"And you, um..."
"Rina."
"You have my heartfelt thanks."
Seeing that Gongshu had fallen into utter despair, Yide lost interest in him and turned his attention to Rina.
As Rina watched Yide approach step by step, she slowly backed away in fear.
"Why are you backing away?"
"I remember you calling me a 'good man,' didn't you?"
"Are you afraid of a good man like me?"
He spread his hands and asked with a beaming smile.
"No..."
"This isn't real..."
Rina shook her head, her face etched with fear.
"You deserve a great deal of credit for making all this possible..."
"After all..."
"You're the only person on this island who can get in touch with that troublesome fellow."
"Thank goodness you helped me ask what he was going off to do yesterday."
"Otherwise, I'd still be worried he might come back at any moment."
Hearing Yide's words, Rina recalled how he had come to her yesterday.
He had asked Rina to find out why that outsider had come looking for Xiu Yuan.
Rina had not given it much thought at the time. After spending so much time with Yide over the past few days, she had come to believe he was a good man.
So Rina had not questioned Yide's request in the slightest.
If she had refused his request yesterday, Yide would not have known what Xiu Yuan was going out to do, and he would never have dared make a rash move.
But once he learned that Xiu Yuan was going to Narukami Island to celebrate a friend's birthday, Yide knew he would not be back anytime soon.
That was why Yide had made his move on the afternoon of the very day Xiu Yuan left.
He could have acted as early as noon.
But a scheming