Chapter 613  Crossing Paths With Evalyn

"Nolan, are you in there? I need to talk to you about something."

Seira knocked on Nolan's door and waited quietly.

Seconds passed, but there was no answer. She knocked again, this time louder.

Still, there was no response, and she frowned in confusion.

"Something's strange," she muttered.

At this hour, Nolan should be in his room. Even if he were napping, he would have heard her knocking.

With no other choice, Seira decided to enter.

Turning the doorknob and pushing the door open, she was met with a quiet, dimly lit room.

Nolan, who she had assumed was inside sleeping, was nowhere to be seen.

"Huh? He's not here?" Her eyes scanned the room in surprise. "Where did he go?"

...

"Master, this ice cream is amazing! Where did you get it?"

Shion licked the chocolate ice cream with chocolate chips sprinkled on top, her face beaming.

Nolan smiled, took a lick of his strawberry ice cream, and said, "I stumbled across it once while taking a leisurely walk with Eliza. At first, I thought the stall was closed, but it wasn't. Considering how good it tastes, it makes sense they're still in business."

Unlike big stores, roadside food stalls rarely lasted long. Some only survived a few months, and others couldn't handle the competition.

In the business world, the law of the jungle still applied.

Those with strength, capital, and visionary ideas would prevail—just as Blue Moon had gradually pushed Red Obsidian aside before ultimately defeating it.

Shion nodded slightly, as if she understood. She stared at the chocolate ice cream in her hand, and suddenly, an idea sparked in her mind.

"Master, I—"

Before she could finish, Nolan flicked her forehead and warned, "Don't even think that. Do you want to destroy that stall?"

"Ouch!"

Shion groaned, rubbing her forehead, which was now slightly red.

"I haven't even said anything yet, and you flicked me!" she protested.

Nolan rolled his eyes and teased, "Do you really think I don't know what you mean? You want to make the same ice cream, don't you?"

Shion froze, then smiled awkwardly. She had indeed been thinking that.

The ice cream stall was in a very remote area and was bought only by people from the neighborhood. If they could expand it, the profits would surely be extraordinary.

"See—I guessed right," Nolan chuckled softly. "You need to change your way of thinking, Shion."

His gaze lingered on the stall, run by a couple and their little daughter.

They looked genuinely happy serving the steady stream of customers.

"If we take over their business, it would only bring them suffering. I don't want that," Nolan said, letting out a small sigh and shaking his head.

He never claimed to be a saint. There were no saints in this world—every human had committed sins, himself included.

But he wasn't cruel enough to destroy a small family's only source of income. Beyond being wrong, his conscience simply wouldn't allow it.

Business was a battlefield, yes, but without ethics, how was it any different from animals doing whatever it took to fill their stomachs?

Shion was slightly dazed by his words. She stared at Nolan's serious face, then smiled faintly.

'You're really unique, Master. No wonder I always feel so comfortable around you—you really are the best,' she whispered.

"Did you say something?" Nolan asked, confused.

Shion shook her head and looped her arm around his.

"Nothing. Don't worry. I was just joking. Don't take it seriously, okay?" She winked playfully.

Nolan wanted to say, "You clearly want to take over that business," but he held back, nodding helplessly.

"Alright, I believe you. Let's go. Next, we're going shopping. Do you have any clothes you want to wear?"

"Clothes?" Shion paused. She had plenty, but she remembered a novel she'd read where the main character went shopping with the heroine.

It described their date, and one part focused on choosing outfits for her.

Just imagining Nolan seeing her in different clothes made her heart race with happiness and excitement.

"Alright, let's go!"

She took his hand, and they walked toward the southern part of the city. Suddenly, they crossed paths with a silver-haired woman.

Nolan froze, his breathing quickening.

'Evalyn? How… could it be her?'

He hadn't expected to see her wandering the city. But after a moment, he thought of his disguise and exhaled slowly.

To reduce the chance of being recognized by anyone who knew him, he had changed his appearance. Of course, to Shion, he still looked like himself.

"What's wrong, Master?" Shion asked.

Nolan shook his head, tightened his grip on hers, and replied casually, "Nothing."

He quickened his pace. Shion noticed his reaction and felt a pang of confusion, but she stayed silent.

Meanwhile, Evalyn suddenly stopped and turned, her eyes fixed on Nolan and Shion's backs.

"That woman… is she Shion from the Blue Moon Trading House?" Her eyebrows knitted together. "So she has a partner. That's unexpected."

Shion always appeared firm, decisive, and strong. She seemed like a woman who didn't need a man at all.

Yet she had a partner, just like most women.

Even so, Evalyn didn't dwell on it. Everyone had their own business, and she had no right to interfere.

Her gaze suddenly shifted to the man beside Shion.

"That back… Nolan?" Her eyes widened in surprise.

She rubbed her eyes, and indeed, the figure's back resembled Nolan's.

But then she noticed the white hair, and doubt crept back in. Nolan's hair was jet black—it couldn't be him.

Yet strangely, her heart insisted it was Nolan.

"Am I missing him so much that I'm imagining that man as Nolan?" she muttered.

Pushing the thought aside, she looked away and continued toward the imperial palace.

Whether it really was Nolan or not, she needed to see for herself.

…

"Have you found any information on her whereabouts?"

A tall, well-built man with a stern face turned to the bald man beside him.

The bald man grinned, holding out a document.

"Don't worry. I just got it. Here—read this."

The tall man took it and scanned the paper. A smile slowly spread across his lips.

"So, she's finally out without protection. This is the perfect chance to eliminate her. Let's complete the mission."

He tossed aside the document, which showed a picture of an extraordinarily beautiful woman—Shion.