Inside Xio and Fors's rented apartment.
Holding her beer mug by the handle, Xio suddenly sighed.
Raphael paused. "We've found a way to solve the problem. What are you still sighing for?"
Xio smiled wryly. "I don't know how to thank you."
Raphael didn't seem to need any reward she could offer, while she might not be able to provide what he did need.
"Let's talk about that once the verdict is overturned," Raphael said. "You're bound to offend quite a few people then. I might even have to help you assassinate a few political figures. We can settle everything together afterward."
Xio was slightly taken aback. "Is it that serious?"
Raphael asked, "What Sequence are you now?"
"Still Sequence 6."
"If you were Sequence 4, you wouldn't offend a single person," Raphael said. "At Sequence 5, you'd certainly offend a few members of the royal family. But at Sequence 6, you'll offend a lot of people over this."
Xio took a sip of beer. Of course she understood what Raphael meant: the stronger you were, the fewer people dared to offend you. They would even go out of their way to avoid making you feel slighted.
She took a deep breath. "I've changed my mind. I'll contact the Church to clear my father's name after I advance to Sequence 5."
Raphael smiled. "Here's to your success."
They clinked mugs and took a drink.
At that moment, Fors brought over the freshly pan-fried steaks, and the three of them began their meal in earnest.
Besides frying steaks, Fors had also made salad, egg tarts, seafood soup, and lamb stew.
In the current wartime conditions, a meal like this was a luxury even for the middle class.
Raphael had a few spoonfuls of seafood soup. It tasted quite good.
Only when