Partners

"I want to see the Obedience of Heavenly Voice with my own eyes."

When Lai Er repeated those words slowly, exactly as Bai Wei had instructed, he clearly saw a flicker of surprise pass through the envoy's eyes. It lasted only an instant, but he caught it.

As expected of Visas-sama. One sentence had startled this poker face.

For some reason, Lai Er enjoyed seeing such expressions on the faces of these "important figures" from Contract Land. It was as if only then could he feel that they were no different from him.

And that was not enough. When the envoy asked, "May I know the reason?" Lai Er followed Bai Wei's instructions and added, "Because I think our transaction needs to be more honest, dear Miss Ring Finger."

Miss... Ring Finger?

Lai Er had also been surprised when he said that title, though not because of the title itself. After all, they called Visas-sama Tongue-sensei.

What surprised him was the word "Miss."

This guy in front of him was a "miss"? He did not look like one at all! Was this guy's disguise really that good? Or was Miss actually his real name?

Though he knew he should not, Lai Er could not help looking the envoy's distinctly masculine body up and down.

He truly could not see a single feminine feature, aside from... the eyes.

Lai Er could clearly sense that after he spoke those words, the envoy's eyes narrowed slightly, just like last time, revealing a seductive charm utterly at odds with his sex characteristics. Lai Er could not help cursing inwardly, Holy shit, he really is a sissy.

Naturally, he only dared think it and not say it aloud. He continued maintaining an inscrutable expression that said, "I figured it out long ago," hoping to see shock on the envoy's face again. This time, however, he was disappointed.

"How did you guess it was me?" Though she was asking a question, the envoy's expression remained calm. "You guessed right directly out of three choices. That could not have been a coincidence, could it?"

"Of course not." Lai Er continued following Bai Wei's instructions, speaking slowly and one word at a time to avoid making a mistake. "I do not know how many times I have fought that guy Hand Eye. I know very well what that eye can do. Although I do not know the rules of the right eye, the two eyes cannot be that different. It definitely should not be someone like you."

"I see. Then what about Mr. Thumb... Ah, I forgot. He only just escaped from your hands." The envoy smiled. "So the nominal choice of three was actually a choice of one. But even then, there is still a prerequisite: you must be certain that I am personally speaking with you through my rule right now, rather than through a subordinate... So how did you confirm that?"

"There were far too many flaws." Lai Er tried his best to imitate Bai Wei's detached tone. "When I found the first envoy from Contract Land a few days ago, the abrupt change in his gaze and state before his death made me realize something was wrong. And more importantly..."

Lai Er paused, the corner of his mouth twitching as he forced an exceptionally stiff smile.

"Would you dare entrust something as important as trading corpse pieces to an uncontrollable subordinate? For someone like you, no living person is worth relying on, right?"

After saying that, Lai Er felt that something was off. Before he could figure out what it was, the envoy opposite him smiled and gave him the answer.

"What about you, Tongue-sensei?" the envoy said with a smile. "The one communicating with me now is not you either, is it? Or is he also dead?"

Cold sweat instantly broke out across Lai Er's body.

"Mm, and he is someone who cannot control his emotions very well." The envoy observed Lai Er's expression with great interest and smiled. "Having someone like this conduct the transaction for you—is that not rather unreliable? I can restrain my servants with rules. What are you using to restrain this one?"

Lai Er desperately wanted to say, "My unparalleled loyalty to Visas-sama!"

But he also understood that this was not a time for him to interrupt, so he could only wait it out with gritted teeth. After a long while, he finally spoke Bai Wei's words. "I am different from you. I have my own arrangements."

Mm... That was not reassuring at all.

Lai Er's thoughts were a mess. He kept wondering whether Visas-sama would really throw him away after using him.

The envoy—more accurately, Diana—carefully observed Lai Er's expression before slowly speaking. "It seems that I am indeed speaking with you. But I am curious. I can transfer my consciousness into a subordinate's body because of my rule, but what is your reason? None of your Three Corpse Pieces should possess that sort of ability."

"It is merely a trivial little trick." Bai Wei spoke leisurely. Lai Er wanted to convey that same ease, but because his mind was still occupied with whether Visas-sama would discard him after using him, he did not perform very well. "I can merely establish a real-time connection with my subordinates. It is not like you, directly turning subordinates into puppets without even their own consciousness."

Turned into puppets?

Lai Er could not help glancing at the envoy twice more.

"Would that not be more reassuring?" Diana stared at Lai Er through the envoy's eyes, as though she wanted to see another pair of eyes through his. "I am certain that my servants will not betray me. But what about you? Are you truly going to entrust a transaction that will drag us both into the abyss if discovered to an ordinary person with a mind of his own?"

Cold sweat streamed down Lai Er's face, and in the end, Bai Wei gave an answer he could not understand at all.

"At times, a mind of one's own can drive a person to do things they would ordinarily be unwilling to do more effectively than reins."

What did that mean?

Lai Er did not understand. He then instinctively looked at Diana, wanting to see whether she understood.

But Diana merely said, "I see," clearly uninterested in the subject.

"Then let us return to the main issue, Tongue-sensei." Diana said. "You want to see the Obedience of Heavenly Voice with your own eyes. May I know why?"

"It is not difficult to understand, is it? I need to see what exactly the thing you are using to threaten me looks like." Lai Er said. "You cannot expect me to hand over a corpse piece based on your word alone. You must prove that you possess the ability to control Heaven's Obedience."

"You might as well just say that you must personally see me use Heaven's Obedience to kill Hand Eye for you," Diana said flatly.

"Of course I would like that, but I do not think you would agree."

"Do you not think personally going to the meeting point would be too risky?" Diana said. "That is true for both you and me."

"I naturally will not go in person." Lai Er said. "But these eyes are enough to let me see everything."

