A Duel of Acting Skills

If you set the age difference aside—

Biscuit would surely have been smitten right now, eager to get to know Moyu better.

Don't get the wrong idea. She simply wanted to get to know him more deeply—not because she was lusting after his looks.

Unfortunately, that age difference was exactly why, no matter how many points she gave Moyu, she still couldn't bring herself to make a move.

He was too young, too tender...

Even an old lady with a strong set of teeth couldn't get past that mental hurdle.

Maybe handsome men's magazines were more her thing.

"Thank you, big brother."

Biscuit's mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, yet a blush spread across her cheeks. Head lowered, she shyly thanked Moyu in a soft voice.

She looked every bit like a girl experiencing the stirrings of love for the first time.

And with those wine-red eyes, her delicate nose, and cherry-red lips, Biscuit had all the natural features to make that bashful, girlish look downright devastating.

The scariest part—

She was at least fifty years old. Yet judging by her words and actions, she behaved exactly like a girl under fourteen.

If Moyu hadn't known Biscuit's real appearance and age, he might have fallen for it too.

"You're welcome."

Moyu smiled warmly.

As expected of a Transmuter...

Lying through her teeth was one thing, but she kept it up line after line without even blinking.

With acting skills like hers, it was a shame she wasn't in show business.

He thought to himself.

"Big brother, I... I'm thirsty."

Biscuit raised her head and looked at Moyu with shy eyes. She twisted her hands together, fidgeting awkwardly.

Moyu replied calmly, "You're thirsty? No problem. Just sit here for a bit. I'll go ask at the bar if they have juice, milk, or something like that."

"Mm-hmm."

Biscuit gave Moyu an embarrassed smile.

Moyu sighed to himself again. As he headed for the bar, the corner of his eye caught Biscuit laboriously climbing onto a high stool in an awkward, clumsy manner.

"..."

Moyu almost lost his composure again.

She was going to stay in character all the way, without giving herself away, huh...

Sometimes, knowing someone too well only made things more painful.

In a complicated mood, Moyu reached the bar and ordered a glass of milk for Biscuit.

While waiting for the bartender to bring it out, he couldn't help thinking about making a run for it.

He couldn't help it. Acting opposite a Transmuter was exhausting.

The bigger problem was—

Leaving aside why Biscuit was here, Moyu was certain she'd suddenly approached him because she wanted the bead Rat Treasure had left behind. He couldn't think of any other reason.

Come to think of it, this azure bead really did resemble the Blue Planet gemstone found only in Greed Island...

But in its material and feel, the bead Rat Treasure had left behind seemed more like a glass marble than a sapphire.

So Biscuit would make a move on anything that suited her taste?

But there was no way Moyu would hand over Rat Treasure's bead.

At the thought, his urge to run grew stronger.

But he was on an airship. Where could he go?

He'd maintained his big-brother persona and played along with Biscuit because he was worried she might flip the table on him.

Given her strength, she could crush him with just her little finger.

If she insisted on taking Rat Treasure's bead, there was nothing he could do about it.

For now, it was easier to deal with her while she was immersed in her little-sister persona.

"Why does even taking an airship have to get so complicated...? I'll just have to take things as they come."

Moyu felt a little helpless.

From what the original story had revealed about Biscuit, it was clear that as a student of Shingen-ryu, she was a powerful fighter who held to her principles and had her limits.

He might have been relieved by that, but he shouldn't underestimate a Professional Hunter's determination when hunting something.

Biscuit's way of doing things meant she wouldn't threaten his life, but Rat Treasure's bead was another matter.

She probably wouldn't give up until she got her hands on it. The only question was how she planned to take it.

Moyu took the milk from the bartender, then headed back toward Biscuit.

At the table by the window,

Biscuit sat on a high chair with her chin propped in her hands, her lotus-root-like legs swinging back and forth like a swing.

Moyu came over and gently set the milk in front of her.

"Thanks, big brother."

Biscuit acted too shy to look Moyu in the eye.

Keep acting.

Act all the way until the airship reached Laxiang City Airport.

Moyu smiled at Biscuit and took the seat beside her.

His cocktail was already past its prime. The ice in the glass had melted halfway, and beads of condensation had gathered on the outside.

He wiped them away with his index finger, pondering how to shake Biscuit off.

Should he bring up Cheadle's name directly?

No, that'd be too abrupt.

He could only pretend to casually let slip that he knew Cheadle.

That might be enough to make Biscuit abandon her "hunt."

But there was a problem: he didn't have a phone, and he didn't know Cheadle's number.

The only person he could contact was someone named Liz, whose name was on the note.

Right, there should be a public phone on the airship...

Moyu's thoughts turned.

"Big brother."

Biscuit's voice sounded beside his ear. "I still don't know your name..."

"Kester Bincy."

Moyu gave her the name on his fake ID Card.

When he'd had the fake ID made, he'd only provided the photo. The green-haired young man had supplied the name, background, and other details.

"And you?"

After giving his name, Moyu turned to look at Biscuit.

When she saw him looking her way, Biscuit blushed again and hurriedly averted her gaze. "My name is Biscuit Krueger."

"Biscuit... That's a lovely name."

Moyu's face held a warm smile.

He hadn't expected Biscuit, who kept up her acting at every moment, to give her real name when introducing herself.

"Thank you."

Biscuit smiled happily.

Moyu glanced at the milk, now half-finished, and asked gently, "Biscuit, how's your butt? Does it still hurt?"

"It's, it's much better."

Biscuit lowered her head and answered shyly.

"That's good."

Moyu pretended to look relieved, then suggested, "It's late now. How about I walk you back to your room?"

"Ah, I... Isn't this a little too fast for us?"

Biscuit's voice was barely audible.

"I see. Then... Hmm?"

Moyu stopped halfway through the line he'd prepared, staring at Biscuit in utter confusion.

He'd planned to use an excuse to leave and make a phone call, then see how Biscuit reacted. He hadn't expected her to come out with something so suggestive.

Biscuit suddenly realized how that sounded and nearly broke character on the spot. She hurriedly tried to recover. "I mean, I'm not sleepy yet. It's too early to go back to my room!"

"..."

Moyu responded with a slightly strained smile.

Exhausting. This was just too exhausting.

In a different place and time, he wouldn't have minded getting to know Biscuit more deeply.

Don't get the wrong idea. He simply wanted to get to know her better, then see if he could learn a few things from her.

But right now, he really wasn't in the mood.