What do you mean by "this is a dating game"?

When did Fox join the Silver Wolf?

Before, Farrow would never have known that Fox was now a prominent figure, and that he had been completely eliminated, with the information now open and transparent.

Pharos said, "He's been with the Silver Wolves for eighteen years."

Eighteen years...

Sieg was speechless, overwhelmed by a sense of absurdity, and he was somewhat dazed.

"I met Oz not long before I met Fox. Fox took eighteen years to become the leader of the Silver Wolf Gang..."

"In other words, the current timeline is roughly eighteen years after the normal start of the story."

He twirled his fingers, deep in thought.

"Does Fox still recognize me? Or is it that only those four women retain the memory?"

Eighteen years have passed, and the world has changed dramatically.

Oz is a witch whose physical condition is fixed and does not age with the passage of time. Her lifespan is far beyond that of normal humans, and she is actually a different species.

But the human heart cannot be immune to wear and tear.

What will it be like when we meet again?

In Sieg's mind, Oz is still that quiet, lazy, trouble-averse, and socially withdrawn girl with a strong thirst for knowledge and curiosity.

For Sieg, the world of scintillation is static;

But for Oz, the world is continuous.

She has truly lived through eighteen years, personally experiencing the weight of time. Perhaps she has matured through the erosion and tempering of time.

What she might prefer is no longer the sweet opera cake, but rather bread slices with only the aroma of wheat.

The more I think about it, the more confused I become.

Sieg closed his eyes and rebooted his brain, banishing those melancholic and sentimental emotions.

"Damn it!"

Grapefruit suddenly made a loud noise.

She stormed back, pouting, and said, "They didn't have any money on them, making me happy for nothing!"

Pharos, unfazed, asked, "You mean they come to the Fire Palace risking their lives, bringing all their possessions with them, so you can kill them and take all their wealth?"

"But those seven guards were carrying a lot of money! More than a dozen gold dragon coins!"

Grapefruit is still unacceptable.

Sieg was speechless: "That means they're planning to do this job and run away as soon as possible. These guys obviously don't intend to do it themselves; they're part of the reserve team. Reserves, of course, won't carry the money with them."

"Disappointing."

Grapefruit crossed her arms.

Sieg asked, "What's the next step? Go find that peach?"

"No need to look anymore, this beacon is about to close."

Grapefruit was holding a timer that looked like a pocket watch.

This is a timekeeping device used exclusively by the Fire Palace; one division on the dial represents one hour.

The vast majority of first-order fire palaces exist for only seven natural days.

When the time comes, all adventurers will be forcibly expelled, and the Cinder Palace will perish.

The next time it is opened, the Fire Palace will be reset.

Everything inside was restored to its original state, and the adventurer could not leave any trace inside.

Sieg stared intently, just as the pointer reached its end, signaling the end of this beacon-making process.

Grapefruit said, "It's almost time. I've done my best. Whether Peach lives or dies depends on her fate."

Turbulent currents stirred, and the earth began to tremble.

Everything around him crumbled and peeled away, turning into clumps of dirty color that fell off, and the [Moon Forest] was collapsing.

A strong squeezing sensation came over him, and everything went black before Sieg's eyes. He felt like he couldn't breathe.

The next instant, the terrifying pressure vanished, and he instinctively gasped for breath, smelling the completely different air.

He opened his eyes.

Before them lay a vast plaza, teeming with people, each clad in armor and wielding weapons. They were all adventurers, equally adventurous, exploring the Moon Forest.

"It's finally over!"

"Aww! Time for a drink!"

These are the victorious adventurers.

They were noisy and boisterous, celebrating the harvest.

Some adventurers looked solemn.

They were covered in mud and looked dejected, clearly having suffered a defeat.

Others had red and swollen eyes, and their gazes were vacant; they had probably lost a companion.

Sieg took everything in, his heart remaining calm and undisturbed.

That's what the beacon tower is like.

A dreamland filled with the scent of gold.

A mass grave piled high with countless bones.

……

……

"Lord Oz, Commander Fox of the Silver Wolf Pack has sent word that Miss Peach has returned safely. She's currently at Silver Wolf headquarters. Should I send someone to bring her over?"

Inside a study.

A thick, soft carpet covered the floor, and an exquisitely crafted crystal wall lamp emitted a steady glow. Flames rose in the fireplace, and the firewood crackled.

A very respectable old man stood in front of an oil painting and spoke with utmost deference.

It was a landscape painting, depicting a tranquil corner of the countryside.

"Need not."

A cold voice came from the oil painting on the wall.

The old man was used to it.

That oil painting is "alive".

On the canvas, the moon sways, the wind blows, and the grass and trees sway gently. On the left, a red brick house has wisps of smoke rising from its chimney.

The light in the window of the cottage flickered, as if someone had hidden a candle in the painting, and the candlelight was swaying.

Take another closer look.

Through the window of the cabin, you can vaguely see a woman lying in an armchair.

Every now and then, she would flip through the book in her hand.

That's Oz.

Her voice pierced through the oil painting, clear and distinct: "Who saved Peach?"

The old man shook his head: "The students we sent out haven't left the Fire Palace yet. They must have rescued themselves, or they must have had the help of a powerful person. The latter is more likely."

Pause for one second.

He added, "Commander Fox said that after Peach escaped danger, she specifically asked him to inquire about a person named 'Sieg' at the Thieves' Guild. This 'Sieg' might be the person who helped her."

Some changes happen silently and swiftly.

Oz always thought she had let go of the past, but when she heard those two words with her own ears, she was stirred like a storm.

"boom!"

Thunder roared!

Golden lightning flashed across the canvas, and torrential rain poured down. The tranquil night scene in the oil painting on the wall vanished completely. The rain surged like a dragon, crushing trees and destroying ears of wheat. The dampness of the soil, mixed with a strong smell of blood, overflowed from the frame.

Crimson blood flowed continuously.

An immense pressure swept over him, and the old man trembled with fear, even having the urge to kneel down. The gushing blood submerged his shoes, and he sensed the impending doom.

"Lord Oz... what's wrong?"

He did his best to control his body from trembling.

"What's Sig Fox's reaction to this name?"

Heavenly Sound Initiation.

Oz's already cool voice became sharper than ever before.

"this……"

The old man's Adam's apple bobbed as he said, "Commander Fox said... it's a name that... uh... is nostalgic."

nostalgia.

is it?

Oz chuckled. "It's so funny it sends shivers down my spine. Sig... Sig. Watts, I need all the information on this 'Sig,' preferably in this study! If necessary, we can use force."

"Yes."

Watts lowered his head and solemnly agreed.

He discovered that the horrific scene he had just witnessed seemed to be an illusion.

No blood spilled from the picture frame, his shoes and carpet were dry, and the fire in the fireplace had not gone out.

only……

He raised his head slightly.

In the oil painting, the sky is still overcast with dark clouds and golden lightning.

"Sig".

What magic do these two words possess that could cause such a great witch to lose her composure like this!