Eli shifted in his seat, his pupils trembled.

"...What? Are you saying this is their doing?"

Joanne sighed.

"The Devil Star Formation is more of a ritual than a technique. It is fed by blood and souls. The purer the offering, the stronger the barrier."

His forehead creased.

"What do you mean, stronger?"

"The barrier’s primary purpose is to empower the cultists inside, pushing their demonic traits beyond the limits of their inherent capacity; while weakening those "unblessed" by the Red Moon."

She let her hand settle flat against the map. The amber of her eyes had gone darker.

"These movements over the past six months suggest foundational sacrifices to anchor the barrier. They were careful enough to spare Sienne’s citizens; otherwise, we would have noticed far sooner and eradicated those damned cultists."

Eli pressed a hand against his chest, attempting to look as serious as possible.

"...Madame. Are you saying the Red Moon... has returned?"

"...No."

Joanne studied him with unreadable eyes.

"They have been active for quite some time now. This is a separate instance I certainly did not expect."

Eli stiffened momentarily.

’As expected.’

The Red Moon must have gathered strength in the shadows the moment they knew they would lose the Purification War. Biding their time in plain sight, even if the kingdom’s inquisitors and paladins were to actively seek them out, they would find nothing but normal, exemplary denizens of Aria.

’Sneaky little bastards!’

Yet, despite their machinations laid bare on this wooden table, Eli was stuck between two decisions.

He could preemptively strike while the iron was hot and prevent everything from even happening, but it would tip his hand to the Red Moon and the assassination’s architect, and they would flee the second they heard of the news.

The second option was more of a gamble than a solid plan, hinging on future knowledge Eli was not even one hundred percent confident in. He did not remember every detail, or the filler episodes that might have contained important lore.

His memory wasn’t perfect, which was why he needed Joanne’s expertise in catching these villains.

Joanne stared intently at the map while tapping her pen. She was in deep thought, not even minding the heavy silence.

With a sigh, she lifted her head and peered straight at him.

Eli shuddered.

’What the hell?’

Her amber eyes caught fire and swirled, as though a living vortex was encased in those sun-tinted glass windows.

Eli felt an immense pressure weighing on his entire existence, invisible to anyone else.

’J-Joanne!’

Words refused to escape his mouth. Despite his best efforts to stay calm, thick beads of sweat rolled down his face.

’Fuck. Damn. Am I gonna die? I’m gonna die!’

Eli didn’t know what in the world Joanne was doing to him — he felt bare, seen-through, like every page of his life, including Elise’s, was being leafed through by Joanne.

When his breathing started to become ragged, Joanne’s eyes finally settled into a calm fire.

"Julianna, would you give us a minute?"

"...Elise?"

Eli turned around and hesitantly nodded, still feeling the aftermath of it all. He put up a smile to assure everything was fine.

"Understood."

She shot Eli a quick look as the door clicked shut behind her.

"Elise."

He turned to Joanne again, struggling to maintain eye contact.

Eli had forgotten he was dealing with a Seven-Song Mage who could end him with a flick of the fingers. The ease he’d been wearing until now had only held because Joanne was one of Navia’s most loyal, fervent followers, and because Navia, in turn, considered Elise her own daughter.

But now, it seemed all that had been thrown out the window.

"Yes, Madame."

Joanne lifted her hand, palm out.

"Just call me Joanne. You technically outrank me, being the Housekeeper of the Lagranche."

’Oh hell no. That does NOT sound good at all.’

Whenever a senior tries to level with you, you can be sure trouble is coming.

Eli forced his throat to work.

’Pause!’

"That’s rather difficult. You were friends with Her Ladyship; I couldn’t possibly speak to you with less formality."

’Turn the tables! I’m just Navia’s adopted daughter!’

Joanne folded her hands on the desk and watched him.

"You already knew about the Church and the Devil Star."

’It’s over...’

Joanne didn’t elaborate further. Her eyes still carried the faint residue of embers, nailing him to the wall.

"...That’s—"

"No need to explain yourself."

She leaned back and crossed her arms.

"How much do you know."

Eli’s hands trembled.

He didn’t know what was on Joanne’s mind. He hoped that Elise’s status as the Housekeeper could somewhat mitigate the situation; after all, that position was privy to classified information even Irene wouldn’t normally know.

Of course, Elise had disclosed every detail to Irene the day she’d taken on the role.

Eli had to take a firm stance here, or else Joanne would keep twisting him around her finger like a toy.

"Madame, it doesn’t matter how much I know. The focal point is the eventual attack on the academy and the attack on the House. This proves it."

He tapped hard on the map thrice.

Joanne, still expressionless, cupped her chin.

"Then I believe you must have devised a plan before coming here."

’I escaped!’

Eli wanted to heave a sigh of relief for escaping that hellish experience, but he didn’t have room for that.

He straightened.

"Not a detailed one. That’s why I need your guidance."

She nodded.

"Let’s hear it."

Eli gave her the exact "theory" he had shared with Juli, and more. Now that the Church had been revealed, naturally, he could discuss this at length.

"I believe the Church will send Moonwatchers at most, maybe a Moonseeker leading the charge."

"Hmm."

Joanne fell silent and stared at the map.

Not seeing any reaction, Eli continued:

"It’s what makes sense given the scale. Other high-ranking Moons wouldn’t rise surfacing when the search for them is heightened."

Joanne’s eyes then settled on him with a spark.

"Do you really think Duchess Ambrosia joined hands with the Red Moon?"

Eli let the question marinate for a while, looking down at the map as his gears turned.

Then, he answered:

"No."