"She…

...is the Circle."

​​

Both Sarah and Andrea's eyes could not help but look back and forth between Hans' finger and Evangeline, who was still floating in the air. Suffice to say, the confusion on their faces was evident.

"You mean… she's from the Circle?" Sarah muttered. Although her grandfather being the one who created the Rebel group shocked her, her mind was still busy processing what Hans' just said.

"No, I meant what I meant," Hans' shook his head, "She is the Circle."

"I… don't get what you're saying. Was she the leader of the Circle?" Sarah let out a long and deep sigh, "Please stop being vague, we can't all read minds as you do."

"Hm. Maybe it's more fitting to say that the Circle was created around her as the center," Hans rolled his mustache as he looked Sarah straight in the eyes, "Your grandfather was rumored to be the 1st System Holder in this country…

...Miss Evangeline is the first on the whole planet. In that, there is no doubt."

"The… first System Holder?"

"She is who the Circle referred to as the Messiah," Hans said, his tone almost immaculate, "The very first System Holder in the world. A truly mysterious existence… even for such as I who can read minds."

"...What?" Andrea could not help but furrow her eyebrows. Meanwhile, Andrea had a weird expression on her face.

"Wait, so you're telling me that Evans' mother is more than a thousand years old? What's the deal with all of the people suddenly being a thousand years old?" Andrea muttered, "...You're not secretly a hundred years old, are you?" She then slowly looked at Sarah while slightly backing away.

"No," Sarah quickly answered, "My grandfather… settled late."

"Hm. Wait, I don't care about that," Andrea quickly shook her head, "Why doesn't Chlo-- Evangeline know who I am?

...Do you have something to do with her memories? You said you could erase memories to some extent." Andrea then looked at Hans.

"I didn't erase them," Hans let out a short sigh, "I hid them… you could say I manage her memories."

"What…?" Sarah raised an eyebrow as soon as she heard Hans' words, "Then doesn't that make you the ringleader of all of this?"

"Not at all," Hans quickly waved his hands, "I only followed her orders, it was her idea. She approached me a long time ago, back when I still had hair."

"...How long ago was that?"

"Around 30 years ago-- it doesn't matter. But as soon as she approached me, I unlocked the secrets of this world," Hans closed his eyes, "Miss Evangeline, you see, has too many memories. Too many things going in her mind at a time. If only you could see the depth of her mind as I do, you would…

...You would probably hold no grudge against her," Hans then opened his eyes as he looked Andrea straight in the eyes, "But then again, your grudge is not unfounded. He did still leave a small child to be treated like that," he said as he let out a long and deep sigh.

"...What do you mean by that?" Andrea could not help but furrow her eyebrows as a thought entered her mind.

"That's right," Hans nodded his head, "Van's father… I was the reason he became like that, he was a good man… but it had to be done to realize Miss Evangeline's plan. Evans' mother had always been there, Miss Andrea."

"!!!"

As soon as Andrea heard Hans' words, she quickly kneeled, grabbing a small gun hidden around her ankle, pointing it towards Hans without any hesitation. And without even pause, a thunderous snap echoed through the air as Andrea did not even think twice about pulling the trigger.

Hans, however, had already moved to the side as he already knew what she was going to do.

"How could you do something like that!?" Andrea roared, "Do you know what kind of torture Evans has endured!? He… he was just a little boy who knew nothing… and not a week goes by without him being beaten and taken advantage of!"

"..."

"Just… just how?" The small gun in Andrea's hand started to shake, "...Why? Why would a mother allow something like that to happen…"

The trembling of Andrea's hand became stronger, and soon, her legs became the same, causing her to drop to the ground. "Why… why would you even do something like that to him? Are we… are we just objects to be toyed with!?"

Memories of the Relic Graveyard started resurfacing inside Andrea's mind. Seeing her thoughts, Hans could not help but slightly take in a deep breath as her memories rushed towards him like a torrent.

"Why… are you telling this to us?" Sarah gently placed her hand on Andrea's shoulder, her eyebrows knitted. Seeing Evangeline's power, she could not help but hold certain respect towards her. However, as soon as he heard Hans' words, all of that respect was quickly swept away.

Andrea was right. What kind of mother would do that to her own child?

"Miss Evangeline told me to tell you," Hans let out another deep breath as he looked at the floating Evangeline.

"But why? Just what exactly is she planning?" Sarah also turned her head towards Evangeline, "If she just wants to fight and eradicate the Circle, then why not just do it? Why go through all of this? You, Miss Angela, and not to mention her. I don't think anyone could defeat the three of you if you fight together."

"Hm."

"Even if it was against my grandfather and other Platinum Rank Explorers from other countries, you already have a chance of going toe to toe with them with just the three of you." Sarah placed her hand on her chin, "I just don't understand what Evangeline's goal truly is."

Hans shook his head as Sarah shared her thoughts, "I am afraid I can't tell you that anymore. Miss Evangeline only told me to tell you that I told you already."

Hearing Hans' sudden shift of tone, Sarah could not help but click her tongue.

"But what I could tell you…" Hans once again stroked his mustache as his eyes traveled to Andrea, "...is that everything that Miss Evangeline is doing…

...It's all for Mister Evans."