"To be honest, I didn’t expect to see him so soon either, hehe." The smile on Wei’en’s face widened. "Is this the safehouse you prepared for them?"
"Yes. I’ve met with Mr. Horant a few times before. He prepared this place specifically for me... for us, the Desire Sect."
"So, he knows your identity?"
"More or less," Mitra hesitated, then explained, "I used a Desire Divine Skill on him. It allows me to influence some of his decisions."
’Something like a hypnotic effect?’
’Tsk, these groups, like the Desire Sect and the Despair Sect, always have unique abilities when it comes to manipulation.’
As he thought this, Wei’en scanned his surroundings, spreading his Spirit perception to cover the entire building, meticulously examining every nook and cranny, not missing even the faintest fluctuation.
"Did he tell you his specific arrival time on Aleksey Island?"
"No," Mitra shook her head, then added, "But I’m guessing he’ll try to shake off the Heroic Saintess before coming here."
Wei’en tapped his fingers thoughtfully on the table. "Oh."
’The Dawn Church’s Heroic Saintess is pursuing Ales Kilibali, and then there’s the Judgement Saintess, Celestia Edas, also on his tail...’
"Mr. Wei’en, I... this is everything I know. You..."
Looking at the young Wizard’s pensive expression, Mitra felt a surge of bitterness. She had said everything she could; she didn’t want to get dragged down with Ales.
"You want me to leave now?"
"If you would!"
"Why should I leave? He’s relentlessly pursuing me. No matter where I hide, he’ll find a way to track me down. Rather than keep running and hiding, I might as well end it here. And as it happens..."
At this, Wei’en paused and glanced at Tina beside him, his expression as gentle as ever.
’Perfect, Little White Fur has been waiting for a long time!’
"Then... then I wish Mr. Wei’en success. I’ll just stay out of this whole affair."
Mitra wasn’t particularly moved by his intentions.
As far as she was concerned, both Ales and Wei’en were strangers to her.
Right now, all she wanted was to get away from Aleksey Island, away from these two madmen...
"Oh? You’re leaving?" Wei’en asked, a faint, unreadable smile on his face.
"Ye-yes."
Mitra’s heart skipped a beat. ’Doesn’t he want me to leave?’
"No. You don’t."
"..."
Mitra’s eyes widened, her beautiful face filled with disbelief.
’This young Mr. Wizard... he really doesn’t want me to leave?’
’Is he going to kill me?’
After a moment’s thought, Mitra asked gingerly, "D-do you need me for something?"
"I like smart people."
Wei’en gave an ambiguous reply, then pulled several pieces of contract parchment from his Space Ring. He spread them on the table in front of him and gestured, "And smart people always make the right choice."
’A contract?’
Mitra looked at the parchments on the table, and a terrible premonition suddenly took root in her heart.
’Not even Ales and his people had made her sign a contract... But this man...’
Seeing the wonderfully complex expression on her face, Wei’en felt an inexplicable sense of amusement. His mind flashed back to when he’d first seen this Favored One of the Desire Sect in Nocturnal City.
’Hmm, she was quite intimidating back then. At least, she was in Nocturnal City...’
"I’ll give you three choices. The first is a Master-Servant Contract. You become my follower—or to put it more bluntly, my maid."
"The second is a contract between equals. You will provide me with intel on Ales until I have dealt with him for good."
"As for the third choice... well, I kill you right now, lest you become an asset to Ales."
"Now," Wei’en said with a smile, "please, make your choice."
But he had barely finished speaking when Mitra, without the slightest hesitation, slammed her hand down on the first parchment and declared firmly, "I choose the first one!"
Wei’en: "???"
’Is she insane? Wouldn’t any normal person choose the second option?’