People came and went on the street, but Olivia was no longer in the same world as them.
She could see those people, but they could not see her, and they were unable to even touch one another.
However, it wasn't as if she couldn't touch anyone at all.
Olivia stood up and walked into a tavern by the roadside, sitting right at the bar and glancing at the bartender who was currently mixing a drink.
"Preston, what exactly are you trying to do? Attacking a church nun in Kaliron—should I take this as a formal declaration of war? Your Time Chamber of Commerce is quite bold."
Hearing Olivia address him so directly, the bartender's movements couldn't help but pause.
The bartender appeared quite young, wearing a white shirt and a black vest, with short, slightly curly brown hair and emerald eyes that looked at Olivia with a hint of surprise.
Then he smiled. "As expected of the Protagonist of the Era recognized by the church. To be able to pinpoint my location right from the start is truly extraordinary."
Undoubtedly, he was Preston Weiss.
Olivia remained composed, speaking unhurriedly. "You haven't answered my question yet, Preston."
Preston continued mixing the drink, speaking as he worked. "It's not that we want to find trouble with the church, but the church insists on finding trouble with us.
"The people you arrested before haven't been released, and today you've taken another group in.
"Even if this is Kaliron, the church shouldn't be so overbearing, should it?"
Olivia found his words laughable.
She shook her head and said, "Is that why you sought me out?
"Because I was the one who moved to arrest your people today?
"Although their mental states were influenced by someone else, leading them to cause trouble, there was nothing wrong with arresting them first.
"After all, I don't know how to remove mental influences; professional matters should be left to professionals.
"So those people were merely brought to the church; they weren't exactly 'arrested.'
"As for the previous group, it was only natural to arrest them, wasn't it?"
Preston raised an eyebrow at her words.
He finished mixing the drink, took a sip himself, and wore an expression of enjoyment.
Then, he said unhurriedly, "So you could tell our members were being influenced today?
"Fine, let's set that aside for now. But we really need to talk about what happened before.
"On what grounds is it 'natural' to arrest our people?"
Olivia sneered. "Hasn't the church already given you the reason?
"Trading with the Rose Legion—is that crime not enough?
"The Rose Legion has always stood in opposition to the church. What's the difference between collaborating with our enemies and being our enemy?"
Preston shook his head. "It's different, very different.
"Our Time Chamber of Commerce is just a group of merchants. Who we trade with is our freedom, and we only trade; we don't participate in anything else.
"Therefore, our people are innocent. Your church was wrong to arrest them."
"Innocent? Ridiculous," Olivia said calmly. "If those forbidden artifacts were truly traded to the Rose Legion, do you know how much damage they could cause our church?
"You can surely guess that yourselves, can't you?
"You don't care; you only want to make money, regardless of whether others live or die.
"Since you have such thoughts, then don't be resentful about your people being taken by us. This is the fate you deserve."
Preston laughed. "I know you church people are used to being dominant and can't stand even a bit of grievance.
"But have you ever considered that we in the Time Chamber of Commerce are also used to being dominant and can't stand a bit of grievance either?
"Your Radiant Light Church is certainly strong, but is our Time Chamber of Commerce weak?
"If your church doesn't release our people, do you know what the consequences will be?"
Olivia was completely unfazed. "Do you think the church fears your so-called consequences?"
"The church might not fear them, but what about you? Do you know what kind of environment you're in right now? Have you considered that you might never return to the church?" Preston looked at Olivia with great interest.
His gaze held the feeling of a hunter looking at prey.
It was as if Olivia was already under his control, to be dealt with however he pleased.
Olivia shook her head. "You've simply used this rule-grade forbidden artifact, the Village of Oblivion, to bring me into a rift in time.
"Do you think this can trap me?"
Preston raised an eyebrow in surprise; he hadn't expected Olivia to recognize the Village of Oblivion.
This forbidden artifact had not appeared before the public for a very long time.
After it was acquired by the Time Chamber of Commerce, it had never been used openly. It should have been a very well-hidden artifact. How did she know about it?
But even if she knew the origin of the Village of Oblivion, he didn't believe she could break free.
As a rule-grade forbidden artifact, the Village of Oblivion didn't have as many surface rules as others of its kind, but it was exceptionally powerful at trapping people. All its power was concentrated on that single point.
Normally, a Domainist would have no way to escape the Village of Oblivion.
"Anyone can talk big, but talk alone changes nothing," Preston said confidently.
"Is that so?"
Olivia sat at the bar, crossing her right leg over her left in a relaxed and leisurely posture.
Then, a crimson glow suddenly emerged from her left eye, accompanied by a faint aura of dominance.
As this aura of dominance spread, Preston's eyes couldn't help but narrow.
He knew Olivia was about to make her move, and his figure immediately vanished from the spot, having no intention of clashing with her head-on.
With the Village of Oblivion, he could trap Olivia to death. He only needed to be the cat in a game of cat and mouse.
Olivia didn't care about Preston's departure.
Inside the Village of Oblivion, Preston could use infinite flashing to move without limit.
Inside the Village of Oblivion, Preston's traces were very difficult to capture.
However, Olivia had no need to catch Preston here; she only needed to break the imprisonment of the Village of Oblivion and escape.
To others, this might be an extremely difficult task, perhaps even a hopeless one.
But for Olivia, this problem wasn't actually that serious.
Because the Village of Oblivion was, after all, just a forbidden artifact.
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