Egilina's smile was rigid, and she couldn't utter a single word for a long time.

She indeed wanted to kill the two traitors herself, and Granni's intervention had spared her the trouble, for which she should have been thankful. However, Julie's last words were not simple. Even when close to death, Julie showed no concern for Roland or even the StarGazers, which suggested that someone was backing her.

While Roland fought valiantly, this person calmly gathered valuable jewelry and left without a fuss. Such calmness, even cold-bloodedness, was remarkable. Such a person wouldn't panic and spout nonsense.

Egilina murmured softly, "A force even the StarGazers cannot provoke?" She repeated it several times before being awakened by Granni's reminder.

Blaming Granni now was pointless since the deed was done, but the barbarian's impulsive and irritable nature still troubled her. She gestured for Granni to put down the axe and sit opposite her. After moving the axe away discreetly, Egilina felt somewhat relieved, not having to worry about Granni acting rashly.

Seeing Egilina's caution, Granni felt somewhat embarrassed. She glanced at the corpses on the ground and asked carefully.

"Miss Xaki, was I wrong to kill them?"

Egilina was somewhat speechless. Arguing with a barbarian was pointless, but she still earnestly explained her deductions in terms the barbarian could understand. Her intention was for Granni to be less impulsive in the future, yet Granni merely pouted and muttered a complaint:

"Miss Xaki, you're skilled in divination. Can't you just divinate their background?"

Egilina: "..."

She realized that she had been influenced by the barbarian's way of thinking. Like those who wear glasses and forget they're wearing them, she had forgotten herself. She nodded and smiled, saying, "Of course, I will divinate. You clean up here and sew the bodies together."

"Miss Xaki!" Granni protested loudly, "This is too much for me. Tearing things apart is easy, but sewing is asking for my life!"

"This is your punishment for acting recklessly!"

Remembering her status as a captive, Granni immediately fell silent.

Egilina left the secret chamber, leaving behind sewing thread and needles. Granni's fingers were actually quite dexterous; she was just accustomed to solving problems with strength, not lacking in skill. Forced by the command, she had to pick up the sewing needle, clumsily threading it. Although unaccustomed, she earnestly began her temporary job as a tailor to sew the corpses.

After threading the needle, looking at Lana and Julie lying on the ground, she felt a twinge of remorse.

"Why did you two fools have to betray our master?"

"For the sake of serving our master together, I still have to sew you up. What a hassle."

As Granni muttered complaints, Egilina, whom she considered a divination master, took out tarot cards, preparing for divination.

Egilina, having suffered backlash from a previous divination, chose the least likely method to backlash this time. If anything went wrong, she would just discard the cards. Julie's last words had unnerved her.

After preparing herself with various enhancement spells and shields, she began the divination. Although the sorcerous shields were of little use against backlash, at least they calmed her down, psychologically.

The first card revealed was the "Mystery", representing the unknown.

Egilina took a deep breath, forcing herself to adjust her mindset. Mystery was the worst start, indicating an unpredictable outcome and requiring much more effort in divination. Normally, receiving the Mystery would mean discarding the cards. But this time was different; discarding the cards now would mean losing track of the nearest fate node,and future divinations would be even harder.

Despite the significance, she had to proceed.

What’s wrong with Roland Galaxia? Even two of his maids were unpredictable, leaving her uncertain whether investing on Roland was the right choice.

Dispelling her confusion, Egilina's gaze steadied. Investing in Roland was her decision; if trouble arose, she couldn't back down. She chose to trust her sixth sense.

The StarGazers, as navigators of fate's river, viewed those people as both a calamity and an opportunity.

Egilina drew the second card and placed it on the table. Seeing this card, her newly found courage dissipated.

"Desecration" implied that further observation would offend the great Gods.

She had the answer by now.

Behind the maids was a deity. She couldn't and dared not to guess which deity it was, but it didn't matter. Even the least powerful deity could kill her with a glance. The divine realm was not meant for mortals to pry into.

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There was no joy in uncovering the truth, her soul completely dominated by fear. Given another chance, she would stay as far away from this whirlpool as possible. She was tearless with regret.

Initially, she saw potential in Roland, still a baron, and wanted to make an angel investment during his time of need, only to find herself on a pirate ship. Her fate was now tied to Roland's.

Roland was waiting in the bedroom for her news; she couldn't just run over and say her investments were a misunderstanding, suggesting a return to the starting point.

A misunderstanding? Who would believe that?

After wallowing in self-blame, Granni's thunderous voice woke her.

"Miss Xaki, the bodies are sewn up. Would you like to give it a check?"

Granni stood at the door, smiling invitingly. Although barbarians were clumsy, they weren't fools; she could see that Egilina had no intention of killing her in a fit of rage.

While barbarians regarded death as an honor, she was still young and not ready for that honor. Egilina, startled awake by Granni, softened her gaze. Considering the maids might have been sent by deities, it wouldn't surprise her if this barbarian girl was a messenger of the war god. Well, in that case, the God backing Julie and Lana should go for the War God for revenge! It’s none of her business now!

Egilina tried to console herself with that thought, though she actually didn’t believe in such coincidence. Anyway, her expression relaxed, and she realized she should meet Roland first.

She smiled at Granni and nodded.

