I'm on the Ark, and I start out as Gretchen.

To be honest, if we hadn't bumped into each other that day, given Bianca's personality... if she wanted to complete the mission later and approach the pony with a "purpose," she would probably have struggled for a long time.

“I know what you’re worried about, Mr. Marner, but there’s no need to worry. I have no ill intentions toward Maria or the Nearl family. As for the person you saw that night, it was someone I asked to protect Maria and the others.”

"I don't have the habit of dragging my friends down with me."

To allay Marna's concerns, Bianca simply laid everything bare without any concealment.

"Eh?"

Unlike her uncle, who remained calm and composed, Maria was completely flustered after hearing Bianca's words, and looked at her friend with a surprised expression.

"If you want to know, I'll tell you later." Looking at Maria's adorable expression, Bianca couldn't help but ruffle her hair and say softly.

"Ah."

Upon hearing this, Maria nodded and stopped asking questions, choosing to listen quietly.

"..."

Watching the loving interaction between the two girls in front of her, Marna raised an eyebrow slightly, but ultimately said nothing. Instead, she changed the subject, saying, "You are indeed very good at protecting them, but at the same time, you are also binding the Rinko family to you, at least in their eyes."

After speaking in a relatively calm tone, Marner turned his gaze to Bianca again, wanting to know how the girl would respond to his question.

Upon hearing this, Bianca was taken aback at first, then said apologetically:

"I'm sorry, that was an oversight on my part. I had thought about many things before, but I forgot about this aspect."

"But it doesn't matter. Whether the 'Lingguang family' becomes distant or close to me afterward, it won't stop me from protecting them. So, what does Mr. Marner think?"

To be honest, Bianca really overlooked this point, because the current Nearl family...

There were too few people... so few that she hadn't even considered bringing it up to the family level.

However, because there are few people, no matter what choices Marna, the former head of the family, makes, it doesn't really matter to her.

After all, the person that the goose wants to protect is still there, and that won't change no matter what choice she makes. Even if Maria and she are no longer friends, it will still be the same.

but……

Thinking of this, Bianca's eyes suddenly became strange. Marna shouldn't be that old-fashioned, right?

"Your method, or rather, what you obtained by exchanging chips."

Hearing Bianca's clearly meaningful words, Marna's golden eyes flickered slightly. Instead of answering directly, she continued to ask other questions.

Although Bianca's power and character stirred a sliver of hope and excitement within him, it did not mean that he would easily move the Rinko family into the house.

"Freedom and power are used as bargaining chips to exchange for the right to supervise."

"Just as you said before, Mr. Marner, there is no absolute fairness in the world. But... I will try my best to make those people within my sight have relative fairness."

As Bianca spoke, she didn't notice the confident smile that reappeared on her lips, nor did she realize how dazzling she appeared in the eyes of others.

“You are not from Kazimierz, and I cannot discern your race. So why did you choose to give up your freedom? According to you, you were just passing through at first.”

Gazing at the "sparkling" Bianca before her and listening to her words, Marna's golden eyes flashed with a hint of confusion as she asked a question she couldn't quite understand.

Before Bianca said those words, Marna thought that the girl in front of him was more inclined to use terror to "threaten and coerce" her superiors, and that it might not last long.

That's why, even though he had mixed feelings and saw hope for change in the city, he still didn't act rashly...

However... after Bianca said these words, Marner was first stunned, and then she was filled with disbelief and confusion.

“Mr. Marner, have you forgotten my initial answer? I have always protected and helped only those who need help, not specific places or individuals.” Bianca smiled slightly before continuing:

“Here I have witnessed suffering and injustice. Since that is the case, I will naturally use my own hands to change things and fight for them. Regardless of region or anything else, it is simply because I came here first and I saw it.”

"..."

Bianca's answer left Marner speechless. He slowly lowered his eyes, concealing his emotions.

He saw many things in the dazzling young woman before him… including things that brought back memories. At the same time, he felt a pang of envy, envying the girl's immense power…

"Go do what you want to do."

As soon as he finished speaking, Marna stood up, turned around, and left the tavern without lingering.

Because by now, he had learned everything he wanted to know. As for whether Bianca's words were true or false, let time and people be the witnesses.

Before that, he will protect the Rinko family...

……

"Uncle Marner just left like that? He didn't even stop you, Bianca!? You know, he tried to stop me when my sister wanted to become a gladiator..."

Maria watched her uncle leave before she recovered from her shock and whispered to Bianca.

“Heh~ Because Mr. Marner had no reason to stop me. He said he was teaching you because he was worried about you, afraid you would get hurt.” After hearing Maria’s words, Bianca chuckled and continued:

"But I am different. I have enough strength to firmly believe in myself and steadily walk on my own path."

