Rowena was startled by her own conclusion, a deathly silence spreading in the room as she stole a glance at Lindong, secretly breaking into a cold sweat for her bluntness.

Since ancient times, the Origin Society has been the most important institution of the Holy City. She couldn’t understand why the Lord of the Holy City would allow such a thing to happen, but it was clear she knew too much.

Not only did she know too much, but she had also expressed her thoughts at the most inopportune moment.

Rowena thought of the Second Seat’s fate. Perhaps in the next second, some implant in her brain might melt down, and days later, she would be found by a patrol in an alleyway a few blocks from the High-tier Council Building, becoming yet another pawn for Lindong to spread panic.

Before the Second Seat’s position could be filled, the murder of the Third Seat would plunge the Origin Society into a state of constant fear, where even families and the High-tier Council could no longer control the situation.

"It seems you’ve deduced my plan."

Lindong’s haunting voice sent a chill through Rowena’s heart.

"But we are friends..." Rowena said in a trembling voice, "I-I even attended your academic summits!"

After speaking, Rowena herself felt a blackout.

In such a situation, saying something like "I attended your daughter’s wedding" or "your wedding" might better evoke Lindong’s conscience. However, she realized Lindong never had a wedding, never had a daughter, and most importantly, she had hardly ever hosted any private gatherings.

"Would you spread this around?"

Lindong asked.

"No, of course not!"

Rowena shook her head vigorously, "You know, no one in the Holy City is tighter-lipped than I am!"

"Hmm."

"’Hmm’!? What does ’hmm’ mean?"

"It means you won’t suddenly have your brain burned out and be found a few days later in an alley in the First Special District, having lost all your memories."

At that moment, Lindong seemed to see through her heart, "Unless I find out you’re secretly conducting some research on the Otherworld behind my back."

Rowena didn’t expect Lindong to speak so openly, which meant things were heading towards the worst possible direction. With her understanding of her friend, Lindong had clearly made up her mind this time, even if it meant risking going against the Lord of the Holy City.

She also didn’t expect Lindong to dismiss this topic so casually.

They both knew the outcome of the plan being exposed—the family, the High-tier Council, and the Holy City Navy would spare no effort to deal with Lindong, and as long as the Lord of the Holy City provided them a little help, the situation would end in a one-sided manner.

Unless...

Rowena glanced slyly at Ethan once again.

Unless Lindong believed that the consciousness born from the Node Space had the ability to challenge the Lord of the Holy City. Such a thought complicated Rowena’s heart to the extreme. No matter how this "civil war" ended, it meant Lindong had abandoned the "Divine Spirit" they created together, placing all hope on the Node Space.

Rowena didn’t understand, because she clearly knew the significance of the Lord of the Holy City to Lindong.

He was not just Lindong’s greatest creation, but also the manifestation of Lindong’s godliness at that time. She poured all her expectations and her entire understanding of happiness onto the Lord of the Holy City.

Now, the hundreds of happy and stable worlds were all carriers of Lindong’s ideology.

"Dongzi."

Rowena hesitated for a long time before finally voicing her thoughts, "You should know that if I betrayed you and reported this to the High-tier Council, by then, I would most likely replace you and inherit the First Seat, right?"

As a member of the Origin Society, dominated by rational thinking, Rowena couldn’t understand Lindong’s attitude towards her, "You’re doing this merely for our friendship?"

Her brain raced.

If she were in Lindong’s position, even facing a former friend, she would never take such a huge risk. On the contrary, such a sacrifice would better prove his determination.

Whenever they faced major decisions, they had to endure sacrifices—especially for them.

For every decision regarding laboratory projects, there would inevitably be many irreversible consequences.

So, she would not allow such an unstable factor to exist.

Therefore Lindong wouldn’t either.

Lindong was far more rational than she was and had endured greater sacrifices. Merely a friend, perhaps, was nothing in the long river of her memory.

At that moment, Rowena finally untangled the cause of her anxiety.

The First Seat made an irrational choice, which meant...she had changed.

This must be the aftereffect brought by the "Otherworld" journey for Lindong, causing her to develop compassion when making critical decisions.

This was not a good omen.

Even though it might mean her survival, if Lindong couldn’t consider the plan from an absolutely rational standpoint, she would face failure.

Or perhaps, even Lindong didn’t know where this "civil war" would lead them.

"Yes, for our friendship."

Lindong answered her doubts, "Or perhaps I detected the fluctuations in your brain without you knowing, peering into your thoughts... Choose an answer that makes you feel better."