"... You''re right, Ravenna."


    Ronger said firmly, "We will definitely have a better future, and you no longer need to make any sacrifices for this."


    "Firearms, floating cannons, and all those misceneous things... let them rust and rot in the corner of the warehouse."


    Ronger didn''t know how long it had been since she had seen Ravenna''s smile. Although it was very faint and could hardly be called a smile, the vitality that the petite girl showed in that moment deeply touched her heart.


    Ronger, Hendrik... and many others, many of Eileen''s students, knew Ravenna when she was very young.


    In a sense, she and Hendrik have somewhat reced the position of Ravenna''s parents.


    When this moment came, when that heavy burden could finally be lifted from the petite girl who was still a child in her eyes, the throbbing in Ronger''s heart made her somewhat uncontroble, doing something that Ravenna didn''t like on ordinary days.


    "..."


    Ravenna''s arms opened slightly, as if she wanted to hug Ronger subconsciously, but she was not used to it. After hesitating for a while, she hugged her.


    She had lost a lot in her life, and she had never thought about getting it all back. Because of this, she seemed a bit at a loss.


    Fortunately, Ronger didn''t let Ravenna feel awkward for too long. She quickly let go of her and said with a smile, "The lecture will start this afternoon, do you want to go with me?"


    "Of course." Ravenna said without hesitation, "I must go... I will contact Ansel and ask if he wille."


    "... Isn''t that a bit inappropriate? Won''t it disturb Lord Ansel?"


    "No."


    Ravenna subconsciously put her hand into her pocket and stroked her white stockings, saying in a tone that she didn''t understand herself, "This will increase our bargaining chips, and as for him... he won''t refuse, trust me, madam."


    "That''s great if you have a way, but Ravenna... remember to keep your attitude and position right. I know you and Ansel have had interactions before, but the situation is different now. He is our savior, we must—"


    "Repay him with all our might, I know."


    For some reason, Ravenna looked away and emphasized again, "I know, I will repay him."


    "...To the best of my ability."


    Although Ravenna''s behavior was a bit strange, this not-so-cold attitude actually reassured Ronger. She breathed a sigh of relief, took a step back, and said, "Then... huh? What is this?"


    Ronger felt as though he had stepped on something. Lifting his foot and turning his head, he discovered a smooth, oval object on the ground.


    "Ravenna, is this trinket your creation?"


    "...Yes." Ravenna, unusually active in her response, immediately took the oval object from Ronger''s hand. "I forgot to tidy up, my apologies."


    "Being forgetful and disorganized doesn''t suit you," Ronger teased, not particrly bothered. "I''ll notify you when we depart... Oh, and if Lord Ansel agrees, you must inform me immediately."


    "Mm."


    Ronger watched Ravenna, who responded softly, hesitated for a while, then suddenly reached out, ruffled her hair vigorously, and left briskly.


    "..."


    The woman subconsciously touched the top of her head. She could probably guess what Ronger was thinking, yet surprisingly, she didn''t feel any annoyance.


    Then she looked at the oval object in her hand, her breathing became slightly irregr.


    "Ansel, you rascal..."


    The genius alchemist, Miss Ravenna Ziegler, murmured as such. She carefully opened the storage cab that she had hastily closed earlier, unveiling its contents.


    tter—


    Strange round-headed sticks, long crystal bead chains, and five or six oval objects identical to the one she held in her hand spilled out onto the table. There was also a peculiar mask with a hollow sphere in the middle, along with neatly folded restraining tools. All of these items had been meticulously crafted by Ravenna while Ansel yed with the puppet, sharing a unique connection with her.


    In the end, they were all used on herself.


    Ansel was never one to deceive; he had indeed been diligently working to fulfill his promise. The evidencey strewn across the floor, with scattered objects and various items of clothing intermingled.


    At first, Ravenna contemted throwing them all into the alchemy furnace, reducing them to ashes and erasing any trace. However, for some inexplicable reason, she hesitated and decided to reach out to Ansel directly instead.


    "I thought you would wake upter, dear Venna."


    A teasing voice came from the telecrystal.


    "...This afternoon, the Etheric Academy invited us to give a lecture there. Can youe?"


    "Hm? Using me to boost your poprity? Did my leniency yesterday give you the wrong impression, Venna?"


    Ravenna was silent for a moment, then took a deep breath.


    "What do you want?"


    She now wished for Ansel to give those vulgar and disgusting answers because they were the simplest to pay.


    But it seemed that he knew exactly what she was thinking and chuckled, "This time... let me think..."


    The brief hesitation brought longsting pressure to Ravenna. After a while, the young Hydral leisurely said, "I''m tired of you always paying the price, Venna."


    "The Tower of Babel isn''t just yours. If you want it to improve, then others... should also make sacrifices, shouldn''t they?"


    In the Hydral mansion, Ansel swirled his wine ss and said with a smile:


    "Hendrik, Ronger, it''s time for these two representatives to set an example."


    "I won''t allow you to tell them. Instead, I want you to make the decision for them — whether to sacrifice something for the further prosperity of the Tower of Babel."


    The devil who was so affectionate to himst night revealed his true nature at dawn.


    "Reason," he said as if singing, "or emotion?"


    "..."


    "You don''t have to answer me right away. Contact me anytime before the lecture starts."


    Ansel ended themunication, leaned back on the sofa, slightly lifted his head, and stared at his reflection in the wine.


    "This is the first test, dear Venna."


    Hydral murmured:


    "Don''t disappoint me a second time."


    *