I'm on the Ark, and I start out as Gretchen.

Greta's current actions can, in a sense, be described as entrapment. And it goes without saying who she's trying to catch.

It's safe to say she went to great lengths to create an opportunity for this person...

However, in order to resolve the issue once and for all, to avoid being harassed by W in the future, and to offer some guidance to W, Gretsch is still willing to go through the trouble.

Hmm...it's definitely not because she wanted to see W get angry and frustrated, absolutely not...

-------------------

"Ok?"

Hearing the information his subordinates had secretly reported to him, W was slightly taken aback, a hint of doubt flashing in his eyes.

To be honest, after this period of wits and courage, W can't say that he knows Gretchen very well, but at least he knows that this little girl is very smart, sometimes so smart that she doesn't even seem like a 12-year-old child.

In addition, she received the news this morning that the little girl was coming over and someone would be there to keep her company...

In this situation, W doesn't believe for a second that Gretchen would coincidentally be alone; it seems like she did it on purpose... Is she trying to lure him in?

But for a moment, she couldn't understand why the little girl was doing this, or rather, what the benefit was. Or was she waiting for someone else to catch her in the act? Her men hadn't spotted anyone else nearby, had they?

"Humph……"

After going through a series of thoughts, W finally stood up, stretched his body, and decided to go take a look.

Ultimately, as long as she doesn't take action... even if she contacts Gretsch, those people can't do anything to her.

"Hmm? It's almost dinner time, what are you going to do, W?" Ines, who was sitting by the campfire, watched W suddenly stand up and walk outside, and couldn't help but ask.

"Oh dear, oh dear, Ines, stop nagging. I'll be back by dinner time." Hearing Ines's words, W turned around, gave her a cheeky smile, and said.

After saying that, he turned and left without looking back.

"?"

Seeing someone like this, Ines couldn't help but slowly clench her fists.

However, despite her anger, she didn't interfere with W's actions. Of course, she would secretly make a fuss about it.

"Looks like W seized the opportunity. But Ines, aren't you going to stop him?" Hedley narrowed his eyes slightly as he watched W's departing figure, then asked.

"Huh? Once that girl has made up her mind, do you really think the two of us can stop her? She knows what she's doing, why should I care?"

Upon hearing this, Ines, who was preparing dinner, paused, then looked at Hadley with an expression as if he were an idiot.

"Don't look at me like that... I was just asking out of curiosity." Noticing Ines's gaze, Hedley helplessly shrugged and explained.

After glancing at Hadley again, Ines lowered her head to continue her work and said:

“I don’t know what purpose that child’s drawing serves, but I do know that W’s image has changed again. And the fact that the two of us were able to stop her this morning means that there is still a bit of reason and composure in her crazy mind.”

"Let's just let her be. Instead of saying so much, let's just pray that she doesn't mess things up."

"That makes sense."

After listening to Ines's long speech, Hadley winked in agreement.

-------------------

Even as Gretsch approached the area where Mudrock was stationed, she still hadn't seen any W people.

Well... it's not that I didn't see it, but that I didn't feel it.

Even before that, Gretchen, who had been carefully observing her surroundings, had already sensed W's presence.

Although the little girl isn't an expert in terms of scent, she excels in her attentiveness and her experience with W's color.

However, this was the one thing Gretchen couldn't understand: what was W waiting for, or what was he wary of? Or had he discovered her intentions and was just teasing her?

"Hmm...???"

Greta didn't dwell on the question for long. After thinking about it for a moment with her clever little brain, she decisively abandoned this "fishing plan."

Then he quickened his pace and headed toward the mudstone team's encampment, which was just a stone's throw away.

After all, this kind of thing is just a minor incident in the little girl's eyes; whether it happens or not doesn't have much impact on her. Besides, W already had the chance, so if she didn't seize it, it's not her fault.

Gretchen only intended to give this opportunity once. When she returned later, she planned to have her sister Mudrock escort her all the way back.

"Oh dear, so you're not going to wait for me anymore? What's so great about that big guy over there called Mudrock?"

Before Gretchen could pick up the pace and walk a few steps, a familiar voice suddenly rang in her ears, causing her to pause in her tracks.

"Um?……!"

Just as Gretchen paused, a familiar figure emerged from the side, blocking her way with an irritating grin.

Upon seeing W's face and the colors around her at close range, the little girl's breath caught in her throat, and she instinctively took a step back. Then, relying on her memory, she quickly applied the color of the mudstone to her body.

Clearly, by being stained with the color of the mudstone, it effectively resisted the erosion of the w color.

