It could only be the case that the association was discovered because Eden had obtained a phoenix. That would make sense. A farmer suddenly possessing an Imperial Phoenix would attract massive attention.
But then what had happened to Eden himself?
If Eden wasn't known to Lumi personally, if his name had never come up in any conversations or stories from the past timeline, then the boy had likely died.
It could only be the case that he had died before he could become famous. That he had died before the phoenix could grow strong enough to protect him. Died while the creature was still vulnerable.
But that raised an important question. Who would kill Eden?
Lumi ran through the possibilities.
It could have been a player. Players were chaotic, treating NPCs like disposable game characters. An unprotected farmer with a phoenix hatchling would be an easy target. Kill the boy, take the phoenix, profit.
