"What are you trying to say?" Lloyd held back his temper.
Thanks to the Spellbook, Annan now trusted Black Widow more than he trusted them. Kicking her out now would only give her a chance to betray them.
"I looked into him. Do you know what he's done?" Black Widow spoke with the same fervor Illymoyas showed at the sight of treasure. "He bought a Floating City in two years. Powerful people adore him, and other powerful people hate him but can't do a thing about it. Do you really take him for a child? If we retreat tonight, I bet he'll suspect by morning that we're avoiding the fight."
"Hmm..."
Big fell into thought. She had a point.
"Idiot, she's selling us out!" Lloyd muttered, then sneered. "A Spellbook? You hid that well. Even the Mage Tower didn't find it."
Black Widow scoffed. "Don't tell me you haven't kept anything in reserve. Even an idiot like Big knows to hide a few things."
Lloyd had no answer. He was an Alchemist. What good would hiding a few things do him? Yet Big looked as if he agreed with her.
Was Lloyd worse than Big!?
Whatever the case, driving Black Widow out of their alliance wasn't his goal. Lloyd softened his tone. "Why are you trying so hard?"
"Do you want the truth or a lie?"
"The truth or a lie?"
"The lie is that I want to impress Annan, earn his trust, and find a chance to escape the Contract."
"Go on." Lloyd lifted his chin slightly.
"The truth is that Annan calls me Hailey, instead of calling me that damned Black Widow like you do!"
"That's your fucking reason...?" Big stared at her, dumbfounded.
Lloyd was filled with regret. "You've fallen for Annan!"
Black Widow looked like a