Silence engulfed the storage facility as Lucian finished his story.

  It lingered like a thick and unmoving wall, until the red-haired woman finally broke it, having spent a long moment weighing what she should say.

  “So… that’s everything you can remember,” she said quietly.

  Perhaps not the first thing one should ask in such a situation, yet her voice carried a muted sadness.

  Lucian nodded.

  “Now it’s your turn,” he said evenly. “How did you know so much about my identity? About what happened… and my location?”

  By this point, Lucian was almost certain she was an official Librarian, perhaps even the one his sister had mentioned. Still, doubt lingered. She could be deceiving him.

  “A night ago,” she began, folding her hands, “a powerful ability was used in this area. So powerful that every Librarian in the south must have felt it. All official Librarians were immediately ordered to investigate.”

  She paused briefly, then added, “Though I doubt we were the only ones who came.”

  “Then where are they?” Lucian asked, his gaze sharpening.

  “Here,” she replied with a faint smile. “They’ve been here for quite some time. One of our guild members is concealing this area. To anyone outside, this facility simply doesn’t exist.”

  She frowned slightly.

  “Well… I admit Mr. Snake was faster than us. Eh…but it ended well, at least.”

  Lucian’s eyes narrowed at the mention of that name.

  “Who is this Mr. Snake?” he asked. “And this Underworld?”

  She hesitated for a long moment, as if deciding how much she was willing or allowed to reveal. In the end, she settled on the bare minimum.

  “The Underworld is a hidden organization with unknown motivations,” she explained. “Very little is known about it, and even less about its members. But it’s said to be vast. Their connections reach nearly every organization in the world, and they’re suspected of being linked to almost every major event of the past century.”

  “And Mr. Snake?” Lucian pressed.

  “A very high-ranking member,” she replied. “One of those known as the Hiddenmen. In fact, his existence wasn’t even confirmed until today. So… something good came of this, after all.”

  She drew in a deep breath.

  “Now,” she said calmly, without shifting her posture, “you’ve asked enough. It's my turn.”

  Lucian agreed.

  “Tell me what was hiding you from my searches for the past three years?” She questioned, “Why were you living alone in a place like that? And how are you free now?”

  ‘Does she not know? Was it not the government that locked me in that illusion state? If not… then who? Does that mean those people…’

  Lucian decided it was unwise to tell her something he himself did not fully understand.

  Still, it comforted him, just a little to know that someone had been searching for him all this time.

  “It… it felt like a dream,” he said after a pause. “And then it suddenly ended.”

  At his answer, she fell silent for a long moment.

  Finally, she sighed.

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  “They never truly intended for you to live a normal life,” she said bitterly. “Those… bastards.”

  ‘She doesn’t seem too fond of the great families,’ Lucian noted inwardly, a faint smile flickering in his thoughts.

  “But still,” she continued, “I believe something else was responsible for your freedom.”

  ‘Something else? Like that old man? Wasn’t he the last remaining illusion…?’

  Lucian rubbed his temples.

  Then, at last, he asked, “Who are you?”

  She smiled genuinely this time.

  “You finally asked. I am Seraphine Victoria of the Black Index.”

  ‘Black Index?’

  That confirmed it. She truly was an official Librarian of a guild.

  “Ah—almost forgot,” she added lightly. “I actually came here personally to invite you to join my guild.”

  Lucian’s thoughts darkened.

  Joining them means trusting them.

  Can he really do that?

  He probably never could. Trust felt like a foreign concept, something distant and unreachable.

  After everything that’s happened… Could he truly trust anyone?

  The question echoed relentlessly in his mind.

  How could he trust her? One day, she would surely betray him. After all, in the presence of darkness, even one’s own shadow eventually abandons them.

  Lucian remained silent, not even acknowledging her offer. She understood. After hearing his story, it would have been surprising if he had accepted without hesitation.

  “If you can’t, then don’t believe me,” she said gently. “I understand. But I’m not asking out of pity or friendly concern.” Her eyes sharpened slightly. “I’m offering you a deal.”

