Moreover, Phoebe's words didn't convince Lucian.
Fenrico claimed it was the Sentinel's wrath, which was yet another contradiction.
The Carnevale had been held for so many years, and the Sentinel willingly bestowed the Laureate during it.
How could an incident suddenly mean the Sentinel was displeased with human indulgence?
Furthermore, even if an accident did occur, shouldn't the Sentinel have stepped in to protect the people?
How could She unleash Her wrath and blame the people for such a thing?
Lucian found the situation riddled with doubts, and he couldn't help but suspect the Order of the Deep was staging it all.
The goal was to prevent the Carnevale from continuing, but what was the point of that for them?
Lucian kept these thoughts to himself and then said playfully, "Masks? Can I wear black stockings instead?"
Phoebe faltered, "If you wear black stockings, you'd probably be chased out as a weirdo."
Lucian's expression turned serious, "Miss Phoebe, that's where you're wrong."
Phoebe: "Eh?"
Lucian continued, "Tell me, what are masks for?"
Phoebe thought for a moment, "Of course, they're for letting people set aside positions and prejudices to enjoy the Carnevale together."
Lucian nodded slightly, "Exactly. Wearing a mask allows people to ignore worldly identities, break free from societal constraints, and show their true selves."
"So, if I wear black stockings, it achieves the same purpose. How is that any different from wearing a mask?"
"That's your prejudice, Miss Phoebe."
Phoebe was taken aback. She hadn't expected that simply wearing a mask for the Carnevale could be spun so convincingly by Mr. Lucian.
But he wasn't wrong. During the Carnevale, everyone wears masks to shed prejudices. Could it really be her own issue?
Seeing Phoebe lost in thought, Lucian seized the opportunity, "So, Miss Phoebe, next time, please wear black stockings!"
Phoebe: "?"
Rover: "So that was your real goal?"
"But I actually think black stockings might not suit Miss Phoebe…"
Generally, black stockings symbolize sensuality, and for a pure and charming girl like Phoebe, they might indeed seem out of place.
But Lucian shook his head slightly, "What does it matter? How will you know without trying?"
"By the way, if Miss Phoebe feels it's too embarrassing, you could wear them just for me to see first, so I can give a proper appraisal."
Phoebe: "?"
You call yourself a God of Pure Love? You're a big liar!
But Mr. Lucian's words did have some truth. As a member of the clergy, she shouldn't approach things with prejudice.
At that moment, Rover spoke up, "By the way, I'm really interested in public Echoes. Can you tell us about them? How are public Echoes different from the ones in our personal terminals?"
Phoebe nodded slightly, "In Rinascita, all citizens can summon Echoes through the Resonance Nexus, whether they're Resonators or not."
"Thanks to the divine blessing, this Resonance Nexus has been modified in some way, allowing Echoes to exist in physical form for extended periods."
"However, not all public Echoes are freely accessible to the public."
"For example, the La Guardia under the Order serve as the Order's guard force and are exclusively under their jurisdiction."
"As Mr. Lucian noticed earlier, the Echoes affiliated with the Order have a halo above their heads as a marker."
"They won't respond to anyone other than the clergy, so please be mindful, guests."
Rover nodded slightly, "Thank you for explaining. I understand now."
"So, where are we going next? The Averardo Vault?"
Phoebe was stunned, "Are you really going to rob the bank?"
Rover laughed, "What are you thinking?"
"Didn't we receive an invitation from the Montelli family?"
"They prepared some funds for us to collect there."
Phoebe let out a sigh of relief, "That's good…"
"The Averardo Vault is indeed managed by the Montelli family."
"At the Averardo Vault, people can store not only currency but also famous paintings, artworks, and more."
Lucian's eyes lit up, "Looks like the Montelli family is the right choice."
Rover pinched the soft flesh at Lucian's waist, "Money makes them right, and no money makes them wrong?"
Lucian retorted, "Having looks works too."
Rover: "…"
"Alright, we've learned enough. Let's go to the bank to withdraw the money."
"Miss Phoebe, thank you for being our guide."
Phoebe nodded slightly, then glanced at Lucian with a slight blush, saying softly, "Um… please wait a moment."
"Mr. Lucian, could you come with me for a bit?"
Lucian followed Phoebe curiously, with Rover close behind.
They reached a corner where no one could see them.
For some reason, Lucian suddenly felt this scene was oddly familiar…
Phoebe, her face flushed, said softly, "Mr. Lucian, could you turn around first?"
Lucian smiled and turned around. Behind him, there was a rustling sound of fabric rubbing together, sparking endless imagination.
A moment later, Phoebe pursed her pink lips and said softly, "Alright, turn back."
Lucian did so and saw that the white stockings from Phoebe's legs were now in her hands, revealing her smooth, rosy legs. She held the stockings out to him.
Phoebe lowered her head slightly, her neck and ears red with embarrassment:
"I think Mr. Lucian is right. As a member of the clergy, I shouldn't have prejudices…"
What if Mr. Lucian really needed the stockings for some special reason to cleanse his heart?
If she refused him just because of her suspicions, wouldn't she be hindering him?
Lucian took the stockings with a mischievous smile, "Miss Phoebe, I also want to pinch your cheeks…"
Phoebe's head shot up, "No… that's not allowed!"
Her face flushed red. Handing over her stockings was embarrassing enough, and doing something as intimate as that would be a blasphemy to her role as clergy!
Phoebe hurriedly covered her face and ran off, still fulfilling her guide duties as she called out, "I wish you a pleasant time at the Carnevale…"
Her voice grew fainter as she ran farther away.
Rover walked over expressionlessly, "I can't believe you actually got them?"
Lucian's lips curled into a grin, but his tone was serious, "Rover, I've made up my mind."
Rover: "?"
Lucian looked at Phoebe's retreating figure and declared passionately, "I've decided to become light and protect Miss Phoebe!"
Rover: "?"
Lucian: "And I'm going to join the faith with Miss Phoebe!!"
Rover: "???"
Taking advantage of Lucian's fervor, Rover snatched the white stockings from his hand and tucked them away.
"I think these stockings should stay with me. They seem to brainwash people."
Lucian: "?"