"Hmm... Bianca, you're right. It seems we can't afford to be too lax in our swordsmanship."

Upon hearing this, Maria pouted slightly, then slumped onto the table, her expression looking somewhat like she was about to cry.

Heaven knows, Maria was already under a lot of pressure because of Bianca's excellence, and now... with someone revealing their strength, that pressure exploded instantly.

Now she no longer expects anything else; she has changed her goal to simply not holding anyone back. Not holding anyone back is a victory!

As for the craftsmen, Maria decided to give it a try; she would do her best to create a weapon suitable for Bianca!

"You're only just realizing this now? As a member of the Nearl family, you can't let your swordsmanship go to waste." Zofia raised an eyebrow slightly after hearing her child's words and said in a slightly annoyed tone.

"Yes, yes, I will definitely study hard with you, Sister Zofia."

"So perfunctory..."

"Where is it?"

……

Just as the two were playfully bickering, the old knight looked at Bianca and suddenly sighed, saying:

"Should I say that you, Bianca, are too careless, or that you trust us too much? You speak without any restraint."

“Yeah, you’re not treating us like outsiders at all. Not only did you spill everything in front of that guy Marner, but you also made us old guys the audience.”

The old craftsman Koval, who was drinking his wine, echoed this with a helpless expression.

"Don't worry, I wouldn't do that outside. I'm telling you about today so you can be mentally prepared."

After listening to these elders

After saying that, Bianca smiled and shook her head, then explained helplessly.

The reason why Daigo spoke so bluntly today is largely because he didn't want to get entangled with Marner.

Knowing Marner's character, both concealing information and acting as a riddle-teller could easily lead to misunderstandings and distrust. Therefore, it's better to reveal everything directly and use honesty and sincerity to gain some of his trust.

"You know what you're doing. As for what happened today, none of us will gossip about it, so just go ahead and do it." As he spoke, bald Martin placed a glass of mixed juice in front of Bianca.

"Well, thank you."

"Haha, there's no need to thank me. Rather, we're looking forward to changes in this place. Keep it up, little girl."

Qqun：&

----------------------

While Bianca was enjoying a gathering with her friends, the leaders of various factions in Kazimierz were re-evaluating her, deciding on their next actions and attitudes.

…………

Marna's residence

"You went to see the child, didn't you, Marna? How did it go?"

"!"

Marna had just returned home and hadn't even had a chance to relax when a familiar voice suddenly rang out, startling him.

"You came because of Bianca. If you had told me earlier, I should have received you, Mr. Russell."

After realizing what was happening, Marna's expression returned to calm, and she spoke respectfully to the somewhat aged-looking woman in front of her.

"No need for you to go to so much trouble, I'll be leaving soon. There's still a lot to do after today's commotion. Besides, I need to see this young man myself later." The blonde Kuranta woman waved her hand gently and said casually.

"..."

Upon hearing this, Marner opened her mouth as if to say something, but then swallowed her words, and finally hesitated for a moment before saying:

"She... Your Excellency Russell, you should go see her yourself."

"It seems you have a high opinion of this young man. However, based on the current investigation... he is indeed a very good kid." Upon hearing this, Grand Knight Commander Ioleta Russell nodded slightly and sighed to herself.

After she finished speaking, she turned her gaze back to the man in front of her...

"Is that wandering swordsman who went on a distant journey returning?"

"..."

"Has that wanderer not returned yet, who traversed the battlefield piled with corpses and the boundless wasteland, at the end of the fortress burned by artillery fire?"

"..."

————————————————————

afternoon--

After the party ended, Bianca, who had put on a slightly disguised act, was walking back in a good mood while pondering what had happened earlier.

Today, while having a happy gathering with Maria and the others at the tavern, Dai'e unsurprisingly received several invitations. Some were from the Supervisory Council, and others were from the Business Federation.

Although Bianca didn't particularly like these invitations, she knew she couldn't refuse them if she wanted to achieve her goals. They were both a test and an initial negotiation.

However, even if she accepted these invitations, Dai'e didn't plan to go alone. After all, it wasn't like before, when she was openly the only "person"; now she had Rita to accompany her.

"..."

Gradually regaining her composure, Bianca quickened her pace, heading straight for her knightly order's encampment.

After all, besides her own knights, there was someone she had missed dearly waiting for her there.

……

After carefully maneuvering around and avoiding a group of people, Bianca quietly returned to the Knights' encampment and went straight to her room.

Since the Immortal Blade Knights were established, and for the convenience of training and other matters, Dai'e rented an area and stopped staying in hotels, instead settling down here.