Mystery: Gray Walker

Chapter 54 Three Requirements

"Now you know the truth. So, Mr. Morris, are you going to flip this tea table, expose me to everyone who has called me a 'liar,' and then gamble on whether Aunt Hannah will believe her niece, whom she looks up to, or you?"

Her voice was low, yet it carried a chilling provocation.

"Or are you deciding to temporarily put aside your anger at being fooled and continue our... less-than-romantic 'cooperative' relationship based on practical interests? After all, maybe... I can help with the 'minor problems' you've encountered at the port authority or elsewhere?"

Lillian casually tossed the choice back to Green.

Green fell into a brief silence.

Lillian's words were like a bucket of cold water, making him angry, but also quickly calming him down.

She's right.

The 'Silent Messenger' is already in their hands. Although the contract was fake, she did leave behind the 'Sigh of the Nightingale,' and the terms of the deal remained unchanged.

More importantly, the Winston family is clearly someone he can't afford to offend right now.

Turning against him? He'd gain nothing but venting his anger. Lady Hannah wouldn't side with him.

As for Lillian herself... she can't beat her, and she can't afford to gamble.

Anger solves nothing; it only makes the situation worse. Since she's already been dragged into this, and since the foundation for cooperation still exists—she even hinted at possible future assistance...

How to turn the tide and seize tangible benefits is what he should be considering now.

The brain works at lightning speed, weighing the pros and cons.

After a moment, Green's face gradually returned to calm. He picked up the now-cold teacup and took another sip, as if trying to calm himself down.

He looked at Lillian and said casually, "Miss Isabella," he deliberately used this form of address.

"You're right. Cooperation based on practical interests is more beneficial to both of us."

Lillian raised an eyebrow, seemingly surprised that he had recovered so quickly. A hint of appreciation flashed in her eyes, but more so, wariness.

She knew that anyone who easily swallowed their deception was either truly cowardly or plotting something.

However, she didn't care.

"but,"

Green changed the subject, lowering his voice, "Since the binding force of our 'contract' is questionable, in order to ensure that this less-than-romantic cooperation can proceed smoothly, and to make me... well, feel more secure and motivated to cooperate, I hope you can grant me a few small requests."

"Oh?" Lillian looked at him with interest, her fingers tracing the teacup. "Tell me about it."

Green looked him in the eyes and said, word by word:

"First, I need detailed information about the 'Witch' pathway, specifically how to avoid the risk of losing control, and... if possible, feasible methods and key information about subsequent advancement."

This is what Green needs most right now; he needs to ensure Emily doesn't get out of control, otherwise it will be a disaster for the Hayes family, and even for himself. And Lillian certainly knows a lot.

Lillian's eyes flickered. She neither immediately agreed nor refused, but looked at him with interest, signaling him to continue.

"Secondly, I need a way to contact you promptly. I can't be searching the streets for your black cat when I need you, only to find out it might be yours. Like you said, I might need your help."

"third,"

Green paused, then slowly said, "You must tell me how to use 'The Nightingale's Sigh.' It's not a deal if you use mine while I can only guard your treasure; that would be a babysitter..."

The three requirements directly address the core issues.

After hearing this, Lillian suddenly covered her mouth and chuckled, her gaze sweeping back and forth between Sura and Emily: "Let me guess, it was that little glutton who secretly drank the potion..."

Green's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly denied it: "No one stole it! I just... I'm just very interested in the potion-making process and want to learn more about it."

He tried to keep his voice calm, but Lillian's gaze made him feel uneasy.

Lillian's smile deepened, tinged with amusement. Her gaze lingered on Emily for a moment, then swept over Sura, who was focused on eating her snack, before finally returning to Green's face.

"Really?" She gently swirled her teacup, a sly look on her face. "But I suspect... it's her."

Her fingers, concealed by the tablecloth, subtly pointed towards Emily.

Green's heart skipped a beat.

How did she know?!

