Katarina stood behind Sifa.
The Demoness demigods stood beside the Black Saint.
They all looked at the ring in Sifa's hand, then turned their gazes elsewhere, as though it held no interest for them at all.
Yet their eyes kept darting toward it.
Only after several seconds of silence did Catherine say, "A ring, however ancient or meaningful it may be, cannot match a Sequence 1 Beyonder characteristic."
"You're absolutely right."
Sifa nodded, then raised flames in his palm, melting the ring in an instant.
Catherine's blond hair, which had already settled, flared up again.
"You burned it!"
Sifa dusted off his hands and leisurely took another ring from his pocket. "That one was fake. This is the real one."
"It seems you do care quite a lot about this ring, Ms. Catherine."
Catherine blinked slightly before saying, "Are all you Hunters this despicable?"
Sifa laughed. "Don't talk as if you Demonesses are so kind."
The Black Saint did not lose her temper over his remark. She continued, "Very well, I agree to the trade."
"But as I said before, I really don't have that Beyonder characteristic on me."
"If you're worried, you can come with me."
"We'll retrieve the characteristic together and complete the trade."
No sooner had she finished speaking-
Catherine's pupils abruptly dilated.
Flames rose from Sifa's hand for a second time, melting the ring.
The shock nearly drove her to reveal her complete mythical creature form.
"I remembered wrong just now."
"This one was a fake too."
"This is the real one."
Sifa then produced a third, identical ring.
"But as I just said, don't try to fool me with something even a child wouldn't believe."
"Next time, it'll be the real ring that melts."
"Or would you like to take a gamble?"
"Care to bet