Klein’s breath hitched, and his brain seemed to follow suit.
The touch remaining on his lips, soft and warm, carried that clean honey locust scent of hers—it was like a searing seal branded onto his nerve endings.
He had been ambushed.
By an imperial Honorary Knight, using a speed far slower than her sword strikes.
After Ophelia pulled away, she remained where she was, standing as straight as a spear, but in those golden eyes, the storm had just broken, leaving behind a lingering, startlingly bright afterglow.
The flush that made her ears burn hadn't faded; instead, it seemed to be intensifying.
Then, Klein felt a surge of heat rush from his neck straight to his forehead, making his own ears burn.
It turned out that blushing was contagious.
And it seemed he was the one who had caught it.
The room was deathly quiet, save for the faint crackling of the soothing incense as it burned, serving as a soundtrack to this awkward yet intimate atmosphere.
"Ahem."
Klein cleared his throat, trying to regain the upper hand he had while teasing her earlier, but his voice was a bit dry.
"Knightess, is this also... part of the 'responsibility'?"
Ophelia’s face grew even redder, but she still met Klein’s gaze and nodded solemnly.
"It is an advance payment for mental distress compensation."
She answered with complete earnestness.
An advance payment?
Klein nearly choked on the Knightess's response.
He looked at Ophelia’s serious face—a face so grave it couldn't be more so—and realized that even though she was clearly shy, she insisted on maintaining this business-like facade. It was... unfairly cute.
The bit of passivity and shock he felt vanished instantly, replaced by a strong urge to keep teasing her.
"An advance payment?" Klein leaned against the headboard, lazily adjusting to a more comfortable position as that smile returned to his pale face. "That dream of mine was a narrow escape, full of peril. For such a small advance, it wouldn't even cover the interest, would it?"
"Interest?" Ophelia was indeed led astray by him, her golden eyes filled with confusion as she began to seriously consider the rationality of this "compensation plan."
Seeing her actually calculating the interest, Klein finally couldn't help but let out a low chuckle.
Ophelia realized it too—this guy was messing with her again!
She was a bit annoyed and a bit flustered, so she simply pursed her lips and stopped talking, but her eyes remained fixed on him, as if to say: what else do you want?
Klein knew when to stop; he didn't want to truly anger this pure-hearted Knightess.
He suppressed his smile, his gaze softening once more.
"Alright, I'll stop teasing you." He reached out his hand toward her. "I am very satisfied with this advance payment."
He was only left wanting more.
Just then, a faint popping sound was heard.
Both of them turned to look at the same time.
On the bedside table, the frantically burning soothing incense had finally reached its end, letting out a tiny spark before going out completely.
The exotic fragrance in the room that could block prying eyes was rapidly fading.
The smile on Klein’s face slowly disappeared.
Ophelia’s expression also turned grave again.
The advance payment had been made.
Now, it was time to talk about that unpayable "debt."
As the last wisp of blue smoke from the soothing incense vanished, the exotic fragrance that blocked prying eyes also disappeared.
The air seemed to become thin and dangerous once more.
The intimate atmosphere was diluted, and the grim reality resurfaced.
Klein fished a new stick of incense from the alchemical pocket at his bedside and relit it.
This time, the incense burned at a much steadier pace, the wisps of smoke rising peacefully, no longer spontaneously combusting like before.
It was as if the prying eyes lurking in the darkness had temporarily lost interest and chosen to retreat.
But this was only temporary.
Klein casually set up a few more mental protection alchemical gadgets around the room before finally feeling at ease.
He looked at Ophelia, his expression returning to its usual composure.
"Alright, let's get down to business."
Ophelia’s cheeks were still a bit warm, but upon hearing about business, she immediately stood up straight, entering her knightly state. "Go on."
"Originally, I planned to stay in Silver Scale Harbor to properly study that monster I dragged out of your dream." Klein tapped his temple. "But now it seems that won't work."
He paused, organizing his thoughts.
"The west coast is, after all, the territory of the one in that dream. Staying here is like dancing right at their front door. It’s a bit too arrogant and makes us an easy target for special attention."
Klein spoke lightly, but Ophelia understood the danger involved.
The brief clash from earlier had already left her with lingering fears.
"So, we have to change locations," Klein concluded.
"We're going back to the manor."
That was his alchemical workshop, his home turf, where he had better protection and research conditions.
"I will follow your arrangements," Ophelia said without the slightest hesitation.
Her trust was direct and pure.
...
Silver Scale Chamber of Commerce, President's Office.
After hearing Klein’s decision, Nelisa’s brow furrowed into a tight knot.
"Leaving? Now?" She couldn't believe her ears. "Mr. Klein, you found the key to solving the problem, and now you’re leaving?"
She couldn't understand it. In her eyes, this was no different from deserting the front lines.
"President Nelisa, please calm down." Klein sat on the sofa and poured himself a glass of water. "I’m not running away; I’m performing a strategic relocation."
"A relocation?"
"Exactly." Klein swirled the water in his glass. "In Silver Scale Harbor, I have to spend at least half of my energy at all times guarding against that entity’s prying eyes. How can I do research like that? If I have another nightmare and draw that thing into your guild, wouldn't the losses outweigh the gains?"
Nelisa was momentarily speechless.
She looked at Klein’s still-pale face, then at Ophelia standing beside him like a shadow, and most of her anger dissipated.
She had to admit that Klein was stating facts.
This place was too close to the deep sea, and the power of the evil god had penetrated too deeply.
"But... the trouble on the west coast..." she said, still unwilling to let go.
"The trouble won't disappear because I leave, nor will it be solved immediately because I stay," Klein interrupted her. "Give me some time. In my workshop, I can find a way to eradicate it more safely and efficiently. When the time comes, I will return."
He looked at Nelisa, his tone sincere. "Trust me, I am also a part of the Empire. The events on the west coast undoubtedly threaten the entire Empire. I want this land to return to peace more than anyone."
These words appealed to both her emotions and her reason, and Nelisa finally wavered.
She let out a long sigh, begrudgingly accepting the reality.
"Fine, I respect your decision."
"Then, there is one more small favor." Klein took the opportunity to make a request. "Those two I requested earlier, Karen and Lyra—please have someone send them to my manor as well."
"Of course." Nelisa agreed immediately; this was a small matter.
She thought for a moment and added, "You arrived on horseback, which is inconvenient for luggage. I’ll arrange a carriage for you."
"That would be perfect," Klein said with a smile and a nod.
True to her word, a short while later, an unassuming-looking carriage stopped at the back door of the Silver Scale Chamber of Commerce.
Klein and Ophelia led their respective horses and tied them to the back of the vehicle.
The two boarded the carriage, the coachman cracked his whip, and the wheels rolled forward, heading inland, away from the coastline.
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