About the time I was picked up and adopted by Tallulah

After hearing about the relationship between the two, Ceylon first smiled and nodded, but when he was halfway through nodding, he froze in place.

“W-what’s going on!? Black—Orson!?”

Ceylon's eyes were wide open, moving from side to side between Orson and Hei, his cheeks flushed in disbelief.

“… Ugh, no no, that’s not what I meant!”

Hei didn't understand why Ceylon had such a reaction at first, but after a while he realized how outrageous his words were if viewed from a 'normal' person's perspective.

After hearing what he had just said to Ceylon, including his earlier response to the bodyguard, he realized the darkness of his outrageous remarks. The originally calm and silent expression on his face shattered instantly, and he blushed along with Ceylon.

"That's not the case, Miss Ceylon! Let me explain..."

Orson, who still had the ability to think, quickly stood up and explained to Ceylon. He was afraid that after the initial panic, Hei would kill Orson in order to maintain his own image.

--------

"I see... Is this an order from father..."

"Um, Miss Ceylon, I just touched Miss Hei's hair. By the way, Miss Hei's hair feels great!"

Orson added that he was not the clumsy type and gave high praise to Hei's hair.

"There's no need to express that feeling..."

Hei, who was standing aside, had not yet completely calmed down. After hearing Orson's praise without any ulterior motive, a warm current surged to his cheeks again.

After all, whether as a mercenary in the past or a guard later, the praise Hei received generally focused on her killing ability.

"Um……?"

Ceylon, who was standing by, showed a somewhat surprised expression after seeing Hei's subtle expression.

In Ceylon's cognition, Hei had never shown such a "normal" expression before, just like an ordinary girl.

——Could it be that…

Ceylon looked at Hei and Orson again.

——If you think about it carefully, both of them are guards, and they are both from the Filin tribe (from Ceylon's perspective). In addition, Orson has that reliable aura like a knight... No wonder the Black Club and Orson became familiar with each other so quickly.

Ceylon has always had a problem, which is that "Hei has almost no friends around him."

And now, a boy named Orson suddenly appeared, and quickly became familiar with Hei...

——This is an opportunity! Taking advantage of this time, I'll bring them together. At least let Hei get a true friend! Although there may be some height and age differences... but it doesn't matter!

"Miss?"

"Woooaa! Um, there's nothing, black!"

Hei asked Ceylon curiously why he suddenly looked so motivated, but Ceylon quickly shook his head and began to think about the next plan.

Keltsit sneezed again and agreed with Hermann's suggestion to turn up the air conditioning temperature.

12. Ceylon's assist, Lynx's pursuit

"Orson, is there anything you're interested in? Mine is the selection and tasting of black tea, and research related to mineralogy."

"The only thing missing is how to brew black tea... By the way, does Miss Ceylon like to study mineralogy? That's a really unpopular hobby."

"Well, this isn't really a hobby, but I just have to do it. After all... well, sorry, I can't go into this topic any further right now. After all, it's related to a 'friend' of mine."

In the forest on the edge of the volcano, Ceylon, the daughter of the mayor of Xiosta City, who can be recognized as a noble girl at first glance, walked slowly forward with a parasol, chatting with the boy beside her.

The young man next to Ceylon is Orson, who came to Xiosta for a "vacation" just to let Kal'tsit relax a little.

"Friends... I understand your motivations, Miss Ceylon. However, if it's a matter of oripathy, Miss Ceylon might consider talking to Rhodes Island."

When Ceylon mentioned "friend," he glanced at Hei, the Filin personal bodyguard who was at the front of the group, on guard. Orson probably understood why Ceylon wanted to learn about the mineralogy.

When an important partner around him accidentally contracts oripathy, he resolutely wants to come to help. This situation is not uncommon among Rhodes Island operators.

"Rhodes Island... I think I heard my father mention this name. It's the pharmaceutical company that's going to sign a contract with the local beverage industry in Xiosta City."

"Well, although the medicines currently sold at Rhodes Island are mostly energy recovery potions, first aid injections, and first aid medicines, Rhodes Island's main focus is on curing oripathy."

As the honorary leader with the highest voting rights in Rhodes Island, Orson naturally introduced Rhodes Island to Ceylon at this time.

