With an amused smile tugging at his mandibles, Ricky shifted his gaze, eyes glimmering with subtle interest.
Nothing that happened within the Emerald Green Forest could escape his senses. Not a leaf falling, not a whisper of wind out of place—and certainly not the interaction between Darius and the Federation's representative. His focus, however, lay elsewhere.
Thanks to Darius's observations, Ricky had gained insight into her peculiar ability.
"Maybe with her help, Valemont would be able to make a breakthrough," Ricky mused silently.
Not because Valemont lacked the talent. On the contrary, the young man's alchemical brilliance was monstrous by any standard. But talent alone could not bend time, and time was the one thing they didn't have in abundance.
Even if Valemont could eventually crack the mystery of the darkness poison, the question remained—would he do it fast enough?
"Some leverage might be needed to speed things up," Ricky thought, his gaze growing distant.