The more Lai Er spoke, the more uneasy he became. He was not an idiot. He could tell just how dangerous the meeting point Bai Wei wanted him to visit would be. If his identity was exposed, he would most likely die without a grave.

But he did not dare refuse Visas-sama. He could only look hopefully at the envoy before him, wishing she would reject Visas-sama on his behalf.

To his disappointment, after a brief moment of thought, Diana asked, "You mean that once you confirm Heaven's Obedience can kill Hand Eye, and that I can control Heaven's Obedience, you will give me one of the corpse pieces... before the device is activated?"

"You may understand it that way." Lai Er said. "For a normal transaction, the first thing that must be confirmed is whether the other party has what one needs. Only after confirming that does bargaining and contractual integrity come into play. But there is no need to worry about the latter. Peach Blossom Paradise will ensure that each of us keeps our word. It is much more useful than your Seeds of Covenant."

"With such a cumbersome process, are you not afraid I will find it troublesome and simply trade with Hand Eye instead?" Diana seductively raised the male envoy's eyebrow. "I imagine he would not want to verify Heaven's Obedience. He would only want your life."

"Precisely because of that, you will not trade with him." Lai Er said. "You come from Contract Land, so you naturally value contracts. But that is exactly what Hand Eye lacks. He can betray me from behind, and he can betray you from behind as well."

Diana said nothing, but inwardly she had already accepted Bai Wei's reasoning.

Yes, if she had to choose between Hand Eye and Tongue-sensei, Diana was more inclined to help Tongue-sensei than Hand Eye.

It was not merely because of the cunning Hand Eye had displayed, nor because he had betrayed others before. There was another reason: Diana had already experienced what being watched felt like.

During her previous transaction with Hand Eye, Diana had obtained Gaze, and she was immediately drawn to that power.

That vision, which nothing could obstruct, was far too tempting for Diana, who had never left Contract Land. She also understood why Tongue-sensei, who possessed Three Corpse Pieces, had still been chased down by Hand Eye, who only possessed two. Once that eye locked onto someone, it was truly difficult for anyone to escape.

Before that intoxicating power, Diana was like a little girl who had secretly tasted forbidden fruit and wanted to possess that fruit forever.

Helping Tongue-sensei deal with Hand Eye was therefore her best choice.

But Diana naturally would not reveal what she wanted at such a time. She merely nodded and continued along Lai Er's words. "You are right. I do indeed hate people who do not honor contracts."

Lai Er, who had been hoping Diana would refuse Visas-sama, felt his heart sink when he heard that. He then cautiously asked, "So you agree?"

"No problem. I can take you to the meeting location and let you witness Heaven's Obedience. That is also my sincerity." Diana said flatly. "But you will have to bear the risks of that sincerity yourself."

"Risks?"

"Yes. I am only responsible for taking you inside." Diana said. "But if your identity is exposed, not only will I refuse to help you, I will also ensure that you do not implicate me."

"...So what do you want to do?" Lai Er grew even more uneasy.

"Before I take you in, we need to make a transaction first." Diana spread open her raised hand, revealing a Seed of Covenant in her palm. "I require you... No, more accurately, your stand-in envoy, to shut his mouth at the very first moment his identity is exposed."

Lai Er opened his mouth. This time, he wanted to speak for himself. "What kind of shutting his mouth?"

Diana smiled. "Bite off his tongue, swallow poison, whatever he chooses. As long as he can keep the secret forever."

Lai Er was stunned. "You fucking want me to die?!"

"See, Tongue-sensei." Diana was not surprised by Lai Er's reaction. "This is where you differ from me. I can ensure that every one of my servants will sacrifice themselves for me, but your servant cannot. Forgive me for being blunt, Tongue-sensei, but this person's existence is unfavorable to both you and me. If possible, I would rather speak with you in person."

Upon hearing Diana say that, Lai Er's heart leaped into his throat.

That damned freak could actually say something so vicious!

Lai Er wanted to roar at Diana that he was Visas-sama's most loyal dog, that he would absolutely never betray Visas-sama.

Yet before this genuine "puppet," his blazing passion seemed laughably insignificant.

After all, even the most loyal dog could betray its master, but a lifeless puppet did not even possess betrayal as an option.

What a blatant scheme!

Lai Er immediately panicked and wanted to explain to Bai Wei in his heart, Visas-sama, do not listen to her nonsense. I will never betray you! If you tell me to go east, I will never go west!

"Do not be nervous." Bai Wei said with a smile. "I have never worried about your betrayal."

Bai Wei's words filled Lai Er with joy. He was about to say more to express his loyalty when Bai Wei continued leisurely.

"And I am not your master."

His brief joy immediately turned into panic again. He thought Visas-sama no longer wanted him as a loyal dog. "Visas-sama, I..."

"Compared to that utterly unoriginal relationship between master and servant, I prefer a relationship between partners. Give something, receive something. As a merchant, you should be very familiar with that model." Bai Wei said. "I am making a deal with her, and I am making a deal with you. Forcing a transaction is meaningless. If you are unwilling, then simply refuse."

Lai Er opened his mouth, clearly never expecting Visas-sama to say such a thing.

He did not see him as a loyal dog, but as a trading partner?

Lai Er was indeed familiar with that model. Even black-market merchants believed in voluntary trade.

But Lai Er also knew that if he missed something from a merchant, he could still have another chance to buy it later.

But if he missed something from Visas-sama...

He lowered his head and looked at the Seed of Covenant in Diana's hand. In a daze, he was transported back to the day five years ago when Ha Luo had extended a hand toward him, just after he had become a father.

After a brief silence, Lai Er still reached out, seized the Seed of Covenant, and viciously bit down on it.

The ruthlessness and determination in his eyes were exactly the same as they had been five years ago.