"What do you think, Brother Richard? Is it difficult to master?" Carla asked.

"Your talent must be exceptional to have mastered it so quickly," Richard replied.

The System had only given him a 1% increase after obtaining this Arcane Art—far less than usual.

It must be because of how difficult it was. No wonder even the Crimson Grand Ancestor had failed to master it.

Yet Carla had already grasped a significant portion of it in such a short time. Who knew how far she would go in the future?

If that wasn’t talent above average, then what was?

"I’m nothing compared to you..." Carla replied modestly, though her cheeks flushed slightly, making her even more alluring.

"You should keep it safe..." Richard said as he returned the silver slab to her.

"Brother Richard, you can keep it if you want to study it," she replied, clearly not minding giving it to him entirely.

However, Richard shook his head.

"It can’t be stored in a Storage Artifact. It might get lost if I carry it around... It’s safer with you. Besides, this mountain is one of the safest places in the world."

He still handed it back to Carla.

It wasn’t that he wasn’t tempted—but without being able to store it properly, it would only become a burden.

Carla could only nod.

"By the way, I’m leaving now. I need to meet Elena’s uncle—he’s going to give me the greatest weapon he’s ever forged," Richard said.

"Really?" Carla couldn’t hide her surprise.

"Brother Richard, do you know that weapon has received praise from many great figures—including my grandfather?"

"Oh..."

Richard hadn’t expected to hear that.

"Is it really that good?" he asked.

"I’ve never seen it myself... but they say it’s alive—and can cultivate..."

That wasn’t what Elena had told him.

She had only mentioned that it could upgrade itself with materials.

Who knew whether Carla’s information was exaggerated—or the truth.

"What else?" Richard asked.

"It can change form at will—becoming a sword or a spear. They say the weapon consists only of an energy core, and the energy itself shapes the weapon. Some even say its main material isn’t from this world, and it also can’t be stored in a Storage Artifact—but since it’s small, it’s easier to carry... Brother, wait a moment, I’ll come with you and take a look..."

After saying all that, Carla ran toward the stairs.

From everything she described, Richard couldn’t help but think it might be true.

Perhaps Elena had been too nervous around him to explain everything properly.

Since Carla wanted to come along, he waited.

She returned quickly.

Inside her castle, she opened her orange portal again.

"Let’s go..." she said.

Richard followed her into the portal, emerging in another living room.

It was a house within Crimson City, located along one of the busiest streets.

"Brother Richard, where will you meet Master Watson?" Carla asked.

"Elena hasn’t told me yet, but she said her uncle would come to the city. She’ll contact me when he arrives..."

"I see, then we can only wait for now."

After saying that, Carla looked at Richard—and suddenly became nervous.

Her gaze made him feel tempted. She had truly grown into a charming woman, with a slender and graceful figure.

But perhaps the Crimson Grand Ancestor was watching.

Fortunately, at that moment, Richard sensed Elena’s faint aura near the city gate.

Others might not notice it—but he knew it was a signal for him.

"Elena is calling me," Richard said.

"Oh? Where?" Carla asked, startled—though it was clear she had been lost in her thoughts.

Richard extended his Sixth Sense toward Elena and heard her voice.

(Richard, I’m waiting at my house. My uncle will arrive soon!)

Soon after, he sensed Elena entering a house not far from the gate.

"Elena’s house," Richard told Carla.

Hearing that, Carla opened her portal again.

She clearly knew the location.

"By the way, Brother Richard, Elena likes you. It seems she hasn’t been able to stop thinking about you since meeting you... Even Gray failed to charm her—let alone Luke."

Richard rolled his eyes at that.

"There are many women who like me," he said.

"But you only accept some of them, right?" Carla chuckled.

"I’m curious—who are your lovers besides your wife, Queen Lilith?"

"Only you..." Richard replied.

"I don’t believe that. There must be others," she said.

"I heard you’re close to Lady Rebecca’s adopted daughter... And there are also rumors that you often met the Red Star Empress before you disappeared."

"What? Where did you hear that?"

Richard was slightly shocked at the last statement.

No one had ever mentioned this to him before.

"Brother Richard, is there something between you and the Red Star Empress?" Carla asked, her expression turning intrigued, her gaze becoming somewhat strange.

Richard immediately realized his mistake in reacting.

"People say the Red Star Empress took care of you when you were young, so it’s natural you met her often as a senior who helped you. But some suspect there’s something more... and now I’m starting to think it might be true."

Richard: "..."

"You shouldn’t think such strange things." Richard tapped her sharp nose lightly.

He didn’t need to hear more.

He stepped into the portal first.

The rumor was likely unavoidable.

Who knew who started it?

After all, he himself had never tried to hide his meetings with the Red Star Empress.

Even Prince Alex had seemed puzzled.

Of course, there was no proof—and it should have become an old rumor by now, especially since he had been gone for seven years, and their last meeting had been completely secret.

Carla quickly followed him.

Moments later, they appeared in another living room—right in front of Elena, who had been about to sit down but straightened up again in surprise.

"Richard... Miss Carla," she said instinctively, not expecting them to arrive through a portal.

"Sister Elena, I also want to see your uncle’s weapon, so I came along," Carla said.

Elena nodded, not minding at all.

She looked at Richard, appearing calmer than before.

"Please, have a seat..." she said gently, placing fruits and light snacks on the table.