A Way
Boheng's gaze flicked away briefly before quickly returning to Hesta.
"...You're making a deal with me."
The corners of Hesta's lips dipped slightly, though her eyes smiled. "Will you accept this deal?"
"I did go to Deep Anchor's base, but I went empty-handed," Boheng said softly. "They took nothing from me."
"Good. That means I'm still different from those people at Deep Anchor, at least in your eyes." Hesta tilted her head slightly. "At the very least, you're now willing to leave the two students you trust, along with twelve Kashyapa, with me."
"...But this isn't a deal, Jane." Boheng lowered his voice. "I'm doing this because I trust you—"
"If the person standing before me now were Aji or Anaruth, would I still be willing to risk violating regulations and promise to take him into Quicksilver Needles' underground base?"
Boheng's gaze shifted. Just as he was about to speak, Hesta interrupted him again.
"Maybe you've heard, maybe you haven't, but AHgAs's internal rules are strict to the point of being almost harsh—"
"I know," Boheng cut in. "That's also why some of Deep Anchor hate AHgAs so much, isn't it?"
"Then you understand the weight of this deal." The smile faded from Hesta's face. "You need to understand first what this invitation means to me."
"I can't decide something like this alone. When I get back, I'll discuss it with Aji—"
"You can decide it. You have to be able to decide it." Hesta spoke bluntly. "Have you forgotten what I asked you in Grenoble? Boheng, if you have to discuss it with Aji before you can settle this deal with me, then..."
Hesta narrowed her eyes slightly and did not continue.
Boheng finally began to weigh things seriously—
Although Hesta's demand seemed extremely overbearing, it did