{Chapter Twenty-Five} Negotiation
In the sewers.
Along one of the tunnels where silence ruled, broken only by the sound of water flowing along the side and the faint noises of rats and insects.
Leona's confident expression and her direct question made everyone fall silent.
The red-haired girl kept staring at Leona, ignoring everyone else as she thought:
This girl… I don't know why, but even though she looks weak, her presence overshadows even the boy holding the sword. How should I respond?
The red-haired girl knew that her answer would determine the nature of her group's relationship with this strange group blocking the path.
"We are not enemies. We only want to escape from that market and reach the surface. What about you?"
The pink-haired girl interrupted the red-haired girl's thoughts, shattering all her careful planning.
The red-haired girl turned toward the pink-haired one, speaking sharply but almost in a whisper.
"What are you doing? We don't know them. They could be our enemies."
The pink-haired girl smiled.
"No, they are not our enemies."
The red-haired girl clenched her fist, pointing toward Edward and Nayvi.
"How do you know they aren't our enemies when they're ready to fight us?"
The pink-haired girl looked at Edward and Nayvi for a moment before replying,
"But they didn't attack us. And that girl—" she pointed at Leona "—don't you feel the aura of leadership coming from her, the same kind that comes from you and Sera? She wants to protect her group's safety just like we do. Maybe we could be allies."
The black-haired girl stepped forward, looking at Leona with a smile.
"Yes, Lillian is right. She resembles me."
The black-haired girl took two more steps forward, raising both hands in a gesture of surrender. Then she raised her voice so Leona could hear her.
"Alright. We told you our goal. We don't want to fight. So are you allies or enemies?"
Leona kept eye contact with the girl while thinking:
You're throwing my question back at me? Fine. I'll play your game.
"No. We are not your enemies either. But that depends on your behavior. Trust isn't given immediately, right?"
The black-haired girl's smile widened.
"Yes, that's right. We don't fully trust you either. But perhaps our interests intersect. May I know your goal?"
Edward returned his sword to his belt and opened his mouth to speak.
"We are—"
But Leona interrupted him with a sharp look.
"Edward, who allowed you to speak?"
Leona's tone carried no hesitation, only direct authority.
Edward felt a chill run down his spine. His sister posed no threat to him, yet that look alone made him doubt that she was truly harmless.
He opened his mouth, but no words came out. Slowly he closed it again, teeth pressing together.
Nayvi noticed Leona's gaze but showed no reaction. She merely cast Leona a sideways glance before looking back at the girls ahead of them, smiling faintly as she thought:
It seems my sister can become quite formidable when she wants to.
Leona's gentle smile returned, as if nothing had happened, and she continued speaking.
"Unfortunately, our interests are not shared. But out of curiosity, could you tell me why you want to return to the surface?"
The black-haired girl raised an eyebrow while observing the blonde girl before her, trying to understand exactly what kind of person she was facing.
While she tried to process the question, the red-haired girl stepped forward.
"You didn't tell us your motives. In fact, you haven't told us anything. Yet you made us reveal quite a lot to you."
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"That isn't fair… is it?"
The black-haired girl quickly grasped the situation and added,
"Yes, Caroline is right. You only told us that our interests aren't shared while keeping your own goal vague, yet we answered your question. Or… perhaps you simply don't want an alliance with us?"
Leona maintained her smile.
"But I told you a moment ago that trust isn't given. It is earned."
Caroline smiled mockingly.
"Heh. And what do you want in order to trust us? We don't even need anything from you. All we need is for you to move out of our way."
Suddenly the black-haired girl raised a hand toward Caroline.
"I have a better idea."
She paused briefly.
"How about we exchange one piece of information, honestly. Each side asks one question, and the other side answers it. That's a good way to build trust between us. What do you think?"
Leona sighed inwardly.
"I accept. And I will ask the first question. The pink-haired girl said you want to escape from a market. Could you tell us what kind of market it is?"
Lillian immediately jumped forward, waving her finger excitedly in the air as a bright smile spread across her face.
"It's a black market! There are slaves, rare items, illegal goods, and many other things! It's impossible that you don't know what exists in a black market. At the very least you must have heard about it, right?"
Caroline and the black-haired girl shot Lillian sharp looks.
The pink-haired girl stepped back.
"Sorry… slip of the tongue."
The black-haired girl sighed.
"Well, Lillian answered your question. May I ask mine now?"
Leona looked at the girls while thinking for a moment, realizing that what had been written in Crick's notebook was true.
"Yes," Leona replied after a brief pause.
The black-haired girl looked toward Caroline and whispered,
"So… what should we ask?"
Caroline stared back at her.
"Just ask something yourself."
"But everyone knows you're smarter than I am. I trust you," the black-haired girl replied.
A warm sensation spread across Caroline's shoulder.
A hand was resting on it.
When she turned, she saw Lillian's hand there. Lillian smiled and nodded to her.
"I trust Sera, and Sera trusts you. So… I trust you too."
Then the other two girls—the dark-skinned girl and the one with chestnut hair—nodded as well.
Caroline took a deep breath and thought for a moment.
After several seconds she finally spoke.
"Where is the path to the surface?"
Leona stared at Caroline for a moment.
Then she said calmly,
"I will not tell you."
All the girls' eyes widened as they stared at Leona.
"What?! You liar! Who do you think you are, you filthy trash?!"
Caroline shouted as she rushed toward Leona, but Sera and Lillian grabbed her tightly.
"Let me go! I will ruin that stupid girl's face!"
Edward stepped forward, placing himself between the girls and Leona. His expression had become completely empty as his hand rested on the hilt of his sword.
"Ruin… my sister's face? Try it… and I will tear you apart."
Edward and Caroline exchanged sharp, burning stares.
"My God, we don't want to fight you! Calm down, Caroline! We don't need to fight!" Lillian pleaded.
But—
Leona's expression did not change.
She spoke as if discussing the weather.
"The colony wall has been breached."
Everyone froze.
Silence filled the tunnel.
Even Caroline stopped struggling against her friends. Her eyes widened, and one single thought filled her mind.
Their only hope… had been destroyed?