The crimson moon cast a deep, somber glow over the night.
88 Annus Street.
Olivia was still pondering how to deal with Fiona's midnight visit. From the contents of the letter, it was clear the woman was persistent; a few casual excuses wouldn't be enough to make her abandon her original plans.
'But regardless, asking me to take money from the Church is an extremely dangerous proposition, isn't it? Isn't Fiona afraid of an accident? If my identity were discovered because of it, everything would be over.'
Olivia frowned.
She felt that Fiona was not being cautious enough regarding her status as an undercover agent.
Generally, such a lack of caution only occurred when one didn't particularly care about the life or death of others.
Just as Olivia's thoughts began to drift, the sound of the door opening suddenly reached her ears.
'Magic mirror, who is it?'
【It is Fiona.】
The magic mirror provided an immediate answer.
Olivia was startled. Hadn't the other woman said she would come at midnight? It was barely past nightfall.
Was she unable to wait?
As the thought flashed through her mind, Olivia saw Fiona's figure enter the living room.
"Olivia, you're finally back."
Seeing Olivia, Fiona's eyes lit up. She was glad she hadn't missed her this time.
Though displeased by the unauthorized entry, Olivia could only force a smile.
"Ms. Cortez, we meet again."
"It wasn't easy to see you. Where have you been these past few days?"
"I had tasks assigned by the Church to handle. I went to the Main District and couldn't return every time."
Olivia gave a simple explanation.
She wondered what kind of logical excuse she should give if Fiona asked for details.
However, Fiona didn't dwell on the matter.
She stepped forward and said unhurriedly, "Olivia, I assume you've read the letter I left for you?"
Olivia nodded. "I have."
"Then why did you refuse?" Fiona said seriously. "The reason you were planted in the Church was so you could provide sufficient help when the organization needed it.
"And now is the time for you to provide that help.
"The organization needs money—a lot of money. And you can obtain quite a bit from the Church, right?
"You've performed many merits for them. Those merits shouldn't go to waste.
"And this house—I think it should be sold and converted into funds for the organization.
"What do you think?"
Listening to Fiona, Olivia's expression flickered through several changes.
She couldn't help but say, "Ms. Cortez, doing this is extremely dangerous for me personally. I might be noticed by the Church, which would lead to an investigation."
Fiona waved her hand. "Don't be such a pessimist. Is there any undercover work without risk? But risk is just risk; it doesn't mean you'll actually have a problem."
"But..."
"No more 'buts.' Just do as I say. Get me the money I need as soon as possible. Do you understand?"
Toward the end, Fiona's expression turned stern.
She looked at Olivia intently, leaving no room for refusal.
"That... is truly not good." Olivia still refused.
She couldn't gamble with her own safety.
Most importantly, her heart had never truly belonged to the Rose Legion, and she was reluctant to work for them.
Fiona's recent behavior, in particular, made her feel like a disposable pawn that could be discarded at any time.
This lack of security caused her internal resistance to spike to a high degree.
Fiona's brow furrowed immediately.
She looked at Olivia and said in a grave tone, "Olivia, you were an orphan, weren't you? Even in the Holy Kelidos Empire, there has never been a shortage of orphans. And what happens to them?
"I don't think I need to say more. You should understand that those who become orphans have no good life to speak of.
"But ask yourself, isn't your life much better than theirs?
"Why are you able to live better than others? Isn't it because the organization took you in and gave you a future?
"You're thriving in the Church now, even becoming a deaconess. Are you going to forget everything the organization gave you?
"Olivia, for the rest of your life, you can only belong to the Rose Legion. You can only work for the Rose Legion. Do you understand?
"Otherwise, if the Church finds out you're a mole... Hmph. Even with the merits you've earned, I believe the stake would still be your final destination."
Fiona's words weren't entirely accurate. The Rose Legion hadn't been so kind as to simply "help" her when she was an orphan.
In terms of living, the Rose Legion made its adopted orphans work to earn a meager income.
In fact, the work they did far exceeded what was needed for their survival.
If they had worked elsewhere, they would have earned much more, but in the Rose Legion, that was merely a pipe dream.
There were no kind benefactors here.
The Rose Legion adopted so many orphans only because they were vulnerable and easy to control, with no way to resist.
Yet Fiona spoke this way, clearly spouting nonsense just to achieve her goals.
Olivia felt her situation suddenly become much more passive.
She didn't know what had happened to make Fiona so desperate to squeeze value out of her, but regardless of the cause, she had to find a way to protect herself.
But how?
Now that things had come to this, what could she possibly do?
"Still haven't thought it through, Olivia?" Fiona said in a low voice. "You can only agree. You cannot refuse.
"Don't stay a nun in the Church for so long that you actually start thinking you are one.
"Even if you wear that habit every day, it won't change the fact that you are just an undercover agent.
"You aren't a nun. You're a mole.
"You belong to the Rose Legion!"
Fiona's words rang in Olivia's ears, deafening and jarring.
Since transmigrating, the most painful thing for her had been the matter of her identity.
When she learned she was an undercover agent in the Church, she had constantly thought about leaving the Rose Legion, unwilling to remain in danger.
Yet even now, she hadn't achieved her goal. Instead, she was watching this helpless moment arrive.
The spring in her heart was beginning to reach its breaking point.
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