Emily has just been promoted to assassin, and although she's been a bit quiet today, she's generally been normal... Could it be that Lillian has some special way of sensing things? Or... has she already noticed Emily's unusual behavior?

"What nonsense are you talking about!" Green denied in a deep voice. "Emily's just not feeling well lately, she's a little tired. How could she..."

"No need to explain to me, Mr. Morris," Lillian interrupted him, her tone returning to its usual languid indifference.

"That's your stuff, and it's your trouble too. I'm just... reminding you out of kindness. In the early stages of the 'Witch' path, emotional and physical changes will be quite noticeable, especially towards those close to you... You might experience some attraction or repulsion that you yourself are not even aware of."

"You'd better keep a close eye on her and make sure she doesn't suddenly want to hide or become overly hostile towards anyone in crowded places."

Her words were like a needle, piercing through Green's feigned composure.

Lillian is right. If Emily doesn't want to be exposed, she must be guided and learn to control herself, which is why he wants the information about the "witch" pathway.

"Regarding your requests... firstly, the information about the 'Witch' pathway, I deliberately gave you the basics: precautions and signs of loss of control for Sequence 9 'Assassin,' as well as methods for advancement. But what comes next... requires more 'sincerity' and 'exchange,' not now."

"Secondly, my contact information..." She thought for a moment, then took out a small, antique-looking gold ring from her waist.

She placed the ring on the tablecloth and gently weighed it down with a teacup.

"Wear it, and when you need to contact me or encounter an emergency, rub this ring three times vigorously, and I will sense it. But remember, don't use it unless absolutely necessary, and I can't guarantee that I will always be able to respond."

Green looked at the ring, nodded, and quickly put it away.

"The third one..." Lillian drawled, a mischievous glint in her eyes, "I already told you how to open 'Nightingale'."

Did you tell yourself that?

Green paused, trying hard to recall.

When did Lillian tell her? On the day of the transaction? She only mentioned the name and demonstrated how to access the items, but never mentioned the specific activation spell or method.

"No, you never said that," Green said definitively.

"Yes." Lillian blinked.

"No," Green said, frowning.

Seeing his certainty, Lillian's sly smile froze for a moment. Then, as if suddenly remembering something, she let out a soft "ah," raised her hand to cover her mouth, and gave a slightly apologetic, extremely fake smile.

"Oh dear, my memory... I'm so sorry, Mr. Morris. There was so much going on that day, I think... I forgot to tell you."

Green: "..."

This woman definitely did it on purpose! The ancients were right: only women and petty people are difficult to deal with!

Lillian cleared her throat, leaned forward slightly, and said in a serious tone, "The mantra is... Open Sesame."

Green: "???"

He wondered if he'd misheard, or if Lillian was playing a trick on him again. Open Sesame? Wasn't that the famous fairy tale spell from his past life?

In this mysterious and extraordinary world, a bag that is clearly a sealed object is opened with the spell "Open Sesame".

"Are you...are you sure?" Green's voice trembled, filled with disbelief.

"Of course I'm sure." Lillian nodded matter-of-factly, a mischievous gleam in her eyes.

"That's my most precious possession, how could I possibly forget?"

She deliberately spoke the sentence softly and slowly, like an ambiguous hint, especially the words "intimate".

Intimate...

Green imagined some images... He felt his face getting hot, not knowing if it was from anger or something else.

He stared intently at Lillian, trying to find any trace of a joke on her face, but she appeared incredibly sincere, even a little aggrieved, as if to say, "How can you doubt even this?"

In the sunroom, Mrs. Hannah was smiling as she said to Sylvia, "Look at these two children, they're having a very pleasant conversation, whispering to each other the whole time."

Aunt Sylvia nodded with satisfaction.

Looking at the 'gentle lady' before him, and then considering her cunning, the danger posed by the members of the Garden of Prosperity, and this utterly absurd 'Open Sesame'...

I'm about to explode! I don't believe you for a second! This woman is wicked; is there a single word of truth in her mouth?!