"Sleeve Sword"

Lumian entered the room, closing the dark red Wooden Door behind him, and then asked "Red Boots" Franca, "Are you here to see the Baron or me?"

Franca leaned back in her chair, stretching out completely.

The only problem is that this caused the front part of the swivel chair to tilt slightly off the ground, making it wobbly.

"Guess if I'm here to see you or him?" Franca's voice was clear as water, completely different from her striking appearance, temperament, and attire. "Gardner originally just wanted you to be Brignais's second-in-command, to see if you had the ability to manage a business deal besides being a fighter. I told him back then that Brignais hadn't been very obedient lately."

Aurora was absolutely right; a single word from Puppet's bedmate can play a very important role... Lumian nodded in understanding.

Back on Springwater Street, he was puzzled as to why the Boss would be so generous, handing over one of Baron Brignais's most important "assets" to him, a newcomer.

You should know that Breeze Ballroom is the most popular Dance Hall in the entire Market District!

Lumian, who had initially intended to mock "Red Boots" Franca's current rude, masculine posture, considered that Franka's original gender might not actually be female and dismissed the idea, simply clicking his tongue.

"So, I should thank you?"

"No need for that. After all, you saved Jenna," Franca said with a smile, gently shaking her right foot resting on her left ankle. "I've come to you with two things. First, to tell you that I'm very clear about the line between gratitude and hatred; I will always repay kindness. Second, to warn you not to lay a finger on Jenna."

The implication of her last sentence was that she would definitely take revenge!

Lumian couldn't help but chuckle:

Do you lack self-confidence?

"If you can make Jenna infatuated with you, nothing I do can change her feelings."

If it weren't for the need to conceal her knowledge that the "Witch" Pathway could change a man's gender, Lumian would definitely have mocked her, saying, "Is your confidence built on that thing? Once it's gone, you're so insecure, and you even come to warn a complete stranger like me? What do you take Jenna for? You changed your mind so easily, haha, I know, Jenna only sees you as a good friend and has never considered you a lover?"

Franca's smile faded, and she abruptly pulled her feet back and stood up.

She was only slightly shorter Lumian, standing at nearly 1.75 meters tall, which is quite rare among Women in Intis.

"Red Boots" Franca walked around the desk to Lumian, a smirk playing on her lips. "If you're short of women, I can introduce you to some of Subordinate top dancers. If you don't like them, what can I do?"

As she spoke, she reached out and hooked Lumian's chin, then gradually lowered it, lower and lower.

Lumian's heart was as calm as a still lake. The thought that this Lady might have been a man in the past extinguished all his desires, leaving only resistance.

He swiftly reached out and grabbed Franca's right hand, laughing as he said, "I'm afraid the Boss will sink me to the bottom of the Serenzo River."

He immediately changed the subject:

"You can be a man or a woman, it's fine?"

Franca withdrew her hand, straightened up, and said with a smile, "I originally only liked girls, but after trying it once, I found that it's not bad with men either; it's a different feeling."

Life is short, so why limit yourself? Let go of unnecessary restrictions, try new things, and you'll find more enjoyment and experience a completely different life.

So, it seems you really were a man before, and now you're Sequence 7 "Witch"? That last sentence sounds so familiar. Lumian pondered this as he replied to Franca:

"I don't have any special feelings for Jenna right now, nor do I plan to. I have too many important things to do."

"Very good." Franca strode towards the door.

Just as she reached out and grasped the Handle, Lumian finally remembered why the words she had just spoken sounded so familiar.

In his dream, Aurora mentioned it!

She said that a member of the "Curly-Haired Baboon Research Society" liked the "Assassin" role and drank the corresponding Potion, but he hesitated and struggled when it came to the "Witch" Sequence, unsure whether he should change his gender. Another member of the "Curly-Haired Baboon Research Society" advised him, "Life is short, why not give it a try?"

This is essentially a concise abbreviation of Franca's statement!

Lumian's heart stirred. Looking at Franca's Red Boots figure, he said in a deep voice, "Life is too short to resist a chance."

Franca stopped twisting her right hand on the Handle, and froze as if struck by lightning.

After a few seconds, she turned around abruptly, stared into Lumian's eyes, and asked urgently, "Who exactly are you? What's your code name?"

This reaction... it seems I guessed right! Lumian was initially delighted, but then his mood darkened:

"I am the brother of a ' Muggle '."

Seeing that Charles accurately stated the code name of one of the members of the "Curly-Haired Baboon Research Society," Franca breathed a sigh of relief and said, "I don't know if your Older Sister has mentioned me, but my code name is ' Sleeve Sword,' and I belong to the same Concealment organization as her."

