Qin Siyang did not answer. Instead, he looked calmly at Chris.
His eyes gave nothing away.
"Guardian Chris, I can't answer that question."
Qin Siyang opened with a noncommittal deflection.
He had a feeling that Chris had not blurted out the question in a last-minute rush before leaving. He had planned it all along.
In fact, hiding in a trash can, coming to Southern Glory to find him, and trading for the Corrosive Black Centipede remains might all have been secondary.
Finding out about Hu Chan was his true purpose.
Chris smiled. "It was just a question that occurred to me, Mister Qin. You don't need to be so guarded."
Qin Siyang remained expressionless.
He suspected that Chris had now switched on the lie-detecting device he carried with him.
Neither an affirmative nor a negative answer would help.
If Chris got the information from him, he would certainly move against Hu Chan.
That would not do.
He was still counting on Hu Chan to accompany him Outside the Safe Zone and act as his hunting dog.
Qin Siyang sighed inwardly.
He said, "Guardian Chris, I'm not someone who readily divulges information about my transactions."
"True."
A low voice suddenly sounded from somewhere on Chris.
Qin Siyang smiled faintly. Sure enough, he had switched on the Lie Detector.
Chris sighed. Since he had been found out, there was nothing he could do.
He took the Lie Detector out of his coat.
"Please forgive me, Mister Qin. I was merely curious about what your answer would be."
"That's hardly polite."
"But I still hope you'll answer my earlier question, Mister Qin. I can offer additional compensation."
It seemed Chris was deeply concerned about Hu Chan obtaining titan reed inner leaf fragments.
Or rather, he was deeply concerned about the person Hu Chan