Chapter 71 - 2.32

"Hello, it's a pleasure to meet you. My name is Ariel Maine, one of the Saintess candidates. This is Zenith Ahgren, the knight that is serving me. Would you be so kind as to let me into this tower?" Xu Jiaqi gave out a gentle, charming smile as she spoke.

This was the second day after she came out of her seclusion. She was standing in front of the Tower where Ezra resided in. To be precise, it was a confinement center that the First Child turned into his living quarters. After this desire was expressed by the First Child, the Tower immediately got renovated.

The guard who heard Xu Jiaqi's appeal raised a brow.

"...Miss Ariel, was it? I am sorry, but I don't think that a Saintess candidate would have anything good to do with the confinement center. Did you get lost, miss? This is where bad people get detained and purified. It couldn't be that you have gotten into trouble after such a short time?" The guard asked with doubtful eyes.

"Of course not. I am simply here to fulfill a purpose that I'm not able to disclose." Xu Jiaqi said. "I don't think I need to explain myself to you? Or is that the customs here? For a guard to be able to question the Saintess candidate..."

"It is not within my intentions to be insolent. However, you must have learned of the only person who lives within this Tower.. Although I am titled the confinement center's guard, the person I am guarding is the First Child. If you are wise enough, I believe that you would retract from this place. It is not a good move for you to offend the First Child before the Saintess competition even starts."

After that, the guard no longer responded to Xu Jiaqi's words, staying calm and silent no matter what Xu Jiaqi tried to do.

Sighing, Xu Jiaqi gave up and left the vicinity to discuss it with Zenith.

"... When do you think we will have a chance to meet Ezra Lancaster?" Xu Jiaqi asked, biting the tip of her thumb as she spoke. "Clearly, entering his home is impossible, and that hermit never exits the Tower. How are we going to get to him?"

"It's a shame, but that would be hard. The First Child does not attend regular meetings, and does not have any particular interest for the land's affairs except for his obligatory duties. Those duties are done inside his locked tower, so it would be hard to see him. However.. I believe that you will get the chance to see a glimpse of him in the candidate announcement party. There will be a banquet thrown to celebrate the coming of the candidates, and whether the First Child likes it or not, he will have to oblige to the rules. Since his standing is that high, naturally he would have to get acquainted with the candidates."

Especially since his position was that of a faux 'Saint', the matchup for a 'Saintess'.

"..You've done your research, huh?" Xu Jiaqi was actually rather impressed by the amount of effort Zenith put into his work, even though she was already aware that the knight was an exemplary man.

"Of course, Lady Ariel. There is no way that I will let us jump into battle without any preparation. That would be a stupid thing to do." Zenith answered simply. This was the fruits of the one week that Xu Jiaqi gave for both of them to settle down in this place.

Xu Jiaqi complimented the man internally before humming.

"Well then, it seems like there would be no other choice than to have to wait for that moment. Unless we encounter a lucky stroke or something... Which is clearly out of the question, we have to prepare something that is enough for us to attract Ezra Lancaster's attention and create an opportunity for us." Xu Jiaqi grumbled. "I already have an idea about what I would have to do, so you need not worry about that part. Rather, could you go and investigate the other candidates?"

Once again, Xu Jiaqi was just trying to make things harder for Zenith. She clearly had a System that was capable on garnering much more detailed information than the human man since he had limits in his intel. However, she just wanted to see Zenith display his strength, and how good his work could be. It was also due to the fact that she didn't want any suspicion from the knight. If she was too omnipotent, then the man would only get more and more suspicious.

"Understood, Lady Ariel. Your commands shall be followed to the highest degree." Zenith bowed. "Should I start the procedure right now?"

"Yeah, sure. I will be touring this place a little bit. I will be fine alone, so you shouldn't have to worry about that too." Xu Jiaqi laughed heartily.

The man didn't even react to her request, which was quite a harsh job. Investigating the Saintess candidates, who were supposed to collectively have a high standing or potential, that would lead to them being hard to investigate. And yet, Zenith did not complain one bit and agreed.

"Please take care of yourself, then." Zenith wished the lady well and left soon after exchanging some more conversations. Of course, in the midst of it all, Xu Jiaqi took advantage of the situation and got ahold of Zenith's hand a few times to let his body transfer energy to her.

Now that Xu Jiaqi was left alone, she broke into a devious smirk as she spoke. "Then, System, what would it take for us to infiltrate that tower?"

As she walked away from the place, she cultivated her inner energy and circulated the energy that Zenith passed onto her.

Xu Jiaqi was now capable of doing advanced training that the System assumed the leads wouldn't be able to do without much effort.

She could cultivate as naturally as she breathed. As she talked, as she spoke, as she slept.

Xu Jiaqi was building herself to be the most powerful weapon in this world, and each second was a progress for her.

System: Scary woman!