Amid the resonant echoes of the ancient Hermes word, both Audrey and Hervin Lambis experienced a brief dimming of light. It was as though someone had passed by, momentarily shielding the nearest window, then swiftly moved away. When the light returned, the realm of illusions shifted: the storm of terror that had previously gripped Audrey's consciousness island now settled upon Hervin Lambis's, and the intrusions into their mental realms reversed—those that had entered Hervin Lambis now entered Audrey. "The Stealer" sigil! This sigil is crafted from the material of Amun's "Time Worm," empowered by the strength of the "Knight of Cups." It enables the sigil to seize the target's fate over a relatively short period ahead and exchange it with the user's corresponding future. This is the consultation fee Audrey received from Germaine Sparo during the treatment of Héloïse's mental collapse. Using this incantation, she successfully transplanted her own consciousness—on the verge of shattering and being manipulated—into Hewin Lambis, enabling her to steal from him the ability to command the "mind storm," open the gate to the target's psyche, and directly modify or implant specific destinies of awareness. In an instant, the situation reversed itself, and Audrey surged from the brink of collapse into an absolute advantage. Of course, this advantage would only last for a brief period. To be honest, if it hadn't been for the pressing concerns of how to survive and fight through the near-catastrophic situation over the past two days, Audrey wouldn't have thought of using the "Steward of Fortune" sigil at all—nor, in fact, would she have had the time to do so once she had conceived of it. At this very moment, just as she had mentally rehearsed it numerous times before, she swiftly suppressed her astonishment at the sigil's effect, quickly assessed her current status, and, leveraging her present advantages, unleashed the "Mindstorm" infused with a "hypnotic" quality, which then surged powerfully and instantly opened the gateway to Herwin Lambis's mental body. Herwin Lambis was left utterly stunned, as if he had been completely hypnotized by Audrey's golden eyes—just like an ordinary person would be. Indeed, at this very instant, as a semi-divine being experiencing the "spectator's" path, he was being manipulated by Audrey, a mere Sequence 6. Even after the effects of the "Steward of Fortune" sigil wore off, this reality would remain unshakable. Yet Audrey knew that she had merely used the magic incantations to unlock the door to her own mind-body through the inherent abilities of Herwin Lambis, achieving only an initial level of influence. Any further actions would inevitably entail resistance—resistance that, at a stronger intensity, her current sequence level could not fully counter or control. She could clearly sense that Herwin Lambis’ subconscious was deeply resisting the present state, and subtle gray scales were beginning to appear on his face in the real world. Soon, he would be able to forcibly break free from her initial mental manipulation. This realization flashed through Audrey’s mind instantly. She then turned her gaze toward Herwin Lambis’ head, regretting that she hadn’t brought a powerful handgun with her—otherwise, she could have fired several shots at once, attempting to strike him down. Soon, she recalled her own "dragon scales," believing that Herwen Lembis certainly possessed them too—stronger and more resilient, not easily broken by ordinary attacks, even by most magical items designed for mid- to low-sequence beings. If the effect wasn't fatal at once, Herwen Lembis would surely regain awareness and break free from the control. With no hesitation, and lacking sufficient offensive options, Odile made a swift decision: "Calm him!" He was most adept at being hypnotized, and had a strong resistance to such effects—she didn't need to prepare additional defensive items for this kind of resistance. She wouldn't allow him to do anything that went against his own will, for at their current level of disparity, she simply couldn't withstand the corresponding subconscious resistance. Thoughts raced through Odile's mind as she slightly dried her lips, carefully forming her words. She made every effort to keep her demeanor steady, meeting Hwen Lambis's eyes and speaking softly, "Find a place at the Grelinth estate to wait, and come to the garden to see me fifteen minutes later..." The subtle suggestion was received without significant resistance; Audrey smoothly accomplished her influence—Hwen Lambis had indeed come to see Audrey today, and the originally planned meeting location was the Grelinth viscount's estate. Audrey's hypnosis merely adjusted the timing and specific location slightly, within a small range, thus aligning seamlessly with Hwen Lambis's intentions, requiring little effort and encountering no strong resistance. "Good..." Hwen Lambis replied to Audrey's words. Audrey didn't pause to breathe, but instead renewed her focus, gazing steadily into his eyes, and spoke gently, "You will come to see me only one hour from now, so you haven't seen me today." "Since I've never met you, everything that just happened must not have occurred—it will be forgotten." Given that Hwen Lambis had already undergone the earlier hypnosis and followed the logical chain accordingly, though some instinctive resistance remained, it gradually faded away, dissolving into the golden, bright, and deeply captivating gaze. "Yes, I've never met you, nothing happened just now..." Hwen Lambis repeated, his expression slightly bewildered, and more grayish-white scales now appearing on his skin. After securing this crucial step, Odile restrained the urge to pat her chest, paused for a second, and then said: "When I