It was a very bland, very calm narrative.

Ivan apologized to Annan with a blank face.

His pale icy pupils were godless and unforgiving.

But no matter how Annan listened, he felt that every word was like a silent cry......

It's like stabbing a poison blade into the heart.

It's a lament that can't even be heard.

"I can't even keep you in control of the Winter Hand - only use the power of the scepter as little as possible, hoping that they won't realize that the Heart of Winter has lost control of the Winter Hand......

"I also know that it's not easy, especially when you're so young. It will also become more difficult to suppress these seemingly loyal Winter Hands. But fortunately, you have already obtained the power of the Tyrant, if it is really difficult to control, you can control one or two of them, and then rely on them to rule the others indirectly.

"There is no need to shy away from the power of this to change the minds of others...... As long as it is power, it has the value of existence. In fact, I thought about turning the scepter upside down to use the power of a tyrant, but I eventually gave up. I was mainly worried that I would rely on this power, and that I would indeed become a crazy tyrant.

"I want you to understand...... The year I received the Tricolor Scepter was only seventeen years old, fifteen years younger than your brother Dmitry, a year younger than your sister Mary, and only three years older than you...... Now, I'm only two years older than you. ”

Ivan looked at Annan calmly: "This scepter, this fate, is your birthday gift."

"Happy birthday, Annan."

“…… Thank you, Father. ”

Annan was silent for a long time before taking a deep breath and whispering thanks.

It was only then that he suddenly remembered that today seemed to be March 14th...... It's really Annan's birthday.

Even Annan himself forgot about it.

After all, he has been in this world for less than a year. And the previous memories have been erased......

Strictly speaking, this is Annan's first birthday after coming to this world.

Vaguely, Annan felt something surging in his heart.

The moment he caught that emotion, there seemed to be a light in his eyes......

- No, that's not "seemingly".

It's not a description.

Ivan truly saw that Annan's eyes welled up with pure light.

It's like the light of a dark cavern, looking towards the only light, towards the final exit.

It was a light of hope—

…… That is, the light of the crane?

Ivan was also in a trance.

"—thank you."

Just as Ivan said "I'm sorry" again, Annan also took a deep breath and thanked him seriously.

But he didn't feel the slightest sadness.

just raised his head and showed a calm smile: "But this fate, I don't have to inherit it."

"Father, have you ever heard a word?"

Annan reached out again and clenched the tricolor scepter.

In that moment, the light in his eyes became brighter and three times brighter.

"——[Fate is a chariot in heaven]. For the Crane of Heaven, a curse based on fate is meaningless. ”

Annan's tone was as calm as Ivan's, but there was a diametrically opposed will in it.

If it is said that Ivan, it is more mournful than dead.

Annan: This is Enron who holds everything in the palm of his hand.

"That's why I don't believe in orders. What misfortune, what suffering...... I don't think they have been here and they won't be coming. ”

He whispered.

From the chamber, Annan looked down and saw a crystal ball on the table.

Annan's heart moved, and he reached out to hold it.

The crystal ball was activated like a living thing—it snapped its eyes open.

It's like a huge eyeball, and it can even blink in the blink of an eye.

The most mysterious thing is that from any angle, a human dark gray eyeball with a slight silver cloud can be seen.

With the power of the crane in the sky, Annan's eyes appeared with its data panel:

【The Faceless Poet's All-Knowing Eye】

[Type: Strange Object/Ritual Item (Gold)]

[Description: A crystal ball created by the Faceless Poet, which can not only be used to perform prophetic rituals, but also to dispel or protect all "secrets" within its range]

[Effect: Activates any light that comes close to the crystal ball, automatically triggering the "All-Seeing Eye", illuminating the surrounding space within fifteen yards, dispelling all darkness, fog, blinding, and stealth effects, and its effect is equivalent to the gold-level prophetic spell of the same name]

[Effect: Once a day, you can use "Complete Darkness" once to block the surrounding light and sound, and its effect is equivalent to the Silver Rank Idol spell of the same name, which lasts for up to three hours.] When this effect is enabled, the "All-Seeing Eye" effect will be automatically terminated because there is no "Brightness" present.

[Cost: After using "Total Darkness", the wielder will lose the vision and hearing that can be turned on for three times the duration of "Complete Darkness".] 】

"This is a spell used to detect if someone has infiltrated the chamber."

Ivan noticed Annan's gaze and said casually: "Although it is a god's name spell, it is generally not used...... Take a piece if you like.

"Anyway, this secret room should not be used by anyone for a long time."

"No, I'm just thinking about something else......"

Annan thought about it and said in a low voice: "If I suddenly use the three-color scepter upside down, will it make people suspicious?" They may not directly realize that this is the great spell of the Duchy of Winter, but they will definitely perceive that it has a meaning other than a 'symbol of power'.

"Once you're targeted, it's going to be a lot of trouble anyway. And in order to make them suspicious, I decided to ......"

Annan said, slowly placing the crystal ball on the top of the scepter.

The scepter was so heavy that it made a heavy thud as if it were pure copper when it fell to the ground. But after Annan learned its real name, he didn't feel half the weight when he held it in his hand.

And this sturdy vine is neither gold, nor copper, nor wood, with the toughness of a meow, but when touched carefully, it seems to have a carapace-like texture.

They held the ball in place perfectly—even after Annan put it on, the three branches squirmed like living creatures, holding it tighter.

The silver-gray eyeballs blinked in a bit of panic, but somehow became quiet and closed again.

"It's perfect, it's not obtrusive at all."

Annan smiled smugly: "When people see this scepter again, they will only focus their eyes on the crystal ball. And the scepter underneath it will become a shelf for the 'All-Seeing Eye' and will be ignored.

"Let it be rumored that it was because someone had assassinated me—and that I had combined the All-Seeing Eye with the Tricolored Scepter to prevent the assassination. Created a new scepter for the Grand Duke of Winter.

"It looks like it's pretty presentable. I remember that there were people in the church who used huge gems, skulls, or crystal balls as the head of their scepters...... It's a tradition, and it's not obtrusive. ”

- I'm such a genius.

Annan was proud.

Later, when the Chamber of Secrets was opened again.

Winter Hands, who had been waiting outside, noticed that Grand Duke Ivan had left the secret room with his hands empty.

The three-color scepter has fallen into Annan's hands.

So they bowed down to Ivan, saluted, and saluted.

"—excuse me."

Annan took a deep breath and whispered, "I'm back." ”