"What is he hiding?" Valen asked curiously.
Noan glanced at Zeka and noticed that both he and Violette were watching this spot, so he forced a smile.
Zeka and Violette seed to realise that Valen was questioning Noan about sothing.
As a result, they imdiately turned their heads away, no longer paying attention to this area, so as not to raise Valen's suspicion.
Although Zeka deeply hated Noan, he knew clearly that completing the mission and receiving the system's reward ca first.
After that, he could seek out Noan to… take his revenge.
After all, he possessed an SS ranked talent. In the future, he was bound to beco a terrifying existence—perhaps even the ruler of this world.
Because of that, he had complete confidence that he would one day be able to destroy Noan.
But for now, he had to cooperate with Noan in order to complete the mission.
Valen saw that Zeka and Violette had been paying attention but turned away after eting his gaze, which made him trust Noan's words even more.
"This… I'm sorry, I can't say."
Hearing that, Valen acted as if he understood. He smiled and replied, "That's fine. After the banquet, let's et in my private chamber."
"Alright!" Noan agreed casually, showing no hesitation.
Valen was reassured by his response and walked away to talk with others.
"What were you and the Captain talking about?" Monica suddenly ca over and sat beside Noan.
"You want to know?" Noan asked with a smile.
Monica pouted. "If you don't want to say, then I don't want to hear it."
"Oh? You know how to sulk?" Noan sneered. "Afraid I'll harm the man you love?"
"You…" Monica gritted her teeth, feeling a surge of fear and anxiety. "I… I don't love Valen, don't say nonsense."
"I never said who it was."
Monica: "..."
She pressed her lips together tightly, her face as red as a ripe apple.
"You… may I ask you for a favour?"
"Hm?!" Noan frowned. "What is it?"
"You… you…" Monica bit her lip, took a deep breath, and said, "Can you let him go?"
"You speak as if I could actually kill him," Noan said with a laugh.
Monica glanced at Valen, who was drinking with the others, then looked back at Noan and said sadly, "I know you're capable of killing everyone here."
"However, he is a shining star, a light of hope for everyone. I hope you won't extinguish that light."
Noan looked at Valen, then back at Monica, and said with disdain, "You're in no position to negotiate with —unless you have sothing that piques my interest."
Upon hearing that, Monica imdiately understood what Noan was implying. After all, they were all adults—just a few words were enough to grasp the other's intentions.
She bit her lip, her eyes beginning to well with tears as though she were about to cry.
"Oy! Don't act like I'm forcing you," Noan said with a smirk. "I'm not pressuring you. But you don't have much ti to think."
With that, Noan stood up and walked outside.
Monica pressed her lips tightly together. Her gaze toward Valen was filled with admiration, and within it was a trace of tenderness.
Outside, Noan saw Baron sitting against the door, drinking wine, with a plate of food beside him.
When Baron saw Noan, his face filled with rage. He gritted his teeth and snapped, "What the hell are you staring at? You want to—oh!"
Suddenly, a wave of dizziness washed over Baron, and his eyes began to glow with a pink light.
Noan smiled, then walked into a dark corner where no one could see him.
Baron remained still for a mont, then flinched as his eyes returned to normal. He muttered, "What the hell just happened?"
…
Zeka saw Noan leave, but he didn't follow imdiately. Instead, he waited over fifteen minutes before using exhaustion as an excuse to leave.
Violette followed behind Zeka.
Valen noticed the two of them departing and seed to be deep in thought.
"Captain!" Suddenly, Baron rushed inside and shouted urgently, "There's a monster attack outside!"
"A monster?" Valen was a bit surprised.
Having stayed in this place for so long, it was the first ti he'd heard of any monsters attacking this area.
Monica also seed confused, but judging from Baron's expression, they didn't think he was lying.
"What happened? Where is the monster?" Valen asked with a frown.
BOOM!
Suddenly, a loud explosion echoed from the distance.