sing, you will grow quiet." She had intended to enhance the hypnosis with charm and allure, but found herself unable to adopt any particularly inviting posture or expression. Instead, she simply raised her hand to smooth her cascading golden hair, slightly tilted her head, allowed her eyes to glide, and smiled warmly. Then she hummed a melody from "The Moonlit Manor" with a nasal tone. Hewen Lambis watched the girl before him—bright as sunlight, fresh as spring, and radiant as a gem—and listened to the ethereal, delicate sound, his mind gradually settling, no longer resisting. As the initial influence she had exerted began to slip from him, Oudelir did not hesitate. She pointed toward the other side of the corridor: "Go that way. When you see the painted glass, regain your clarity and shed the dragon scales." She was well familiar with that part of the corridor—heading toward the main door, there stood a series of exquisite windows with white backgrounds and colorful glass. Her instruction carried no risk, nor did it conflict with Hewen Lambis’s own inclinations. He immediately stepped forward, moving swiftly down the hall and turning right. Only when his figure disappeared from view did Oudelir slowly exhale, allowing the flood of lingering fear, apprehension, and tension to rise and surge within her. Her body gently trembled, her mouth slightly open, beginning to draw in and exhale in small, uncontrolled breaths. After ten seconds, Odile used a calming technique on herself, centering and regaining composure. Then she glanced at the wall clock, stood there, raised both hands, interlaced them before her mouth and nose, and softly recited the noble title of "The Fool." She asked for a second blessing from the angels and requested that this great presence convey to "The World" Germain Spaulde that she had confirmed the arrival time of Hewen Lambis, and would summon him two minutes early, urging him to arrive quietly, calculating his time carefully, without undue urgency, and not to come too close, lest Hewen Lambis suspect a hidden plan. Throughout this, Odile briefly mentioned her recent experience, omitting detailed descriptions to avoid wasting time. Then she raised both hands, pressed them gently against her cheeks, and smoothed out her expression, beginning to hypnotize herself so that every time she saw Hewin Lembis, she would hum the melody she had just sung. Having completed all this, Odile went to the hall, where she first located the golden-haired dog, Susie, and retrieved the "Liar" necklace and the "Wine-killer" diamond brooch—capable of countering mental influence, the latter could only be worn for no more than thirty minutes, after which irreversible damage to the liver and brain would occur. Therefore, Odile intended to wear it only after leaving the Viscount's manor, in anticipation of Hewin Lembis seeking her en route. Susie failed to notice Odile's unusual behavior, watching her fasten the brooch and wear the necklace. After several minutes, Odile folded a thin, black silk glove into the pocket of her knight's robe, excused herself to the restroom, and took a detour through the gardens of the Viscount's estate. Then, she gazed at the great clock on the tower attached to the house, her mind slightly tense, and carefully remembered the time. To her, it was both a fear that Herwin Lambis would not come at all, and a worry that he might arrive early or late. Time passed slowly, and Audrey used two "calming" phrases to steady her nerves. When only two minutes and fifteen seconds remained, she removed the feather ornament from her hat and snapped her wrist sharply. A deep crimson flame surged upward, igniting the white feather. This was the "manipulation flame" inherent to the power of "lies." As the flame burned, it gradually grew pale, and within just a few seconds, the artificial product of the secondary deity—once a symbol of death—was reduced to ashes. Yet nothing else around changed. She glanced at the grand clock again, then drew forth a charm made of white tin and recited a single word in ancient Hermesian: "Lightning!" The charm glowed, as though countless tiny serpents of electricity were weaving and entwining around it. This was the charm summoned to call upon Germán Sparo. When the electric glow faded and the incantation fully dissolved, merging into the void, the area remained still, silent—no trace of noise. Thew and the others must have already reached the Church of Night and begun praying... Odile calmed her thoughts and pretended to appreciate the lingering blooms of autumn. She no longer looked up at the great clock, instead counting the seconds in her mind. Three, two, one... slowly, she raised her head and surveyed the surroundings, but did not see the figure of Hew Lembis. Had he noticed something amiss and moved away? Odile’s heart tightened suddenly, and she involuntarily recalled whether she had missed anything. At that moment, a gentle voice spoke softly at her side: "What are you looking for?" Odile’s eyes widened instantly. With a glance to her side, she saw Hew Lembis—his hair now silver, his eyes pale blue—had appeared beside her without her noticing, his tone carrying a hint of curiosity. She, already hypnotized, hesitated not at all, but hummed the beautiful melody of "Moonlight Manor" as if guided by her unconscious instincts. Her ethereal, floating voice calmed Herwin Lembis, who listened intently. Suddenly, he realized that the distance between himself and Odile had grown vast—yet neither of them had moved. Night had descended upon the garden, which had remained in afternoon hues, and a massive crimson moon rose above the nearest house. A figure stood there, dressed in a black coat and wearing a half-high hat, face blurred by the light coming from behind.