After a few seconds of silence, Hol lowered his voice. “If that’s true, it lets us back‑solve our first conclusion: that person has to be inside this church.”

“Right.” Luo Wei nodded. “I think he forced you into the tournament so he could watch you more closely.”

“But only academy professors can enter the viewing area,” Theodore countered. “You just said he couldn’t be a professor.”

Hol was exasperated. “Senior, did you forget why we came out here?”

Theodore thought. “Wasn’t it because we heard someone say the Divine College squad used privilege to get a private lounge?”

Hol: …

He seriously wondered if Krakens were really as smart as the stories claimed.

Gladys, pressed past her gloom, forced out haltingly, “No… Divine College… brought a chaperone… tailing them… maybe.”

Hol shot Theodore a look. See? Even the least brainy one caught the point.

Theodore curled his lip and didn’t explain. He just didn’t feel like thinking—there were two perfectly good external brains here anyway.

Hol withdrew his gaze. “We walked the whole way and didn’t see a single Church cleric. It’s Divine College’s first time competing. I don’t believe the Church would be that relaxed.”

Luo Wei agreed. “If the Church really sent someone, he can’t stay hidden forever. Give it a bit. I doubt he can keep this up long.”

Someone who enjoys pulling other people’s destinies like marionette strings won’t stay patient once the puppets strain to snap them.

If she were him, Round Two would be the perfect moment to tighten the strings again.

“Alright, let’s head back.”

Luo Wei turned—then something flickered at the edge of her vision. A faint ripple of magic brushed a corner of the wall.

Her eyes sharpened. “Axina!”

Silence.

Axina? Where?

The other four scanned the area—nothing. Not even a fly.

Just as they began to suspect Luo Wei was jumpy and imagining things, a sugary voice oozed from the corner.

“How did you know it was me?”

The magic peeled away; Axina’s figure resolved in front of them.

Everyone but Luo Wei started.

An Invisibility Spell—Axina could cast advanced magic!

“Who but you would smell like roses and rosemary at the same time?” Luo Wei said coldly, locking eyes with her.

She had noticed Axina’s balm long ago.

A strange blend: the sweet, deep fullness of rose essential oil; the sharp, resin-bitten freshness of rosemary with its piney bitterness.

Most people wouldn’t pair them—noblewomen dote on rose’s lush floral warmth; rosemary’s cool, spicy edge suits noblemen.

Stereotypically: rose for soft, alluring femininity; rosemary for upright masculine strength.

Fuse them and you get a hybrid of “his” and “her” scents. To date, she’d only ever smelled it on Axina.

“Oh my,” Axina feigned regret. “So the balm I blended gave me away.”

A breath of mock complaint—and then she smiled. “You really do pay attention— even remember my scent. Like it? Want me to show you how—”

“You’re choking me.” Luo Wei stepped back two paces.

Axina’s smile stiffened; a shard of malice flashed in her eyes. “Aren’t you afraid I’ll tell the Church your secret? I heard everything.”

Luo Wei let out a contemptuous little laugh. “You ‘heard’? Heard what—your own name?”

“With those petty tricks, you can’t slip past my eyes.”

If Axina had been there earlier, Luo Wei would have sensed her. That flare of magic just now marked Axina’s arrival.

Axina narrowed her eyes. “Luo Wei, I can’t beat you in wordplay—but when it comes to magic talent…”

…

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