  “A deal?” Lucian asked.

  “Yes,” she replied. “An agreement, an equal exchange.”

  ‘What should I do?’

  At that moment, Lucian suddenly remembered his sister, Noelle. The last time he had seen her, she had told him that someone would come for him if she did not return. If that was the case, then perhaps this was the moment she had meant.

  ‘Very well… I will trust your final words.’

  Concern still lingered in his eyes as he spoke, his voice wavering.

  “I–I accept.”

  Seraphine nodded.

  She rose to her feet and opened her left hand. A flash of dark light burst forth, and a Codex appeared, hovering just above her palm.

  The ancient grimoire was crimson, like her hair, as if it burned against its own will. Its thick leather cover bore the carving of a bird, etched with exquisite detail. Amid the sea of fiery red, the bird seemed to blaze even brighter.

  Then she opened it. Or rather, the book opened itself.

  The reddish-brown pages flipped frantically, as though driven by an unseen force. Symbols and writings in an ancient language rushed past until, at last, the frenzied Codex halted on a single, empty page.

  Seraphine inhaled deeply, then looked at Lucian and smiled.

  “I’m taking a very big risk,” she said softly. “So don’t disappoint me, Lucian Lysander.”

  She reached for the empty page and clenched it tightly. Veins bulged along the back of her hand as she poured strength into her grip. Then she pulled.

  The page began to tear.

  A blinding red light erupted, forcing back the surrounding darkness. Lucian shielded his eyes, unable to open them fully. The light surged, then abruptly vanished, as though it had never existed.

  Blinking rapidly, Lucian rubbed his eyes, waiting for his vision to adjust.

  Then he saw a man stood beside Seraphine. The same man who had reminded Lucian of a tiger, the one who had forced Mr. Snake to retreat. He was gripping Seraphine’s wrist, stopping her from tearing the Codex page any further.

  “What are you doing?” the man demanded.

  Click.

  A sharp metallic sound echoed through the room.

  The man who had given Lucian the box appeared beside them, staring in disbelief. His usually sleepy eyes were wide open.

  “I… have no idea,” he said blankly.

  Seraphine let out a tired sigh.

  “We are forming a soul contract.”

  The tiger-like man slowly turned toward Lucian. Killing intent flooded his eyes.

  “It could end with your death,” the weedy man said, glancing at the metallic watch in his hand, then shifted his gaze back toward Seraphine, hoping for an answer.

  “I know, Cassian,” she replied with a faint smile. “But it’s worth it.”

  She looked at the beast-like man and said, “Kasturi, he is the last of the Lysanders.”

  Kasturi’s killing intent dissipated. He exhaled heavily.

  “When two Librarians sign a soul contract,” he explained, “they intertwine their stories. Like two threads colliding, forming a tight knot. Such a bond creates… unpredictable coincidences.”

  His tone darkened.

  “And if the contract is broken, the damage to your Codex will be severe. It may leave you as an empty, doll-like vessel, or worse.” He paused. “You may turn into an Unread.”

  “W–What?!” Lucian exclaimed.

  Though he barely understood half of what was said, the outcome was clear enough.

  Terrifying, far too terrifying.

  “Then why go this far?” Lucian asked. “Just to earn my trust? Why?”

  Seraphine closed her eyes briefly and sighed.

  “Because,” she said, her voice heavy, “I promised her I would. I’ve already broken her trust for far too long. I won’t do it again.”

  Lucian’s heart softened at her words.

  “Was she… that important to you?” he asked quietly.

  “Yes,” Seraphine replied simply.

  Lucian’s eyes darkened once more, a storm brewing within them.

  “Then I want revenge,” he said firmly. “Will you help me?”

  She smiled.

  In that moment, Lucian saw pain, and deep self-blame, hidden within her eyes.

  He saw a young girl, her body bruised, her gaze lifeless like that of the dead. A hollow heart, existing without purpose.

  Then he saw a radiant light standing before her.

  Now, she had a reason to move forward.

  Without any visible change in her expression, Seraphine answered smoothly,

  “Sure.”