Manner was well-traveled and experienced. However, someone like Maria, who had no combat awareness but possessed the Stone source art most suitable for the battlefield, was rare.
If Snitz had discovered this earlier, it was highly likely that he was deliberately hiding Maria's Stone source art, because with his insight, it was impossible for him not to know the potential of this Stone source art. But he didn't tell anyone. Perhaps he also didn't want Maria to be forced onto the battlefield because of her talent?
After all, Maria wasn't Margaret, and she wouldn't be Margaret. She should have her own life...
If he really thought that way, then Snitz might have already planned how to arrange the future of the two sisters before he left.
Big Brother really is... as reliable as ever.
...Uncle... Uncle... I really can't hold on anymore...
While he was thinking, Manner was still not the type to go easy during training. Thus, under high-intensity training, Maria's Stone source art gradually approached its limit. She was now like a light bulb without electricity, only able to emit light intermittently. This light was not dazzling, and could even make people feel warm. When fighting Maria, one could always feel that her control over her Stone source art might not be enough—this light could even make people drowsy.
However, it probably wouldn't be very useful against people with too great a difference in strength—this hypnotic ability was also basically established when being affected by the light at close range. Although the effect might not be very strong, in combat, even a momentary delay could determine victory or defeat. Therefore, Manner still valued this hypnotic ability, which might have appeared by accident—compared to Margaret, Maria's light was more malleable and more suitable for learning Manner's Stone source art.
For example—his signature 'Light Rain,' seemingly harmless, but capable of instantly melting armor, transforming into blade-like, non-dazzling light.
Perhaps, Maria could indeed learn his Stone source art, after all, this light, unlike Margaret's, was not intense, but extremely malleable.
While Manner was nurturing Maria, Zofia was free, so these days, she often appeared at Noah's place. Noah had indeed prepared a room specifically for her to host her. It was clear that Zofia preferred living with Noah to her lonely large house. She seemed carefree, but in fact, she was still a person who feared loneliness. Coincidentally, Noah was also a person who feared loneliness, so the two of them could be said to be getting what they needed.
Is it always better to have someone with you than no one?
Of course, Kuro was not very happy. She had scrutinized Zofia with strange looks several times. If she hadn't known that Zofia was safe, she might have started chasing her away long ago.
However, Noah's recent troubles were not about Zofia. After several tests, the phantom behind her had confirmed several characteristics—
First, although the phantom could touch other objects and cause physical interference, almost anything would pass through the phantom, unable to cause effective damage to it—Kuro had already tried it, and this physical immunity seemed to be a permanent characteristic.
Second, the phantom had a certain reaction to Stone source art, but it wasn't significant. At least when Noah tried to attack it with her clumsy Stone source art, it didn't even bother to dodge... Manner originally wanted to try too, but because Manner's Stone source art was special, to avoid incurring additional repair costs, Noah still refused.
Third, the phantom only appeared when she was conscious, and would disappear after she fell asleep—this was discovered by Kuro and told to Noah the next day. Although it is still unknown whether it only disappears when she is asleep, or if it also disappears when unconscious... at least Noah hasn't been unconscious recently.
Fourth, after the phantom appeared, Noah no longer dreamed of that strange circular building and the indescribable, unrepresentable bizarre entity within it. Perhaps the sword-gun indeed separated the boundary, or perhaps the phantom was actively keeping Noah away from that entity. But no matter which case, Noah was still very happy not to have to face that thing anymore.
She also thought that Snitz and his wife leaving Kazimierz was very likely to deal with the entity within that circular building, and just being spied upon by it through dreams had already made her tremble with fear. If it weren't for the obstruction of that sword-gun, she might have lost something very important because of that glance. But it was precisely because of that glance that she gained this phantom.
Noah was not afraid of the phantom. She didn't know why, but she always felt that this phantom would not harm her—rather, it appeared to protect Noah. If it weren't for that glance, this phantom might never have appeared. And its appearance might also indicate that Noah might have been targeted by the entity in that circular building...
These were all Noah's own guesses, without evidence. Besides the phantom, there were only dreams as clues, which was too much grasping at straws. So she didn't even tell Manner, planning to investigate more herself before saying anything.
However, if she had to ask someone, she actually had an option... but if she were to involve that person, the moment she opened her mouth...
Noah shook her head, temporarily shelving the idea of seeing that person.
At least for now, the phantom only brought convenience to Noah. As for trouble, she would deal with it when it actually came. Noah was already used to trouble.
Besides, this would not affect what Noah had to do.
After companies in Victoria and Columbia expressed their willingness to invest in the contract between Karlan Trade and Noah's company, the Kazimierz Commercial Federation's attitude began to do a complete 180. The contracts that were originally so stingy they were unbearable suddenly became generous. After learning that Noah had connections with foreign enterprises, their assessment of Noah seemed to have changed dramatically.
Noah once again understood how much deterrent power foreign capital held for Kazimierz, and what the Commercial Federation's true 'unity' was for.
But there's no hurry now; it's like boiling a frog in warm water. If I rush too much, it might make them desperate. For now, to maintain appearances, this identity of mine cannot be easily revoked. The identity of Commercial Federation spokesperson, although they underestimated me, thinking I was easy to manipulate, is something I can't refuse, so I might as well make good use of it.
Leave Request
My sister is getting married today, so there will probably be no update tomorrow.
That's all!!!!!!
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