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Life is a series of crossroads, with one decision following another. Often, one thing right or wrong, can lead a person down two distinctly different paths. At this moment, Mo Li faces one of these critical decisions.

“Excuse me, is this ring yours?” Norma received the ring from Rocco but showed no urgency in returning it to Mo Li. With the ring exposed and taken, Mo Li found himself pondering a series of questions. Does this noble named Norma know the origins of this ring? If so, is this seemingly innocent inquiry of ‘did you drop this ring’ a potential trap? How should I respond? Norma’s question carries subtle complexities. By asking if the ring is mine, he’s essentially inquiring about the true owner of the ring. Am I considered the original owner? Obviously not. So, who is the rightful owner of this ring?

Perhaps the old drunkard Charles knew the answer to this question, but Mo Li didn’t. If the original owner of this ring is associated with Count Norma, then there is a good chance this question is leading him into a trap. However, if I deny ownership of the ring, then why do I have it? The obvious assumption would be that I either acquired it forcefully or stole it. In that case, even if that’s not what happened, Count Norma would have every right to take it from me. After all, Mo Li couldn’t just tell this noble lord that the ring was given to him by an old assassin who enjoys being drunk, could he?

This was a gamble, with the gamble being whether Norma truly knew the origins of this ring and who it belonged to. If he did, it could potentially lead to some unnecessary misunderstandings. The pendant could be considered a memento left to Mo Li by his mother. However, whether this ring was left by her or not remains unknown. Elsa, before departing, only emphasized repeatedly that he should not let anyone see this ring. From this, Mo Li could deduce that the ring was most likely not a possession of his father or mother but had a high chance of being a trophy taken from its original owner by force. Otherwise, why would he receive such stern warnings against revealing it to anyone?

“Mn, this ring is mine.” After thinking for less than two seconds Mo Li gave his reply, he bet that Norma didn’t know the origins of this ring.

“…. Oh, is that so.” Norma nodded and returned the ring to Mo Li. “Be careful with it, since it’s yours, make sure to keep it well.”

“Thank you for the reminder.” Mo Li, who maintained a calm exterior, was actually jumping wildly inside. It seems like my bet was correct; Count Norma doesn’t seem to know about the origins of this ring. This makes sense; he is only a Count in his thirties, after all. How could it be so coincidental that he would just happen to know the origins of this ring? After some simple greetings, the two people sat down, and during their talk, Rocco had already disappeared.

“Little assassin there aren’t any eyes here, you can take off your hood.”

“Why bother?” To prevent anyone from seeing his face Mo Li is currently wearing the cloak he usually uses for his assassinations.

“Little brother, you don’t trust me.” Norma smiled slightly, but for an unknown reason, Mo Li felt that there was a hint of bitterness in his smile.

Why would he make that kind of expression?

Logically speaking, for two people who have never even met face to face before, isn’t being cautious the norm? Mo Li didn’t know what was going through Count Norma’s mind, but he was unwilling to take off his disguise in front of a noble. Trusting his life to these sanctimonious hypocrites made him uneasy.

“Little brother, what did you come to see me for?” Norma was clear that he owed Mo Li a favor and Mo Li’s reasons for coming to see couldn’t be to just have tea.

“You know Fran Academy, yes?” Mo Li didn’t beat around the bush at all, he really didn’t want to place his hopes of entering Orchid Academy on an unreliable noble, but there was nothing else he could do.

“Oh, if I don’t remember wrong it’s the largest Academy in the Viscounty of Munster, what of it.”

“Fran Academy got an entrance certificate, Orchid Academy’s selection competition’s entrance certificate.”

“Oh, I understand.” Mentioning Orchid Academy, Norma immediately grasped what Mo Li wanted his help with. After all, it is Orchid Academy, the continent’s top academy, and anyone would want to give it a shot if given the chance. “Little brother, you want me to help you with the entrance certificate, don’t you?” Norma broke out laughing as he spoke.

“Is something the issue?” Mo Li narrowed his brows.

“It’s nothing, I just feel like what you’re doing right now is a bit unnecessary,” Count Norma smiled and started explaining. “If you want me to help you with the issue and the entrance certificate, then your name and identity will eventually be revealed to me. And since it’s inevitable, why bother hiding so much?”

“…”

True, he is a noble. Now that I think of it, I did worry a bit too much. At least for a count like him, finding someone in a not-so-big academy was extremely easy. “Does Mr. Norma want to see what I look like that much?” Mo Li suddenly chuckled and lifted his cloak. “Seriously though, I’m just a guy. What’s there to look at? But since you want to see it so badly, then go ahead and take a look. I’m just saying it as it is.” A trace of shock flashed through Norma’s face before he immediately recovered.

“I’ll also just tell you that my name is Mo Li, a third-year at Fran Academy. I grew up in an orphanage without any parents.”

“Mo Li,” Norma muttered to himself as if he wanted to commit the name to memory.

“Then, back to the previous issue, Mr. Norma, I know things like entrance certificates aren’t easy to get a hold of. You’re also not a local noble and just recently underwent an assassination attempt, so I understand you…”

“Oh, you mean the entrance certificate? That’s no issue at all; by tomorrow morning, I’ll have everything handled for you.” Norma’s straightforward answer caused Mo Li to be stunned for a moment. Mo Li understood that asking for help from a noble was a dangerous move. As such, when Norma gave such a succinct answer, it caused him to feel a little uneasy. Not only that, but Norma also gave him the ‘As a young man with a dream, I support you’ kind of look. How to put it, Mo Li felt as if Norma was like a father looking at his child chasing their ambitions, even though Mo Li never had a father. “Anything else you need? Just tell me all at once.”

“???”

Mo Li was still contemplating if one favor would be sufficient for the request he was making. Unexpectedly, the moment he began to speak, Norma acted as if he would do anything Mo Li asked without question. This heightened the unease in Mo Li’s heart even more.

Was he acquainted with Count Norma from somewhere? Or maybe he was acquainted with my parents? Impossible. Logically it is true that Norma owes Mo Li a favor and has an agreement with him, but an agreement between a commoner and a noble is like a boat made from friendship and could sink at any time, the promise of a noble is always unreliable. As such Mo Li couldn’t understand why the other party was so eager to help him.