Within the barriers, Joe, possessed by "Mikhail," exhibited a state of "blooming" — as if his entire being had blossomed, only instead of petals, there were skin, muscles, and bones.
It was that swaying spine.
The connected skull kept emitting either sharp or high-pitched female voices —
"This is your responsibility,"
"If it hadn't been for you, I wouldn't have been ambushed,"
"According to the contract, you need to help me,"
Without a doubt, this lady's conversation with the Old Lion was not a pleasant one.
Each statement was followed by a perfunctory response.
Such evasiveness made this lady increasingly irritable, and eventually, she resorted to coarse curses.
But this did not make the Old Lion change his mind.
As for the so-called contract?
It had naturally ended.
"You will not die a good death,"
"I curse you and your family,"
Mikhail vented frantically, but the Old Lion didn't even bother with pretense anymore and simply ended the communication.
This action infuriated Mikhail terribly.
The lady's flower-like body began to sway wildly.
In a crisp sound, the skull that belonged to Joe was flung away.
However, before the skull could hit the ground, it flew back, reattached by the lady onto the spine.
This was Mikhail's breathing.
Or so it could be called.
The rapid breathing indicated that the "Lady of Sorrow" was calming down.
At least, her head would no longer fly off.
She now understood that the moment her collaborator had pierced the Marquess of Seberlin's chest with a sword, she had been rendered valueless.
She had been completely drained.
But she was not unprepared.
The "Lady of Sorrow," not her first collaboration with humans, surely wasn't without her precautions.
"You think I have only one collaborator?"
With these words, the "Lady of Sorrow" accessed a deeply hidden Messenger Stone —
The "Lady of Sorrow" lowered her stance as much as possible while exchanging pleasantries with the other party.
Nonetheless, the other party's tone was still harsh.
Are you here to mock my failure?
If so, I understand,"
Gleisa Hamlet's voice grew progressively colder.
I'm here to discuss a collaboration!
Your failure was accidental, but my defeat was due to that despised Southern Lost Spirit Medium's scheming, so I believe we share a common enemy,"
The "Lady of Sorrow" offered the corresponding respect.
It was quite unusual for her to show respect. Knowing the "Lady of Sorrow," even Transcendents, mere humans in her eyes, were like weeds.
Even with a collaborator of high status and great power?
They were but robust ants.
Gleisa Hamlet, having dealt with her before, obviously knew this.
Thus, the Old Lion's eldest son understood that the "Lady of Sorrow" was in big trouble and it was connected to the Southern Lost Spirit Medium.
"It seems like it could be a worthwhile deal!"
The Old Lion's eldest son was quite enticed by the power the "Lady of Sorrow" commanded.
And the Southern Lost Spirit Medium?
Just the thought of Arthur made the Old Lion's eldest son clench his teeth fiercely.
Instantly, the Old Lion's eldest son had no more hesitations.
The Old Lion's eldest son asked directly.
"You will wait until you get what you desire—you covet my power, and I will give you a seed of my power, the kind without side effects."
This will enable you to successfully 'Ascend Step'...
It will make your subsequent 'Ascend Steps' more seamless."
The 'Lady of Sorrow' adjusted her statement.
Though it was a slight adjustment, the meaning of her words had become very different at that moment.
One that was extremely close for Gleisa.
One that was absolutely essential for Gleisa.
However, the eldest son of the Old Lion did not show impatience, but on the contrary, he scoffed—
You think I'm that ignorant?"
Gleisa did not conceal his covetousness for the 'Lady of Sorrow's' power, but that did not mean he was a fool; he was all too familiar with these people's tricks.
If you dare accept it, just wait to become a puppet!
"This is my greatest sincerity!"
The 'Lady of Sorrow' emphasized.
"Since it is your greatest sincerity, then, the location of the Temple within the Shadows can also be told to me, right?"
Gleisa stopped his scoffing, his voice becoming serious.
Immediately, the 'Lady of Sorrow' fell into silence.
Gleisa did not hurry her, but patiently waited.
The eldest son of the Old Lion had always prided himself on being a patient hunter.
This time was no exception.
Time passed by, second by second.
About ten seconds later, the 'Lady of Sorrow' spoke again—
"I also do not know the location of the Temple in the Shadows.
I accidentally arrived there once.
But, I cannot go back there again.
What I told you is the truth.
If you do not believe me, let's end our deal."
The 'Lady of Sorrow' said so.
This time, it was Gleisa's turn to fall silent.
About ten seconds later, the Old Lion's eldest son spoke again.
"I want to know about your specific experience in the Shadows."
The 'Lady of Sorrow' readily agreed.
It wasn't that this experience wasn't valuable, but because she had traded this experience several times before, it had long lost its initial worth.
Of course, most importantly, she had concealed the biggest secret in Her heart.
At that moment, she could even feel Her pleasure.
She and He had originally been one.
This sensing could not be wrong.
She and He were also diverging from each other.
This sensing was even more undoubted.
She keenly noticed something was amiss, but then, she stopped caring.
She and the eldest son of the Old Lion negotiated everything.
About the Southern Lost Spirit Medium.
This was the crux of the matter.
Only by targeting the Southern Lost Spirit Medium could she retrieve her own body, become whole again, and better become Him.
The 'Lady of Sorrow' paused again.
But immediately, she returned to normal.
She and the eldest son of the Old Lion had reached a cooperation and even signed a rather favorable contract. With this contract in place, all she needed to do was wait!
Joe, having regained his original appearance, took a deep breath and prepared to sit back on the sofa.
And just at that moment, there was a knock at the door—
"Hello, I am Old John, the Chief Sailor of the 'Oriental'.
Commissioned by the esteemed Southern Lost Spirit Medium, I have some matters to inquire about with you."
The rhythmic knocking was followed by a voice of polite words.
But inside, Joe felt a chill.