"So Rhodes Island's main business is curing oripathy? So... when I was studying in Victoria, I seemed to have heard from my classmates at Lungmen that Lungmen had been hit by a natural disaster, and after the disaster, a private company provided great assistance in treating oripathy. Are you referring to Rhodes Island?"

After hearing Orson's introduction to Rhodes Island, Ceylon seemed to think of the rumors he had heard during his study abroad.

"Orson really knows a lot about Rhodes Island."

"Because Kal'tsit is the leader of Rhodes Island."

“I see… eh!?”

As a noble, although Ceylon does not have the airs of a "standard young lady" in people's eyes, she actually has her own reserve and pride.

Normally, Ceylon would never show a panic expression in front of strangers. However, from the time he met Orson, when he was rescued by him, when he learned that "Hei was Orson's one-day toy", and now when he knew that Kal'tsit was the leader of Rhodes Island - Ceylon lost his composure in front of Orson three times.

"Orson, you said earlier that your father was meeting with Dr. Kal'tsit. I thought it was some propaganda piece about Xiosta City... Since Rhodes Island has the ability to cure oripathy, and you, Orson, are the personal guard of Rhodes Island leader Kal'tsit..."

After knowing the identities of Orson and Kal'tsit, Ceylan lowered his head and supported his chin and began to think.

"Miss? We should leave the vicinity of the volcano immediately. The Originium Worms here are becoming increasingly difficult to observe."

Hei, who was walking in front, noticed that Ceylon suddenly stopped. She turned around and tried to signal Ceylon to hurry up.

Ceylon looked up and met Hei's eyes, and it was this eye contact that integrated the thought links in Ceylon's mind.

This noble lady went to Victoria to study the extremely unpopular "Ore Disease Research" because of black.

Black is not only Ceylon's personal bodyguard, but also Ceylon's closest friend. When Ceylon learned that Black was infected with oripathy, he did not choose to alienate the infected person, but instead devoted himself to the research of oripathy without hesitation, just to help his best friend get rid of the torture of oripathy one day.

"Hei, let's go to Rhodes Island with Orson!"

Ceylon leaned close to Hei's ear and spoke to her in a very firm tone.

"...Please allow me to refuse, young lady. You shouldn't be so arbitrary in joining this enterprise before you understand it. Moreover, the master hopes that you can gradually take over the operation of Xiosta in the future."

Hei also rejected Ceylon's request without any thought.

"Well……"

Ceylon frowned. Hei's rejection was within his expectations.

——Although Hei listens to me most of the time, when faced with an uncertain choice, she will choose the one that will better guarantee my safety.

——In other words, the reason why Hei refused to go to Rhodes Island with me to treat her oripathy was because she still didn't recognize this organization.

(Black is infected with Oripathy) - (Rhodes Island can cure Oripathy, this has been proven at Lungmen) - (I want to convince Black to go to Rhodes Island with me) - (Black doesn't understand Rhodes Island, so he will refuse) - (Black must be made to identify with Rhodes Island) - (How can we cultivate a trusting relationship between Black and Rhodes Island?) - (There is only one answer!)

Expanding from the initial question, Ceylon analyzed the problem step by step, and finally found the only root cause he needed to deal with, and also got the corresponding answer:

——We must bring together Hei and Orson no matter what, the closer the better!

Orson is from Rhodes Island. If Hei can get along well with Orson, he will naturally have a good impression of Rhodes Island and will naturally agree to go to Rhodes Island for treatment.

Simply perfect!

"Yeah, it's decided."

"...Miss?"

Hei looked at Xilan in confusion. She had no idea what the young lady was thinking. From her perspective, Xilan had suddenly made a rather outrageous request, and after she had rejected it, she suddenly became full of energy and encouraged herself. She really couldn't imagine what was going on in her mind...

"Let's put aside the Rhodes Island situation, Orson, and continue talking about our previous interests and hobbies!"

"Eh? Um... hobbies?"

Orson was also stunned by Ceylon's change of topic with almost no preparation.

"My hobby is crosstalk!"

"Hmm, I see... huh?"

