When Rastina got up in the morning, she found that Lisidorwei was missing.

"Lisidorwei has some errands to run and won't be back for a few days. We don't need to worry about her."

Rastina couldn't help but feel a bit worried: "Mr. Doro isn't going with her? Miss Lisidorwei is a girl, she could be in danger."

"Don't worry, Lisidorwei isn't that fragile, and she's hired some guards, too."

Mohe lied without batting an eye: "Speaking of which, is Mr. Doro going to meet your old friend today?"

Doro was taken aback and realized what Mohe was suggesting, then nodded: "Yes."

"Old friend?"

Rastina was a little confused.

Mohe further explained: "Yesterday, Mr. Doro ran into an old friend while drinking, which is why he came back so drunk. Today, he should formally visit them. Do you need us to accompany you?"

"That's not necessary."

Mohe thought for a moment, then said: "Today, you can take Rose with you! Having a maid with you saves face for the mansion. You're now Rose's master. Meeting an old friend requires some dignity."

From what Rastina had learned about Doro during this time, she was certain he would refuse.

But after a moment of silence, surprisingly, Doro agreed to the arrangement.

He seemed a little embarrassed but still said to Rose, "Rose, I'll be relying on you today."

Although Rose wasn't entirely sure what was happening, she wouldn't refuse Doro's request: "Okay, Master Doro, today I will be your exclusive maid."

"I thought I'd have a leisurely time after arriving in this city, but it's been busier than I expected. Miss Rastina, it looks like today's entertainment is just up to the two of us."

Busy, huh?

Rastina's impression was that they were always off having fun somewhere, which was quite exhausting but felt fine, yet she always seemed to feel others were up to something else. She wasn't sure if it was her imagination.

"I'm easy..."

Mohe then smiled, joining Rastina in seeing Rose and Doro off.

The inn was now left with just Mohe and Rastina.

Mohe became a bit enthusiastic: "Miss Rastina! Today is the merchants' group's festivity. Perhaps it's time to investigate some business matters. Although doing such things mid-journey seems a bit unprofessional—Would you like to accompany me?"

"Oh~ Of course, Miss Mohe, that's certainly something to do! Business matters are precisely what need research and discussion. My father often tells me that business has no fixed method, and being well-informed is crucial. Never underestimate anyone's wisdom and haggling is a great skill."

Thus, Mohe and Rastina set out together to survey the commercial situation of Butuo City. This didn't seem dull; on the contrary, from Mohe's perspective, it was rather interesting. They would even chat with small stall owners to see if they had any unique insights.

In this city, there wasn't much left for Mohe to do.

Of course, if someone interfered, that would be another matter... For instance, the great Saintess, Lady Charlette.

Mohe had informed Charlette of this matter in advance, so by her calculations, she should be arriving soon, right?

Once Charlette reaches here, she'll be able to push Adeline to her limits.

In such an event, there has to be someone to wrap things up. This person certainly wouldn't be Mohe or Doro, so it would only be Charlette. After Adeline's conspiracy is thwarted, the one to punish this alchemist would naturally be Charlette.

Although Mohe personally wanted to convert Adeline to the Demon Race... upon careful thought, it seemed there wouldn't be much use after conversion. After all, the opponent only knows alchemy. Alchemy is something she didn't really need a special alchemist at the residence, especially since Adeline and her alchemical philosophy were different.

...

To say it was a formal visit was putting it lightly; when Doro saw Adeline again, his expression was completely different from yesterday.

Rose, following beside Doro, finally understood who the so-called old friend was. Clearly, they had met in the mansion before. Adeline was obviously a pawn of the Demon King—otherwise, the Demon King wouldn't have brought them here.

Of course, today Rose's role was that of a maid.

She always comes out wearing a maid outfit.

So she has no intention to interrupt or greet Adeline.

"Adeline, this is the last time I'm asking you, are you really not planning to stop?"

Doro got straight to the point.

Adeline answered earnestly: "If I could, I also wish I could stop, but didn't the Demon King tell you, once the Star Tear is hung, it can't be stopped?"

The Demon King also told me, you hang it up but can't make it fall... But it's better not to tell her.

