Sitting on the bench, Klein glanced at Evelyne "I need to know more about the Dark Church. Do you know anything about them? And is there any way to find them?"

Evelyne’s eyes narrowed slightly and her expression grew more serious "The Dark Church... that’s a dangerous topic, Klein. They are a secretive organization that worships and harnesses dark energy."

"They are considered enemies of Spirit Masters like us and even noble families hate them. Why are you asking about them?"

Keeping his smile, he spoke "Master just told me about them, so I was quite curious."

A soft sigh escaped her lips as she looked at him with concern "It’s better if you don’t interact with them."

"As for where to find them... there are rumors of a black market in the underground districts of the capital where their agents sometimes appear."

Taking his hand, she squeezed it gently "The Dark Church is not something to trifle with. If you go looking for them, take me with you. I don’t want you facing them alone."

Klein smiled faintly "I’ll keep that in mind."

With a nod, she asked "Leave that. Have you thought anything about my proposal?"

Klein sighed in his heart, his mind racing with conflicting thoughts.

’Evelyne is truly beautiful and seems great, and she is a noble. But marrying her just for the sake of a political marriage doesn’t sit well with me.’

’I already have two girlfriends. I can pursue them to accept Evelyne. But I don’t want to be in a marriage where there is no love.’

’I might eventually fall in love with her, but right now...’

He looked at her and replied "I’m still thinking about it. But I want to ask again... are you really okay with choosing me?"

"I mean, marrying me just for political reasons?"

Evelyne gave a faint nod "I am. I won’t lie to you, Klein. The political aspect is important for my family. The Langford house needs strong alliances to maintain our position. But that’s not the only reason."

"I respect you. Your talent, your composure, your potential... it’s rare. Also, you have a handsome face, which is exactly my type."

"And you are a Spirit Master like me who is also great with spears."

"I believe you are the best man I could ever find in my lifetime."

"...Or maybe are you hesitating because I am older?"

Her gaze lowered as she whispered under her breath "But I read that many young men like Big Sister types."

"Maybe I should act more Big sister way or l should act older... like spoiling him?

Klein couldn’t help but chuckle, ’Me hesitating because she is older? My two girlfriends are older than her.’

"I don’t mind that you’re older," Klein uttered in a soft tone. "That’s not the issue."

Evelyne’s lashes fluttered faintly at that as she lifted her gaze back to him with quiet attention.

"It’s just..." he paused and a small, self-conscious smile appeared on his lips, "you’re talking about something that’s meant to last a lifetime. Not a contract or a temporary alliance."

His thumb shifted slightly against the back of her hand, "I don’t want to walk into something like that half-hearted."

Hm? Evelyne didn’t interrupt and listened to his words.

Klein’s gaze drifted for a brief moment before returning to her.

"If I marry you... I don’t want it to be just because it benefits your house or me."

His voice lowered slightly "I want to be able to look at you and mean it... that I love you and want to marry you."

Silence settled between them, stretching for a few seconds as neither of them moved.

Then Evelyne let out a quiet breath, "You’re more honest than I expected."

Her grip on his hand loosened slightly before shifting as her fingers slid between his fingers and interlaced slowly.

"That’s... reassuring."

Klein blinked faintly at that, caught off guard by her response, as he expected her to show disappointment.

’Most would have accepted immediately,’ she thought, tilting her head as she looked at him.

’A noble proposal, a beneficial alliance... and me.’

’But you’re hesitating because you care about what it should mean and about my feelings.’

Her thumb brushed lightly against his hand, "That makes me feel like I didn’t choose wrongly."

Klein let out a small breath, somewhere between a sigh and a quiet laugh, shaking his head slightly.

Looking at his face, her gaze softened ’He is cute.’ she thought, almost absentmindedly.

She moved a bit closer, brushing her shoulder with him "Shall we have a spar, Klein?"

"That reminds me, you still haven’t given me my 50k credits, Senior Evelyne."

"...ah."

---

Entering Erica’s room, Evelyne closed the door behind her and walked over to the desk "Master, what happened when you tried to ask Shui Yinran to be Klein’s master?"

Erica leaned back in her chair as she let out a soft sigh "She rejected."

Evelyne’s eyes widened slightly, "Rejected? Even after you went to her personally? I thought she would at least consider it, especially since Klein has such exceptional talent with the spear."

Erica nodded as she looked out the panoramic windows toward the Spear Division building in the distance.

"I thought so too. But Yinran is stubborn. She said she doesn’t take on disciples lightly, and she’s not interested in training someone from the Spirit Division."

"Haa... I even begged her to accept Klein as her disciple."

"She doesn’t want to waste her time on someone who might not be fully committed to the spear path."

Evelyne crossed her arms with a faint frown on her face "That’s disappointing. Klein’s talent is rare. He deserves the best guidance. If Yinran won’t take him, then who will?"

Erica’s expression softened as a determined smile appeared on her lips "I’ll find another way. Even if I have to train him myself or find someone else. I won’t let his potential go to waste. He’s my disciple now. I’ll make sure he gets what he needs."

Upon hearing this, Evelyne sighed in her heart ’I don’t think there is anyone better than her to teach Klein.’

’That damned woman Shin Yinran... it doesn’t matter if it’s just her. But the power backing her is enormous.’

’She is from one of the strongest clans in the Eastern Yan Dynasty and even her Master is an Ascendant.’

---

Sitting in his room, Klein was packing things to go to the capital of the Human Domain to see if he could get some clues regarding the Dark Church.

He had already made arrangements with Erica, telling her he needed a few days off for personal reasons.

She was reluctant but eventually agreed, sensing that he wouldn’t be swayed.

He let out a soft breath, ’If they have access to the Cursed Realm, I need to enter it too and find a way to communicate with Hela.’

’I have to be careful.’

’Also I need to buy materials to refine my physique using the technique in my past life.’

’So many things to do, but right now the priority is increasing my power and find a way to enter Cursed Realm.’