257: Alchemy, Arcana, and Destiny 3

The reception room door was gently pushed open, and Mariabell Crois slowly walked in.

Her golden hair glowed softly in the firelight from the fireplace, and a complex emotion flickered in her eyes.

She ignored her father's shocked gaze and walked directly to the sofa opposite Aventurine, sitting down gracefully.

Aventurine raised an eyebrow slightly, a playful smile on his lips: "Miss Bell, you've arrived at just the right time."

Mariabell didn't respond immediately. Instead, she first gently adjusted her skirt, then raised her eyes to meet Aventurine's heterochromatic pupils directly: "Mr. Aventurine, you seem to know my family very well?"

Aventurine chuckled: "Just a little."

His fingers gripped a chip, tapping lightly on the armrest: "For example... you recently declined the Society's invitation?"

Dieter's body suddenly trembled: "What?!"

His gaze turned to his daughter: "Bell, what's going on?"

Mariabell didn't answer her father immediately, still staring at Aventurine: "It seems the company's intelligence network is even more extensive than I imagined."

Her voice was calm, but her fingertips unconsciously tightened slightly.

How could he know about the leader? Even her father didn't know about this.

Aventurine seemed to enjoy her wariness, his smile deepening: "Miss Bell, there's no need to be nervous."

"The company holds no ill will towards the Society, at least not yet." His voice carried a certain seductive magic, "We're interested in other things."

A hint of confusion flashed in Mariabell's eyes: "Such as?"

"Such as the real reason you refused to become the Third Pillar Apostle," Aventurine leaned forward slightly, "the giant alchemical device disguised as a city,"

"And the so-called artificial divine child, which is actually a treasure observation experiment—"

His gaze suddenly deepened: "The Phantasm Plan."

The air in the reception room seemed to freeze.

Dieter's face turned exceptionally grim: "Bell, what on earth is going on?"

Mariabell's fingertips tightened slightly, her nails almost digging into her palm.

The Phantasm Plan. How could he know that name? Only high-ranking members of the Society knew about it.

Her gaze was fixed on Aventurine's face, trying to find a flaw in that playful smile.

But those eyes seemed bottomless, as if capable of devouring any prying gaze.

"Bell!" Dieter's voice was clearly anxious, "What on earth is going on? What Phantasm Plan? What do you mean by treasure observation experiment?"

"Do you have any other plans?!"

Mariabell took a deep breath, temporarily averting her gaze from Aventurine: "Father, I'll explain this later."

Her voice regained its usual composure, but the tremor in her fingertips betrayed her inner turmoil.

When she looked back at Aventurine, her eyes held an extremely cautious scrutiny: "Mr. Aventurine, you seem to be... well-informed about many things?"

Aventurine gently twirled the chip in his hand: "Just did some homework. Well, that's not quite accurate. I should say, I carefully read the 'strategy guide' the Amber King gave me."

His tone was as casual as if discussing afternoon tea options: "In the company's eyes, none of you have absolute secrets."

Mariabell's lips curved slightly, revealing a smile devoid of warmth: "Then, you must also know what kind of power the Society wields, right?"

Her voice suddenly dropped: "The technology of the Thirteen Workshop, numerous 'divine artifacts' beyond common sense, and that Spear Saintess?"

Bell decided to take a gamble at this moment. If he knew about the leader, then he should also be very clear about the Society's true strength, right?

She didn't understand what Aventurine, or rather the company, was relying on to treat the Society as if it were nothing.

Aventurine's smile didn't change at all: "Are you referring to the Seventh Pillar Arianrhod, or rather, Lady Lianne Sandlot?"

His tone was chillingly casual: "The living dead who should have died two hundred years ago but were forcibly kept in the present world by the power of the 'Steel' Treasure?"

Mariabell's pupils suddenly contracted. He knew even that?!

This was one of the Society's most core secrets!

The flames in the fireplace suddenly flickered violently, reflecting on her suddenly pale face.

Aventurine, however, seemed oblivious to her discomposure, continuing in a conversational tone: "Speaking of which, that Saintess should still be sleeping somewhere in the Empire, right?"

"After all..." His fingertips lightly tapped the armrest: "Although the power of 'Steel' is strong, maintaining immortality comes at a price."

"To be honest, I'm still very interested in Lianne. If nothing unexpected happens, I imagine we'll have a chance to meet soon."

"In the demon city, in Crossbell. Right, Miss Mariabell?"

Mariabell's breathing became rapid.

No, this isn't right!

Even within the Society, only a handful of people knew the detailed circumstances of the Spear Saintess.

Her voice unconsciously trembled slightly: "You... who exactly are you?"

Aventurine tilted his head slightly: "Me? I remember I said—oh, right, Miss Bell wasn't at the door then. Well, let me introduce myself again."

"Director of the Company's Strategic Investment Department, one of Ten Stonehearts, Aventurine."

"By the way," his smile suddenly deepened: "Since Miss Bell mentioned the Society's power, I might as well tell you something you might find interesting."

He leaned forward slightly, his pupils shimmering with an eerie light in the firelight: "For example, the massive alchemical array you've laid out across Crossbell over the past seven years, based on the Seven Luminaries Veins."

"The alchemical formula built under the guise of constructing a new office building, the forty-story giant tower—Lanka Tower."

"And," his voice suddenly became a whisper: "When the zero treasure is activated, the 'Azure Grand Tree' summoned using all the alchemical mysteries of Crossbell as its foundation."

Mariabell's body swayed violently, almost sliding off the sofa.

Impossible! This is impossible!

These plans, I haven't even told my father, only I and the leader know.

Aventurine's voice continued, every word like a heavy hammer striking her heart: "At that time, the zero treasure KeA will merge with the Azure Grand Tree."

"Transcending the shackles of the Goddess, becoming the true master of the world's causality—"

"The Azure False God."

Dead silence filled the reception room.

Dieter was completely stunned, his gaze shifting back and forth between his daughter and Aventurine. He opened his mouth but couldn't make a sound.

Mariabell's face was ashen, her slender fingers gripping the sofa armrest tightly.

How could he know even this!

This final stage, it was only in my imagination!

Aventurine leaned back leisurely on the sofa, as if he had just recounted the most ordinary story: "And the story above is the first half of the Phantasm Plan."

A meaningful arc curved on his lips: "As for the second half..."

"It's no longer necessary to happen."

"Because," a chilling light suddenly flashed in his eyes: "The company has arrived."

A shiver ran down Mariabell's spine, and cold sweat instantly drenched her back.

What does this mean?

What does he mean it's no longer necessary to happen?