Chapter 267: Pay after boarding (6K)

In the darkness of the Lightless Prison, the mysterious treehouse in the center of the fluorescent forest seemed to be shrouded by an invisible barrier at this moment.

The internal aura was completely closed, and the outside world couldn't detect any movement inside.

This was originally Herbert's method to prevent Eliza from discovering his whereabouts, but now it also hindered others from exploring here.

No one could know everything that happened inside this thing.

Life or death, the outside world knew nothing.

But fortunately, the situation in the secret space didn't move towards a crisis, and even had some things that made people float with imagination.

Human and dark elf overlapped in an ambiguous posture.

Herbert leaned back slightly, looking up at the dark elf sitting across him with a smile.

And Sifanni was leaning forward slightly, as if half-lying on him.

Although Sifanni's right wrist was held by Herbert, just looking at the posture of the two at this moment, it looked like Herbert was suppressed by Sifanni.

"..."

Sifanni raised her eyebrows upon hearing Herbert's straightforward words, didn't move her body, just stared at Herbert's eyes, and after a while slowly opened her mouth: "What do you mean by saying this?"

"No special meaning, just let us cast aside those hypocritical probes and speak our inner thoughts directly."

Herbert smiled and said easily:

"Sifanni, you are a smart person, and so am I, we don't need to waste time probing each other anymore."

"You can't fool me, and it's very hard for me to fool you, probing back and forth, instead it appears somewhat boring."

In the various conversations before, although the two people seemed very polite, they were actually secretly probing each other, looking for each other's bottom line, thinking about how to maximize their own interests.

This point is actually understandable, nothing to say.

After all, people's hearts are separated by skin, no one can guarantee 100% that the other party is the person they know well, must have a deep exchange to reach a conclusion.

The process of becoming friends is understanding each other, probing each other, finally finding a position suitable for each other that both can accept, and finally writing down each other's positioning.

If they are compatible enough, they can become friends.

If they are not suitable, they will return to being strangers.

If both people's various aspects are exceptionally matched, then it is possible to become best friends.

This process generally requires a certain amount of time.

"Instead of spending this time doing this kind of boring thing, I am more willing to chat with you more, listen to you talk about your past experiences, and then deeply understand your inner self... oh, don't worry, it's not wanting to rely on these to target you."

"It's just that, I feel we can become a little more intimate, I mean mentally."

That's right, Herbert now feels that the progress with Sifanni is... too slow.

Especially when he realizes that the dark elf's concept of time is very different from his own, he is even less willing to waste too much time on this.

For ordinary humans, it might take three months, half a year, a year, or even two or three years to completely accept the other party.

But as long-lived species, the elf's concept of time is vastly different from humans.

They are too slow to warm up.

The time spent together can be multiplied by ten, or even fifty!

Herbert can't spend a hundred and fifty years to build a good relationship with Sifanni.

Not to mention that dark elves are the most cautious existence in the entire elf clan.

As a cruel race that needs to guard against their own kin backstabbing them at all times, they are better at calculating and betraying each other, and very, very rarely make friends with others.

And since the conventional way of getting along isn't suitable, then another method needs to be adopted.

"In my opinion, why don't we just skip the 'getting to know each other' link."

Herbert's smile was very bright and friendly, laughing: "We can directly become best friends who trust each other."

This path is called—marry first, love later!

Cough, no.

Pay after boarding?

Hmm, doesn't seem quite right either.

First rich lead... cough, this is even more wrong.

Doesn't matter, in short, it's not "cooking raw rice into cooked rice first", that progress is jumping too much.

Although Sifanni imagined Herbert would make some demands and have some whimsical ideas, she didn't expect the progress to jump so much.

You know, the two people were still probing each other before, and when they were secretly engaging, Herbert even gave her a show of force and beat her up properly.

But now, Herbert, who clearly occupied the upper hand, suddenly changed his mind and said to her: "Come! Let's become best friends!"

You... are you okay?

This change was truly too big and too strange, making her somewhat unable to handle it.

"You said... best friends?"

Sifanni chewed on this word in her mouth, her expression somewhat lost, feeling somewhat absurd in her heart.

Not joking, Sifanni didn't even have a friend she could confide in in her life, and now a best friend suddenly popped up.

And the relationship between the two was declared unilaterally by this "best friend".