However, under normal circumstances, Gretchen does not often use the method of imprinting other people's colors with her memories to resist them.

Firstly, because she prefers to be with someone, and secondly, the effect of applying color directly to a person is stronger.

Secondly, in her memory, there really wasn't a color that suited her particularly well. Too strong a color wouldn't work, as it could easily cause all sorts of trouble. Too weak a color wouldn't work either, as she wouldn't be able to resist other people's colors.

Therefore, Gretchen rarely does this unless absolutely necessary. And now, she's doing it simply because she doesn't want to be dyed with W's color anymore.

"Are you so surprised to see me here? Ha, or have you done something wrong, little one?"

P.S.: Give it a push.

Chapter 96 Gretchen: Stop arguing!

"Are you so surprised to see me here? Ha, or have you done something wrong, little one?"

After noticing Gretchen's retreating movement, a hint of mockery flashed in W's golden eyes. She placed one hand on the little girl's exposed shoulder, then leaned down and whispered teasingly in her ear.

"Well……"

Hearing the voice so close to her ear and feeling W's warm breath, Gretchen frowned slightly and instinctively stepped back again.

"Why are you hiding? You little rascal, you know fear now?"

However, it was clear that W did not intend to let Gretsch off so easily this time, so she chose to press her further.

The little girl took a few steps back, and then she took a few steps forward...

At this, Gretchen's brows furrowed even deeper. She then quickly felt the color of the mudstone on her body begin to fade, so she opened her mouth to call for her knight.

"ride……"

[Ding! The Herrscher of Knowledge is being unlocked, currently at 1% progress]

However, just as Gretchen uttered a single word, a voice appeared in her mind, completely interrupting her. It even caused the little girl's mind to go blank for a moment, her eyes filled with astonishment.

"???"

To be honest, for a moment Gretchen felt that this lousy system was just messing with her... just doing it on purpose.

Although the little girl had considered this possibility before, it was just a thought. She never even considered actually unlocking Xiaoshi using W...

"Really scared? How boring." Noticing the astonishment in the little girl's big eyes, W raised an eyebrow, thoughtfully released his hand, and took a step back.

W's intuition told her that the reason the little girl was so shocked at this moment was not because of her, but because of someone else or something else.

But she didn't know exactly what it was, which is why she chose to keep a little distance.

Otherwise, if W doesn't take advantage of such a good opportunity, it would be a disservice to her anger and the things that happened last night.

Thinking about what happened last night, W couldn't help but recall that familiar face that she missed so much...

"Alright, stop making that face. Little one, shouldn't you tell me about that painting from last night?"

After gathering his thoughts, W narrowed his golden eyes and asked with a smile.

"..."

Upon hearing this, Gretchen slowly recovered from her surprise, then reached out and rubbed her face before managing to regain her composure.

"What do you want to know..."

Although her expression returned to normal, the little girl's gaze as she looked up at W was unusually complex and hard to describe.

After all, Gretchen racked her brains and never imagined that her previous joke would come true.

"Since you've put it that way, let's start with a little question, hehe. How did you find out about her? Don't try to play dumb~"

After stating her question, W stared intently into Gretchen's beautiful, large eyes without moving.

Although his expression still seemed nonchalant, there was a serious and dark depth hidden in his golden eyes.

"Who?"

Upon hearing W's words, a hint of confusion flashed in Gretchen's eyes.

This time, you really can't blame the little girl for pretending to be stupid. Although she does know some things, the reasons why she knows them are completely unspeakable.

Moreover, Gretchen genuinely knew nothing about Theresa.

"?"

Hearing Gretchen's reply, I felt my anger surging again.

Unable to retaliate and with nowhere to vent her frustration, she could only barely maintain her current expression, take another step forward, and pinch the little girl's soft cheeks with both hands, pulling them outwards.

Fortunately, W still had some sense, so her movements were relatively gentle.

"You've just finished speaking, and you're still pretending to be stupid? Didn't you paint her in a painting, Your Highness?"

"Uh...I...don't know. That painting was based on your colors..." Gretchen explained, her words somewhat indistinct, as her cheeks were pinched.

At the same time, the little girl who had been directly touched by W for the second time was now rapidly losing the mudstone color on her body, which had become so thin that it was almost gone.

Just as Gretchen was about to be stained with the dark color, a small rock crashed straight into her from a distance.

"!"

Realizing this, W instinctively released her grip and nimbly dodged the "attack." Then she turned to look at the attacker.

"Well."

Before Gretchen could say anything, she was suddenly...

A hand wearing a heavy glove was pressed into a soft embrace.

"You shouldn't have laid a hand on her."