Thinking it through, it didn't seem so bad after all. What Miss Audrey had really been worried about was the slave mark being discovered and used by someone malicious.
But now that she had become his personal servant, no one else could ever control her through that mark. And as long as he said nothing and did nothing… wasn't that basically the same as removing it?
Genius, Mozo told himself.
Over and over, he reassured himself that what had just happened wasn't a blunder—it was… an unconventional success.
Even so, the guilt lingered. He had, after all, unintentionally dragged a perfectly fine young lady into something far beyond her control…
But why had it turned out like this?
…Right. In those dreams, he hadn't just been Saint John. He had also been the Sun King.
But that didn't make sense either. Even if John's power could be explained as divine grace, the Sun King's authority should have required pure elven blood, along with the blessing of the Twin Sacred Trees.
So how had he managed it?
And more importantly—why had Audrey been branded with an elven slave mark in the first place? If today's attempt had worked, then the dream world must be real. But if that was true, why had all his previous attempts failed?
Was there some hidden condition he had never met before… one that had just happened to be fulfilled today?
For example—
His gaze drifted toward Audrey, who was still glowing with relief and joy.
A supernatural being.
She noticed his expression and shifted slightly, a hint of unease crossing her face.
"Is there something you want to ask?"
Is he going to change his mind? Ask for more money? Or… something else?
Her thoughts took a turn toward less innocent possibilities.
But Mozo's question disappointed her a little:
"Miss Hepburn, you're a supernatural, aren't you?"
She nodded, her tone faintly subdued.
"Yes. Sequence Nine. But I'm afraid I can't disclose my pathway."
Mozo accepted that with a nod. What he really wanted to ask was something else entirely—
Why was the supernatural world so completely separated from ordinary society?
In his dreams, that divide had never existed. Supernatural beings had been common knowledge.
But after a moment's thought, he held back. They had built some level of trust, yes—but just as Audrey kept her secrets, he had his own concerns.
The more he thought about it, the more reckless today's encounter seemed.
If the dream world was real, then everything connected to it—everything connected to him—was far more dangerous than it appeared. That kind of truth could not be exposed carelessly.
Fortunately, even in his excitement, he had kept up a careful façade.
To Audrey, he was someone from a hidden lineage—well-versed in mysticism, backed by something vast and unseen.
If anything, his orphan background might even work in his favor. A perfect cover. A man deeply rooted in the supernatural world, yet with a spotless mundane identity.
After a brief pause, Mozo steered the conversation forward.
"As you can see, the current situation is… restrictive. No matter what we do, those of us in the supernatural world are constantly constrained."
That much should be safe to say—and he was right.
Audrey nodded with a sigh.
"Exactly. Everywhere else functions normally, but here we're stuck in this so-called 'special zone.' And we can't even leave it. It's suffocating."
Her frustration was genuine. Materials that cost a few dozen gold pounds elsewhere could reach hundreds—or even thousands—within the zone.
A special zone? Other places don't have this restriction?
So the divide between supernatural and ordinary society… existed only within the Empire?
Why?
And could that also explain his past failures?
Since Audrey spoke as if it were common knowledge, Mozo didn't press further—though curiosity burned in him.
Instead, he shifted topics again.
"Do you have access to any… channels? For exchanging materials or information?"
Audrey's expression sharpened instantly.
"Why are you asking?"
"Expanding one's connections is never a bad idea. Miss Hepburn, I'd like to think we've established enough trust for that."
She hesitated, then sighed.
"…Sorry. The authorities have been cracking down hard lately. And the way you asked—it sounded a bit like an interrogation technique."
Mozo smiled lightly.
"I understand. So?"
Audrey studied him for a moment, then asked,
"Are you looking to join our gathering? Or do you want me to act as an intermediary for certain requests?"
"Join," he replied without hesitation. "As much as I trust you, some things are better handled in person."
She thought it over.
"I can recommend you. But the others will need to agree. If they don't, I could be expelled—or worse."
"How long would that take?"
"Next month, most likely."
Next month? That was… longer than he'd hoped.
"Is there any way to make it sooner?"
To his surprise, she nodded.
"There is. But you'll owe me a favor."
There was a playful glint in her eyes as she said it.
Instinctively, Mozo covered the pocket holding his hundred gold pounds. Surely she wasn't about to take it back?
He'd been poor for too long to stay calm about money.
Noticing his reaction, Audrey laughed softly.
"Relax. I won't ask for anything excessive. You've helped me a great deal. I just want you to support me a little during the gathering—if the need arises."
That was reasonable.
"In that case, I agree. How soon can it be arranged?"
She considered briefly.
"The organizer owes me a favor because of the mark situation. If I use that… I should be able to bring you in at the next meeting."
"And when is that?"
She smiled.
"If nothing goes wrong—tomorrow night."