"My name is Rina Chu. Is this shameless scoundrel really your friend?" the young woman asked.
"Yeah," Grace said. "I think maybe there's a bit of a misunderstanding between you two?"
"No misunderstanding!" both of them said in unison.
Grace: "..."
"This woman is a stalker, a violent maniac, and a total freak!" Leon Zane said bitterly. "Absolutely no misunderstanding!"
"Says the thief crying 'stop thief!'" Rina Chu glared at him. "You'd better stay far away from me from now on! If you show up in front of me again, I'll castrate you!"
"You..."
"Hey! That's enough!" Grace quickly stepped in to mediate. "Miss, we're all from Yan City, so we're kind of neighbors. Let's just take a step back, okay?"
Rina Chu glanced at Grace, nodded, and said to Leon Zane, "For Grace's sake, I'll let you off this time!"
Leon Zane: "Who needs your mercy!"
Rina Chu ignored him, bowed to Grace, and turned to leave.
"Hey! You stop right there, woman!" Leon Zane shouted. "Did I say you could leave?"
"Hey, hey!" Grace grabbed him. "Leon Zane! It took me ages to find you, let's chat for a bit!"
"Weren't you supposed to be studying in the Eastern Alliance? What do you want to talk to me about?" Leon grumbled.
"I have something I want to ask you."
"Spit it out!"
"Byron White is Shannon's brother, right?"
Leon Zane immediately looked guarded. "Don't go making wild guesses! No, he's not! Shannon is just a commoner!"
"Oh, quit lying to me! The President said so himself!"
"He told you that?" Leon frowned.
Grace nodded. "He said Shannon asked him to look after me."
"No way!" Leon blurted out.
"What do you mean, no way?"
"You're the Saint Maiden's daughter! Both of us have to keep that strictly confidential! Shannon would never tell Byron White about you."
He paused, then added, "Besides... do you know how Shannon's mother died? She was killed by Byron White's sword! Shannon and Lady Yun Shu can at least pretend to be polite, but with Byron White, they're like fire and water! Ask him to look after you? Does that sound possible to you?"
"Oh? Then why does the President take such good care of me?" Grace was puzzled.
"Whatever the reason, it can't be anything good!"
"Hmm... That's what I've always thought too, but I wasn't sure. So I had Cutie Pie track you down to ask you about it."
"Cutie Pie's here too?" Leon's scalp tingled.
He had no idea that Xiao Yan had followed Grace here.
The whole business with the Frostbound Casket, he and Shannon still hadn't figured out a solution...
"Yep!" Grace held up Cutie Pie.
When Leon saw Cutie Pie, his whole demeanor changed. He grew serious and said sincerely to Grace, "Shannon and I have already left Sigil City. We doubled back in secret because of a special mission. You showing up like this could blow our cover!"
"Oh! Then I’ll head back right now."
"Wait!"
"What is it?" Grace asked.
"Sigil City is full of spiritual energy, so you can use a Messenger Charm here. I'll have Shannon give you one when I get back!" Leon didn't want her coming to find them again.
"Messenger Charm? What's that?"
"With this, you won't have to risk sneaking out—you can talk to us anytime." Leon explained.
"That's awesome!" Grace's eyes sparkled.
"So, hand Cutie Pie over to me. Tonight, I'll have it deliver the charm to you."