The small courtyard, which had been thoroughly peaceful for over a year, had lately been receiving more and more visits from guards — a clear sign of Thomas's quiet hostility.
"Perhaps… he'll confront me directly before long?"
Raylin sighed. "This situation, especially at such a critical juncture, is troublesome…"
With that, Raylin closed his eyes.
"At this point, no amount of playing weak or making promises will convince Thomas again. I've already done that too many times, and having Sophia act out a deception won't work either — her intelligence is frankly dubious, and he'd see through the ruse immediately…"
"Unless I directly manipulated his mind, but that's far too demanding. Or… I could drug Sophia and send her straight to Thomas's bed? Belinda would probably go mad — her going mad alone wouldn't matter, but if she rallied Agnes to come after me as well, that'd be an even bigger headache than that fool Thomas…"
In the span of a heartbeat, Raylin had already considered every possible outcome of this situation and realized he seemingly had no option left except to flee.
But that was the least likely option of all!
In truth, ever since entering the Holy City and planting the Seed of Wisdom, Raylin hadn't stepped a single foot outside this courtyard.
After all, everything he held precious — matters of life and death — was all here. How could he possibly relocate?
Moreover, once he left this base he had so carefully cultivated over time, complete with all its layers of concealment, he had no confidence he could successfully hide within the Holy City.
"Playing weak won't work! It seems the only option is to demonstrate strength!" Raylin stroked his chin. Sometimes, a measured show of deterrence could still serve its purpose.
True, he would certainly face retaliation afterward, but for Raylin — with his plan on the verge of success — all he needed now was a little more time.
"A bit of hesitation from his side — surely that much can be bought!" A gleam appeared in Raylin's eyes.
"Ahem… Sophia, wait!" Having made up his mind, Raylin immediately called out to Sophia.
"Nick, is something else wrong?" Sophia skipped over to Raylin, a wiff of youthful fragrance mingled with the vitality of adolescence drifting toward him.
Following close behind came the warning glares from the guards.
"Oh! I need you to deliver something to your sister!"
Raylin paid the guards' threatening looks no heed whatsoever and smiled at Sophia.
"What is it? Something yummy? The barbecue you made last time, Nick, was sooo delicious!" Sophia's eyes lit up.
"It's not food, you little glutton!" Raylin shook his head with a chuckle, never having imagined that his culinary skills from his previous life would have fans in another world. "It's a protective talisman! Take it to your sister. It might help her with this mission."
One didn't need to think hard to know that a quest capable of yielding a Holy Light Crystal would be tremendously dangerous. Belinda alone — even as a fourth-tier powerhouse, with the backing of both Agnes and the Stewart family — would still face enormous peril.
And Raylin could use this opportunity to flex his muscles and showcase his strength to outsiders.
However, given his current state, it was entirely unsuitable for him to go out in person, so he could only entrust Sophia. He trusted that, however naive she might be, she would take the safety of her own sister seriously.
"Alright! Sophia will definitely deliver the item!" Sophia clenched her fist and nodded firmly.
"I believe in you!" Raylin inclined his head, then made his way to the edge of the garden plot and plucked a leaf from the verdant little tree.
"This is it! Give this to your sister!"
The emerald-green leaf was ringed with a hazy, ethereal glow that even made Sophia's eyes go slightly unfocused for a moment.
"I understand!" Sophia tucked the leaf away with the utmost care, and even her eyes seemed to gain a new spark of liveliness.
It appeared that in this brief encounter alone, she herself had already undergone some sort of change — something that exceeded even Raylin's expectations.
"Let's go! Do you really want to get scolded by Brother Thomas?"
Sophia cast a glance at the guards hovering warily around them, then strode out with a composed bearing, like a dignified princess.
The guards exchanged helpless glances, then trailed behind her with drooping heads, looking for all the world like an honor guard escorting royalty.
"The effect is that strong? From just a brief contact!"
Raylin's pupils narrowed slightly as he gazed at the small green tree in the garden.
"A branch clone of an Ancient Tree of Wisdom — and it actually has such a powerful, almost unbelievable effect on the awakening of intellect!"
"Wait — could Sophia's insistence on coming here so often also be influenced by it? She sensed that this place could bring her tremendous benefits, which is why she was willing to defy Belinda's instructions!"
Gradually, Raylin suddenly realized the true reason behind Sophia's dogged visits. It seemed that her earlier fondness had only been a small part of it. What drove her to break through her sister's prohibition could only be her craving for wisdom.
"Good! This effect makes me far more confident in the plan!"
Raylin clenched his fist in silent resolve.
……