Reappearing and landing again, Sylvia’s brows furrowed even deeper.
This time, she sensed something unusual in the forest and directly teleported along the direction into the cave’s interior.
Something was very wrong here.
At first, she thought this was just an ordinary little forest, but the deeper she went, the more she realized this was an illusion left behind by Catherine.
If it weren’t for her far superior understanding of spatial magic compared to the other party, and the fact that so much time had passed since Catherine and Roman left, which aroused her suspicion, she might never have discovered this Hidden Realm.
No ordinary person could possibly find this secret passage, which shows how important this place was to Catherine.
However, Sylvia had little interest in such treasures.
As the Holy Throne of the Continent, the earthly representative of the goddess, her vision and foundation far exceeded ordinary people’s imagination.
She would never stoop to do something as vulgar as a bounty hunter.
But now, she was genuinely curious—curious about what Catherine and Roman were doing here, requiring such a long time and such secrecy.
Finally, she followed the dark corridor and discovered a light far ahead.
As she approached, her entire field of vision opened up.
A natural Hidden Realm mineral vein appeared before Sylvia’s eyes, shining with colorful crystals illuminating every corner—there was not a speck of darkness.
“This is… Source Crystal?”
Sylvia said, slightly surprised.
She stretched out her right hand and opened her palm in midair.
One piece of Source Crystal directly floated down into her hand.
“Interesting.”
Sylvia infused magic into it, and the more she observed, the more she couldn’t help but admire.
This was less a mineral vein and more of a divine miracle.
Saint City Osiris had a similar secret hidden place, known only to the Cardinals of the Church throughout the entire Continent.
It was a treasure left behind by Fala for the world, and the Holy Light Church’s terrifying supernormal army greatly relied on it.
“No wonder it’s Catherine—she actually discovered a second Source Crystal vein.”
Sylvia had always looked down on those old-fashioned scholars on the Continent, but Lady Catherine had made her reconsider from time to time when she taught Milis in the Holy City.
Knowledge is Power.
Sylvia had always thought this was just a cliché, nothing worth mentioning.
Because her path—from head of the Sacred Family to becoming a Cardinal of the Church and eventually crowned as the Holy Throne of the Continent—was not reliant on boring knowledge but the real power held firmly in her hands, coursing through her body.
So, tired of scholars spouting platitudes, Sylvia paid special attention to Catherine and even actively offered terms to keep her around.
Catherine was the first to let Sylvia truly see and experience the meaning behind “Knowledge is Power.”
Back then, the Holy City was troubled by a problem: Milis’s Sacred Seal often ran out of control.
Forced to awaken the Judgement Saint’s Seal amid the Demonic Invasion and the destruction of their home, the awakening process itself was chaotic.
At one point, it directly melted a legion of demons in the Golden Flame Sea.
Milis was treated as an uncontrollable ticking time bomb, and no one could do anything about it—until Catherine arrived and swiftly resolved the issue.
Thus, everyone’s helplessness became simple inability.
During that time, Sylvia often invited Catherine to attend banquets and take evening walks together; they had endless topics to talk about.
Looking back, it still felt very comforting.
The sweetness she felt with Lainie was different; Catherine’s occasional obscure knowledge always gave her a sudden enlightenment, a fresh clarity to understand the world anew.
It was also because of this that when Catherine wanted to leave later, Sylvia offered an irresistible deal.
The offer was something no one else could refuse: to become a core force of the Church, a Cardinal and Red Cardinal.
Yet Catherine refused without hesitation.
Her reason was simple—this wasn’t the life she wanted, and she wanted to return to reunite with her newborn niece.
A seemingly absurd rejection.
If anyone else had been there, they would have thought Catherine was foolish to give up such a lofty position for such trivial reasons.
Sylvia, however, did not think so.
In the end, she parted with Catherine gracefully and let her go.
Learned and pure—that was Sylvia’s impression of Catherine in a nutshell.
Now, although Sylvia felt a slight resentment toward Catherine because of Roman, her admiration remained heartfelt.
She thought to herself, once she met Catherine later, they should have a proper talk.
Even she would have ideas about a place like this, but mostly she hoped to cooperate.
Maybe, through their mutual connection with Roman, this cooperation could be made simpler.
The more people nurture good intentions, the more they can’t help but think positively.
Unfortunately, reality was never that kind.
Sylvia continued deeper into the cave, but suddenly, she stopped moving.
Because she heard voices inside.
Though unclear at first, Sylvia could already sense that intoxicating, bone-deep seductive charm in them.
It made her tremble uncontrollably, and the calmness in her eyes began to waver.
After a long while, she regained her expressionless face and pressed forward.
After all, she had come this far—there was no turning back.
At the deepest part of the cave, Sylvia’s gaze met a thick mist, and beyond it, a figure stood with their back to her.
“Huff… huff…”
Her eyes involuntarily rolled upward.
Lady Catherine gently wiped the sweat from her forehead, sighing as she muttered, “I really am getting old…”
Even though she had the upper hand against Roman, in the end, she was the first to break and fall apart.
As for Roman beneath her, from beginning to end, his eyes remained closed, forcibly suppressing the irresistible passion flooding through him.
Not once did he let out a soft breath for her to hear.
Obviously, even though he didn’t reject her in the end, he maintained a strictly businesslike attitude—completely unlike the debauched image he had shown when spending the night with Luo Xiya.
This displeased Lady Catherine somewhat.
She pressed her hands onto Roman’s palms, forcibly pushing them apart on either side of her.
Feeling satisfied, she wanted to savor once again the taste of Roman’s lips.
But Roman slightly turned his head to refuse her.
Lady Catherine’s beautiful eyes widened slightly, then she licked her moist lips and softly whispered into Roman’s ear, “My first time, was it too tight?”