"That's…" Valen looked toward the source of the blast, confused. "That's the direction of the cave entrance."
"This is bad! Could there really be monsters here? Master said there was no other lifeform around this place besides us…"
"Master?" Monica looked at Valen and asked, "Valen, what are you talking about?"
"Ah! It's nothing," Valen was startled and quickly explained, "I ant that soone once said this place was very safe, and no monsters would ever find us here."
"Uhm! I thought so too. So… what should we do now?" Monica asked.
She and the others all looked at him with anxious expressions.
In the end, he had no choice but to decide to go and check out what was happening at that location.
"Baron, lead us there," Valen said.
…
In a dark corner, Violette and Zeka were slightly startled by the sound of the explosion.
"What was that?" Violette asked worriedly.
Zeka frowned, feeling like sothing wasn't right—but he couldn't pinpoint what it was.
It was just… instinct telling him that sothing very strange was going on.
"You're here already?" a voice suddenly called out.
Violette and Zeka flinched a little, but when they saw it was Noan, they both let out a relieved sigh.
"It's you? Do you know what that explosion just now was?" Zeka asked with a frown.
"It was natural gas. I caused it to draw their attention," Noan replied calmly, smiling.
In truth, he had the ability to teleport thanks to his Space talent, so he had simply used a spatial orb to create an explosion.
As for why Baron had reported a monster attack, it was because Noan had hypnotized him.
Of course, Noan could only hypnotize people like Baron. Valen and Zeka were special existences, and he didn't dare take that kind of risk with them.
Zeka, hearing this, grew even more wary of Noan.
"Alright, you still have the chance to change your minds," Noan said. "Co with , or go back to Valen and act like nothing happened."
Hearing Noan's words, Violette hesitated for a mont, but then her expression turned firm and she said, "I'll go with you. I don't want to stay here any longer."
After all, Violette was a woman—she didn't want to remain in a place where even drinking water was scarce.
Back when she was in the Chaotic Zone, even though many things were lacking, Violette had been one of the mbers of the Managent Group.
Because of that, she always had enough drinking water and food to use.
But here, it was different.
Everywhere was covered in snow, and there were no resources or living creatures.
There weren't even monsters from which they could collect energy crystals.
This place had nothing but snow.
Violette didn't want to live in such a dull place, and naturally, she no longer wanted to trust Zeka.
Zeka saw how quickly Violette made her decision, and it pained him deeply.
She had chosen to trust a man she had t less than a day ago over him.
Zeka clenched his teeth. Though he was furious, he forced himself to swallow the anger.
He knew this wasn't the ti to let personal emotions take priority.
"I… I want to co with you too," Zeka said through gritted teeth.
Noan glanced at Zeka, sneering inwardly. But his face remained cold and visibly displeased.
"Zeka, if you don't want to co, then don't force yourself. I don't need soone who could potentially betray us joining the team."
Hearing this, Violette also felt that Noan made a good point. After all, this was a mission—one with great significance for them.
If they failed to complete it, they might be trapped in this place forever, just like those who ca before.
Violette nodded and said, "Noan is right. If you don't want to act with us, then don't join."
"I also don't want you causing trouble and affecting the completion of our mission."
Zeka's jaw dropped in disbelief at Violette's words.
Was this the saintess he had idolized?
The pure, innocent, and naive girl he knew?
No! She was still the sa Violette—this change in her must be because of that bastard Noan.
Violette, I won't let you be tainted by that scum or anyone else.
Zeka gritted his teeth and said, "I… I'll join for sure. I'll do whatever it takes to complete the mission."
At that mont, Noan spoke up, "And how can I believe you?"
"That… I…" Zeka stamred, unable to find an answer. He felt incredibly frustrated.
"Good! I have a way—sothing that will both prove you have no intention to betray us and ensure the safety of and Violette," Noan said with a smile. "It's called an Equal Contract."
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