"Does not belong to this era..." Altair murmured softly, repeating those words.
She naturally understood the meaning of this sentence, as she was the one who had come up with it. By copying designs and names from the era of the Outer Deities, she thought, "I'd be impressed if a Sequence 2 could divine my secrets."
The way she was Acting now was merely a performance for outsiders. After all, regarding the factory shares, the public claim was that "I" only held 5%, making her the noble shareholder with the smallest stake.
However, the Fool's honorific name begins with "The Fool who doesn't belong to this era." Uh—good luck with that.
Adela looked at Altair and said softly from the side, "If possible, the family hopes you can try to recruit some valuable designers. Of course, if it's truly impossible, there's no need to force it."
"The family has already asked an Artisan to conduct 'research.' It will take about three months to fully grasp the technology."
"Understood, I will do my best." After returning to her normal demeanor, Altair nodded.
As the discussion concluded, Madam Sharon extended an invitation to the two of them: "To welcome Lady Adela's arrival, I have organized a special welcome ball for tonight. Would you like to join us, sister?"
"It can provide you with a novel experience and will be beneficial for your future 'Acting'."
Altair cast a casual glance and noticed the differences between the two people beside her. Madam Sharon seemed to be imagining, longing, decompressing, and reminiscing, while Adela's mood was very calm, as if Sharon's words weren't directed at her, not moving her in the slightest.
With a soft sigh, Altair politely declined, "I'll pass on the ball; I'm not really interested. I still have to arrange my return to Backlund. It seems I'll be spending this year in a busy state."
After saying this, Altair stood up, bid them both farewell, and prepared to leave Baron Hoy's residence to return to her villa in the Sycamore District.
Madam Sharon and Adela stood up to see her off. When they reached the door, Adela took out a tube of red potion and introduced it: "This is my 'communication' potion. You should have used one before, so I don't need to specifically teach you. Once you return to Backlund and settle things, remember to contact me—"
After taking the communication potion, Altair nodded to show she understood. She had been using this kind of thing ever since she came into contact with Vivian.
However, unlike when discussing official business, she and Vivian used the communication potions to express their mutual longing for each other.
Once Altair returned to the Sycamore District villa by carriage, she saw Old Clayton as soon as she entered the main door. He was currently sitting in the villa's hall as if waiting for her, only breathing a sigh of relief when he saw her return.
Approaching him, Altair said to Old Clayton, "I've just revised the itinerary. I plan to return to Backlund for the New Year this year. Hahn will temporarily stay in Morse Town. At the beginning of next year, he'll escort the Beyonder materials and return to Backlund together with us."
"In a moment, go send telegrams to both Count Leif Strauss's household and the Backlund manor, stating my intention to return to Backlund for the New Year."
After handing over these tasks, Altair did not stay to explain the reasons. Instead, she went back to her room alone and arranged for her two maids, Vera and Irene, to pack their luggage in preparation to leave Tingen City.
If one is going to act, one must perform the full set. If she didn't return to Backlund to consult with the other shareholders and could still provide a share of arms to the Witch Cult, it would surely arouse suspicion. She couldn't expose her true background yet.
As for the New Year, she was currently alone in the world with no relatives; it didn't matter where she spent it.
After clarifying all matters and everyone had left, Altair recalled the scene at Madam Sharon's house. She felt as if she had forgotten something; after receiving that Ring of Cheek, she had inexplicably taken an oath with Adela.
Woo! Woo! Woo!
When the massive whistle echoed across the entire platform, the pitch-black steam locomotive engine, trailing thick white smoke and making a clanging, screeching sound of deceleration, slowly pulled into the platform of Backlund Station.
Altair, dressed in a magnificent outfit and accompanied by her two personal maids, quietly left through a special VIP passage.
Altair had only left Backlund twice and returned twice, so the frequency wasn't high. But every time she returned to Backlund, she had the same feeling: a dry, itchy nose and the urge to sneeze.
After walking a few steps, Altair saw Vivian, dressed in a wine-red gown, a deep dark green wool coat, and a black felt hat, slowly walking toward her with several servants.
"After receiving your telegram yesterday afternoon, I arranged my time according to the schedule. But after all my calculations, I didn't expect the train to arrive early."
While listening to Vivian speak, Altair handed the luggage tags to the servants, letting them go move the luggage.
Although the three of them were Beyonders and stronger than average people, they couldn't handle such a large amount of luggage. Moreover, a noble lady moving luggage did not conform to the basic standards of this era.
Once the others had left, Altair slowly walked up to Vivian and asked, "Why did you come personally? You could have just sent a servant to pick me up. After all, the weather and temperature in Backlund today aren't very pleasant."
—
Standing opposite Altair, Vivian gave her a direct eye-roll upon hearing this. She took off her own wool coat, draped it over Altair's shoulders, and said, "Since you know the weather in Backlund is bad, why didn't you put on a thick coat? This isn't Tingen City."
While the two were still exchanging pleasantries, the servants had already loaded the luggage onto the carriage and arranged it properly, ready to return at any time.
After everyone boarded, the coachman drove away from Backlund Station. After a half-hour journey, the carriage finally made its way back to the Sheffield Manor in Empress Borough.
The street cleaning system of this period was still very primitive, without any modern snowplows. Once it snowed, workers had to use shovels to clear it bit by bit—a time-consuming and labor-intensive task.
Upon returning to the manor, Altair and Vivian sat before the fireplace to warm themselves, drinking tea and chatting.
After Altair explained why she had returned, Vivian looked at her with an incredulous expression and said, "The Demoness Sect gave out two sequence four Demoness of Despair Beyonder characteristics just to win you over?"
"Yes," Altair replied with a slight nod while still sipping her tea.
"Did this person, Adela, come with you to Backlund?" Vivian asked.
"No, at least not with me." After saying this, Altair asked curiously, "Do you know her?"
Vivian shook her head and said in a grave tone, "I know of her, but she doesn't know me. I know this person; she is a sequence four Demoness of Despair."