What exactly...

She lowered her body further, completely pressing on Herbert, and put her other hand on his chest.

Sifanni lowered her head, her brows furrowed, staring dead at Herbert, not knowing what was in his heart.

What exactly is the conspiracy?

"What do you mean?"

And Herbert, looking at her appearance, laughed even more happily, even raising his head slightly.

"Heh, you finally stopped using 'you' (polite form) to address me."

Herbert's abrupt words made Sifanni's expression freeze.

But before she could react, Herbert continued: "Of course, it's reasonable for you to be suspicious, becoming best friends doesn't mean you and I have truly become intimate friends without secrets."

"But I hope we can use the attitude of treating best friends to get along with each other."

"Right, do you know what is the most important point for the relationship of best friends?"

Sifanni frowned and hesitated, shaking her head slowly: "What is it?"

What is it?

Wealth? Strength? Or status?

"It's trust."

Herbert's gaze was calm, firm: "Only when both sides can trust each other unconditionally regardless of the harsh environment, and have no suspicion, can they become true best friends."

Because of trust, best friends can share the deepest secrets, can safely show their fragility, without worrying about being mocked or betrayed.

And trust is deep emotion gradually precipitated through long-term getting along and baptism of common experiences of wind and rain.

It is the cornerstone of the best friend relationship, an existence that absolutely cannot be shaken.

And now, Herbert's approach is to put the cart before the horse, taking the two becoming best friends as a premise, and then turning back to establish such trust.

"..."

After listening to Herbert's words, the dark elf's brows furrowed and relaxed, relaxed and furrowed, her expression changing repeatedly.

For his radical approach, Sifanni felt quite confused.

She really didn't understand why Herbert wanted to do this...

When Sifanni stared into Herbert's eyes, she subconsciously wanted to dodge.

Because she even felt fear.

And she hadn't had such emotion for many years.

The last time she felt fear was when she was not yet an adult and was watched by 【Nye Yu】 when she first attempted a taboo ritual.

At this moment, when Sifanni was stared at by Herbert's light-colored eyes, she actually felt a sense of daze similar to that time.

She felt as if she was being peeked at by a god!

!!!

The Third Commandment could block the god's sight.

This is also one of the reasons why Sifanni had always been unwilling to leave here, preferring to stay here for research.

As long as she stayed here, she could stay away from the malicious peeking of that fallen existence.

At this moment, under the long-lost fear, she even felt the breathing of this flesh avatar become somewhat rapid.

Thud thud!

Heart jumped violently.

And when Sifanni was about to actively regulate the physiological changes of this body, her body was gently pulled, fell forward, and lay directly on Herbert's chest.

That warm and solid chest actually made all the instinctive reactions of this body disappear at this moment.

The flesh avatar's heartbeat stopped jumping wildly, breathing also instantly became calm, and the whole soul felt a strange peace.

This, what is this?

In a daze, Sifanni heard Herbert's gentle whisper: "Is it very strange?"

"Does the kindness from others make you feel uneasy?"

Sifanni:?

Wait, that's not what I'm afraid of!!?

Don't get it wrong, what makes me feel fear is your gaze, not your kindness!

You...

Sifanni had many things to say, complaining like this in her heart, but feeling the warmth coming from Herbert, she was somewhat dazed for a while, and didn't open her mouth to refute.

Quieted down, didn't open her mouth to argue, just slowly feeling the emotions this youth was conveying to her.

"Feeling strange doesn't matter, even feeling afraid doesn't matter."

Herbert seemed not to know the changes in Sifanni's heart, pressed her into his arms, gently patted her back with his palm, and comforted softly:

"Don't be afraid, I will teach you."

"I will teach you how to become friends with others, not a disguise for betrayal, but true friends."

He felt Sifanni's body go from resistance to gradually adapting, his smile exceptionally happy, saying softly:

"And to do this step, let us start from being best friends!"

That's right, in order for you to have friends, let us start from being best friends.

"..."

And for this "unreasonable" absurd request, Sifanni didn't answer.

Didn't agree, didn't refuse, just kept silent.

But silence itself, in many cases, actually indicated an attitude.

Neither of them spoke, and just kept the posture and waited quietly for a while.

What is Sifanni thinking?

Fear? Suspicion? Hesitation? Sneer?

Or say, thinking nothing?

