The Secret Code of Monsters.

Chapter 1147 (Ch.1146) Slow Dance: A Terminal Illness
Given the future—at least until this thief accidentally dies—I'll still have to work with her…

Or perhaps Shandel has some special feelings about Rose and Roland.

She was still willing to exchange a few words with this woman who lacked knowledge and wisdom.

"He stored the price in the wrong place."

Just like Shandel Kratofer.

As a ritualist on the path of "sainthood," she uses "evil thoughts" as fuel to ignite the furnace and continuously ascend. At the same time, this innate quality will have an increasingly profound impact on her life and everything around her.

A few, or a dozen, or even dozens of homeless people, and two or three pairs of lambskin boots, could not possibly contain such a massive amount of evil intent.

This is also why Gary Kratofer couldn't really guess the answer.

He didn't really understand the 'weight' of his daughter's abilities.

Sender was well aware of his condition.

She entrusted them to a person, storing them in the flesh and soul of the person she loved, hated, or wished to ascend to the heavens or descend to hell.

in other words.

The same was true of Lillian Rose Vansittart Shelley. Her talent for "secret documents" had fueled a lifelong series of adventures, but the leaky holes in her soul could no longer allow her to live a peaceful life—to whom did she entrust this burden?
She made the same choice as Sandel.

Rather than saying they were helping Roland, they were actually unknowingly placing the anchor of their 'stability' on Roland Collins' shoulders—although Roland himself was unaware of this, and probably wouldn't care even if he were.

"...I've never thought of it that way."

Rose couldn't believe it.

She would never hurt Roland, let alone put her 'weight' on her lover's shoulders—she just felt... the crazy days spent with Roland were very happy.

“That’s right, Shelley. Perhaps only he can guide you to a life of excitement and joy, instead of leading you down that path of certain destruction… This isn’t a choice of the mind, it’s a choice of the soul.”

This topic is too heavy.

Rose never thought she had caused Roland any trouble.

“Your very existence is a ‘trouble’ for him… but I think he’s willing to accept it.”

“…Roland would certainly be willing; we’ve been friends since Falkshire,” Rose said, raising her head with a complicated expression. “So, what about his problem…”

“The world when we are awake, the world when we are asleep.” Sender raised both fists.

The person performing the ritual must distribute their energy evenly across both sides of the scale.

Once it loses its balance…

This means he's about to pay the price.

In Sender's view, Roland is now gradually being drawn to the 'real fantasy' he has created, and is slowly turning towards another path that may be feasible, but is not beneficial to them.

“Can’t you just say it’s completely unworkable?” Rose frowned.

“According to my mystical education, Shelley, the future of this path is bright—but we, as ‘friends,’ are not happy about it, are we?” The gray-haired girl said mercilessly, “You really don’t want to see Roland completely drown in the illusion…or do you not want someone else to replace you? Miss Shelley, you know perfectly well.”

"For a sincere conversation to begin, you must first be sincere yourself, wouldn't you agree?"

Rose remained silent.

Indeed, as Sender said.

If an illusion becomes so real that the boundary between truth and falsehood becomes increasingly blurred.

Besides, Roland is already eccentric enough, so what's wrong with him being even more eccentric?
Rose admitted that she was somewhat 'selfish'.

She wanted to keep Roland on the 'Wake World' side.

Stay by her side, the real her.

She didn't want him to go down this path and pay a price that might not affect him personally but would cause distress to others.

—At least she wasn't willing. "To be honest, when Roland stepped into the Second Ring Road, I imagined the price of this road, the 'box' that holds that price, and what the end of the road would look like..." Sender turned, hiding half his face in shadow: "We don't need to stop him from leaning to either side, Shelley, as long as the 'box' is big enough..."

Rose's eyes flickered slightly: "...I thought you just wanted a high and mighty husband."

“Husband?” Shandel’s expression was strange. “Do you really think someone of my status can marry me?”

…………

……

Roland could imagine two possible outcomes when he placed Gilles Fonseca in Fernandez de Winsson's hospital room: either the two would have a huge fight and disappear completely, or Fernandez would sincerely apologize, and the lovers would reconcile.

Maybe he'll peel an apple for her at her bedside...?
When he pushed open the door, he saw two 'sick' idiots embracing each other and dancing a slow dance on the floor.

Roland: ...

Fernandez: ...

Upon discovering that Roland wasn't the only one visiting, the captain hurriedly pushed Gilles aside and cried out, limping, "Looks like my leg hasn't healed yet, Gilles!"

"Come on."

Roland greeted Ms. Fonseca with a sullen face.

"Even if you have a child, you'll be able to see him soon."

“Then I’ll have to teach him a lesson about ‘manners’—like knocking before entering a house… Oh, good day, Kratofer, and this one…”

“Shelley, Mr. Devonson. Lillian Rose Vansittat Shelley.”

Fernandez propped himself up on the hospital bed, while Fonseca nodded gently to the two ladies and smiled as he moved outside to prepare something.

The door was quickly closed.

The captain and his adjutant looked at each other and gradually fell into an awkward silence.

then…

"So you apologized?"

Fernandez's eyes widened instantly, and he pointed his index finger at his face: "Me? Fernandez Devinson? Apologizing to a woman, a cultist?"

Roland looked down at his silver cufflinks.

“Don’t you understand me, Roland? I always stand by what is right! If I didn’t follow the Father’s teachings and forsake my faith and path, I would almost never dare to wear that black robe again… Besides, a woman is, after all, a…”

His voice trailed off as the two women watched him with wide smiles.

“It’s… to be honest, I never thought so… actually… besides… the last time I saw it… well, I apologize.”

Roland rubbed his temples.

“You’re just like Randolph, Fernandez. Something’s wrong with your brains; you’ve repurposed the part of your brain meant for your lovers…”

Fernandez curled his lip: "I'm a patient now."

Roland nodded: "Miss Florence said that, given the length of time you've been ill, it can only be a terminal illness."

Rose 'quietly' approached Xander: "Maybe it's a disease that requires dancing all the time, and if you don't dance, your whole body aches terribly... Are all executives this resilient?"

Sender sighed: “Not entirely, Shelley. You met our captain, the Owl of the Inquisition. He is no ordinary man.”

Fernandez: ...

"What exactly are you here for?" the patient asked, displeased.

Roland said with unusual gentleness, "Of course I'm here to mock you, my dear captain. Tell us quickly, how did you apologize?"

(End of this chapter)