Kamille glanced at the native without any hint of pressure, but this calmness was precisely the reason the native remained cautious. Zenos could not read or see anything about him.
"This is a gate." Kamille honestly told the native the reason, this was not a secret. This world also had gates, which could help the natives understand the situation.
After glancing once at the unconscious Esper, Kamille did not pay attention to him and instead continued to explain. They were there to gather explanations and not actually to make an enemy of the natives.
That at least was their first intention.
Ignoring the confusion that appeared on the native’s face, Kamille spoke unhurriedly. "This world is connected to our world through a special gate. We’re here to investigate."
Kamille did not seem bothered whether the native believed him or not. He also spoke in such a concise manner, not really explaining everything.
The native, Zenos, only furrowed his brows and stared at Kamille. However, it was clear with how his pupils quivered slightly that he was quite surprised.
Their world was connected through another dinsion? They had beco a gate?
Thoughts after thoughts rushed through his mind, and yet he only ca to one conclusion. Their situation had fallen this far.
"Do you expect to believe that?" Despite being surprised, the native did not retract his aura or his hostility.
"No." Kamille shook his head. "I’m not here to convince you," he answered in a matter-of-fact tone.
Rise almost chuckled at that, he could only bit his lips not to disturb his Guild Leader.
This native was obviously shaken but was trying so hard not to show it. Rise could understand it, though.
"Even with that, you’re still invaders."
"Mm." Again, Kamille nodded. "I’m not denying that we’re outsiders." Like before, despite agreeing, he changed the term.
Just like that, they were back at the beginning of the conversation. Rise clicked his tongue, annoyed. This native was only wasting their ti.
"Hey." He called roughly at the native, the attention was imdiately shifted to him. Kamille glanced at him almost instinctively. Rise silently touched Kamille’s back as if asking for forgiveness and also permission.
Before the native was about to say sothing again, Rise stepped forward and smiled, his words then resounded through the air, reaching everyone’s ears.
"Are you a parrot? You kept saying we’re invaders, and we never denied it, aren’t we?" Rise entered the conversation as strong as always. His voice carried a tone of mockery. "We’re outsiders, yes. This is a gate connected to our world, that’s also true. And naturally, we’ll investigate the gate."
"That’s not very hard to understand."
The native opened his mouth, but as though he could not say sothing to refute or he forgot about it, he closed it again. His eyes glared at Rise.
He could not believe that an invader was here to lecture him.
After the seconds of silence, Rise narrowed his eyes, his lips curled up.
"Just choose, will you fight or not?" His gleaming eyes filled with fighting intent focused at the native. "Don’t waste our ti."
He had long wanted to test the natives of this world. When he entered before, everything was stable, and so the two sides reached agreents and beca allies, and so Rise never fought with them.
Now, looking at this guy, he was itching for a fight. If not for Kamille’s presence, he would not even bother to ask. Pre-Kamille Rise was such a reckless and hotblooded Esper; he never cared about the danger, he only loved to seek the thrill of things.
The native swallowed slightly; his gaze almost wavered as he looked at those pupils. As one of the strongest of their worlds, he was not unfamiliar with such gazes.
However, sothing was different.
’He’s sure he will win.’
Gazes filled with killing intent—Zenos had seen quite a few. Yet, this kind of gaze filled with both confidence and recklessness was a rarity.
Perhaps, he was confident because of the numbers? As soon as that thought flashed in his mind, Zenos quickly dismissed it. That was not it.
He’s confident in himself. And he seed to be... quite excited about it.
Insane. Zenos finally pinpointed the right word for it.
Zenos fell silent after a mont. He shared glances at the other party. He did not ignore the dark-haired man’s presence as well. That man was looking at him expressionlessly, but Zenos felt that the man was attentively watching him interact with that silver-haired man.
His gaze carried an invisible threat.
The hair at the back of his neck seed to stand up; goosebumps gradually overwheld him. Zenos felt that chill.
Wait, was he afraid?
This man... Zenos gaze shifted again to the silver-haired man from the dark-haired man.
’He’s watching my attitude. The mont I disrespect this silver-haired man... He will move regardless of my answer.’
Rise watched the native contemplate about the answer.
Tsk. How hard is it to decide if he’ll fight or not?
Rise could not relate; at least he would not hesitate once challenged. His eyes lit up when the native seed finally about to speak, but his mood sank instantly.
"What?" Rise asked, in a subtle urgency. "Are you a fucking coward or what? Why won’t you fight?"
That was right. The native abruptly retracted his aura and conceded.
"I won’t fight you." This was an answer that Rise did not even consider. After all, just one glance at this native, he was in the sa status as Kamille.
His aura and deanor alone gave it away. In this world’s terms, he might be the leader of a faction.
At these criticizing remarks, the native’s expression darkened slightly. However, before he could glare again at Rise, his gaze moved and he lowered his gaze.
He swallowed the words. "You want to fight a hopeless battle?" Zenos helplessly admitted defeat before the fight started. "I’m alone,"
This was a fact that Rise could not deny. Rise frowned and stepped back in annoyance.
Once more, the stage had returned to Kamille. A ghost of smile slightly lingered on his lips, feeling amused. He reached out and brushed Rise’s hair subtly.
Rise’s mood, which had plumted, was quickly restored with just a touch. He smiled and enjoyed the caress, leaning his body toward his Guild Leader.
This sudden shift of mood left the native dumbfounded. Wait... Was this the sa person? Just a stroke of your hair and you are already in a good mood?
Are you a puppy or what?
Needless to say, the native was not the only one with such thoughts. Even the four cubs saw it too, their impression of Rise seed to be slowly changing.
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