"What did you mean?"
Even knowing that the thing across from them might be a Great Ogre, Crow Number Five still could not help stepping forward, her voice suppressing an unnamed fury. "You should know that she is our target!"
This time, Crow Number Three—or rather, Gan Ning, lecturer of Magical Creatures Studies—did not stop his companion. He merely fixed the Hooped-Head Ogre with an equally grave gaze. His meaning was very clear.
Zhu Si could not be handed over to them.
What happened next took them both by surprise.
The Hooped-Head Ogre showed no concern whatsoever for the witch's offense. It let out that unpleasant rumbling laugh again. "Of course, of course, she is your target... but she can also be our target. There is no contradiction there. As I understand it, you only need some of her blood, don't you? I can make the decision: take however much you need... and as for what remains, give it to us as compensation. That isn't excessive, is it?"
"Her body cannot withstand us taking blood from her in turns."
Suppressing her rage, Crow Number Five gritted her teeth as she explained, "According to our calculations, after we collect it, she needs sufficient time to recover..."
"Who said I wanted her blood?" The Hooped-Head Ogre looked at the two crows in surprise, then jabbed its backward-bent thumb at its pale fangs. "Have you forgotten what we are?"
Behind it, two Ogres somehow produced a huge iron pot and an enormous ladle. They raised them overhead and waved them excitedly, their mouths issuing the rumbling sounds real Ogres made before a meal.
The crows looked at the Ogres across from them as though they were idiots.
As though they were a pack of corpses.
"Do you know who her Father is?" Gan