Kallen felt herself sinking into a cold lake, continuously descending to the bottom.
All sorts of noises filled her ears, as if someone was constantly speaking to her.
But Kallen couldn’t hear clearly, nor did it make sense, with everything being disjointed, leaving her mind increasingly muddled.
[If this is what the Countess described as a good dream, her sleep quality is really terrible] Without any reason, this thought emerged in Kallen’s muddled mind.
Immediately, she asked herself in return [Who is the Countess?]
[A big figure from the Empire’s homeland in the old world, the Lord of the Northern Territory, a pitiable person with no control over her fate]
[Why did I describe her like that? Why is a high-ranking Countess pitiable?] Kallen suddenly realized something was off, and she tried to remember, finally asking the most critical question [Who am I? What happened to me?]
As this question arose, Kallen felt her body, which had been sinking, finally starting to float, as if something was pulling her out of the water.
And at this moment, memories began rushing back to her like a carousel, recalling what exactly happened.
[I am Kallen, a phantom thief. I planned to steal an important treasure at the banquet where the Governor was welcoming important figures from the Empire’s homeland.]
[My original plan was to steal the medal from the Governor’s sash, but upon seeing the important figure from the Empire’s homeland was the Blood Countess, I decided to steal her most crucial possession.]
[The Blood Countess holds too much influence over the New Continent. If I could dampen her arrogance, it would boost everyone’s morale.]
[However, I failed. Just as I was about to escape the venue, I was caught by the Countess’s guards. I fled for a long way and finally escaped by desperation diving into the sewer.]
[The Blood Countess challenged me on the newspaper. I was defiant, wanting to duel her again.]
[I had planned everything, and even chatted with the Blood Countess at the venue. She wasn’t as cruel and brutal as rumored, making me hesitate whether to steal from her.]
[In the end, I chose to carry out the plan, but ultimately failed at the last moment and was captured by the Blood Countess.]
[The Countess and I talked about a lot. She revealed the Empire’s biggest secret to me and explained what enemies the New Continent’s independence movement would face.]
[She imparted much knowledge to me that I had never encountered before, but ultimately, she had to kill me to keep it confidential.]
"Did I die?" Kallen abruptly gasped for breath, then started coughing violently. After calming down, she began to assess her surroundings.
She was in a carriage. Although the curtains around her were drawn, she could still tell it was dark outside, indicating it was still nighttime.
She had changed into a dress of noble style, which she remembered had been in her luggage, but now she was wearing it.
Her suitcase was placed in a corner of the carriage, with a small box beside it.
Kallen reached out and opened the box, finding it contained the alchemical items that had been taken from her earlier.
This left Kallen puzzled. Wasn’t she killed by Perfikot? How could it be...
She soon realized that perhaps she hadn’t truly died, but had been released by Perfikot.
But why would Perfikot do that? She was merely a thief who stole things from her. Though Kallen was known as a phantom thief, she inwardly knew her Robin Hood-like notions were just self-aggrandizement; she hadn’t truly reached the level of robbing the rich to aid the poor.
[Was it because of those things she told me?] Kallen thought, somewhat uncertain.
But soon, she found a letter in the box, and as Kallen took it out, she saw beautiful handwriting that read: "Miss Kallen, by the time you see this letter, I imagine you have already left New Shaker City. I have hired a carriage to take you to Pignes Castle because you said that’s where you came from.
About the things I told you, I hope you will keep them in mind and ponder them seriously, as they could ignite a spark of hope for you.
The world is about to be destroyed, and everything you know now will eventually perish in the ice and snow, and what the new world will look like is waiting to be written.
Due to my position and identity, I cannot choose the same path as you, for which I regret deeply. But I have already imparted to you the knowledge I possess, albeit in a somewhat crude manner.
But please don’t take offense; after all, transmitting such vast knowledge into another’s mind was my first time too. Let’s hope it didn’t break your mind.
I hope you can apply the knowledge I taught you, awaken the hope and fighting spirit in people’s hearts.
Perhaps you do not possess this power yet, but I believe at least you can spread this knowledge and these ideals so that more people understand them, and eventually, use them to kindle a bonfire of hope.
There’s over two years until the world is destroyed. I hope you make good use of this time, do not blindly ignite a revolt. What you need is to unite more people, gather more strength, and most importantly, figure out how to deal with the impending apocalyptic winter.
I have prepared for you a Pioneer Knight’s document, authorized in the name of the Northern Territory Count. It might provide you some assistance.
But please forgive me for the inability to help you more, and that in the future, I may become your biggest obstacle and opponent, for I must ensure the stability of the New Continent and Northern Territory before the apocalypse descends.
Grow well, Miss Kallen, whether as a phantom thief or a revolutionary, you are still too immature. I hope by the next time I see you, you will have grown into someone who can make me a revolutionary.
Even though by then, I will become your enemy as a symbol of the old era, I will do everything in my power to thwart you, because without enduring the winter, the most brilliant flowers cannot blossom.
So, please help me apologize to those ’comrades’ who sacrificed. This update is available on novel[f]ire.net
Finally, I wish that you, this phantom thief, could successfully steal the future of this country from me."
"Countess!" Kallen pressed the letter to her chest, feeling an unprecedented sincerity erupting from her chest, not love, friendship, nor kinship, but a brand new kind of emotion—a feeling of being moved as someone illuminates the path ahead for you in the darkness, walking alongside you.
However, Kallen also felt an overwhelming sadness, for the path Perfikot chose destined that those with shared goals would eventually become enemies.