"Stupid?"

Aimou tilted her head, unable to understand why stupidity would be the point of attraction for Palmer toward Vasilina.

Could it be...

Based on the novels she had read, Aimou's mind instantly concocted a twisted and bizarre story.

Clearly bearing the bloodline of the Philrads, Vasilina left the Mountain Ridge as a child and lived in the Wind Source Highlands. She always had an obsession with the Mountain Ridge in her heart, but due to her weak powers, she could never achieve it.

At this time, Vasilina met Palmer, an heir of the Clarks with a somewhat malfunctioning brain.

Thus, a dark plan gradually formed in Vasilina's mind. She aimed to conquer this brainless heir to manipulate the Clarks and fulfill her inner desire.

In an instant, in Aimou's eyes, Vasilina transformed into the image of a deeply hidden strong woman, and the misfortune of Palmer, in her heart, seemed even more pronounced.

Poor Palmer...

"Hmm... where to begin?"

Talking about the "stupid" part, Vasilina thought for a while before mentioning something from long ago.

"It was when he learned of Leica growing old."

After playing tired during the day, while resting with Leica, Palmer had spoken to Aimou about it. Leica was already very old and couldn't be playful anymore, asking her not to play too wildly with Leica.

Bologue also spoke to Aimou about Palmer's and Leica's peculiar friendship and the sidecar motorcycle named Leica.

"At that time, Palmer was just a little kid, at an age where he wasn't supposed to understand anything, yet he had a profound understanding of death."

Vasilina commented, "Palmer is indifferent to many things and extremely unresponsive, but when it comes to death, he often becomes very serious, panicked, and even avoids the issue."

"He never spoke to me about these things, but later his father chatted with me about this part."

Vasilina remembered the day Palmer left the Wind Source Highlands and confessed his marriage proposal to Fuen, and she remembered Fuen's expression.

Fuen was drinking at the time, and upon hearing Vasilina out, he almost spat, repeatedly confirming she wasn't joking before bursting into uncontrollable laughter.

It was certain that Fuen wasn't happy about someone liking Palmer, but found it ridiculous that Palmer turned out to be the one being proposed to.

When it comes to humor, this father and son duo was quite adept, and after recognizing Vasilina, the engagement banquet was also initiated by Fuen. He said if Palmer knew he was the only one not invited to his engagement banquet, his expression would be interesting.

In other words, the whole engagement banquet was entirely Fuen's idea to see Palmer's awkward expression, with Vasilina merely helping to push things along.

At the end of the banquet, Fuen called Vasilina out alone and started talking about the parts of Palmer's past he always refused to face.

Fuen began with a puzzling statement, "Did you notice the part Palmer intentionally hides?"

"What do you mean?"

"Palmer is actually a very sensitive guy. Don't let his unresponsive appearance fool you; he understands many things better than anyone else. He just doesn't care, but there are parts he cares about intensely, like secrets he's deliberately hiding, unknown to others.

Doesn't it sound a bit contradictory and strange?"

Vasilina nodded, finding Fuen's words hard to understand. If what he said were true, wouldn't Palmer's foolish demeanor mean he is... wisely foolish?

"Although no one mentions these things, you've noticed, right... Palmer's mother died very early, leaving when he was only two or three years old," Fuen's smile faded as he spoke of these matters. "His mother wasn't a Condenser, just an ordinary person, with no accident or disaster, just one day never woke up again."

For mortals, this is an entirely ordinary fate.

"I was thankful at the time, grateful that Palmer was still young, understanding nothing, not even sure if he could remember things. His mother's death shouldn't have had a significant impact on him," Fuen continued, "but many years later, until his coming-of-age ceremony, I learned he remembered it all."

"Can you believe it? A child of two or three not only clearly remembered his mother but also everything about her, her gaze and tenderness, and her departure... Palmer knew it all but never said a word."

Fuen realized it was pure coincidence that he discovered it and apologized, "It must have been the worst joke I ever made."

After understanding the darkness of the world, Palmer silently accepted it and left the Fortress of the Morning Wind without a word. Riding Leica, he arrived at a corner of the Wind Source Highlands, where a large tree stood against the fierce winds on the flat wilderness.

When Palmer was young, his mother often held him under the tree for shade. After she passed, Fuen never brought him there, but Palmer remembered everything about it, even the roads there.

"Interesting, right? I thought he was upset and ran away from home; I never expected he would be there. When he saw me coming, he just said he was ready, his eyes lowered, hiding countless deliberately buried thoughts."

Listening to Fuen's words, Vasilina was taken aback, then she laughed, shaking her head, "If that's all... I've known for a long time."

"You knew all along?"

Fuen was entirely surprised. Palmer hid it so deeply that even he, his father, discovered it after many years... Although as a father, he felt somewhat inadequate, he never expected Vasilina to know as well.

Considering Palmer's nature and his frequent conflicts with Vasilina, how could he possibly show his vulnerable side to her?

Curious, Fuen asked, "What's going on?"

Vasilina's eyes flickered a few times as she meaningfully said, "Palmer would never want you to know this; if you knew, he'd go crazy."

Not only was Vasilina Palmer's adversary, but Fuen was also one of his opponents, being a troublesome father. Nine out of ten of Palmer's rebellious emotions stemmed from this guy.

"So that matter is related to Palmer's 'stupidity', right?" Aimou's curiosity was entirely piqued, "What exactly was it?"

"Hmm... Ever since learning about Leica's old age, Palmer had been very down, wasn't even interested in wrestling with me, and spent all his time cooped up with Leica, ignoring everyone."

Vasilina recounted that unknown story.

"One night, feeling incredibly bored, I went to find Palmer. As I approached his door, I heard a low sobbing sound. I quietly pushed the door open and saw Palmer hugging Leica, crying incessantly and apologizing."

Vasilina paused, excitedly turning to Aimou, "Don't you find this side of Palmer dumb?"

Dumb?

It did sound quite silly, yet forcing Aimou to utter the word "dumb", she felt she couldn't do it. Something seemed stirred in her soft heart.

"Adorably dumb."

Vasilina continued, "It was the first time I saw Palmer like that."

"So that's when you began to like him? Because of this complex side of him."

Suddenly realizing she might have stumbled upon some private secrets, Aimou felt she shouldn't have known these, as they were Palmer's privacy.

Shaking her head vigorously, Aimou tried to forget this story, "You shouldn't have told me these things!"

"I need you to understand who Palmer truly is. If I didn't tell you, you surely wouldn't discover this point."

Vasilina's expression became constrained, sighing, "Only you guys can help me look after Palmer, isn't that so?"

"So... is that the case?"

Aimou finally grasped Vasilina's intention and then said, "Then you should tell Bologue. He's Palmer's current partner."

"It's all quite similar."

Vasilina said while ruffling Aimou's hair. She liked this Alchemy Puppet, this marvelous life akin to an innocent child, reminding her of young Palmer.

Aimou wanted to say something more, when suddenly, the light inside her eyes constricted sharply. Aimou's keen Ethereal Perception sensed the arrival of a crisis.

She wasn't sure what happened, but instinctively took action, transforming her flesh into steel, with the Constant Motion Core roaring full throttle.

Aimou decisively pushed open a nearby door, pulling Vasilina inside. Following this, a burning light flared up from the end of the hallway.

The faint Ether reactions became clear, accompanied by continuous roaring explosions, the ground shook, and the self-destruct assault of the Wind-Eroded Bird flock began, dragging the Fortress of the Morning Wind into a raging sea of fire.

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