Stifal was quite efficient. Not long after Fang Zheng made a round through the various worlds, settled everything, and returned to his bedroom, the Crystal Skull's voice rang out once again.
"Sorry to keep you waiting, Mr. Fang Zheng."
"Oh? You've got it sorted already?"
"Since this transaction was rather unexpected, it took a little time."
Stifal's voice sounded somewhat low.
"However, before we sign the agreement, I hope you can abide by the following conditions. Otherwise, I will be unable to sign it."
"Go ahead."
"First, I hope that you, Mr. Fang Zheng, will travel alone on this trip, rather than bringing a whole crowd like last time."
"Why?"
Of course, Fang Zheng knew Stifal was referring to the time he had brought half a fleet with him when he took Touma Kazusa back to the Romance World. But he did not understand why Stifal would specifically bring it up. After all, according to Fang Zheng's plans, he might have needed to bring the entire Azure Fleet this time.
"Because the Plane spaces over there are extremely complex and intertwined, like waves upon the sea. We cannot completely resist the tides of space. As Plane Merchants, we possess the ability to locate the correct passage and door amid tangled, chaotic spaces, then open it. However, that does not mean we can freely control that door. Sometimes, an opened door will only last a few seconds—or even an instant. If you bring too many people, then we may have to face the danger of abandoning some of them at certain times and allowing them to be swallowed by spatial rifts... And let me add that if you wish to rescue companions lost somewhere in an unknown space, there will be an additional charge."
"...That really is troublesome."
After hearing Stifal's