"Masters, please stop arguing!"
Nini suddenly spoke up, "I know you both brought out so many good things because you want to take me as your disciple and show who cares about me more! Nini is very grateful for both masters' kindness!"
When Nostradamus saw how sensible and well-spoken Nini was, he immediately became delighted and asked, "That's wonderful then. Are you willing to become my disciple?"
"Why should she become your disciple, Nostradamus? Your stuff may be more numerous, but mine is better!", Genie Sylas pushed Nostradamus, but couldn't move him, so he put his hands on his waist and continued, "Besides, the only decent Starry Sky Staff you had was already given to your eldest disciple. What are you using now to compete with me for Nini."
"Who's the more capable master isn't for you to decide. Nini will choose for herself!", Nostradamus shot back.
Nini immediately said from the side in a pitiful tone, "Masters, can you please stop arguing because of me? I'm just an ordinary mage. I'm already very happy that both masters think highly of me, but I hope you won't fight over me anymore. Nini will feel bad! Wuwu~"
"Alright! Alright!"
Nostradamus immediately nodded again and again.
Genie Sylas also put on a gentle expression and said, "Nini is too sensible. Fine, we won't argue! It's all this old ghost's fault!"
Even though Genie Sylas said he wouldn't argue anymore, he still took the chance to insult Nostradamus once.
Because he knew Nostradamus couldn't argue back.
Sure enough… after hearing Genie Sylas's words, Nostradamus became so angry that he looked like he was blowing his beard and glaring, if he actually had a beard.
"First Master, Second Master, you're going to scare Nini like this!"
Ethan immediately followed the plan he had discussed with Nini and stepped out to play peacemaker, "She's just a young girl. If she chooses one of you, wouldn't that offend the other?"
"How is she supposed to choose?"
"I think…"
"If you really care about Nini, then you should compete fairly and give the her the space to choose. Don't place any outside pressure on her."
"Otherwise, this isn't letting Nini choose fairly. It's interfering with her choice."
"This…"
After hearing that, both Nostradamus and Genie Sylas felt it made some sense.
Especially Genie Sylas, who had a bad temper but didn't think much. He quickly asked, "Then tell us, what counts as true fairness? What counts as giving the person involved enough space and freedom to choose?"
"Very simple!", Ethan said with a smile, "You each put the things you want to give Nini into a backpack, then let Nini look through them herself and choose for herself."
"If you truly care about Nini and sincerely want to give her the best things."
"Then Nini will naturally be able to feel your sincerity."
"As for who she chooses, that'll be Nini's own decision."
"That's a good idea!"
Nostradamus nodded repeatedly because he was full of confidence that Nini would definitely choose him.
But Genie Sylas frowned and said, "It's worth considering. After all, I'm willing to spend money on my disciple, unlike you. You can't even bear to give your disciple good things, and you even call it training him! If your disciple wasn't lucky, he probably would've been trained to death on the road last time."
Nostradamus flew into a rage, "Don't slander me!"
"Whether I'm slandering you or not, you know it yourself."
Seeing the two of them about to start fighting again...
"First Master, are you planning to give up?", Ethan deliberately added from the side, "Why do I feel like your stuff really isn't as good as Second Master's?"
"Shut your mouth! How am I not as good as your Second Master? I just haven't taken out my treasures yet."
"What treasures?", Ethan immediately asked.
"I'm not telling you. Anyway, after Nini sees them, she'll definitely choose me as her master!", Nostradamus immediately said smugly, "I can't let Sylas overhear it. That copycat would definitely imitate me again!"
"Oh…"
Ethan gave an "oh," but his face was full of doubt.
Nostradamus immediately retorted, "What's with that look? You don't believe your master?"
"Hahahaha…"
Genie Sylas immediately burst out laughing from the side, "See that! It's not just me now. Even your disciple doesn't believe a cheapskate like you can bring out anything good. I think you should give up early. Otherwise, when you lose later, don't stand there crying."
"You're the one who'll lose. I definitely won't lose!", Nostradamus declared confidently.
"Both masters are determined to win?", Ethan deliberately said from the side in a sinister tone, "I don't think so! I bet someone here is already thinking about backing out, right?"
"That's definitely Nostradamus!"
"That's definitely Sylas!!"
The two pointed at each other at the same time.
When Ethan saw that the setup for his scam was almost complete, he immediately said, "Since both masters are this confident! To prevent cheating, I suggest that no matter what cards you play, you can't take them back afterward!"
"What do you mean?"
"What cards?"
The two looked at Ethan in confusion.
"To stop either master from backing down at the last moment because you think you might lose, then casually throwing out some random items to brush Nini off," Ethan raised his brows and said, "So you must make up your minds to go all in. Otherwise, if you can just take things back after losing, what's the point? If you're going to bet, bet big!"
"Take out all your good stuff for me—for Nini, then let Nini choose which master she wants to follow."
"No matter who Nini chooses in the end, the loser can't take their things back."
"If either master lacks confidence in winning, you can quit right now."
"That way, Nini naturally won't have to feel troubled anymore."
"This…"
For some reason, Nostradamus felt this suggestion was a little strange.
But at that moment, Ethan's passive skill, Fool You Into Limping, had already activated without them noticing. So somehow, Nostradamus suddenly felt that Ethan's words made a lot of sense.
Genie Sylas, meanwhile, was full of confidence and had no suspicion at all. He agreed immediately and cleanly, "Alright!"
"Then I…"
After seeing that Genie Sylas had agreed too, Nostradamus also opened his mouth, preparing to agree.
But when the words reached his lips, he kept feeling something strange deep inside. His sixth sense seemed to constantly remind him…
'Something's wrong! Something's very wrong!'
'You absolutely must not fall for a villain's trick!'