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Marlina — a character far more formidable than that beast, leaving Ravenna to wonder if Ansel\'s purpose was to continually challenge her or if he harbored other motives.

As Ravenna pondered how to engage with Ansel, she led them to her alchemical workshop, standing before the ceaselessly operating apparatus. With a demeanor that starkly contrasted her poise, Miss Ziegler calmly inquired, "Where shall I begin?"

Ansel, slightly bowing his head, fixed his gaze upon Ravenna\'s face—or more precisely, upon her ash-gray spectacles.

"Have you taken the opportunity to upgrade the data system?" he asked, his tone laced with surprise.

"... Indeed, there\'s been an abundance to process," she replied, removing her glasses and offering them to Ansel, "Would you care to examine these?"

Even without her spectacles, Miss Ziegler did not lose her air of intellect; the slight depth of her eye sockets and her indifferent gaze made her otherwise charming visage seem unapproachable.

Ansel toyed with the glasses in his hand for a moment before shaking his head with a chuckle, "Overwhelmed with tasks, yet you chose to undertake an even more challenging project… how fascinating."

Returning the glasses to Ravenna, he inquired, "Have you been expanding in new directions, or continuing your research on the... Universal Aether Furnace?"

Ravenna\'s expression faltered, her gaze almost instantly transfixed on Marlina.

"Why the apprehension?" Ansel raised an eyebrow slightly, "Do you find Marlina untrustworthy?"

Taking a deep breath, her demeanor cooling, she responded, "A reflex, my apologies... I\'m not working on that at the moment; the time isn\'t right."

"It\'s just as well that you\'re exercising restraint. For now, it\'s indeed not quite suitable for revelation."

Ansel proceeded deeper into the workshop, examining the materials and prototypes on the workbench and the metals being automatically forged in the furnace, unable to suppress a smile, "These are designs from three years ago. Don\'t you have any projects of your own?"

"I do, but they pale in comparison to your creations," Ravenna answered serenely, "The ideas you\'ve left behind are far more valuable than anything I can currently conceive."

"Is that a solemn compliment?"

"Merely the truth."

The young Hydral laughed heartily, "I appreciate it. Do you require assistance?"

Ravenna paused, taken aback.

"... Assistance?" she echoed uncertainly.

"What\'s so perplexing?" Ansel retorted, "Haven\'t we collaborated before?"

The prototype of Nidhoggur was indeed a product of their joint effort, but that was more out of necessity than true cooperation.

The kind of collaboration that once sparked intense passion between them had long ceased to exist.

Ravenna\'s initial reaction was that Ansel was jesting, seeking to tease her for her nervousness and bewilderment. However, she quickly realized he was serious, and if so, his purpose could only be one thing...

"I don\'t mind helping you clarify your thoughts, but there will be a price..."

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… As expected.

Ravenna\'s heart, momentarily fluttering, soon settled. She knew Ansel\'s sole aim was to drown her in the abyss of rationality, to exact a price for everything, or to force her... to make a choice.

Should I feel… sorrow at this juncture?

She mused internally—should I grieve that Ansel has forsaken me, so coldly seeking to extinguish my emotions?

Yet, Ravenna\'s heart could not summon the grief she thought she should feel.

She sought to extract bitterness from past memories, but all she found was numbness.

Her initial resentment towards Ansel, the flame in her heart, had gradually dimmed with his actions, his revealed intentions, and his unchanging thoughts.

"... The price will be to relearn how to smile genuinely before my next visit."

"Okay, I…understan…d?"

Her response to Ansel\'s calm statement wavered at the last word.

Ravenna stared at Ansel\'s smiling face, momentarily lost.

What does he mean? Is this mockery, or is there a deeper scheme? Why would he propose such a condition? Is he trying to coax me… into seeking his help with my grandfather\'s death?

Ravenna could not ascertain the reason, but she was certain of one thing: whatever Ansel did to her was never from a place of benevolence.

Failing to recognize this would leave her fate akin to that of that female beast — a fact Ravenna was well aware of.

Yet now, there was an additional consideration: she might not even have the chance to be collared as that wolf. Without utmost caution, she would likely end up as a disposable tool.

But if, just if, he intended to help...

Impossible. That was the one scenario that could not exist.

"... I understand," she said, dismissing the absurd thought that had arisen in her heart and quickly rejecting it, her expression indifferent, "Learning to smile... I shall endeavor to do so."

"Let it be known, should you fail, there will be consequences."

Ansel spoke with a light laugh, "Now then, shall we begin? Is there anything in particular you need my help with?"

Ravenna composed herself, "The Phase Stabilizer. The theoretical concept you mentioned has encountered a bottleneck during transcendence. I\'ve attempted to utilize materials with a high concentration of spatial essence..."

As a bystander, Marlina was utterly at a loss to comprehend the meaning of the string of words uttered by Ravenna. However, in exercising her forte, she still reaped some benefits.

This Miss Ziegler... harbored an extraordinary passion and talent for researching these matters.

The increasingly mature Marlina could vaguely perceive the emotional changes in Ravenna when she discussed these subjects. Although from a third-person perspective, she still maintained her aloof demeanor, her tone devoid of fluctuations, Marlina could discern a glimmer of... longing in the depths of Ravenna\'s eyes.

The game of the black market indeed yielded remarkable gains for Marlina. Although she was nearly crushed by the immense terror, fortunately, Ansel managed to maintain control, allowing her to make significant progress in understanding the human heart.

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