"So, your name is Ciaccona, and you're a bard?"
By the Breezy Waterside, at a small shop along the stream.
Ray looked at the antlered young woman across the table, who was nibbling on a soft bun.
"Mm." Ciaccona nodded. "Thank you for your help earlier. I really didn't know what I would have done otherwise."
She suddenly paused, blinking. "But... why are you looking at me like that?"
Ray finally withdrew his gaze and gave a light cough. "Just curious. How do bards usually make a living?"
"You're worried about that?" Ciaccona was momentarily taken aback, then covered her mouth with a light laugh. "It's simple. I can sing. I travel between the city-states of Rinascita, and as long as my songs are moving, listeners naturally tip."
She propped her chin on her hand, her gaze drifting to the stream outside the window. "My income is inconsistent, but I do odd jobs on the side. Poetry and bread both are essential in life."
"Is that so?" Ray seemed thoughtful. "But why was the Order chasing you? Why did they want to send you to the Penitentiary? Did you also become their target on false charges?"
A flicker of melancholy passed through Ciaccona's eyes, quickly hidden behind her slightly raised lips.
"Mm, something like that." She answered lightly, as if speaking of something trivial that had nothing to do with her.
"Since the Order of the Deep has put a price on your head, why go into the city at all? Walking right into the lion's den?"
"I..."
The young woman suddenly fell silent.
Her fingers unconsciously twisted the hem of her clothes, her earlier carefree demeanor dissipating like morning mist.
After a long moment, she finally looked up, a quiet determination in her eyes.
"You remember those 'fools' being escorted, don't you? Those poor souls, stripped of their freedom by the Order for nothing more than careless words."
"That pilgrimage ship..." Ciaccona smiled bitterly and shook her head. "It's a one-way journey with no return. But the cruelest irony is that some people on board still genuinely believe that if they repent sincerely, they can return to Ragunna."
Ray watched the flickering light in the young woman's eyes. "So, you plan to rescue those people all by yourself?"
"How could I?" Ciaccona shook her head gently, the ends of her hair swaying with her antlers. "You saw for yourself- I couldn't even handle three Order of the Deep priests. My Resonance ability is practically useless in combat."
"Then you..."
"I want to sneak onto the pilgrimage ship."
"Why?"
"Because the Order never intended to let them live."
"What do you mean?"
Ciaccona's voice suddenly dropped.
She glanced around cautiously, then leaned forward, speaking softly in his ear.
"You know the Fool's Troupe, don't you?"
"Yes, of course."
"Let me tell you a secret" Her breath brushed his ear. "Everyone in the troupe was once exiled by the Order of the Deep."
"Is that so?" Ray expressed just the right amount of surprise. Though he already knew, he still pretended to be hearing it for the first time.
"Of course." Ciaccona sat back up and picked up the long-neglected bread. "Unfortunately, word eventually reached the Order of the Deep's higher-ups. How could they tolerate these blasphemers continuing to exist? So..."
Ray finished her sentence. "They plan to destroy the Fool's Troupe?"
"Not exactly. The Fool's Troupe travels all over the world, so the Order of the Deep can't catch them." Ciaccona looked out the window, her gaze distant. "The Order of the Deep plans to eliminate the Fool's Troupe at the source."
"At the source? What do you mean?"
"Because the troupe is made up of exiled people. For the Order of the Deep, that's a huge obstacle. Every exile is like sending new strength to the troupe. So, the Order of the Deep's higher-ups came up with a very sinister plan."
She paused here before continuing.
"They plan to secretly execute everyone, during the exile."
Ray was stunned for a moment. "What? How do you know?"
"Believe it or not," Ciaccona sighed softly, "the Order of the Deep isn't a monolith. This plan faced opposition from some within, which is how the news leaked. But because the stakes are so high, no one dares to openly stop it."
Ray's expression darkened completely.
If what Ciaccona said was true, this wasn't just persecution, it was a carefully orchestrated massacre.
"How exactly do they plan to do it?" His voice unconsciously lowered.
Ciaccona lifted her eyes, her antlers casting fine shadows in the light. "They planted time bombs in the pilgrimage ship's hold. When the ship sails into the open sea, far from Ragunna's sight..."
She paused.
"The entire ship, and everyone on it, will sink to the bottom of the sea in the explosion."
A bird chirped outside the window, breaking the silence in the room.
"..."
To solidify its rule, the Order of the Deep was willing to go this far?
With such vermin in charge, how could Ragunna ever be governed properly?
Ray was silent for a moment, then took out his terminal. "No. This is a matter of life and death. I need to inform the Second Young Miss. We have to move those people to safety before the bombs go off."
"Huh, Second Young Miss?"
Hearing the title, Summer Sky blinked in confusion.
Could the "Second Young Miss" he was talking about be Carlotta?
If so, could this man be the one Carlotta had mentioned, the person she needed to assist?
Before she could voice her questions, Ray had already stepped outside with his terminal.
"Mmm... so sleepy. What's wrong, Cat's Eye?" The voice on the other end was soft, thick with sleep.
"Second Young Miss, I just received important information..."
Ray recounted the plot involving the pilgrimage ship, including the details provided by the antlered young woman, though he omitted her name.
After hearing everything, Carlotta's drowsiness vanished. "I understand. I'll inform the Fool's Troupe to prepare for the rescue. Be careful on your end. Stay safe."
"Yes, I know."
Ending the call, Ray let out a soft sigh.
Knowing that the Second Young Miss would coordinate with the Fool's Troupe was reassuring.
But this was a serious matter. He still wanted to see for himself to be sure.
Though he didn't know where this sense of responsibility came from.
He turned back into the shop and found Ciaccona staring at him, lost in thought.
"What are you staring at?" Ray walked up to her and waved a hand gently in front of her eyes.
"Ah! N-Nothing!" Ciaccona snapped back to reality, a faint blush on her cheeks.
Seeing she didn't want to say more, Ray didn't press.
"I'm going to see for myself. Want to come?"
"Yes!" The young woman immediately stood up, nearly knocking over the teacup on the table.
"Let's go, then."
Ray turned toward the door but suddenly stopped.
He glanced back and gave her a faint but sincere smile.
"I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Ray. Nice to meet you."