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

Ultimate freedom is ultimate chaos, and the borderlands are such places where money can buy everything.

King of Fire, Emperor of Star Forging.

For a long time, the two kings have ruled the border region together.

The great witch Oz has arrived uninvited.

The Firelord and the Starforger remained silent, showing neither welcome nor resistance.

Some speculate that the Great Witch Ozden is an imposter, and that she is itching to have a go at the two Celestials of the Borderlands.

But many others believe this is pure nonsense.

Everyone knows.

The King of Fire is the front man for the "Alliance of Kings" in the Western Continent, while the Star Forger Emperor has close ties with the "Abyss Council" in the Scorched Earth.

The fact that the border area was divided between the two of them was the result of a compromise between the two poles of the world.

Oz is indeed very strong, one of the best in the world today.

But how could she, on her own, possibly move two deeply rooted and long-standing organizations?

Blackscale Harbour is a commercial deep-water port.

The Lord of Blackscale leased an uninhabited island eighty nautical miles south of the port, where Oz's "Rabbit Tea Party" nested.

Ironclad ships brave the wind and waves.

Lucky Fox stood at the bow of the boat, looking somewhat nervous.

Soon, a dark and rugged mage tower came into view, resembling a lone sword piercing the sky.

"arrive."

The ironclad ship slowly docked. Walker gestured with his hand and said, "Please, Commander Fox!"

"……please."

Fox took a deep breath and followed Walker toward the Black Tower.

On the way, he saw guards lined up for drills.

Those guards weren't of high rank, ranging from first to third rank, and they were in their early twenties, the prime of their lives.

They practiced shirtless, shouting in the biting sea breeze.

One after another, blue runes covered his chest and back.

As they exerted their power, the runes flickered incessantly; this was [Life Alchemy], a technique that applied magical runes to the human body.

may be.

Fox wasn't an expert; he had only heard of this skill, and that it was quite advanced.

Only the three strongest empires in the Western Continent have mastered and extensively applied this technique to their most elite imperial soldiers.

Enter the Black Tower through its main gate, walk through the narrow, winding passage, and take the elevator.

Inside the elevator car.

Fox's anxiety reached its peak. Unable to contain himself, he asked, "Walker, what does Lord Oz want with me?"

Walker shook his head. Oz didn't explain why, and he wasn't sure either: "You should be asking about the result, right? Don't you know Sieg?"

So that's what it was all about!

Fox, disregarding everything else, went straight to the point: "Sieg... tell me, what does Lord Oz want with Sieg?"

"I don't know, they probably wanted to kill him."

"ah?!"

Fox almost jumped up!

Walker's face was serious; he wasn't joking. "I suspect that this Seeg has very likely angered Lord Oz! They are sworn enemies!"

How is that possible?

They used to be such good friends!

Fox suppressed his shock and forced a smile, saying, "This... can't be, right?"

"You have no idea what happened to Lord Oz after he heard the name 'Sieg'! It was terrifying!"

Walker had been holding back for a long time.

He recounted in detail the blood-soaked tidal wave he had hallucinated that day.

Walker was stunned.

To save face, he embellished the story, making it sound even more terrifying.

Finally, he added, "This is the first time I've ever seen Lord Oz so out of control! I'm quite worldly-wise, but the terrifying imagery was overwhelming. I could even smell the 'end of the world,' and my body stiffened, unable to move! Lord Oz must hate this Seeg to the core."

Oh, this.

Fox was stunned.

He was somewhat relieved that he was perceptive enough not to be foolish enough to think it was a good thing and reveal the existence of Brother Sieg.

But what should we do now?

A click.

The elevator stopped, and Walker manually opened the door, looking at the bewildered Fox: "We're here, let's go."

Several days later.

Oz's study came into view once again.

Last time he came, Fox felt only anticipation and excitement, but this time, he felt a strange sense of tragic grandeur, as if he were heading to his execution.

Walker pushed open the door and entered, saying, "Lord Oz, Commander Fox has arrived."

"Um."

From the oil painting on the wall, Oz's voice rang out: "Sit down, Fox."

Fox sat down in the chair.

He placed his hands on his knees, very properly.

There was nothing unusual in the oil painting.

The sun shines warmly, the wheat fields ripple like waves, and the cherry trees in front of the red-brick cottage are laden with bright red fruit.

Fox took a deep breath; he knew he had to do something.

Instead of passively waiting to be asked questions, it's better to take the initiative.

Seize the initiative!

Fox said, "Lord Oz, I've seen it! Walker showed me that the person wasn't Brother Sig! He looks too young, a whole twelve years younger than me, it couldn't be Brother Sig!"

"snort."

sneer.

Oz's voice was calm: "Looks young? Fox, my appearance hasn't changed either."

"...You're a great witch, you're not supposed to age."

"You're still as stupid as ever, you haven't improved at all. Do you know how capable he is? Do you really think your 'Big Brother Sig' can't even do something as simple as staying young forever?"

That makes a lot of sense.

Fox realized that his argument was untenable.

Oz's voice turned stern, extremely serious: "I'm asking you this seriously now. I hope you'll answer carefully. Fox, was the person you met today your 'Big Brother Sig'?"

An immense aura pressed down on his shoulders!

Oz stopped being polite; she dropped her amiable facade and faced Fox as if he were a true enemy.

Fox, but only at the fourth rank.

How can one bear being treated seriously by the world's top figures?

Oz didn't even release his magic before he was injured by the "aura" and was unable to speak, trembling.

but.

It is precisely at moments like these that a person's true nature is revealed.

Fox would never betray Sig, and he continued lying: "No. Lord Oz, I'm sure he's not Sig. I'm so close to Brother Sig, believe me, I won't mistake him."

"I saw what he looked like."

With just one sentence, Oz plunged Fox into an ice cave!

He stood frozen in place.

Oz continued, "Your reactions just now precisely demonstrate that you believe he is 'Sieg'. Otherwise, I really can't understand why you would deny it so vehemently after seeing that face that is exactly the same as it was eighteen years ago."

"You should at least say he 'might be Sieg.' Then tell me he looks exactly like Sieg, only he's too young. That would make sense."

No one spoke again in the study.

The firewood in the fireplace crackled and popped, a chilling sound.

Walker stepped forward and demanded, "Fox! You're lying to me?"

Fox took a deep breath.

He slowly stood up, looking up at the red-brick cottage in the oil painting: "Lord Oz... I don't know what happened after you and my brother left Blackscale City..."

Oz listened in silence.

Fox spoke with genuine emotion and excitement, "But you two were so close back then! I know better than anyone that Brother Sieg truly cared for you! Brother Sieg told me not to say it, but I have to say it today!"

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a red velvet box adorned with gemstones.

Fox's voice trembled as he continued, "This was something Brother Sig asked me to keep safe before you and I left Blackscale City. It's been eighteen years now."