Shen Ru could not understand what went through that pervert's head, but his priority was to keep the lunatic calm and hold out for Mo Yu's support.
He was also intensely curious about the Puppeteer's ability and what the enormous tree behind him meant.
That was the key to whether they could kill the Puppeteer this time.
Shen Ru's arrogance utterly delighted the Puppeteer. With an ambiguous smile tugging at his lips, the man released his grip on the young man's throat and slowly sank to his knees beneath that burning gaze.
"Good. Now we can finally speak as equals."
Shen Ru smiled at the Puppeteer and exchanged for another dagger from the Shop. He slowly lifted the man's chin with its sharp tip and drawled:
"I can join you, but on one condition."
The Puppeteer obediently raised his head, his grin stretching far too wide. "Tell me."
Shen Ru withdrew the dagger, ignored his disappointed expression, and got straight to the point:
"You seem to know everything about me, but I know nothing about you."
"That's not fair, is it?"
The Puppeteer nodded and answered readily, "What do you want to know?"
Shen Ru showed no particular urgency. He walked over to the Puppeteer and casually tapped his shoulder with a fingertip. "You should at least tell me what your ability is."
"Substitution. When I'm in danger, I can choose a Puppet to take the damage in my place. The limit is three times per Instance."
Shen Ru could not be sure he was telling the truth about the limit, but the rest matched the ability the Puppeteer had used during their first encounter. It was probably credible.
"What does this tree mean?"
The young man slowly raised his eyes, a smile lurking in their red depths. He forcibly