Rumor (2)

Silence Tower, 32nd floor.

“Please come in.”

Following the guidance of the chief magician, a woman entered.

“It’s an honor to meet you, Lord of the Wallin Tower.”

“…”

“I heard that Lord Wallin, the incarnation of the cold and an Archmage, was coming, so I rushed to prepare but…”

“You don’t have to make excuses. I didn’t come here to exchange pleasantries.”

“Ah, yes…”

“Leave.”

As the Wallin Tower Master gestured, the man bowed and left the reception room.

Her cold expression twisted slightly.

‘Reed Adeleheights Roton…’

Thinking of that name, her hands clenched involuntarily.

The reason she came here was because she heard a rumor.

The rumor that before Project: Flower Garden was destroyed, a child was adopted through slave trading.

‘What on earth is he up to?’

Doubt filled her mind.

It didn’t sound good that a twisted person suddenly adopted a daughter.

That’s why she wanted to see it with her own eyes.

Footsteps echoed outside the reception room door.

Dolores calmed her heart.

As she maintained her composure, the door opened, and a man entered.

Ashen hair, tied back into a ponytail unlike the old days, neatly arranged hair that reached down to his eyes, revealing faintly shining golden eyes.

Silent lips beneath fierce eyes.

Wearing a black and red uniform, he exuded a sense of weight.

‘He didn’t used to be like that…’

Reed was known to live a noble life, showing off his wealth.

The last time she saw Reed, his hair was loose, and he wore gold and red clothes.

Now he felt more like a servant than a noble.

He had changed.

Yes, he had changed.

Dolores didn’t know what to say about that gap.

This time, Reed observed Dolores.

‘This person is the Lord of the Wallin Tower…’

Appearing calm was also a desperate attempt to suppress his nerves.

Her blue hair sparkled as if sprinkled with gem powder.

Her red lips stood out in contrast.

She wore a blue and white uniform, befitting the Wallin Tower.

Reed assessed her with his 「Talent Appraisal」.

Name: Dolores Jade

Occupation: Lord of Wallin Tower

Age: 26 years old

Alignment: Lawful Good

Health 892/892

Stamina 250/250

Mana: 10,580/10,580

[Traits]

「Archmage」, 「Incarnation of Cold」 「Lord of Wallin Tower」, 「Escolleia Senior Graduate」

[Stats]

<Magic Lv. 6>, <Magic Studies Lv. 5>, <Mana Sensitivity Lv. 6>, <Elemental Sensitivity Lv. 6>, <Spirit Sensitivity Lv. 4>, <Ruling Power Lv. 5>, <Commander Lv. 4>, <Agility Lv. 3>

[Unreleased Traits & Abilities]

<Elemental Sensitivity Lv. 7>

‘Is she really the Lord of Wallin Tower…?’

Reed tilted his head as he looked at her.

The person standing before him was different from the information he knew about <Disaster 7>.

‘Wasn’t the Lord of Wallin Tower a man?’

Before Reed’s ambition was revealed in the game, there was a place in the tower where villains, who would appear as the main villains, plotted to destroy the continent by defeating the Lord of the Wallin Tower.

‘He wasn’t as bad as Reed, but still a disgusting character…’

His name was Ludis Grancia Jade.

He was a person who would flatter and curry favor, only to stab his victims when they let their guard down.

As Reed wondered why the Tower Master had changed, Dolores bit her lower lip slightly.

Seeing her expression, Reed offered a greeting.

“I am Reed Adeleheights Roton, Lord of the Silence Tower.”

A greeting between Tower Masters.

He placed his hand on his chest and bowed as respectfully as possible.

Dolores responded with equal politeness.

“…I am Dolores Jade, Lord of Wallin Tower.”

Despite her frightening expression, Dolores showed proper manners.

After exchanging courtesies, they returned to their original roles.

Reed walked to the opposite side of her and sat down.

Dolores was the first to speak.

“You didn’t attend the Tower Master Conference.”

There was a hint of annoyance in Dolores’ tone.

He immediately replied, as it was something he had anticipated.

“I was busy that day.”

“…What did you say?”

Dolores made a baffled expression as if she had misheard.

It was not the words themselves but the tone that made her feel uneasy.

Reed caught on to this immediately.

“No, I was busy.”

He tried to be polite, but sensing that it wouldn’t suit Reed’s personality, he hastily changed his approach.

And, as if he had given the right answer, her expression relaxed.

By relaxed, it meant her baffled expression turned back into a guarded face, like a cat that had its territory invaded.

“What were you busy with?”

“Isn’t it too hasty to ask that? Let’s have some tea first.”

“I’m not in the mood for tea.”

“Then I’ll drink it.”

Reed calmly drank the tea and spoke.

“I was wrapping up a project.”

“The project must be the Flower Garden. Was it so important that it made you skip the Tower Master Conference?”

“Yes, it was.”

“Why?”

“Because it was abandoned.”

Her expression hardened further.

It was as if she felt betrayed by the expectations she had.

“Then at least you should have come in person and announced it to us, shouldn’t you?”

Her voice quivered with anger.

Reed made a guess based on her words.

‘She must have been someone who had high hopes for the Flower Garden too.’

He was right.

Since he had raised their expectations, he should have apologized at the Tower Master Conference for crushing them.

But what could he do?

They had the abilities of adults, but Reed’s abilities were still like those of a snotty-nosed child.

So, he acted petty and childish.

“I had a bit of a hard time.”

“What kind of hardship did you, with your cold-blooded and thick-skinned personality, experience?”

“…”

‘But why does she sound so immature in her speech? She seems more like a child than me. Well, she actually is younger, but…’

Reed suppressed his emotions and answered as politely as possible.

“I have my difficulties too.”

“Everyone does. But they don’t show it outwardly. Especially not you. You would have participated in the Tower Master Conference somehow.”

“Would I?”

“But instead, you changed everything. The Flower Garden, the adoption, and even your attire…”

Dolores’ eyes didn’t leave his uniform and hairstyle.

It was the most noticeable change in appearance.

“When I’m working, it’s too distracting.”

Originally, it was unclear how Reed would have looked, but now, just looking at the gold thread on his arm attracts attention.

That’s why he added a heavy black color and mixed it with a red color that suits the Lord of the Silence Tower.