Herbert looked calmly at the ceiling of the treehouse, guessing Sifanni's inner self, shaking his head slightly imperceptibly.

Regardless, he had already succeeded in this step.

After a while, Sifanni broke the silence first.

Although she still somewhat greedily wanted this warmth, she still resolutely pushed Herbert's chest with her palm and propped up her body, letting herself stay away from this strange emotion.

But she didn't get off Herbert's body, but continued to keep the posture of sitting across before, looking down at Herbert, asking softly with complex expression.

"What exactly do you want me to do?"

Herbert originally wanted to be reserved, but upon hearing this question, he couldn't help but laugh.

Haha.

Don't know when, the positions of both sides reversed.

Not long ago, it was Herbert asking Sifanni this question.

And now, it became her issuing such a question.

"Hmm? You didn't understand? I want you to become my best friend..."

"Alright, I already know, you don't need to say anymore."

Sifanni interrupted Herbert's "getting the benefit and still acting innocent" action, seriously: "I mean what do you want me to do after I become 'best friend'?"

Her expression was somewhat disgusted, rolling her eyes at Herbert.

After such a toss by Herbert, she unconsciously took off some disguises and revealed some of her original personality.

"Of course it's wanting you to tell the truth."

Herbert stopped while he was ahead, telling his true purpose: "I want to know the truth."

"For example, why do you target your sister? What is worth you being so concerned about her?"

Stila Moore.

Now the patriarch of the dark elf Moore family, an evil existence with powerful strength.

But compared to this identity, what Herbert cared about more was the relationship between Sifanni and her, what kind of grievances and grudges were between the two.

Sifanni had already stayed in the Third Commandment for so long, it could be said that the dust had settled.

In Herbert's eyes, Sifanni was actually very cold.

She only cared about her own experiments, only cared about her own research, and didn't care about anything else outside.

Even if it was kin bloodline, in her eyes it was just a sample for experiment, a part of perfecting research.

However, it was such a cold-blooded and ruthless existence, why did she change her mind after coming into contact with those people?

Herbert didn't know the past between her and Stila, but judging from intuition and the current situation, there were two possibilities.

Either, Stila and Sifanni had irreconcilable hatred, fearing being trapped in prison also...

Or, Stila... might be an important part of Sifanni completing her research.

Herbert tended towards the latter, but couldn't completely ignore the possibility of the former, so he had to ask Sifanni clearly.

"Also, I need to know if I help you, what I can get from it? And the risks relative to it."

This point was also the focus of Herbert's attention.

Herbert actually didn't have any resistance to helping Sifanni.

After all, he wasn't familiar with Stina, plus there were some grudges between the two, making a move was no problem.

But, even brothers have to settle accounts clearly.

The world is bustling, all for profit; the world is jostling, all for profit.

Even if it's a best friend, whether to help or not depends on the pros and cons brought by this matter.

If it's just a small favor that doesn't matter, then help is help.

But if the price to pay is too high, then more thinking is needed.

"And, the last point... if I don't help you, what kind of danger will I face?"

Herbert asked many questions in succession, without beating around the bush, abandoning false cover-ups, and speaking out his needs directly.

Reasons for making a move and pros and cons.

"..."

Sifanni shouldn't have answered, she narrowed her eyes, asking somewhat amusedly: "So, you went around such a big circle, and in the end, what you hope to get is just hoping that what I tell you is not a lie and concealment?"

Herbert nodded seriously: "Well, it can be understood simply like this, but compared to these, what I hope to get more is your trust."

And listening to this serious answer, Sifanni suddenly felt like laughing.

"Heh, hehe..."

But it wasn't the kind of mocking sneer, but somewhat speechless, but more was somewhat emotional.

Really, talking about best friends.

You guy, isn't it just wanting me to tell the truth?

If you only ask for this point, why did you have to go around such a big circle... pfft hahaha.

Sifanni suddenly felt that her mood was quite good, shook her head lightly, and laughed: "As for your questions, I can indeed answer them truthfully as you wish."

"The relationship between me and Stila is somewhat complex."

Her gaze became somewhat distant, recalling the years of the distant past.

"Because of the blood relationship between us, we were identified as competitors from birth, and were always compared with each other from childhood."

"Those people hoped that we could compete with each other, and finally decide a winner, while the other became the other's slave."

