When he thought about it carefully, there really wasn't much difference.
Miss Audrey's concern had simply been that someone might discover the slave mark and use it against her. In that case, if Miss Audrey became my exclusive servant...
Then nobody else could control her through the slave mark.
Likewise, as long as I didn't say anything or do anything, wouldn't that effectively solve the problem perfectly?
I'm a genius!
Mozo continuously comforted himself in his heart, assuring himself that what had just happened wasn't a blunder that backfired spectacularly, but rather an unconventional success.
Even so, he still felt incredibly guilty.
After all, he'd practically tricked a beautiful young woman straight into a pit she could never climb out of.
But why had it turned out like this?
Ah, right.
I'm not just Saint John.
I'm also the Sun King...
Still, shouldn't elven blood be required for this?
If it had worked because of John, it could perhaps be explained as divine favor.
But the Sun King should have required pure elven blood and the blessing of both Sacred Trees.
So what exactly had gone wrong?
Wait.
Why had Miss Audrey been branded with an elven slave mark in the first place?
And if today's attempt succeeded, then the Dream World was probably real.
But if that was true, why had all of his previous attempts failed?
Could there be some hidden condition he had never fulfilled before, one that had happened to be triggered unintentionally today?
For example...
While thinking, Mozo looked toward Audrey, who was still visibly delighted.
For example, a Beyonder?
Audrey noticed his expression and asked somewhat awkwardly:
"So... is there something you need?"
Did he regret it already?
Was he planning to demand additional compensation?
Or... did he want me?
Audrey's thoughts began drifting into decidedly adult territory.
Unfortunately for her, Mozo's next question was rather disappointing.
"Miss Hepburn, you're a Beyonder, correct?"
Audrey's tone carried a hint of disappointment as she answered:
"Yes, I'm a Beyonder. Sequence Nine, to be precise."
"As for which pathway I belong to, I'm afraid I can't tell you."
Mozo nodded understandingly.
Then he considered asking the question that had been bothering him the most.
Why was the supernatural world completely separated from ordinary society?
Because in the Dream World, Beyonders had been common knowledge.
However, after some thought, he suppressed the question.
Certainly, a basic level of trust and friendship had formed between him and Audrey Hepburn.
But just as Audrey was unwilling to reveal her pathway, Mozo had concerns of his own.
In fact, the more he thought about it, the more he felt today's interaction had been far too reckless.
The Dream World had already been partially confirmed as real.
That meant the people and things connected to him were unimaginably dangerous.
Under those circumstances, allowing outsiders to learn too much was simply not an option.
Fortunately, even amid the overwhelming excitement of discovering that the Dream World might truly exist, Mozo had still remembered to misdirect and conceal.
From Audrey's perspective, he should appear to be someone from a mysterious hidden family.
A person with extensive occult knowledge, unknown backing, and a powerful background.
His status as an orphan and his childhood history might become vulnerabilities.
Or perhaps they could be turned into advantages instead.
A member of the supernatural world who possessed a flawlessly clean public identity that nobody could see through.
At the same time, Mozo began considering how to continue the conversation while subtly gathering information.
After a moment's thought, he said:
"As you've seen, the current situation is rather troublesome."
"No matter what, people from our world always feel restrained, as though we're bound by invisible chains everywhere we go."
Since Beyonders did not appear openly before the public, the statement should have been safe.
And indeed, Mozo had judged correctly.
Audrey nodded in agreement.
"Exactly."
"Everywhere else functions normally, yet for some reason they had to create this Special District."
"And we're stuck inside it."
"It's incredibly frustrating."
The moment she mentioned the subject, Audrey felt the urge to curse.
Outside the Special District, many supernatural materials cost only a few dozen gold pounds.
Inside the Special District, those same materials could easily sell for several hundred or even over a thousand gold pounds.
The Special District?
Other places don't have these restrictions?
Wait.
Does that mean only the Empire separates ordinary people from Beyonders?
Why?
And could my previous failures be related to that as well?
Because Audrey had spoken as though it were common knowledge, Mozo refrained from asking further questions despite his intense curiosity.
After a brief pause, he continued:
"Do you happen to have access to any special channels for exchanging materials and information?"
Audrey immediately became wary.
"Why are you asking?"
"Expanding one's network is always beneficial."
"Miss Hepburn, I believe there's enough trust between us for that, isn't there?"
Audrey froze for a moment before answering apologetically:
"Sorry."
"It's just that the authorities have been cracking down very aggressively lately."
"And the way you phrased that sounded a little too much like the interrogation methods used by those hounds."
Mozo smiled to show he wasn't offended.
"I understand."
"So what's your answer?"
Audrey tilted her head curiously.
"Are you asking to join our gathering?"
"Or are you hoping to hire me to keep an eye out for certain materials or information?"
"Join."
"While I trust you, Miss Hepburn, some matters are simply better handled face-to-face."
Audrey pondered for a moment before replying:
"Well... I can recommend you to the gathering."
"But the other members need to approve."
"If they don't, I could be expelled from the group."
"And some of them might even retaliate."
"How long would that take?"
Mozo sounded slightly disappointed.
Though if Audrey had agreed to bring him immediately, he probably would have questioned the gathering's security instead.
The authorities seemed to be conducting a major crackdown on independent Beyonders.
"I'm afraid you'll have to wait until next month."
Next month?
That's way too long.
It wasn't unacceptable, but Mozo still couldn't help asking:
"Is there any way to make it sooner?"
To his surprise, Audrey answered immediately:
"Actually, yes."
"But you'll owe me a favor."
Her tone carried a distinctly mischievous edge.
Instinctively, Mozo covered the pouch containing his one hundred gold pounds.
Surely she wasn't about to make him hand it over before he'd even had a chance to enjoy having it?
Heaven knew that Mozo had genuinely been poor for far too long.
Noticing his reaction, Audrey chuckled.
"Relax."
"You helped me tremendously."
"I'm not asking for additional payment."
"I simply hope that if I ever need assistance during one of the gatherings, you'll lend me a hand."
Oh.
That's fine, then.
"In that case, I have no objections."
"So how much sooner can it be?"
After thinking briefly, Audrey answered:
"Because of the issue with the mark, the organizer of our gathering now owes me a favor."
"If I use that as leverage, I should be able to bring you to the next meeting."
"And when would that be exactly?"
"If nothing unexpected happens..."
Audrey smiled.
"Tomorrow night."