Chapter 125: Negotiations

“Tch!” Dong Xiang clicked her tongue in disdain. She wasn’t particularly inclined to help Kanda Rize; her purpose this time was merely to come to her aid. Now that Kanda Rize had recovered, she naturally wished to avoid further entanglements.

“My mission is complete. I won’t concern myself with anything unnecessary. Let me give you some advice: in this world, it’s best to keep a low profile. It’s far more complicated than you think.” Dong Xiang cast a sidelong glance at Kanda Rize before preparing to leave.

“Hmph.” Initially, Kanda Rize wanted to retort, but after her encounter with Sikong Xu, she found herself at a loss for any argument.

Suddenly, a translucent sword energy streaked through the air. Sensing the danger, both of them quickly leapt aside, evading the razor-sharp strike.

Before them, Sikong Xu twirled the Interpreter in his hand, a wicked smile playing on his lips. “What, already thinking of leaving? Did you ask me first?”

“Hmph, do you really think you can handle two of us alone?” Dong Xiang said with a hint of anger.

“Do you think only you can call for backup?” Sikong Xu’s words caused both to hesitate.

Of course—how could this guy have no allies? The fight had lasted this long; his reinforcements were surely nearby, perhaps even hiding close by!

Just because of Sikong Xu’s comment, the momentum of Kanda Rize and Dong Xiang subtly waned.

Indeed, Sikong Xu had sent texts to Mu Ning and others for backup, but by now he had already cursed them silently—after such a long battle, they still hadn’t arrived! If not for his own skills, he’d have been devoured long ago!

“Actually, I quite want to have a talk with you,” Sikong Xu said softly.

“A talk?” Dong Xiang blinked in surprise. She hadn’t expected such words from him.

“Don’t trust him. He’s just stalling. If we’re determined to escape, he can’t hold onto even one of us,” Kanda Rize said through gritted teeth. She had come to realize that she couldn’t simply devour the man before her.

“No, no, no. I genuinely want to talk with you ghouls. About the question I asked you before,” Sikong Xu said with a slightly friendlier expression.

“Hmph, what a joke. Do you really think humans and ghouls can coexist peacefully?” Kanda Rize sneered.

“Of course.”

“Then you need to figure out how to solve the ghoul food problem first,” Dong Xiang interjected.

Although the leader of Antique, the shopkeeper Yoshimura Kuzen, had long pondered how ghouls might survive peacefully, coexistence with humans? Even Yoshimura considered that impossible.

“I’ll return your words to you—don’t oversimplify this world,” Sikong Xu shook his head. With so many mysteries in this world, there must be a way to resolve the conflict between humans and ghouls.

At worst, he could wait until Dola Ye Fei awakened and call him to handle it. Yes, that nickname was fitting—Dola Ye Fei it would be from now on.

“How can I trust you?” Dong Xiang seemed somewhat moved. Deep down, she genuinely wished for peace between humans and ghouls.

In her original world, she had a few human friends, but because of her nature, she had to hide her identity from them.

“Whether you trust me is up to you. But if you ghouls choose to believe me, I can guarantee that you won’t be exterminated by humans.”

“You’re so sure humans won’t devour us?” Dong Xiang was displeased by Sikong Xu’s arrogant tone.

“A single antique coffee shop isn’t much of a threat,” Sikong Xu waved his hand with a mischievous grin.

Since it had come to this, the two exchanged glances before Dong Xiang stepped forward. “That may be, but we still need to see your sincerity.”

“Sincerity?” Sikong Xu smiled again. “How about tomorrow I come alone to Antique and talk with your shopkeeper?”

“You know the shopkeeper?” Dong Xiang murmured in confusion, then relaxed. Since he was familiar with ghouls, it wasn’t impossible for him to know Yoshimura Kuzen.

“How’s that? Sufficient sincerity?” Sikong Xu smiled once more.

“Hmph. Aren’t you afraid we’ll set an ambush on our own turf?” Dong Xiang said proudly. His tone was infuriating—so dismissive of ghouls? Hmph!

“That’s what makes it sincere,” he replied.

Dong Xiang turned away, tacitly accepting the arrangement. Since their intentions aligned, she didn’t need to consult the shopkeeper in advance. She could simply agree and report back later.

“Besides...” Sikong Xu appraised Dong Xiang once more. In real life, she was livelier and even cuter than her animated counterpart.

“I’m quite willing to trust a beautiful girl like you.”

“Smooth talker,” Dong Xiang’s cheeks flushed slightly, though Sikong Xu couldn’t see beneath her mask.

“Hey, little brother, is your attention only on her?” Suddenly, Kanda Rize, who had quietly approached, whispered near Sikong Xu’s ear, breathing softly.

“You’re beautiful too, but your eagerness to eat me left a psychological scar,” Sikong Xu said, subtly stepping back a few paces.

“If I could taste your flesh, I’d do anything you want, even that kind of thing...” Kanda Rize’s eyes gleamed with a hint of seduction.

“Forget it, I’m not that desperate,” Sikong Xu twitched his mouth before turning to Dong Xiang. “Well then, you’d better leave quickly, or my teammates will be here soon.”

“And keep an eye on this one these days,” he said, pointing to Kanda Rize. “At least don’t let her cause trouble for the next month.”

“Hmph, little brother, you should trust your big sister a bit,” Kanda Rize coquettishly winked. Despite her brash nature, she understood priorities—after all, even she harbored a faint hope for peace.

“Oh, right!” Sikong Xu suddenly remembered an important question. “Besides the ghouls in your ‘Safe Zone,’ are there ghouls from other factions here?”

This was crucial. From what he knew, only the ghouls in the ‘Safe Zone,’ meaning those at Antique, were somewhat manageable. Other factions tended to be ruthless.

“Most ghouls who’ve crossed over have some connection to our ‘Safe Zone,’ and they’re generally more docile. But it seems some ghouls from other factions crossed over as well,” Dong Xiang said.

“I know a bit about that,” Kanda Rize said suddenly. “If I’m not mistaken, ‘Gecko’ came over too.”

“‘Gecko’!” Sikong Xu frowned at the name. Also known as ‘Jason,’ his real name was Da Yun Bamu—a male ghoul known for extreme brutality.

“Do you know his exact whereabouts?”

Kanda Rize shook her head.

After much thought, Sikong Xu shook his head. Things would work out naturally. He didn’t want to expend effort tracking down ‘Gecko’ now. Given their antagonistic history, ‘Gecko’ would eventually come seeking Kanda Rize anyway.

“Then let’s hope our plan succeeds,” Sikong Xu smiled.

“Hopefully your plan truly succeeds. By the way, your name...” Dong Xiang, still wearing her rabbit mask, stored away her quinque.

“Sikong Xu.”

“Sikong Xu, huh...”

“Oh, and when we meet tomorrow, don’t wear that mask. You’re cuter without it!”

“You scoundrel!” Dong Xiang’s angry voice echoed from afar.