"Granni, you go have some rest. I need to converse with your master."

Somewhat confused, Granni sensed Egilina's friendly attitude. She laughed, shaking her head, and muttered.

"Miss Xaki, I'm no 'miss.' I'm just an orphan from a barbarian tribe. Just call me by my name."

With that, she quickly left.

Egilina locked her door. She took out a crystal ball to report the battle's proceedings to Master Stevenson in brief. As she hesitated over how to mention the matter of the maidservants, Stevenson had already sensed something amiss.

"Lina, is there something you can’t tell me about?"

"I wouldn't hide anything from you, but this matter is complicated. Roland's two maids betrayed him and were executed by another maid with an axe."

There was a long silence from Stevenson across the crystal ball before he slowly spoke:

"And what’s wrong with that? Well, if you go to a free market and spend some money, you can get a cartload of maids, is such a trivial matter really worth mentioning... Ah, are they special in some way?"

Stevenson halted his rebuke midway, realizing Egilina wouldn't bother him with trivialities.

After pondering for a moment, Egilina said, "Master Stevenson, I didn't notice anything special about them. But during my divination of their fates, I drew the card 'Mystery'."

"Mystery?" Stevenson's brow furrowed, his heart pounding rapidly.

"A single Mystery card doesn't explain much. What about the second card?"

"Desecration."

The air turned thick with tension, as Master Stevenson and his student Egilina Xaki locked eyes in a deafening silence.

After a long while, Stevenson took a deep breath, his voice trembling slightly, "Lina, you were there, you see clearer than me, what do you think we should do?"

"Master Stevenson, my opinion is to act as if nothing happened. I interrupted the divination early and didn't produce a result; perhaps the great existence didn't notice."

"Lina, the power of the great existence far exceeds your imagination. Your very thought is already an act of desecration."

"Master Stevenson, we have no other choice. I've already informed Roland that the StarGazers looks favorably upon him, intending to invest. There's no turning back now."

After addressing this, Egilina felt unusually calm, her heart free of any unease.

What's done is done, no point in regrets.

Stevenson frowned in silence, before slowly saying:

"Lina, as cold as it may sound, I hope Roland becomes your direct vassal."

Egilina fell silent, understanding her Master Stevenson's words.

If Roland were to surrender in defeat and join the StarGazers as a lord under its banner, being directly under Stevenson would mean he's a lord of the StarGazers. But under Egilina, it would be different. Should anything happen, the StarGazers could disassociate from her, to avoide any potential danger.

This strategy allowed for flexibility, a testament to Master Stevenson's political acumen. Egilina was not one to take offense like a little girl; she knew well that in politics, everything was negotiable for the greatest benefit. She held a duchess title and was well-versed in political maneuvering.

"Of course."

After discussing some details, Egilina turned off the crystal ball and left the quiet room.

Watching his disciple's fading silhouette, Stevenson's gaze was tinged with confusion.

Egilina had accepted the arrangement without complaint, her behavior impeccable. Yet, that perfection masked a distance and unfamiliarity. He knew this was how subordinates and disciples spoke, not how a father and daughter would. A daughter might act spoiled; subordinates and disciples do not.

Egilina's delicate heart was wounded. Once, he was her teacher, her superior, and her father. Not anymore.

Had he erred?

After a long silence, Stevenson's dim eyes suddenly brightened. He was right. As the head of the StarGazers, he bore responsibility for the entire organization; he couldn't afford to place it in jeopardy. He believed Egilina would understand. He would make the same decision given a hundred chances to choose again.

He wasn't just Egilina's Master Stevenson and father; he was the helmsman of the StarGazers, and he didn’t have a choice.

Walking through the castle's corridors, Egilina maintained a calm demeanor, nodding politely at the execution squad members she passed.

Though her smiles were courteous, her eyes were filled with sorrow.

She fully understood and supported his's decision without harboring any resentment. Yet, it pained her. She just desperately needed a distraction, like meeting with Roland.

At this moment, she wasn't afraid of being engulfed by fate's whirlpool; she even longed to dive in.

Approaching Roland's room, she overheard him demand in a voice filled with anger.

"Guard? Please tell Miss Xaki, I wish to see her!"

Her gloomy mood somewhat lightened. Fate had already arranged everything. Just as she wished to see Roland, he called out for her. Wasn't this the meddling of fate?

With a light-hearted smile: "As you wish, Mr. Galaxia."

The bedroom door slowly opened, and Egilina stood at the threshold, her lips curving slightly.

"May I come in?"

Roland was taken aback, certain Egilina had just arrived and wasn't loitering outside eavesdropping. The coincidence eased the initially tense atmosphere and made both of them relaxed.

Roland's anger dissipated, replaced by a smile.

"I've already surrendered in defeat; the Barony of Minhausen belongs to you. No need to ask for permission to enter."

Egilina didn't respond to Roland's joke. She sat opposite him, placing a note on the table and asked directly.

"Where would you like to transfer to? I'll help you with it. Here's a list of potential territories."

If Roland had heard this half a month ago, he would have been ecstatic, jumping at the chance to choose any place to escape Minhausen. But not anymore. Melannis loved this forest, he loved Melannis, and thus he too cherished this forest.

"I love the mountains and rivers here; I'm not going anywhere. Minhausen is my home for ever."