exposed, he would probably switch to another one immediately.
For those reasons, Amon chose not to act. He merely committed Trissy's aura to memory...
Meanwhile, in the garden, Angie Loveland pointed the rose Abner had given her in their exchange toward the illusory curtain beyond the estate and said with a smile:
"Consider