The black tea in the cup has lost its temperature.

Marlene put down the teacup in her hand, raised her head and looked out the window, there, night had fallen, although it was just after noon in terms of time, but it was already dusk outside, at the beginning, Marlene was still very unaccustomed to this strange time difference, not getting up early or sleeping late, not only her, but also many other mercenaries. Luckily, Rhodes thought of this when building the fortress, so he also built a bell tower to tell the time, which rang every three times in the morning, noon and evening. With this bell tower, everyone finally began to slowly adjust their time difference.

Looking at the scenery outside the window, Marlene couldn't help but reach out and rub her forehead, now the operation of the fortress has become normal, and the only trouble is only the day after Rhodes and their departure, Marfa reluctantly took a note to the door to tell herself the news of Anne's departure, but Marlene was not very surprised by this news, she still knew something about Anne's character. It's not surprising that such a thing happened, so Marlene quickly made adjustments, Marfa is honest and calm, and it's reassuring to do this, so Marlene didn't worry too much about this matter.

But that doesn't mean Marlene isn't without troubles......... Although the fortress was functioning normally, and there were no major problems in the whole of Parfield that they had to worry about at the moment, Marlene was not bothered by this, but a very personal problem, which had to do with the canary.

Before Rhodes left, he had said that he would let the Canary cooperate with Marlene to manage the fortress, and if this was changed, Marlene would definitely be very happy, after all, she and the Canary were very compatible. And the relationship between the two parties is also good, plus the canary has a lot of experience in spell-casting skills and knowledge, and it can also be regarded as Marlene's mentor and friend, so at the beginning. Marlene loved canaries.

But after inadvertently breaking the "good deeds" of Canary and Rhodes that day, Marlene was a little embarrassed to the Canary, especially on the night after coming to the fortress, the two could be said to have established a relationship with each other, and Marlene was even more embarrassed when she saw the Canary after that......... Although she didn't think of herself as Rod's girlfriend, as long as she thought that the man next to her had the same relationship with the other party, it made Marlene even more embarrassed. She didn't know how to face the canary, and Marlene thought that Rhodes would explain herself or the canary. However, Rod didn't seem to want to explain these things to the canary, and he never mentioned his relationship with the canary. As for the canary, Marlene could feel that the other party seemed to be aware of something, but the canary's attitude towards herself had not changed.

It's because she's not a living human being. So there is any scruple about this?

Marlene didn't think the canary would think that way. However, she was still a little worried, there was still Rod before, so she could push everything to Rod to solve. But now that Rhodes is gone, she has to be alone with the canary from time to time. This annoyed Marlene, who didn't know if she should open her mouth to the canary, but she didn't even know what she was going to say.

"Hahh..............."

Thinking of this, Marlene couldn't help but bow her head and let out a long sigh. And at this moment, there was a sudden knock on the door. This stunned the girl for a moment, and then she immediately turned around and sorted out the papers on her desk.

"Please come in."

With Marlene's response, the door opened, and the canary walked in with her usual soft smile.

"Didn't bother you, Miss Marlene?"

"Ahh No, I'm just done. ”

See the smiling face of the canary. Marlene felt her body stiffen at once, and she hurriedly squeezed out a smile, then lowered her head as if she was working on a paperwork.

"What's the matter?"

"That's right."

The canary glanced at Marlene, squinting with a grin, and then she walked up to Marlene and handed her a stack of papers.

"Rhodes once mentioned before that he wanted the mercenaries to go to the warp point for actual combat training, and I have made a plan, you can see if there is anything that needs to be modified."

"It's good, I'll see it later."

Hearing the canary's words, Marlene hurriedly stretched out her hand to find the plan handed by the other party, then flipped a few pages casually, and then put it aside. This time, however, the canary did not turn away as she had done her job before, but instead looked at Marlene with a smile, which made Marlene a little uneasy.

"Still, is there anything else? Miss Canary? ”

"It's not a big deal............ But ..............."

Saying this, the canary stretched out a finger against her chin, and then looked at Marlene and spoke.

"Miss Marlene's attitude seems to be a bit strange lately......... I'm curious......... They don't come to me for tea and chat as often as they used to, and they don't talk to me about spellcasting skills anymore......... Am I not teaching well enough? ”

"Ah, there's no such thing."

