Black Street No. 1.
Shiqi, Simons, and Charles sat across from Qin Ran, while Aili Jones and Raul and his wife stood to one side.
Everyone's eyes were fixed on the unruffled Qin Ran.
The atmosphere was somewhat tense.
Shiqi was the first to break.
"2567, do you really not see the danger right in front of you?"
"Or do you have something else planned?"
"The outsider's gone. Can you tell us now?"
Shiqi fired off one question after another.
"I see it, but I don't have anything else planned."
Qin Ran did not dispute the word "outsider."
Compared with those who remained, Rosde Lanchi was an outsider.
"What do you mean, you don't have anything else planned?"
Shiqi looked at Qin Ran in bewilderment.
"Simons, would you turn down an invitation like this?"
Instead of answering directly, Qin Ran asked the potion maker.
"Of course not!"
"I might not be much use now, but I'm no coward. Besides, if I don't go, even our last remaining tradition will be lost!"
Simons spoke with absolute certainty.
"Oh, heavens!"
"Simons, tell me you don't mean that!"
"How is this a tradition? It's stubbornness! And worse, it's stubbornly marching to your death!"
Shiqi clapped a hand over his forehead and exclaimed.
"It's a tradition, the last tradition of the West Coast's mystery side-not to fear any invitation from the East Coast, whether it brings danger or safety."
"Ever since Lei was honored as the 'God of the Earth,' it has been the West Coast's only tradition."
Simons stressed his point, but his tone remained calm.
No one around him looked surprised.
It seemed only natural to them.
The master alchemist even smiled and nodded.
Qin Ran was no exception.
He had not known about this tradition at first.
But the solemn expression