Barbara calmed her emotions, pondered her words for a moment, then explained, "It's like this—the history shows that over ninety percent of those who possess the Eight Strange Fires were indeed Mages!

However, Warriors can also possess the Eight Strange Fires.

It's said that the Magic Guild has an ancient inheritance that can integrate a Strange Fire into the body of a strong Flame Warrior.

But the process is too difficult and excessively brutal and bloody, with high mortality rates. Even if one puts all their effort into creating a Flame Warrior with a Strange Fire, the process would cost too much in terms of talented individuals, making it not worth the effort. Later, I've heard the Magic Guild voluntarily abandoned this project."

Upon hearing that, Andrew somewhat understood, "Do you mean, although the project was abandoned, the related magic technology was likely preserved? And that Female Assassin participated in this project, survived successfully, and became a Flame Warrior with a Strange Fire?"

Barbara nodded, "Yes, that's what I mean. Perhaps that Female Assassin never practiced the Dragon Transformation Combat Technique. The reason she has such formidable combat power is simply because she has a Strange Fire integrated within her body!"

"I see..." Andrew hesitated slightly, then grinned as he said, "But while I feel a strong instinctive aversion to her, actually... there's also a moment where I felt a sense of closeness. This... this... can one person possess two different types of the Eight Strange Fires?"

Barbara: "??"

She stared blankly at Andrew for a moment, then suddenly became annoyed, "You, do you hate that Female Assassin, or do you like that Female Assassin?"

"Well..." Andrew awkwardly scratched his head, feeling it wasn't right to say sometimes he hated, and sometimes he felt close.

After all, that assassin is a woman.

She is most likely a top-class beauty.

When talking about such a subject—especially with one's girlfriend—it's best not to say things like 'I feel inexplicably close,' which can easily lead to misunderstanding!

"But I can't help it." Andrew felt helpless, "I truly felt a moment of closeness, though most of the time, it's a strong sense of aversion. This... I'm honestly quite confused myself, alright?" He looked at Barbara, deliberately putting on a pitiful look as if saying, "You must believe me."

"Cut it out!" Barbara snorted, but indeed her face turned slightly red under Andrew's gaze, she seemed quite susceptible to this tactic.

Taking a deep breath, Barbara soon shook her head and said, "Warriors might possess one of the Eight Strange Fires. But no matter the profession, no one can simultaneously possess two kinds of the Eight Strange Fires. Much less you switching between dislike and closeness, are you saying that Female Assassin possesses a Strange Fire from the Magic Guild on one hand, and also has one from our Warm Fire Commerce Association on the other? That's pure fantasy."

"Alright then..." Andrew inwardly felt that the likelihood of a person possessing two Strange Fires was indeed very low.

He thought, since that's the case, where exactly did that brief sense of closeness come from?

Unable to figure it out for the moment, he set aside the question and began to share all his feelings from the confrontation with the Female Assassin with Barbara.

After Barbara finished listening, she nodded and said, "Alright, I will help you convey this intel. It should be quite helpful."

With that, she changed the topic, saying, "Your matter, strictly speaking, the Magic Guild over there shouldn't know so quickly. But without knowing you turned the Desolate Beast back into human form, they can't explain sending an assassin to kill you. Grandpa Falk already told me—there's likely an internal spy in our Warm Fire Commerce Association!"

Internal spy!

When mentioning this term, Barbara instinctively lowered her voice.

During the previous Double Fire Battle, the commerce association's internal intelligence was frequently known to the opposing side. Heart Net was also easily breached by them at least halfway through the start of the war. Back then, the matter of whether there was an internal spy in the commerce association had already been raised.

Now through Andrew's assassination incident, it's basically confirmed: there absolutely is an internal spy!

Andrew breathed a sigh of relief; he had wanted to mention the possibility of an internal spy but, as an outsider, it wasn't very appropriate for him to say.

Fortunately, Barbara brought it up herself.

Barbara's eyes flashed with a trace of aggression, as if in a moment she reverted to the her from when they first met. In fact, except when with Andrew, most of the time, this sharp and heroic aura is what outsiders see as Barbara.

"We'll quickly find a way to uncover this internal spy! Additionally, regarding Wildfire Territory and Sister An Ya, do we need to send someone over to help protect it? Just in case one Fire God Mecha isn't enough."

Andrew smiled slightly, knowing she had guessed and brought up everything he wanted to but didn't quite know how to say.

He nodded and said, "Yes, we do. Thank you very much. Also... thank you!"

Barbara smiled, "No need to be polite with me."

The conversation about the Female Assassin and the previous assassination incident was about concluded here. Neither said much more, they merely gazed at each other and held hands tightly. If possible, they genuinely hoped this moment could last forever, always, with such warmth.

Until Barbara spoke amusedly, "Alright, have you pinched enough?"

Andrew had been pinching her warm and soft hands.

Hearing Barbara's tone, Andrew realized she didn't seem to dislike him pinching her hand, which caused his heart to ripple, and he couldn't help but pinch again, making Barbara's face blush once more. It took great willpower for him to suppress his distracted mind and say, "Alright, no matter what, I managed to survive under that Female Assassin's hand. Now that I'm awake, I will proceed according to the original plan, to Warm Fire City! Although, it can't really be considered the original plan, given I've been unconscious for three days."

If possible, Andrew indeed wanted to stay in this room longer, see if he could do something further with Barbara...

But given the important tasks,

and considering the Female Assassin is very cunning, having launched an assassination at such an improbable time and place three days ago, she might well try again.

So it's better to proceed to Warm Fire City as soon as possible.

While speaking, Andrew was already planning to get up and dress.

But Barbara blinked, looking at him strangely, "What are you talking about? Going to Warm Fire City? But, we're already in Warm Fire City!"

"What?" This time Andrew was stunned.

Barbara laughed, "Where do you think we are now? Still at 'Shield of Flowing Fire'? You've been sleeping for three days, you know. Three days ago at noon, we sailed away from Shield of Flowing Fire, and before evening, we arrived in Warm Fire City!"

While speaking, Barbara waved her hand lightly.

The curtains in the room, impeccable in light blocking, steadily drew open, revealing high and clean floor-to-ceiling windows.

Bright sunshine streamed in. The previously dim room suddenly became brightly lit.

Having not seen the sun for three days, Andrew was momentarily unsettled, his eyes squinting involuntarily.

But he soon summoned water magic power, letting it flow through his eyes, quickly adjusting.

"This, this is..."

Andrew looked around, eyes wide with astonishment.

He saw outside the window, a scene resembling a new world — fresh, bright, and full of vigorous life, slowly unfolding before his eyes.

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