Hearing this, Marlene hurriedly raised her head and waved her hand in a panic. To be honest, the spell-casting skills taught by the Canary are very practical, and they are also very simple and easy to understand, to put it mildly, Marlene feels that the practical skills she has studied in the academy for two years are not as useful as the ones that the Canary taught her in ten days. It's just that from these teachings, Marlene finally felt the fact that the canary was indeed a wild mage. When it comes to the actual spell-casting techniques used in combat, the canary is the first to say. But when it comes to the nature of the origin of force and the special operation of magic, the canary is completely ignorant of anything.

This once surprised Marlene, because according to what she learned in the academy, a mage must first learn to understand the power itself, and then be qualified to learn how to release and master this force, but the existence of the canary completely shattered the truth that Marlene had learned. She didn't know the most basic and core things of the Dao at all, she just used the spell as a magic technique, and the power as the power of the force, and she could still have such results——— if she changed to someone else, maybe Marlene would only think that the other party was just lucky. But the canaries are all at the level of legendary. Reaching this level is not just a matter of luck. It's just that Marlene still thinks this is too incredible, the canary only stays at the initial level of elemental attributes and power manifestations for the nature of magical power, and she doesn't understand those esoteric knowledge at all, so. How did she manage to use it so skillfully to create spell-casting techniques?

Marlene also asked the canary about such a question, but in the face of Marlene's inquiry at that time, the canary just smiled and replied, "You don't necessarily need to be able to build a plane" This sentence was completely inexplicable for Marlene, and he didn't know why to send it away. However, although she didn't know what the plane was, Marlene more or less understood the meaning of this sentence.

"So, what is the reason?"

Seeing that Marlene was a little flustered. The canary didn't care, and just sat down across from Marlene, and then looked at her with his hands on his cheeks and a grin. This only made Marlene more and more flustered. Her gaze wandered around her. But after the end, Marlene still took a deep breath. She is a smart woman, so she naturally understands that this time the canary took the initiative to come to her to talk about this issue. It's no wonder, after all, Rhodes isn't there. Before leaving, leave the fortress and guild to the two of them to manage. If it had been before, this would definitely not be a problem, but now that there is a gap between the two sides, there may be some trouble. Therefore, in the face of such a situation, if it can be resolved as soon as possible, it will be resolved as soon as possible. In fact, Marlene is not unaware of the stakes here, but she has been hesitant. I don't know how to speak. Now that the canary is willing to speak first, there is no need for him to be more reserved.

Thinking of this, Marlene also took a deep breath, and then she reached out and poured a new cup of tea for the canary and herself. Then he looked up at the canary and nodded.

"It's about ........."

"Is it a matter of Rhodes?"

But. Marlene didn't finish her words, for the canary was already grinning and going on. This surprised Marlene, but she nodded. Seeing her expression, the canary winked at her playfully, and then she asked again.

"So, Miss Marlene, what do you think is the relationship between me and Rod?"

"Huh?"

Hearing Canary's question, Marlene was suddenly stunned for a moment, because of this question, she really hadn't thought carefully about ——— relationship between Canary and Rod? Judging from what I saw that day, even if the two are not boyfriend and girlfriend, then they are lovers. But judging from the performance of the two people, although the relationship between the two parties is very good, they have never made a similar intimate move between lovers. Marlene's own situation is somewhat special, because for her, doing those things with Rhodes is not just that she likes Rhodes, it is also Marlene's own "obligation", and she has a "responsibility" to do so. In other words, even if Marlene doesn't like Rod, then for her, her fate has already determined that she has to do it. Of course, it's much better to find a man you like and love than to be hugged by a man you don't like.

But the canary's performance is very different from Marlene's, in Marlene's opinion, the canary is not very attached to Rhodes on weekdays, and the relationship between the two sides seems to be closer than ordinary friends, but the relationship between lovers is not enough, but at this time, suddenly a word flashed through Marlene's mind.

"That......... I don't know, but Miss Seven Love once said......... The relationship between you and Rhodes is a 'gunbuddy'........."

"Miss Fox?"

The canary's eyes widened in surprise at Marlene's answer, but she quickly returned to her usual smile.

"So, Miss Marlene, do you know what 'Gun Friend' means?"

Of course, Marlene shook her head, she didn't understand the meaning of the word at all, and she didn't know how to understand it. Seeing Marlene's reaction, the canary leaned back with a smile, and then put her hands together on her chest and looked at Marlene——— I don't know what the canary is doing, seeing the canary's action, Marlene immediately remembered Rod. Although the two people are not like each other at all, they feel surprisingly similar, and Rhodes always has a straight face that has not changed for thousands of years, making people wonder what he is thinking. And the canary is also unchanged for thousands of years, no matter what time she wears a smile on her face, it is difficult to see other expressions on her face. It's as if for a girl, there is nothing in this world that is worthy of her pain and anger.

