"Cooperation?"
Stella Sterling let out a low laugh, her gaze as sharp as a torch as she sized him up. "What do you have to offer?"
"You keep talking about me, but if we're going to cooperate, what do *you* bring to the table?"
River Larkin was taken aback for a moment, then burst out laughing. He pointed a finger at his own head, his expression confident. "I have a sharp mind and a keen sense for danger!"
Seeing that Stella Sterling was unmoved, he added with a smile, "You might not think much of these abilities under normal circumstances, but they reveal their true worth in dangerous situations. They're lifesavers!"
"Is that so? The problem is, you haven't demonstrated any of these abilities yet. So why should I trust you?"
River Larkin thought for a moment. "I admit, there's no way to prove it right now. But over the past few days, I'm sure you've seen that I'm more aware of danger than others, haven't you?"
