The moment Subaru finished speaking, a sharp sword aura suddenly swept through the reception room. The air seemed to be cut by an invisible blade, and the one releasing this astonishing presence was the silent white-haired elder.
Wilhelm suddenly came back to his senses, his fingers lightly pressing his sword, and in an instant, all the sword aura receded like a tide. He let out a deep breath.
"I lost my composure," he bowed slightly. "To be so impatient at this age is truly shameful. If needed, I will excuse myself."
Crusch shook her head. "There's no need for that. I was just about to hear your insights." Her gaze returned to Subaru, just as she was about to say something.
With a 'click', the door to the reception room was suddenly pushed open. A cheerful female voice with a strong Kansai accent interjected.
"Oh my, oh my~ I really came at the perfect time, didn't I?" Anastasia walked in slowly. "How can I be left out of such an important matter as subjugating the White Whale?"
"Oh dear, Lady Crusch, please don't stare at me with such a terrifying look. I heard some incredible news and rushed over without stopping, but I didn't expect to hear such explosive news as soon as I arrived."
Crusch's gaze turned unfriendly. "Subaru," her voice was like ice, "is this what you call sincerity? While meeting with me, you also invited the leader of another faction? Are you perhaps trying to play us off against each other, to see who offers a higher price?"
Subaru quickly waved her hands. "Absolutely not! I was just considering that Lady Anastasia, as the president of Hishin Trading, would have a deep personal stake in the White Whale's attacks on merchant caravans..." She carefully chose her words, "She should feel this pain acutely."
Carlisle took half a step forward, his expression unchanged.
The air solidified for several seconds, then Crusch slowly leaned back in her chair. "It had better be." She changed the subject. "In that case... Subaru... what exactly is the source of your so-called information? And how do you intend to prove its credibility?"
Anastasia also chimed in with a smile. "I'm very curious too~ After all, information about the White Whale is priceless..."
Subaru's Fingers trembled slightly. She clearly remembered that in the cycle before last, it was at this very stage that she failed. This time, she absolutely could not make the same mistake!
"Lady Crusch," she took a deep breath, her golden eyes looking directly at the other party, "you seem to possess a special ability to discern lies, correct? That's why you're pressing for the source of the information, rather than directly questioning its authenticity."
A hint of surprise flashed in Crusch's eyes. "That is true. However, no matter how precious the information, if the reliability of its source cannot be confirmed..." The unspoken meaning in her words was clear.
Subaru's throat bobbed. "Regarding the method of acquiring the information..." Her voice suddenly became firm, "This is a special ability of mine. But I regret that I cannot disclose the specific details."
Crusch's brows furrowed deeply. Just as she was about to speak, Subaru suddenly raised her voice. "However! I can offer an absolutely credible guarantee!"
"A guarantee?"
Subaru turned around. The always silent Carlisle took two steps forward, his footsteps exceptionally clear in the quiet reception room. Crusch's pupils contracted slightly. "Subaru, do you mean..."
"That's right!" Subaru's voice trembled slightly with excitement. "The Kingdom's Second Knight - Carlisle Eltheran himself will vouch for my information!" She braced her hands on the table. "Perhaps information from a mere subordinate is not enough to be trusted, but what if it's backed by the 'Perfect Knight's' guarantee?"
Carlisle bowed slightly. "As Subaru said, Lady Crusch."
Crusch turned and exchanged a glance with Felix, the cat-eared boy giving an almost imperceptible nod. When she faced Subaru again, her voice finally softened.
"I understand. Although it's regrettable not to know the specific source of the information... with the Kingdom's Second Knight's guarantee..."
Subaru's heart almost leaped out of her chest.
"I accept this wager."
She succeeded! Subaru silently cheered in relief. The key to breaking the deadlock had been by her side all along. Thinking back to her past self, acting so arbitrarily, she really had been arrogant... "Then," Crusch's voice pulled her back to reality, "regarding the specific information about the White Whale..."
Subaru forced herself to concentrate: "Before that, I want to confirm something." Her gaze swept over the two people behind Crusch. "Lady Crusch's forces for subjugating the White Whale should already be fully prepared, correct?"
"That is natural."
"Then..." Subaru suddenly posed a startling question, "If all your forces for subjugating the White Whale were to face Carlisle alone, what would be your chances of victory?"
Felix's cat tail suddenly bristled. "Hey, hey! Subaru, that's too cunning a question! If Carlisle-chin would join us, we wouldn't need to prepare so much..."
Crusch raised her hand to stop her subordinate's complaints and said frankly, "Although it's difficult to say..." Her gaze briefly met Carlisle's, "The chances of victory are zero."
Subaru turned to look at the knight beside her. It seemed Carlisle's reputation was even more valuable than she had imagined. Her cheeks flushed slightly with this realization; now he was with her... She quickly extinguished that inappropriate thought.
"In that case," Subaru's voice suddenly filled with power, "I can assert that Lady Crusch's current success rate in subjugating the White Whale is also zero."
"...She doesn't seem to be lying."
"My entire wager is," Subaru straightened her back, "detailed information on the White Whale's abilities, and..." She looked at Carlisle, who returned her gaze with a firm look, "the full assistance of the Kingdom's Second Knight!"
She declared, enunciating each word.
"I stake my life that as long as Carlisle joins the subjugation team, the success rate will be one hundred percent!"
...
Re@d @dv@nce ch@pters on p@t
guilt_free_daoist
Jo!n d!sc0rd I!nk in synops!s.
GIVE ME YOU POWER STONES.