Doro felt somewhat heavy-hearted: "Then can you tell me your reasons?"

"Haven't you already decided to do something? At this point, what's the point of asking for reasons?"

"I want to hear the answer firsthand, to give up certain fantasies, just like talking to Charlette. That way, when I act, it'll feel much better in my heart." Doro never used to say such things; he thought perhaps he finally experienced some change, this change... is somewhat related to the Demon King.

Adeline seemed to realize something, she closed her eyes, adjusted her breathing, then reopened them, her resolve became firm: "Although talking about political matters to you all might just be a waste of breath, since you're insisting on an answer, for the sake of past feelings, I can tell you."

"The simplest answer is that I need to be responsible for the Alchemists. Before becoming a member of the Hero team, first and foremost, I am an Alchemist. I have studied the knowledge that countless Alchemists have continuously explored through ancient years, thereby continually growing, being able to do certain things as a member of the team is based on this foundation. Alchemy is my true essence, so—my loyalty is to Alchemy. Can you understand?"

Her explanation seemed somewhat cold and unfeeling, but it was reasonable: "I can understand. But what does that have to do with what you plan on doing? Over the years, Alchemists have also lived their lives, Alchemy is still flourishing—what necessity is there to establish a country, and why resort to destruction?"

"This question is something you should be asking the Demon King."

"I wanted to hear it from you. This is between you and me."

Adeline felt Doro's determination, she realized Doro was ready to make a decision. But she did not intend to share her thoughts with Doro, after all, betrayal is already a reality; during the last visit to Mohe's residence, Adeline had already reached an answer— they, all members of the Hero team, can no longer return to this man.

He has already decided to abandon them.

At this point, even if she were to set aside her dignity, like an abandoned dog pleading for his shelter, what good would it do?

She also has her pride.

So, it's better this way, for him to hate and despise her, it's better than being completely uncared for.

"At the end of the day, it's a matter of money. Using money makes it easier to understand... using resources, wealth would be more ambiguous—this is related to mathematics, which you don't quite understand... so you only need to know that when the number of Alchemists reaches a certain level, the existing system will only be dragged down by the many Alchemists, or in other words, the system hampers the development of Alchemists. In short, establishing a nation is an inevitable development. The more Alchemy flourishes, the stronger the necessity."

She said Doro didn't quite understand because she also didn't understand before; it wasn't until she became a leader of an organization that she comprehended these things, without practically mastering an organization, without practically running an organization, without facing those challenges—you cannot know these issues. The effort and considerations required to maintain a large organization.

Doro didn't have this experience, so he wouldn't understand.

"But once the Alchemist Association establishes a country, it faces another problem, inherently borderless Alchemy becomes bordered. Who gets the results of Alchemy? Who doesn't? Should we involve ourselves in disputes between nations, how should the Alchemy Country further expand?" Adeline mentioned some issues, "In reality, what I'm doing is the simplest of expeditions."

Her attitude was very candid: "You think I'm doing something terribly excessive, but if I remember correctly, you don't involve yourself in conflicts between nations, war is something you tacitly agreed to, isn't it? You're looking at the problem from the wrong perspective, Gedora, you think it's the Alchemist Adeline conducting brutal actions to obliterate nations... you should rather think of it as the Queen Adeline of the Alchemist's Country invading the Human Central Empire.

This is war, Gedora!

It's my plan to carve out a piece from the Human Central Empire!"

War—Doro finally understood Adeline's thoughts, much like the past war where the united races attacked the Demon Race, the casualties then couldn't be counted, even Hero A·Gedora had to face all kinds of sacrifices.

Adeline stared at Doro: "Back then when you were the Hero, you didn't stop the war. Now, how do you plan to stop me? Accuse me of launching a war? You ought to know the meaning of war."

Doro remained silent for a moment, then said:

"I, as the Demon King's apostle, stop such a war from occurring, the world belongs to the Demon King, everything is the Demon King's private property, I must protect the Demon King's private property."

Adeline was taken aback, then she laughed.

"What an excuse, Gedora, are you serious?"

"I've said it many times, I am Doro, not A·Gedora."

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