While Leticia was indeed curious about the story behind the war, that didn't mean she would explore the hidden truth with Melanie.
Two people with the same goal aren't necessarily friends, just as two groups believing in the same deity might view each other as enemies.
"Let's be clear, I won't cooperate with you, but I won't stop you either." Leticia took a sip of her cold milk tea, stating her stance to Melanie.
"Why?" Melanie tilted her head. Since they had the same goal, why couldn't they be open with each other about this one matter?
"I don't trust you." Leticia stared calmly into Melanie's eyes. "Unlike you, I have a responsibility to the Demon Race."
"I also have a responsibility to humanity."
"But you don't have a responsibility to the Demon Race. The origin of that war could be anywhere, but it's certainly not with humanity." Leticia shook her head. Though she was reluctant to admit it, humanity was indeed the most innocent party in that war.
The battlefield was on human territory, and humans suffered the most casualties. All intelligence indicated that humans were the ones being attacked. When the first race initiated the war, humans didn't even know other worlds existed outside their own.
If Melanie wanted to find the truth of the war, she could only look for clues in other worlds. If she were to search among the Demon Race, Leticia wouldn't feel at ease letting this humanoid nuclear bomb wander freely.
"So, curiosity aside, it's better if you're fully prepared before investigating this matter." Leticia tried hard to suck the remaining coconut jelly from the bottom of her cup. In principle, she wasn't against Melanie investigating the truth.
"For example, you'll need to figure out how to convince me, the Demon King, to allow you, a great enemy of the Demon Race, to enter the Demon Realm to search for clues."
"Hmm, money?"
"We're talking serious business here. Money can't solve this kind of problem, you know." Leticia chuckled, indicating that she wasn't someone who was easily swayed by money, at least not when it came to matters concerning the Demon Race.
When it came to wealth, Leticia was not at all inferior to Melanie. After all, she was the Demon King; theoretically, everything in the Demon Race belonged to her.
And the Demon Race's prosperity was evident to all.
It was just that Leticia was currently on the run and couldn't access those funds.
"You don't need to give me an answer now. Anyway, I don't plan on returning to the Demon Race. If you can convince Kira to let you in, I won't object either."
Getting Kira to agree to Melanie's request would be much harder than getting Leticia to relent.
Among the high-ranking members of the Demon Race, Leticia's attitude towards the Human Race was actually the most benevolent. The other noble demons truly regarded humans no differently than wild beasts.
"I'll give it some serious thought." Melanie looked at the half-finished milk in her hand and nodded thoughtfully.
Leticia looked up at the clock in the store; it was already noon.
"After lunch, it'll be almost time to meet the Commander," she muttered to herself, then shifted her gaze to Melanie. "What do you want to eat?"
"Hmm, anything tasty will do." Melanie indicated that she wasn't picky; she didn't mind anything edible.
In a way, Melanie truly was a remarkably low-maintenance girl.
"Like a pig." However, Leticia clearly wouldn't say anything nice about Melanie. "Let's go, there are plenty of restaurants nearby..."
Leticia was halfway through her sentence when a black-haired girl suddenly appeared in her peripheral vision, making her swallow the rest of her words.
"Holy crap!" Leticia immediately hid behind a nearby billboard, whispering to Melanie, "Cover me, quick!"
"Huh?" Melanie looked around and quickly spotted the culprit behind Leticia's current predicament.
Kira was standing at the counter, smiling and chatting with the cashier while resting her chin in her hand.
"That's my sister, she absolutely cannot see me here." Leticia thought Melanie didn't know who the girl was. "Did she come early?"
It was normal for Kira to be here, after all, the transaction was tonight, and Leticia had specifically requested Kira to handle it.
Even if Kira was elsewhere before, she should indeed be arriving in Central City by now.
Scouting the location, having subordinates check for ambushes at the transaction site, was all normal.
"I think you could use a Disguise Spell," Melanie suggested. She had already seen Kira's gaze turn towards them, and it was highly likely Kira would come over soon.
"No way, I don't change my name or hide my identity. Hiding one's head and showing one's tail is the act of a petty person." Leticia declared that she would never do something so undignified.
She was now frantically praying that Kira would buy her milk tea and leave quickly, but Kira's choice greatly exceeded her expectations.
Kira actually walked over!
And she walked straight towards Melanie.
"Sister Melanie, long time no see." Holding a warm cup of milk tea, Kira smiled and greeted Melanie.
She had already guessed last time that Melanie was the one who took the book, and for the current transaction, Melanie should also be one of the informed parties.
Communicating with Melanie before the transaction began would also give her a better understanding.
Moreover, someone else should have been sitting here just now.
Looking at the empty cup on the table, Kira thought to herself.
Who would be with Melanie today?
Was it that short, white-clad person?
They were here for the preliminary preparations for the transaction, weren't they?
As if unintentionally glancing at the billboard behind her, Kira let out a giggle: "Sister Melanie seemed to have a guest just now?"
Melanie nodded calmly, "Yes, but she already left."
Left, but not entirely.
Leticia stood like a statue behind the billboard, not daring to breathe. She no longer cared why Kira was so familiar with Melanie; she just wanted Kira to leave quickly.
But Kira had no intention of leaving. On the contrary, she adjusted her sitting posture, looking as if she was settling in for a long chat with Melanie.
"Sister Melanie, I know you took the book. Now I want to know, is the transaction also between you and that lady in white and me?"
"Uh, I can't answer that question." Melanie didn't know how to respond. She was just a fuse for this matter; the specifics still had to be decided by Leticia.
"Oh, so it seems it is Sister Melanie." Kira playfully stuck out her pink tongue. "So, what exactly do you want to know? I can tell you directly here."