"Where's the gunner......... Actually, it's pretty much the same, Miss Marlene, when you have a friend you like. You'd want to invite her over for tea and a chat, right? ”

Marlene nodded, and the canary held up a finger.

"My relationship with Rhodes is similar, except that when I want to be with him, I want something happier and more comfortable——— like Miss Marlene saw that day."

"Ah...............h

Hearing this, Marlene's face immediately turned red. She had no idea that the canary would be aware of her presence that day. But think about it, after all, the other party has the strength of the legendary level, if you can't even feel it. Then her strength is also in vain. But.........

"But. It's not just your average friend. ”

When she said this, Marlene's tone was a little stiff, after being a nobleman, she hadn't heard of a lot of messy things in the aristocratic circle. Many aristocratic ladies look like ladies on the surface, but behind the scenes they are promiscuous and debauched, especially at the age of Huaichun, some girls who are not strict in their family education will find the same aristocratic young people to do those shameful deeds together, and some people know the essence of the marrow, not only looking for men at aristocratic parties. Even the subordinate housekeepers in their own families are not spared, not to mention that some lower-level nobles will even go to their father's clan or something. These people don't do it because they have feelings, on the contrary, they just feel comfortable and want to find someone to comfort themselves, as long as the other party is a man. Marlene naturally looked down on those people. I feel that they don't know self-love and are debauched. She has always had a good sense of canaries. But now that I heard what the canary said, no matter how I thought about it, I felt that something was not right, and even my attitude became a little stiff.

"Of course not."

Of course, the canary understood that there was something wrong with Marlene's attitude, but she only smiled slightly, and then reached out, picked up her teacup, and stared at the black tea in the cup.

"I used to live a very tired life, the attention of my family, the attention of my friends, and many, many eyes, they had high expectations and ideals for me, but I had no way to resist, I could only work hard and try to meet everyone's requirements. That way, they're happy, and they're happy, and I'm happy......... But, that's not me after all. ”

Hearing Canary's words, Marlene couldn't help but be stunned, she found that she could understand Canary's thoughts, after all, as the heir of the family, her situation was very similar to her, and they were no longer just living for themselves.

"The relationship with Rhodes was an accident and a coincidence at first, but gradually, I liked the relationship, I liked the feeling of comfort, and I also liked the feeling of indulging in happiness and forgetting all my worries. Moreover, only then will I throw away my mask and be frank about my feelings and thoughts. I don't have to play the good girl in the eyes of my parents and other people, I can do whatever I want, I can do whatever I want. And Rhodes doesn't see me as a promiscuous and debauched woman, he always respects me and loves me, so I can show my true side in front of him without worrying about being disgusted. I think it's a great relationship, but I'm not going to go any further, as long as it's enough for now. Now it's the best for us, whether it's me or Rod. ”

"For what?"

Hearing this, Marlene finally couldn't help but ask, it was really difficult for her to understand, judging from the canary's description, she liked Rod very much, so shouldn't the two develop a deeper relationship? Although strictly speaking, the current canary is not human, but after being in contact with her for so long, Marlene has almost forgotten that the girl in front of her is not human, so she can't understand why the canary wants to make such a decision. In response to Marlene's inquiry, the canary smiled and stretched out a finger and put it to her mouth.

"Because it's not necessary."

"Not necessary?"

Marlene tilted her head, not understanding the meaning of the canary's words. But at this time, the canary stood up.

"I don't want to say too much, Miss Marlene, after all, this is my personal wish, and I like to maintain the current relationship with Rhodes, not to go further, and not to retreat. Because I know that I can't be the one who Rod 'loves'......... No one, perhaps, can be such a person. ”

"What is this for?"

Hearing this, Marlene was even more puzzled, but at this time, the canary turned and walked to the door, and then she reached out, grabbed the doorknob, and turned her head to look at Marlene.

"Because you can't compete for her place with someone who has left forever."

At this, the canary's face once again appeared with that gentle and elegant smile, and then, she closed the door with her hands behind her hand and left the room. Marlene was left alone in the room, staring at the door in front of her, not knowing what she was thinking.