A few minutes later, inside the Shattered Castle.
"I brought the girl you wanted."
As Lin En stepped into the Castle again, the overlapping red silhouette was still waiting there. When she turned her head, she saw Lin En smiling broadly, with the unconscious Hana Ye in his arms.
Her little body rested in Lin En's arms, her eyes closed and her breathing even. Nothing about her looked fake.
He stopped several dozen paces away from her.
"Now, we should be able to make our trade."
Lin En spoke slowly.
The overlapping red silhouette calmly looked at Hana Ye in his arms and said:
"I need to verify her identity. Once I confirm it's her, you can take [Tyrant]'s flesh immediately."
Lin En glanced sideways at her.
"Then I need to check whether what you're holding is genuine, too. If you go back on your word after the trade, or secretly put some restriction on it, who am I supposed to complain to?"
He raised one finger.
"How about this? Give me the goods first. Once I've checked them, I'll give you Hana Ye."
The red silhouette's gaze remained unwavering.
"Since I'm willing to trade with you here, and even wait this long for you, I think I've shown sufficient sincerity. I won't fool you with something fake."
Lin En stared back with equally dead eyes.
"Haven't I done the same? I went all that way and brought her straight here without a moment's delay. Doesn't that prove how much I value this trade? Do you think I'd just grab something random to fool you? You don't trust me at all."
The two fell into another standoff.
Their gazes locked.
But just as a fight that would end their meeting on bitter terms was about to erupt...
The overlapping crimson