Chapter 92

Facing Lumian's confirming question, Lian nodded: "You can understand it that way, but if there are any other suspicious abnormalities worth investigating, we can't overlook them."

"Alright," Lumian actually thought the same.

He didn't even plan to attend the Feast of Weeks to avoid being tempted by the performances.

The four of them soon arrived at Lumian's house and were led upstairs by Aurore.

Aurore, wearing a pure white cotton dress that emphasized the comfort of being at home, pointed to the open doors of Lumian's bedroom and study and said to the three official investigators: "You can choose either of these two rooms."

Lia thought for a few seconds, raised her right hand, and smiled, pointing to the study: "I'll sleep here, Lian, you and Valentine share the other room."

"You trust us so much!" Aurore thought, but Lumian said it out loud.

He had thought the three outsiders would choose to sleep in one room on the floor to avoid being targeted one by one after being separated.

Lia smiled and replied to Lumian's seemingly mocking and questioning words: "My divination results tell me that both of you are trustworthy." As she spoke, she walked into the study and lay down on the armchair, looking very comfortable and content.

Aurore found Lia quite interesting, "Don't be too trusting, divination isn't omnipotent."

"My mentor also said something similar, but in this kind of secret situation, and with everyone in the same house, what else can we do but trust each other?" Lia twisted her body on the armchair and replied with a smile.

Aurore didn't mind her exclusive spot being taken and pulled over a chair to sit down.

Their study also served as a small living room, occasionally used for afternoon tea, with ample space and enough chairs.

Lian looked around the corridor for a while, then at the study door, and said to Aurore and Lumian: "I have a suggestion."

"Please go ahead," Aurore politely gestured to listen.

Lian gently nodded: "When sleeping, don't close the doors of each room, so everyone is essentially in the same space. Considering we've destroyed the altar, someone might try to deal with us before the Feast of Weeks. Starting tonight, we'll take turns keeping watch. From 10 PM to 8 AM the next day, each person will take two hours."

"Very professional!" Aurore muttered almost silently.

Lumian looked at her, as if asking why she hadn't thought of it.

Aurore shrugged helplessly, indicating she had little experience with team actions.

She then looked at Lian and Valentine and said with certainty, "Lumian will take the 10 PM to midnight shift?"

No one objected to this arrangement.

To them, it seemed very reasonable because at 10 PM to midnight, there would definitely be others still awake who could help cover for him.

Lumian understood his sister's intention wasn't just this; he needed to explore the dream ruins while sleeping and couldn't be interrupted.

After confirming the first shift, Valentine volunteered, "I'm used to going to bed early and waking up early, so I'll take the 6 AM to 8 AM shift."

"Getting up so early, to welcome the sunrise," Lumian instinctively mocked.

Valentine's gaze softened.

"Yes, I want to welcome the sunrise and praise the light," his eyes seemed to say, "Indeed, only you are my brother..."

Lumian felt a bit defeated. In the "Eternal Sun" church, "brother" is a common term among believers, used by the two main organizations, the "Brotherhood of Preachers" and the "Little Brothers."

"I'm not used to being woken up in the middle of the night!" Lia said, "I'll take the midnight to 2 AM shift."

Aurore nodded, "I like to sleep in, so I'll take the 2 AM to 4 AM shift. Yes, you don't need to wake me for breakfast tomorrow; I'll probably wake up around noon."

"The remaining time slot is mine," Lian took the least desirable shift with satisfaction. "He entered the study and found a chair to sit down.

They chatted casually. Although Aurore rarely went out, she was well-versed in astronomy, geography, and the trends in major cities like Trierbeck and Ferland.

"Truly a famous writer, Aurore," Lia couldn't help but admire, "No wonder you can handle any genre."

Aurore curiously asked, "Have you read my work?"

"I've been reading since your first book. Back then, I was still a young girl," Lia smiled with bright eyes, "By the way, can you sign for me?" As she searched for paper and a pen, the small silver bells on her headscarf and boots jingled.

"Are they sealing objects?" Aurore, who had heard from Lumian about the four small bells, asked curiously.

Lia took out a stack of notepaper and a pen and casually replied, "Yes, they can actively warn and enhance me, but they have requirements: they must be fashionable, must be a dress, and must be loved. Otherwise, they won't work and might mislead you or lead you to hidden dangers."

"I can't tell if these bells were originally for a man or a woman," Aurore laughed.

Lumian agreed.

If the bells were from a woman, they retained the instinct of a male animal to be vain, a lecherous one.

Lia smiled faintly, "It involves confidential files, I can't say more."

She stood up and handed the notepaper and pen to Aurore.

Aurore signed while asking, "Which genre do you like best?"

"Romance," Lia answered without hesitation, "Your first book had a significant impact on me!"

"Early writing wasn't very refined, quite naive, with many stiff plot points and overly sentimental dialogues, lacking realism," Aurore modestly admitted, a bit embarrassed.

Lumian habitually "supplemented," "But it was sincere and novel."

He had also read his sister's first book, a story of a couple's separation and reunion, mixed with adventure, misunderstandings, and terminal illness, a pioneering work in the contemporary Ins world.

Of course, this also drew criticism from many conservative writers and critics, mainly the flaws Aurore had just mentioned. They even argued that it couldn't be considered a literary work, just a simple popular one.

"Indeed," Lia took back the paper and pen, looked at Aurore, and smiled, "Is there any chance you could become an informant for our Eighth Bureau?"

"We mainly target rogue Beyonders because they are uncontrollable and could cause disasters or use their powers for evil, satisfying their desires."

"Over these few days in the village, I've carefully observed you and your brother, confirming that you are very law-abiding Beyonders. Before coming to Cordoba, our intelligence also showed that you have never done anything bad publicly."

"This meets our recruitment standards, and once you become our informants, you won't have to worry about being killed by official Beyonders."

Aurore was moved, glanced at Lumian, and nodded lightly, "I'll consider it, and I'll answer you after the cycle ends."

Lumian instantly understood what his sister's glance meant: I have no problem, but will you, with your severe contamination, pass the test?

The two returned to Aurore's bedroom.

Aurore sat on the edge of the bed, glanced at the door, and whispered, "Lia has high emotional intelligence."

"How so?" Lumian also felt that Lia had made the atmosphere in the study very pleasant.

Aurore smiled, "She mentioned me and asked for a signature to build a connection. Building a connection was to pave the way for the subsequent recruitment, which was to alleviate our distrust and guard, so we can cooperate better in the coming days."

The entire process was smooth, without making me feel repulsed or guarded, which is a sign of high emotional intelligence. "Learn from her!" Lumian thought about the conversation and self-mockingly agreed.

Aurore was amused, leaning forward and back, "Very self-aware!" She then rubbed her golden hair, "I'll sleep a bit; my eyes aren't fully recovered yet, and I need more rest. Wake me up at 10 PM, and I'll help you watch at 1 AM. It's your first night watch, so it's better to be cautious."

Lumian had no objections and readily agreed. He watched his sister lie down on the bed without any reservations, pull the blanket over herself, and close her eyes.

The room instantly became abnormally quiet.

Lumian quietly turned off the desk lamp, drew the curtains, and sat in the chair by the desk. In the crimson moonlight seeping in, he quietly gazed at his sister's defenseless sleeping face, his heart gradually calming.