127 Before Departure

"You certainly overstep your bounds. Since when does my personal business require the interference of an outsider whose very name I do not even know?" Theresa’s expression was so calm it bordered on indifference, her gaze resting on Rebecca as if she were a trivial, insignificant existence.

Theresa’s attitude openly infuriated Rebecca. Without any visible movement, Theresa felt a massive force strike her side. Simultaneously, the sound of a sharp slap echoed, followed by a gust of wind—Rebecca had actually launched an attack! Although Theresa had not seen the strike, judging by the malicious look in Rebecca’s eyes, she could guess the gist of it.

"Using force against a thirteen-year-old Level Two Alchemist..." sneered Theresa. Though she lay on the ground, her spirit remained entirely undaunted by Rebecca. "Miss Rebecca truly possesses extraordinary abilities and peculiar interests!"

"Sharp-tongued wench!" Rebecca hissed, glaring at her mouth and threatening, "Stay away from Lambert! He is mine. If I ever find you near him again, be careful, or I will break your legs! And tell that vixen of a mother of yours to know her place. If she is tired of living, trying to snatch a man away from Aunt Qina, she might as well just drop dead!"

*Thump! Thump! Thump!*

Before the echoes of Rebecca’s words had even faded, Theresa’s beast companions, sensing their master’s intense fury, launched a coordinated strike. Yet, just seven or eight centimeters from Rebecca, they seemed to collide with an invisible barrier, plummeting to the ground with stars spinning in their eyes.

"Tess, Rebecca, why are you both here? No wonder I didn't see you inside." A male voice emerged from the doorway. Theresa turned to see Antoniel slowly stepping out.

Antoniel acted as if he were oblivious to the tense, combative atmosphere between the two. He stood directly in front of Theresa, shielding her from Rebecca’s gaze, and reached out to help her up. "Are you alright after that fall, Tess?"

Theresa nodded coldly, offering a few words of thanks without lodging a complaint.

Seeing this, a flicker of surprise crossed Antoniel’s eyes, but his smile remained unchanged. "Tess, Master Mu just sent word for you to come to him as soon as you returned. I imagine he has some good news for you. Shouldn't you go quickly?"

Theresa brushed off her clothes. Without even glancing at Rebecca, she walked away, though deep in her heart, she had firmly marked Rebecca and her provocation.

As she entered the main hall, she saw a man walking swaggeringly past her, one hand holding a platter piled high with meat slices, the other clutching an unopened bottle of wine.

"Oh? Tess, were you out racing horses or rolling in the grass? How did you get all covered in dirt?" Lambert wanted to wave in greeting the moment he saw her, only to realize that both his hands were currently "unpresentable."

Theresa stared at Lambert for a long moment before nodding. "Fine. For the sake of you being our benefactor, I won't hold this muddled mess against you... Sigh. Just my bad luck!"

After delivering this cryptic, aimless remark, Theresa headed straight to her room, not caring that Lambert was rubbing his chin with the hand holding the wine, looking lost in thought.

Not long after Theresa left, Antoniel entered with a strange expression. After giving Lambert a faint smile, he too vanished. Moments later, Lambert encountered Rebecca and immediately understood the reason for Theresa’s earlier demeanor. His mood sank.

"Rebecca, why are you here?" With a slight flick of Lambert’s hand, the items he had been carrying vanished instantly.

"Why am I here?" Rebecca gazed at Lambert with resentment. "I went through all the trouble of traveling to the South Sea to find you, only to discover you had already returned to the Imperial Capital. Now that you’re back, why didn't you send word?"

Lambert chuckled, playing dumb. "I really didn't expect that. So, was there something important you needed in the South Sea?"

At these words, Rebecca’s eyes grew even more resentful.

Lambert chose to ignore her entirely, his gaze drifting vaguely as if seeing nothing. Before she could speak, he interjected, "It seems you don't have anything urgent to discuss. I’ll be off, then—Mu has some matters he wants to consult with me about."

Hearing the name "Mu," the words Rebecca was about to blurt out were immediately swallowed. It was clear she held Mu in great awe. Seeing this, Lambert made a quick exit, slipping away in an instant.

*Bang!*

The wooden door was shoved open with force. Mu, inside the room, looked up slightly and teased, "What is it? You look like your tail is on fire."

"It really is on fire this time..." Lambert gave a bitter smile. "Rebecca has returned from the South Sea."

"Rebecca Anga?" Mu arched a brow, his eyes turning cold. "She is nothing but a brainless airhead. Why bother with her?"

Lambert wiped his nose, feeling slightly embarrassed as he continued, "She just arrived and is downstairs. She seemed to have a minor conflict with Tess earlier—though, looking at Tess, she didn't seem to come out the worse for it."

At these words, Mu’s brow furrowed. After thinking for three seconds, he snapped his fingers. A translucent red flame bloomed silently in the air. Shortly after, the hunting cat Mumu slowly emerged from the still-"burning" flower. It hovered in the air, bowing slightly to the two men.

"Mumu, watch over Tess’s safety from now on," Mu ordered flatly.

"Yes, Master." Mumu bowed in acknowledgment, its form gradually fading until it had completely disappeared.

Only then did the study return to serious business.

"I have submitted a unified report on the matters here. I suspect a new inspection team will arrive soon. Keep an eye out for any temporary mobilization orders," Mu said to Lambert, his gaze still fixed on the map on the table without looking up.

Lambert was accustomed to Mu’s attitude. He leaned back into the sofa and laughed, "And what if I refuse? What can they do to me? I am on vacation—a 'honeymoon' to find myself a wife, not to be a beast of burden for the clan."

Mu, perpetually helpless against Lambert’s trivial nonsense, glared at him in silence before saying, "After the 'Demonic Devouring,' spatial energy has shown abnormalities in various regions. You should collect information on this as you go."

Lambert was happy to handle such a minor task. He laughed and agreed, adding, "Does this count as a commission? We’re old acquaintances, so I’ll give you a discount. We can settle the payment later, right? I’ll collect the info, you listen to it, and if it's useful, you pay up. If not, consider it a gesture of friendship. How about that?"

Mu was left speechless.