Holding the Witch's waist, Xia De, by the bonfire under the moon, was at a loss for words:
"Miss Aurora, thank you for your appreciation."
"Only thanks?"
She chuckled, stepping back to the beat. Xia De carefully avoided stepping on her pretty black patent leather high heels, following closely, then stepping back again after three beats.
"I don't know what Jialinna promised you, but if you—"
"Please don't continue, Miss Aurora."
Xia De stopped her in time:
"Miss Jialinna and I are not merely in a transactional relationship."
"I knew it. That arrogant woman would eventually fall in love."
Her eyes behind the mask looked at Xia De. The Witch, wearing high heels, was even slightly taller than Xia De. The weather tonight was truly beautiful. Above the Middirburg Mechanical College, near Sicar Mountain, the sea of stars was incredibly brilliant. The bonfire and starlight adorned the people attending the festival banquet, while march jointly watched over them, watching the Witch and the Outsider by the bonfire.
"Everything she has, I have too: power, wealth, and even an entire manor full of pretty girls. If you're willing..."
Their eyes met. The brown-haired Witch with wavy hair smiled, guiding Xia De to spin with her:
"But I know you won't leave Jialinna, will you?"
"Miss Jialinna and I have many stories."
"Does that include that very well-figured maid, Tifa Servett?"
She asked with a smile, and seeing the slight embarrassment on Xia De's face, she already knew the answer:
"That's why I said Jialinna always gets what she wants. That maid is really good. Never mind, if you had agreed, I would have been a little disappointed in you. So, this is truly a contradictory feeling."
She smiled, taking light steps as the violin solo began:
"If you have time to come to Carson Rick, I can introduce you to my apprentice, who is also my niece. Grandma Cassandra and I have talked about this. A man appearing by our side cannot be hidden from those young apprentices. Rather than letting the young girls guess wildly, it's better to tell them directly."
"Okay, if I have time to go to Carson Rick, I will visit you."
Xia De nodded slightly. The Witch returned to her usual relaxed demeanor; she was enjoying the bonfire party:
"However, have you made any new discoveries recently regarding your relationship with Witches?"
"Not yet."
"Have you tried learning other Witches' incantations?"
"Miss Jialinna mentioned it, but I haven't had time to learn yet."
"Whether you can learn it or not, gaining more Knowledge is always good."
She said softly:
"While I am staying in Middlesburg, you can also consult me. Of course, Grandma Cassandra is also a very good choice. Although she is only a Ten-Ring, she is definitely the most knowledgeable among us, besides the Speaker. She had a good teacher."
"Miss Aurora, have you also met Grandma Cassandra's teacher? Miss Helen Black."
"Yes, she claims not to be a Witch, but she always looks very young. Not only her appearance, but even her mental state is very young. Sometimes I even suspect whether she drinks elixirs like the 【Mermaid's Elixir of Immortality】 like water. Also, besides Helen Black, she sometimes calls herself Grace White."
The brown-haired Witch showed a meaningful smile:
"And according to the records left by the previous Speaker and the current Speaker's statement, this change in name occurs approximately once every 22 years."
As the teacher of the oldest Great Witch in the Witch Council, it was impossible for the Council not to be interested in this "teacher." Therefore, the Council had clearly noticed her abnormality long ago.
"Grace White and Helen Black? They indeed abandoned their family names."
Xia De said softly.
"They?"
Miss Aurora raised an eyebrow:
"You've seen them?"
"Yes, at a banquet. At the time, I didn't realize that we would form a wonderful connection later on."
"See, Knight, you're always very popular with girls."
The music was nearing its end, and the Witch's gaze became somewhat melancholic again:
"I want to ask you a question—Knight, have I ever kissed you?"
Xia De immediately began to search his memories for an answer, so the Witch reached out, exposed Xia De's neck, and then kissed him.
The burning bonfire was right beside them. The blazing flames were the only evidence that time had not been frozen at that moment.
Hivi Aurora actively kissed Xia De, and she was also the one who actively let go of Xia De. The firelight reddened both their profiles, so neither knew what caused the blush on the other's face:
"Your technique is really terrible."
She said what countless girls had said to Xia De, then smiled and tossed a card to Xia De:
"Sweet dreams, Detective. This is your Fire Worship Festival gift. I should go back now. Tomorrow, I still have to explore the ruins left by the Witch."
"Sweet dreams, Miss Aurora. Thank you for your kiss."
They parted. The Witch, accompanied by two maids waiting nearby, was preparing to leave. She faced Xia De, walking backward with her hands behind her back:
"Remember, don't say things like 'Thank you for your kiss' to a girl you've kissed."
Even the two maids laughed, and Xia De touched his ear, laughing himself:
"Good night."
"Good night."
The Witch left. People dancing to the music again blocked Xia De's view. The Outsider, standing alone by the bonfire, looked at the card in his hand under the firelight—
Queen of Spades, 【History of New World Exploration · Wind of Exploration】.
"Wasn't this bought by a Carson Rick merchant? Did she go to reapply her makeup just now to buy this card back?"
Xia De looked up again at Hivi Aurora's receding figure. "She's" voice sounded in his ear, a whisper that was unusually gentle:
"If you catch up now and agree to her. There's a fifty percent chance you'll have a good night."
"Ha."
Xia De laughed:
"Only fifty percent?"
"The other half, you will be heavily injured and killed by Iluna Bayas, who can't find you, with a Sunlight Gun."
Xia De truly laughed this time. He thought about the time, 8:56 PM, very close to his agreed meeting time with Iluna, so he inserted the rhode cards into his deck and turned to walk to the agreed location.
He had arranged his time very well, and because of this, he felt truly sinful.
"I'm going to Sin Mansion tomorrow. Is this thought a bit inauspicious?"
Looking up, the seventeen-year-old girl, already in a dancing gown, was waiting for Xia De in the brightest part of the bonfire ahead.
PS: "Paddy field" mentioned in Chapter 683 has been changed to "wheat field".
