The afterglow of the setting sun completely sank below Laguna's horizon. Dazzling neon lights and street lamps lit up one by one, dressing this commercial seaport metropolis in an increasingly enchanting guise. Following the address Zanni provided, Rover arrived at the Mortari Family Manor.
The manor was situated on slightly higher ground in the Mortari district, overlooking the bustling port and a large swath of the urban area. Rather than a mansion, it looked more like a heavily guarded yet highly artistic fortress.
The pristine white walls, fluid geometric lines, and various gemstone decorations emitting soft halos perfectly inlaid everywhere, all proclaimed the wealth and taste of this newly risen commercial family, whose riches rivaled that of a nation.
An impeccably dressed elderly butler was already waiting outside the wrought-iron gates engraved with the Mortari family crest. Seeing Rover, he bowed meticulously: "Esteemed Mr. Rover, the Second Young Miss has been expecting you for a long time. Please, follow me."
Under the butler's guidance, Rover walked through the neatly manicured gardens and corridors of the Mortari estate. The interior decoration was exceedingly luxurious, yet not the least bit tacky.
Crystal chandeliers cast warm light, priceless artworks hung on the walls, and the air was permeated with a faint, refreshing fragrance.
The butler finally stopped before a set of double doors carved from solid ebony wood and gently pushed them open. "Second Young Miss, Mr. Rover has arrived."
The banquet hall wasn't massive, but it was incredibly exquisite.
A long table large enough to accommodate over a dozen people currently only had two sets of tableware laid out. The floral centerpiece in the middle cleverly incorporated uncarved, natural crystal clusters.
And Coletta Mortari—the Second Young Miss of the Mortari Family, the future young helmsman of the family—was standing before the floor-to-ceiling window, gazing at the city lights gradually illuminating outside.
Hearing the sound, she turned around.
Tonight, she had clearly dressed up meticulously.
She wasn't wearing that familiar family enforcer attire, but rather an exquisite magenta knee-length evening dress. The fabric was luxurious, flowing with a delicate luster like moonlight under the lamps, and the hem was embroidered with intricate Mortari family patterns in gold thread.
Her silvery-white hair was a bit longer than he remembered, draped smoothly over her shoulders. Her bangs were still parted down the middle, and the tresses on either side were combed impeccably.
Those unique eyes, like pure opals blending sapphire and ruby, brightened visibly the instant she saw him, as if brimming with stars.
Two faint blushes crept up her cheeks, complementing the magenta gemstone headband in her hair perfectly.
She tried her best to maintain the dignified, proper smile of a young miss, but her slightly quickened speech still betrayed her joy: "You're here, Rover. Please, take a seat."
"Thank you for the invitation, Coletta." Rover smiled and took his seat, looking at her with a gentle gaze. "Long time no see. You look even more radiant."
Coletta's face flushed a bit redder. She lowered her head slightly to hide her shyness and said softly, "Thank you... I'm very happy you could come." She signaled the waiter to start serving the food.
Dinner was a standard Laguna-style feast, primarily featuring seafood: plump baked lobster, rich and hearty seafood bisque, and tender pan-seared fish fillets, paired with mellow wine from the heart of the archipelago and an appetizer salad.
Every dish was like a work of art, and the taste was absolutely impeccable.
The conversation unfolded in a relaxed atmosphere.
"Zanni has already briefly told me about what happened at the bottom of the sea." Coletta put down her spoon, her eyes carrying genuine lingering fear and concern. "You must have gone through something extremely dangerous... Seeing you return safely, I truly... breathed a sigh of relief."
Her voice was incredibly soft, her words brimming with absolute sincerity.
"I did run into some trouble, but it's all resolved," Rover smiled, his tone relaxed, omitting the thrilling, life-and-death details. "Though Laguna seems to have gotten quite a scare from it."
"Mm," Coletta nodded. "The tremors were very noticeable. Some areas of the port suffered minor damage, and the market panicked briefly. My grandfather and a few uncles immediately issued orders to stabilize the situation, comfort the family members, and send people to assist the Convent's investigation."
As Coletta spoke, her tone was steady, already possessing a bit of the demeanor of a future helmsman.
"Is Mr. Francis's health holding up well?" Rover naturally picked up the thread of conversation, expressing polite concern. "Going through such a storm must have taken a toll on his mind as well."
Mentioning her grandfather, Coletta's eyes softened: "Thank you for your concern. Grandfather is still quite hale and hearty, though sudden incidents like this always make people worry. He often mutters that if you had stayed in Laguna, perhaps we could have been much more at ease about many things."
There seemed to be a hidden meaning in Coletta's words, containing both recognition of his abilities and an implication of how highly the Mortari Family valued him. However, Rover didn't point it out, merely laughing it off and changing the subject.
Next, Coletta curiously asked about his experiences after leaving Laguna.
Rover picked out a few interesting anecdotes—the grandeur of the Seven Hills' arena, his unexpected encounters upon returning to Jinzhou, the wondrous scenery and high-tech marvels of the Black Shores... Coletta listened with sparkling eyes, as if she were taking a brief journey alongside him, occasionally letting out soft gasps of amazement or asking detailed questions.
The topic gradually circled back. Coletta gently swirled her wine glass, her tone becoming slightly more formal. "This incident is no small matter. The Threnodian, the Fractsidus, the massive upheaval within the Convent... this has already surpassed the scope of what any single Family or organization can control."
"Grandfather has already had an emergency communication with the head of the Fesale Family and high-ranking representatives of the Convent today. All factions in Laguna must temporarily set aside their differences and jointly face this potential threat."
She furrowed her brow slightly, revealing a solemnity that didn't match her young appearance.
Rover listened quietly, occasionally nodding in agreement.
After finishing the main course, the dessert was an exquisitely shaped frozen milk pudding garnished with fresh berries.
While enjoying the dessert, Coletta seemed to hesitate for a moment. Her spoon stirred the dessert in her cup unconsciously. Finally, she spoke, her voice lower than before, carrying a hint of apology: "Originally... I only wanted you to relax nicely tonight. I shouldn't be talking about these troublesome things anymore, but... the Family has indeed run into a minor, yet rather vexing bit of trouble recently."
She looked up, her gemstone-like eyes gazing at him: "Over the past few days, several of the Family's cargo ships have been frequently harassed by some Echoes along fixed coastal routes."
"Harassed?" Rover raised an eyebrow.
"Mm," Coletta nodded. "Not ferocious attacks. It's more like... a prank. They try to ram the sides of the ships, smear the decks with strange slime, and even steal some unimportant trinkets from the crew. It hasn't caused any severe casualties or massive losses, but it has seriously disrupted the sailing rhythm and the crew's morale. The Family has sent many batches of guards responsible for investigating this matter, but they can't catch these elusive creatures either..."
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