Lin Ye did not know if he should be surprised or not, Irene rejected Silverash's condition with a shake of her head.
Lin Ye remembered how Irene refused Pramanix's offer before. Lin Ye admired Irene's stubbornness even though it was getting annoying.
The group was confused as it was clear that the Aiben family wanted Irene dead. Why was she still loyal to them?
Silverash stares at Irene, and then slowly says, "Are you suspecting that we are deceiving you? Do you think the two killers outside were not sent by the Aiben family?"
Irene shakes her head.
"Then why are you still defending him like this?" He asks, "Just because Galvin Aiben bought you from the slave trader?"
Irene is silent for a while then nods slowly.
"So what? You just passed from one slave owner to another slave owner." Silverash says coldly, "Do you think Galvin Aiben views you as a person? No. He sees you as a tool, maybe not even a slave."
Irene didn't respond. She just hugs her legs and lowers her head, not daring to look at anyone.
"Little cat, this is Kjerag. There are no slaves here," Silverash continues, "You have the right to be free, and you have a chance to change your own destiny. You only need to say one sentence... Oh, you can't speak. then I only need you to write a line. Just write down that line. You can live in the sun forever free."
Irene still has no response, and Silverash's patience has finally reached its limit.
He leaned on his cane to stand up. Then he looks at Irene condescendingly.
"I think you may not be involved in his affair, so to tell you the truth, I don't value your information. Because 80% of it is meaningless to me. The fate of Galvin Aiben has been determined already. Now, the meeting of the clans in 3 days will be the last, even if you help him hide his secret. Even if you are willing to give your life, I will cut off his head by myself." He responds coldly.
"And the reason why I am willing to give you this opportunity is purely because I appreciate your loyalty and the importance that Dr. Lin has placed on you. Otherwise, your life has no meaning to me," Silverash said this with great force.
"So, I will ask you one last time." He continues, "What is your choice?"
There is only silence in the tent. Lin Ye, Pramanix, and Cliffheart all look at Irene with rather nervous eyes, waiting for her decision and answer. They didn't want to see such a girl getting hurt to foolishly protect the scum who wanted to take her life.
Lin Ye tried communicating with her telepathically.
Just nod!
But it was no use, he did not conveniently get mind powers.
They could only wait for her response.
Irene clutches her sleeves tightly, and then firmly and slowly shakes her head to show her answer.
"It seems that this is your answer." Silverash's tone is very flat, and any emotion can't be heard in it, "How fortunate for me, I did not want to take you in, having an Aiben near me would be extremely foolish. I hope you don't die here, I'd rather not see your rotting body in a trashcan when I leave the house."
Irene remains still.
As Silverash was about to leave, he turned his head to Irene, "Now that I've met you, I can see why so many Felines are enslaved"
After that, Silverash walks out of the tent, and the remaining people exchange looks, but they don't know what to say.
Cliffheart breaks the silence. She scratched her head and said, "I think you should think about it. My brother's offer is still up.
"Alright, Encia." Pramanix interrupts her words, "We should go back."
"Ah. Are you going back?"
"Well, let her rest. Let's go. We don't have to reason with her," Pramanix pat's Cliffheart on the shoulder, then turns to look at Lin Ye, "Doctor Lin. What about you?"
Lin Ye nods, "I will stay here."
"Really?" Pramanix nods slightly, "In that case, step outside with me, I have something to tell you."
He didn't have time to answer, Pramanix took Cliffheart and left him alone. Lin Ye originally wanted to follow them, he is worried about Irene. So, he was about to go out, but he turns back and sits beside Irene.
Silence wraps around them.
"Don't think so much." Lin Ye says to Irene, "You are not a bad person. You can make your own choice"
Irene still did not respond, as if she was dead.
Lin Ye sighs.
"Life is hard, it's painful. But the darkest hours are right before the dawn. And the darkest night must pass, before the brightest day. You were given life because you were strong enough to live it, I'm not going to say it's going to be easy, I'm saying it's gonna be worth it."
Lin Ye actually didn't know what he was talking about, he was just talking nonsense, but didn't know if it was necessary. Then again, he had seen so much anime in his previous life, but he didn't know how to say those inspiring words when it was time to use them. It was really troublesome. However, he has to at least try. He places his hand on her head.
"If you feel like you are alone, stop. I'm here. If you are walking in hell alone, let me be there beside you."
Seeing that Irene never responded to him, he has nothing left to say.
He left the tent, what Lin Ye didn't notice was that when the tent was filled to the brim with people, Maple was loosened from his hip and was left behind.
After everyone left the tent, Irene slowly raises her head and sees Maple not far from her. After almost no hesitation, she reaches out and takes Maple into her hand. The sound of the sword unsheathing echoes throughout the tent.
A teardrop splashed unto the crimson blade, her reflection displayed her pathetic image.
{Rhodes Island's Psychologist}
Lin Ye walks out of the tent and finds both sisters waiting for him outside. As well as Sussurro and Lappland. He didn't see Silverash and Matterhorn.
"What's wrong?" Lin Ye walks towards Pramanix.
The Saintess turns to look at Lin Ye and asks, "Are you really going to help her?"
"Yeah why?"
"If she really has important information on her, Galvin will never let her live.", she says,
"Tonight's attack will not be the last"
"I know, but this is inside the city, after all. Even the Aiben family would not dare to act too irrationally," Lin Ye replied, "It's not like they'll send a whole assassin squad for me"
"Perhaps, but you're incredibly stubborn," Pramanix sighs.
"Are you not concerned for your own life? Why are even doing this?"
"It's not complicated Pramanix," Lin Ye smiles, "I just have a girl here who needs my help, so I chose to help her. It's that simple."
Pramanix looks at Lin Ye and goes silent for a while. Then says slowly, "This may be why God is interested in you. The first time I heard Ptilopsis talk about what you did at Rhodes Island, I was still unsure on your character, but now... I think I know"
"Hey, I said it all before. I actually didn't... Wait. What did that white chicken say about me?" Lin Ye is immediately alert. He got up, "Did she talk behind my back again?! Oh… When I get my hands on her..."
And there is his goofy self back.
Pramanix smiles, "Forget it."
The two look at each other and laugh. The atmosphere suddenly became much more relaxed than before.
"Since you have already decided, then I can't stand by," Pramanix takes out a bunch of dilapidated keys from her pocket, "As the eldest daughter of the Silverash family, I can't help you much. However, as the saintess of Karlan, I think I can still do something for you."
She gently gives him one of the keys.
Lin Ye receives the key from her and asks curiously, "What is this?"
"This key will open the temple of the gods. Even the Aiben family dare not do it there, especially after the lessons of the holy road."
"The temple? It's a sacred place in Kjerag, is it really okay for me to go?"
"If God didn't give you Maple, I wouldn't give you the key," Pramanix says lightly, "In a sense, you have obtained God's token, and you are also God's agent."
"You mean?"
"You are already the saint of Karlan," Pramanix says seriously to Lin Ye.
{Rhodes Island's Psychologist}
After sending away Pramanix and the others to the Silverash resident, Lin Ye returns to the tent.
Just when he opened the tent, he was shocked by the scene before him.
Irene holds Lin Ye's Maple in her hand. Its blade is stained with her blood.
... Did she try to kill herself?
Irene was still alive, she just sat in the corner, crying.
{Rhodes Island's Psychologist}
Draft by Jaq
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Edit by Jaq