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"In short..."
Bradley opened his mouth, then forced himself to swallow the frustration that rose as naturally as breathing.
He knew the rule.
If he wanted to avoid being dragged into Morin's chaotic rhythm, there was only one thing he could do.
Never respond to Morin's strange trains of thought.
He had to keep the conversation on track. Only then could he avoid being completely derailed by Morin's wild imagination.
"Anyway," Bradley said coldly, refusing to follow Morin's lead, "everything you said before was messy and all over the place. I couldn't tell what was true and what was false."
"Alright, alright." Morin sighed helplessly.
Without hesitation, he walked to the wine cabinet, took out a bottle, flicked it open with one finger, and poured the wine into a decanter to aerate.
"What I want is simple. I want to join the Eye of Providence and learn magic. Of course, learning magic without joining would be even better."
He paused.
"But that seems impossible."
"Of course it is." Bradley scoffed. "I can't even let my adopted daughter learn magic without joining. Why should you be an exception?"
"Besides, for Miss Catrina to join the Eye of Providence, she can't rely on outsiders."
Morin poured the wine into two glasses, picked them up, and walked back, handing one to Bradley.
"There's only one way for Miss Catrina to accept my help without the Eye of Providence considering it cheating."
"You and her form a team and join together," Bradley said slowly, uncertainty creeping into his expression.
He wasn't questioning Morin's ability.
Over the past year, he had personally watched Morin's ten magic performances.
Based on skill alone, Morin was more than qualified to join the Eye of Providence. He exceeded the requirements by a wide margin.
As a magician himself, Bradley could vaguely distinguish which parts of Morin's performances were real magic and which were sleight of hand.
That was exactly the problem.
Morin wasn't just a master of stage tricks. His grasp of actual magic was equally terrifying.
What shocked Bradley even more was how often Morin could use it.
Honestly, even after systematic training within the Eye of Providence, Bradley couldn't confidently say he could put on such performances so effortlessly, as if there were no physical cost at all.
If Morin hadn't been so obsessed with making money-and hadn't lacked any noble inclinations like robbing the rich to help the poor-the Eye of Providence would have already extended an invitation.
And if Bradley wanted, he could make that invitation happen himself.
No organization was free from human nature. Connections existed everywhere.
So the real question was simple.
Should he agree?
Should he issue Morin an invitation and let him help Catrina pass the trials?
"Hm?" Morin raised his glass.
"...."
Bradley hesitated.
Then he accepted the glass, clinked it against Morin's, and drank.
"Excellent." Morin nodded, completely unsurprised. "The deal is made."
"I need to warn you first," Bradley said immediately. "Even as her partner, you absolutely cannot use this opportunity to go after her."
"Of course, of course." Morin waved dismissively. "Didn't I say I wouldn't make any advances? Isn't that enough?"
"No. You must reject her."
"That's excessive." Morin frowned. "I'm an upright, red-blooded man. What if she tries to seduce me?"
"That will never happen."
"Anything can happen. If it does, am I supposed to refuse?"
"Are you seriously planning to accept?"
"Why not?" Morin shrugged. "Besides, if I reject her, aren't you worried her confidence will shatter and she'll either fall in love with me or turn lesbian?"
"...You might have a point."
Bradley hadn't debated like this in a long time.
And once again, he lost.
When it came to fooling people, Morin never made empty promises. After fooling protagonists across three worlds, his success rate spoke for itself.
In the end, the deal was finalized.
Morin would help Bradley's adopted daughter and assistant, Catrina, pass the trials and join the Eye of Providence.
In return, Bradley would secure him an official invitation.
That invitation was rare.
And Morin intended to make full use of it.
That night.
In a bar booth.
"Morin!"
Bradley's roar came through the phone.
Morin had already moved it a full meter away.
"Where did you take Catrina?"
"You see," Morin said calmly, "to adapt to our partnership, Miss Catrina and I decided to get used to our future working dynamic. Building chemistry is important. The best kind is when we're in each other's heads."
He hung up without waiting for a response.
Catrina sat beside him, smiling as she sipped her wine.
"You're not angry?" Morin shook his phone once. It vanished.
"Do you think I should be?" she asked.
"Well..." Morin smiled. "I think so. I just met a girl who's been suppressed for a very long time."
"How did you know?" Catrina looked surprised. "Mind reading?"
"I know some magic," Morin chuckled, tapping his head, "but mind reading isn't my specialty. And I wouldn't waste it on a normal person."
"I figured it out."
"Wow." Catrina leaned closer. "How?"
"Magic takes time. If Bradley wanted you to join the Eye of Providence, that means long-term training. If you weren't naturally gifted, even longer."
Morin looked at her.
"And judging by today... this should be the first time you've ever been asked out by a man."
As someone experienced, Morin noticed immediately when her reactions felt off.
He had only been casually flirting, yet she responded far too easily.
After talking with Bradley, the truth became clear.
Despite her figure and an easily eight-out-of-ten face, Catrina had never dated.
Strict control and endless training had seen to that.
"You're right," Catrina smiled, glancing around. "I was strictly disciplined. Drinking was limited. Friends were rare."
"But you don't hate him," Morin said.
"Yes." She looked at him, eyes full of admiration. "I'm starting to think you really can read minds."
"Who knows?" Morin didn't deny it this time.
Vagueness had its charm.
"Even so," Catrina sighed, holding her fingers slightly apart, "I was only a little annoyed. I know he did it for my sake."
Then she smiled, foxlike.
"So I wanted to annoy him today."
"By using me?" Morin smiled. He had seen it coming and simply played along.
He enjoyed flirting.
But he wasn't low enough to flirt with a daughter in front of her old man.
...Though the thought did cross his mind.
Ahem.
"Yes~" Catrina nodded.
"Do you know the price of using me?" Morin asked.
"I do," she said softly. "But I think even if I offered myself, you wouldn't take it."
"Why?" This time, Morin was genuinely surprised.
"My father wouldn't let me join the Eye of Providence without a reason. Without talent, it's meaningless," Catrina said. "Use your mind reading. Guess my ability."
"...Mind reading?"
"Yes. But it's weak," she admitted. "I can only glimpse momentary thoughts and personalities."
She met his gaze.
"But you're different. I can't see anything. I can only guess that you're someone who values freedom. Someone who doesn't want to be tied down or owe anything."
"...You're right."
Morin tilted his head slightly.
"Then everything else is easy to explain," Catrina smiled.
She leaned in and whispered into his ear.
"I'm still..."