Ceylon had already made up his mind: no matter what Orson's hobby was, he would try to trick Hei into taking him to places related to his hobbies. Even if Orson said his hobby was shooting or fighting, he would take Hei and Orson to Xiosta's only crossbow shooting experience center.

However, this crosstalk immediately threw Ceylon off. What the hell, it didn't sound like a hobby for someone in a position like 'bodyguard'!

Ceylon was very sure that there was absolutely no place in Xiosta City that could be found that had anything to do with this thing.

"I see, it's crosstalk... Then besides crosstalk, do you have any other hobbies, Orsen?"

Although she was a little panicked at first, Ceylon was still the mayor's daughter after all. She quickly suppressed her emotions and continued to question Orson.

"Aside from crosstalk...I don't think there's anything else I can call a hobby."

Orson frowned and thought for a moment, then responded uncertainly.

"Why are you so obsessed with crosstalk... At least there are things you can do that you don't get bored of, and that make you feel relaxed and happy, right?"

Ceylon has not given up yet and she keeps trying to seduce Orson.

"The things that make you feel relaxed are probably when you're cooking or doing housework?"

"Girl power is so high... Yeah, that's it! Well, I happen to know a restaurant that currently offers a service that allows guests to cook their own meals. Should we go there later, Orson?"

After learning about Orson's hobby, which sounded normal and somewhat feminine, Ceylon immediately made plans for the next step.

"Miss, we should return to the mansion..."

"There's nothing much we can do even if we go back now. Father is still discussing business with Dr. Kal'tsit, and the surveying equipment can't be repaired. It will take at least two or three days to replace it. How about we use this time to entertain Orson?"

Ceylon interrupted Hei and at the same time used logic that sounded flawless to guide the two.

"By the way, regarding the exploration, one of the purposes of Kal'tsit and I coming here this time is to survey the volcano. We'll probably start working on it tomorrow, so you can rest assured, Miss Ceylon."

Orson thought of one of Kal'tsit's missions in Xiosta, so he told Ceylon, hoping that she could put aside her worries.

"That's great! I feel much more at ease now, so can we go to the restaurant later?"

Ceylon smiled happily, while still keeping the topic focused on Orson's interests and hobbies.

"Why is Miss Ceylon suddenly so enthusiastic... But I don't really have anything particularly important to deal with. What do you think, Miss Hei?"

Orson rubbed his hair. He was a little confused by Ceylon's high-intensity promotion, but when he thought about how Ceylon was a very talkative person on the train before, he didn't feel too out of place.

"...I will follow the young lady's orders, and today I am your property, Orson - your personal guard."

Hei quickly changed his words, and his meaning was very clear: Me too.

"In that case, let's do as Miss Ceylon said, shall we?"

"Haha, I'm very happy that you can accept my proposal."

After getting the consent of Orson and Hei, Ceylon showed a smile of understanding and took a lighter step forward.

"Miss Ceylon, are you so passionate about cooking?"

Orson whispered to Hei beside him.

"Young lady's cooking skills? Hmm..."

Hei frowned as she thought about Ceylon's cooking skills, and then she remembered the time she cooked dark chocolate brownies for herself when Ceylon was 8 years old.

It was the most beautiful brownie Black had ever seen. The color of the cake was as deep and even as the night sky.

Of course, after Hei put out the raging fire in the kitchen caused by the oven, she still couldn't muster up the courage to put the brownie into her mouth.

"The future is promising... I guess."

“What a subtle description.”

"But even so, I'm still very happy that Miss has regained her interest in learning cooking. I will do my best to assist her while ensuring her safety."

Black said so.

30 minutes later--

In a small restaurant near the beach that covers an area of only forty to fifty square meters, Ceylon, Orson, and Hei were standing in the slightly crowded kitchen.

"I just had a chat with the head chef and owner here, and he agreed to rent the restaurant to us today. What a kind owner!"

Miss Ceylon said to Orson and Hei with a harmless smile. The restaurant had been cleared out early. The guests, waiters, and chefs were all happily on holiday. The sign at the entrance had temporarily changed to "CLOSED."

"Well, please enjoy yourselves! I've already told the boss, I'll be back in the evening, so make sure you guys do your best during this time!"

"Eh?"

"Wait a minute, Miss——"

Boom!