"No, she definitely mentioned me! Otherwise you wouldn't know that line, damn it, what kind of mess is this!"

Lumian closed her eyes briefly and said, "She didn't mention your code name or identity. She just used your experience as an example when reminding me that the adjacent ' Witch ' Pathway would cause a change in gender because I chose Pathway ' Hunter ' path."

"So, you really knew..." At that moment, Franca wished she could disappear into Sewer.

Although she has adapted to her current body and overcome her own limitations, even enjoying sex with men naturally, the prerequisite is that no one knows her former gender.

The thought that Charles knew she, originally a man, was addicted to sleeping with Men made her have some dangerous ideas:

"The dead can keep secrets... the dead will forget about it... the dead won't laugh at me..."

After a few seconds, Franca slowly exhaled and said, "You'd better forget about this. If you weren't the ' Muggle's' brother, I would make you disappear forever."

At this point, she looked to the Future, trying to show her tough, masculine side:

"I'm telling you, the ' Hunter ' Pathway can also change your gender. This is information I obtained at a great cost."

"Unlike the ' Witch,' the ' Hunter ' is a female who transforms into a male, probably around Sequence 4. At that time, I will switch to the ' Hunter ' Pathway and regain my male body!"

So that's how it is... "Hunter" represents male, and "Witch" represents Females? No wonder they're adjacent Pathway... Lumian composed herself and chuckled:

"How will you face those men you've had intimate relationships with in the future?"

Franca smiled smugly and revealed her long-conceived plan:

"I'll give them ' Witch ' Potion. If they're already Beyonder but can't jump to the ' Witch ' Pathway, I'll have someone craft their ' Witch ' Beyonder Characteristic into Mystical Item for them to wear. Then, hehe..."

Lady, you're being a bit perverted... Lumian didn't dare provoke "Red Boots" any further.

This guy seems capable of anything!

As he expected, Franca threatened him:

"I'll say it again, you'd better forget about this and don't even think about making a move on Jenna, or else I'll grab you and force-feed you the ' Witch ' Potion!"

"Although Sequence 7 is not a node that can be Pathway, it only means that it is more dangerous, but it doesn't necessarily mean that the person will Half-Mad or Loss of Control."

Imagining that scene, Lumian quickly nodded and solemnly promised:

"You're my Older Sister's friend, I'll definitely keep your secret."

Franca relaxed and looked at the book, then asked Lumian:

"Where's ' Muggle '? She's in Trier too? Is she a stunning beauty in real life?"

Lumian fell silent for several seconds before saying in a low, hoarse voice, "She's passed away."

"You should have seen those arrest warrants; she was in that Calamity..."

Franca opened her mouth, but couldn't utter a Vocabulary.

She walked back to Lumian's side and patted him on the shoulder as a gesture of comfort.

After a moment, Franca wiped her eyes and said, "After becoming a woman, it seems my tear ducts have become more developed..."

"I really can't believe ' Muggle ' is gone. At every gathering, she was so gentle, radiant, humorous, and kind. Even though I never saw her real face, I believe she must have been very beautiful, very beautiful..."

Having calmed down, Lumian looked at Franca and said, "' Sleeve Sword ' Lady, I would like to ask you to keep this a secret for now and not tell the other members of your organization."

"This could affect my investigation into the truth behind that Calamity."

Franca replied with a slightly nasal tone, "No problem."

Looking into Franca's Lake-Colored Eyes, which shimmered with a gentle light, Lumian asked cautiously, "How many times have you seen my Older Sister in the past year?"

"Once? What's wrong?" Franca asked, puzzled.

Lumian pressed further, "Has she shown any unusual signs, or come into contact with any unusual members?"

"No," Franca shook her head. "It's just a normal gathering, sharing Mysticism knowledge and buying and selling items. She and I belong to different groups; she's in the ' Academy,' and I'm in the ' Temple,' so many of our gatherings don't overlap."

Lumian didn't ask any further questions, and with the mindset of getting as much benefit as possible, she said, "' Sleeve Sword ' Lady, I'm studying the Witchcraft Notes left by my Older Sister, but I don't understand a lot of them. May I ask you for help?"

"Sure." Franca gave her address. "I live on the top floor of the Apartment at No. 3 White Coat Street, room 601. You can come find me when Jenna is performing. I'm at home every night unless I go to Springwater Street or any of the Dance Hall. Also, don't call me by my code name, just call me Franca."

Why does it make it seem like we're having an affair behind Jenna's back...? Lumian thought to himself, then asked suspiciously, "Franca, you have that Concealment organization behind you, and you're quite powerful yourself, so why would you join a Gang?"

Franca laughed and deliberately winked her left eye:

"Secret."