A long silence fell over the scene.
Amid the silence, the Thick-lipped Woman beside the Long-haired Woman limped forward and handed over some dye and paper.
The Long-haired Woman took them, quickly coated the seals with dye, and pressed them onto the paper. After examining them carefully, she indeed saw what Richard had described: blue was water, red was fire; water and fire complemented each other, neither could be absent.
"Whew—"
The Long-haired Woman took a deep breath, had the Thick-lipped Woman put everything away, then looked at Richard again. "It seems you possess some information that we don't know."
"Likewise, I believe you possess some information that I don't know," Richard said. "So, if you want to use these seals as keys to explore the Ancient Ruins connected to the clues left behind by the Wizard Tangka, cooperation is the best choice."
"Ancient Ruins? So you even know about the Ancient Ruins." The Long-haired Woman spoke softly, looking slightly surprised but not overly so, as though she had already been mentally prepared. A few seconds later, she gently shook her head. "I'm afraid I can't agree to that."
"The reason?" Richard raised an eyebrow and asked.
The Long-haired Woman answered seriously, "First, I don't know your background. Your involvement would be a hidden danger to me. Second, we have already made thorough preparations to explore the Ancient Ruins. We can accomplish it without you."
"But are you sure you can enter the ruins without the Red Seal in my hand? Or are you planning to take the Red Seal from me by force?" Richard looked at the Long-haired Woman with a smile, asking as though he were joking.
"No." The Long-haired Woman gently shook her head, her long hair drifting in the wind. "I won't attack you, much less