With the time to assemble drawing near, Xio returned to the military port after breakfast and joined Princess Vera and the other MI9 elites.
Abner returned to the Wohl family's underground wine cellar. He first spoke briefly with Vice Admiral Iceberg through Roselle's Spirit Descending technique. After he had waited another ten minutes or so, a flame-rimmed portal appeared above the Teleportation Altar, and Edwina emerged.
"I've made arrangements aboard the Golden Dream. We can leave now," Edwina said calmly. She wore an elaborate shirt and dark trousers.
Abner did not answer at once. Instead, he gave her a detailed account of everything he had learned about the military's and the Rose School's recent moves.
Vice Admiral Iceberg had already agreed to help him hunt the Finks Lion, but circumstances had changed. He needed to make sure she knew what she was getting into.
Edwina listened quietly. Then she took a small mirror from her pocket, fiddled with it for a moment, and said thoughtfully, "Perhaps Maria's subordinates saw the Finks Lion back then because something had disturbed its lair."
"You mean... the Loen Military and the Rose School may be heading for the Finks Lion's original habitat?
"Hmm, that's certainly possible... In that case, we have even more reason to follow the military team. Even if the lion was disturbed, it wouldn't have gone far..."
Abner saw her point. His attention then turned to the small mirror she had taken out. Could that be the object the God of Knowledge had bestowed on her, the one capable of prophecy?
Edwina offered no further explanation. She put the mirror away and, without much hesitation, said, "I gave you my word, and I won't go back on it... Besides, despite the danger, I'm very interested in the military's objective."
*We're only