"In their eyes, this is an extremely normal thing, no dark elf can resist such temptation, heh."

Thinking of this, Sifanni couldn't help but sneer.

What a ridiculous group of guys.

"It's just that they were disappointed, I'm not interested in that kind of thing."

"Herbert, you might be able to notice, I'm actually somewhat special."

Perhaps because of Herbert's performance today, Sifanni told about her specialness without any avoidance.

"I have no interest in everything that other dark elves crave, slaughter is fine, conspiracy is fine, none of it matters."

"I also don't want to obtain the right to be above others, I just want to complete the research I'm curious about."

"So, I defied their arrangements."

"But... Stila is different, she was identified as a perfect dark elf."

"Just like I said before, Stila is the collection of all dark elf characteristics you can imagine."

"Evil, greedy, crazy... a perfect dark elf."

Listening to Sifanni's description, Herbert's mind gradually conjured up a dark elf who looked similar to her but revealed another temperament.

According to Sifanni's description, this Miss Stina is like integrating all the emotions her sister lacked into her own body.

It's a very typical dark elf.

But just when Herbert thought Stina had the template of a born phoenix, Sifanni suddenly pouted, disdainfully: "My dear sister, everything is good, it's just that the strength talent isn't very good."

Herbert: Hmm?

What's the situation?

The direction of this story, how is it different from what I thought?

Sifanni saw the surprise in Herbert's eyes, sneering: "Stila's strength doesn't match her ambition."

"Before I advanced to legendary and went out to research alone, Stila planned a total of three thousand seven hundred and twenty-four assassination attempts on me."

"Including but not limited to sneaking up on me while I was sleeping, poisoning my food, poisoning my experimental equipment, attracting rampaging monster tides, uniting others to besiege me, etc."

"As for the results of those assassination attempts... heh, none succeeded."

Thinking about it, it's this kind of answer, Sifanni is currently sitting leisurely on Herbert's stomach.

But that's not right, is it?

After all that, it turns out you are the real phoenix!

And facing the "worship" gaze cast by Herbert, Sifanni just smiled faintly, casually: "I'm just not interested, and she has no talent."

Good!

This act of pretending is good!

Good, stole it.

Next time I'll pretend like this too!

Just when Herbert was about to applaud Sifanni, he suddenly noticed a point and let out a light "eh".

"Eh? Wait, that's not right... I remember, you said before that Stila's current strength is very powerful."

Those dark elves who came to send death before were also forced onto the road of death because of Stila's pressure.

And the terrifying existence described in their mouths was much more powerful than the Sifanni in front of her.

Overtook on a curve?

"Yes, she is very powerful now, unprecedentedly powerful."

"She successfully assassinated the Great Matriarch with legendary peak strength, and it was a forced kill in front of everyone."

"As for the reason why Stila was able to suddenly transform, changing from a guy with no talent to being so powerful in just a few hundred years... did you guess it?"

A few hundred years isn't short at all!

Although Herbert really wanted to complain that a few hundred years absolutely couldn't use the adjective "short", he still pondered for a moment, frowning:

"So, you mean... God?"

Sifanni nodded slightly, saying softly:

"Hmm, she must have received a divine gift, and if I am not mistaken, Stilla... has become a follower of 【Miss Xie Shen】."

Upon mentioning this god, Sifanni's expression became much more serious.

"Of course, I don't have any prejudice against that existence, although He is greedy, evil, crazy, taboo, I don't have any conflict with Him, I even cheated some benefits from Him back then."

But how exactly did she cheat, what exactly did she cheat, she didn't elaborate.

And even so, Herbert heard some special meaning from Sifanni's words.

Sifanni wasn't afraid of Stila, but in her heart, she was clearly fearing that god of Nye Yu.

"Stila has now become a god's follower, her will no longer belongs to herself."

"Even if I don't go to find her, she will definitely come to find me."

"She will devour the bloodline of all kin, and finally become the apostle of Nye Yu."

"In addition, Stila won't let you go either, she will definitely find you."

Sifanni looked at Herbert, saying slowly:

"Find you."

"Then, kill you."

"No, before that, she will probably hold a blasphemous ritual, defile your purity, and offer your defiled purity to Him."

【Voting place: Monthly ticket! Recommendation ticket!】

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 268 =====