【Interstellar Contract Magician】Ruyuanke

Of course I understood. He wouldn't treat me like a "little devil" anymore.

I could sense a new interest in Nightingale's eyes at that moment. He no longer simply viewed me as a pawn on a chessboard; he was beginning to realize that I wasn't the "silly boy" he could easily manipulate. I could see in the slightly furrowed brow that the once dismissive composure was gone, replaced by a hint of seriousness and alertness.

"You're really funny." The smile on his lips remained, but there was an elusive meaning in his smile, as if it was an appreciation for me, but also a warning to himself. He seemed to be re-evaluating me, even re-examining every detail I showed in his mind.

I didn't respond, only curling my lips slightly, my eyes etched with a hint of cold defiance. This exchange, while seemingly simple on the surface, was actually quietly shifting the balance of power between us.

"You never play by the rules." Nightingale murmured to herself, her eyes wandering, as if she was pondering something, but didn't seem to want to ask too deeply.

He retracted the ball of glowing fur, looked up at me thoughtfully, and said, "However, since you have such 'means', shouldn't you also give me a more meaningful answer?"

There was no anger or threat in these words, only an almost calm calculation—he was not "scared" by me, but became more interested in me.

I knew Nightingale no longer viewed me as a mere target or "prey." Respect for me began to emerge in his eyes, even if it was tinged with deep wariness. He saw my bargaining chip in this transaction, but he also saw the risks.

I calmly sat back in my chair, adjusted my posture slightly, and looked at him with a casual expression: "What you want to know, I may tell you later, but for now, can you let me go for a moment? As you can see, the game has just begun."

Nightingale's gaze seemed to darken even further, as if he were still calculating my every move. He was silent for a moment, then finally revealed a barely perceptible smile. "Alright, you win. I'll let you catch your breath."

The newbie's grace period quickly ended, along with my aggression towards him. He walked up to me and, like when we first met, gave me a standard aristocratic greeting. "Hello, nice to meet you again. I'm Nightingale, a high-ranking mercenary and also a businessman."

He stood in front of me, his posture straight, his eyes stern, and a smile on his face that was a bit reserved and confident, as if everything was under his control.

At that moment, I seemed to see my former self, who also showed this attitude to others, pretending that I could easily control everything around me, exaggerating and bluffing.

But obviously, this confidence did not pose much threat to him.

"Hello," I replied calmly, though the wariness and curiosity within me remained undimmed, in fact, intensified. Nightingale's every movement, every word, quietly hinted at more than he appeared. He wasn't just a mercenary; his identity was far more complex than I'd imagined. Perhaps this was the fundamental reason for his increasing tolerance for me.

His voice was low and clear, with a hint of cryptic meaning: "I want to get to know you again because I found that you are completely different from what I imagined."

He didn't rush to continue, but paused for a moment, as if he was looking at me carefully, as if he wanted to see through every layer of my veil.

He looked at me with a confident scrutiny, as if no matter what emotion I expressed, he could find his own meaning in it.

I raised an eyebrow slightly, unfazed by his provocation or probing. "Don't you think your introduction was a bit too formal?" I said jokingly, trying to break the oppressive silence.

He remained calm, as if he had anticipated my response. "Formal? You can understand it as a certain degree of respect." He paused, his eyes penetrating. "Perhaps this is the most appropriate way for our transaction."

His words were profound, like a test, a reminder. I could sense he was implicitly expressing his understanding of me, perhaps even a challenge. In contrast to his words, I felt my attitude gradually becoming calmer and more alert.

"So," he suddenly took a few steps closer, standing a little closer, with a hint of teasing in his tone, "have we reached a new contract between us?"

I didn't rush to respond, only nodded gently. Nightingale's actions didn't seem to make me feel oppressed or uncomfortable. On the contrary, his ambiguous attitude made me even more alert.

"Contract? Are you sure there can be a contract between us?" I sneered with a hint of challenge.

"That's the point." Nightingale smiled, a glint in her eyes. "Although your ability is mysterious, I can always sense the potential it brings. So, give me a reason why we can't cooperate?"

I'd never considered the possibility of collaborating with him, much less imagined that my power could spark such interest in some people. Although I've always prided myself on my confidence, I didn't fully understand his true intentions. But I knew that if I didn't respond now, he would likely remain by my side like a ticking time bomb, quietly observing and waiting for me to provide more information.

"Do you have the patience?" I finally asked, meeting his gaze with a cold stare. My words were sharp, but the suspicion in my heart didn't diminish.

A smile played on Nightingale's lips, a calm smile that told me he had foreseen all this. He replied calmly, "Patience? Perhaps it's my interest in you."

He didn't give me any further explanation; it seemed like that was all the answer he wanted to give me. I knew that no matter how our relationship evolved, it would be a complex game of challenges and temptations, of sharp edges and tenderness.

"Okay," I finally took a deep breath, suppressed my doubts, and put on a faint smile. "But, Nightingale, if we work together, remember one thing you have to understand - I am not your tool."

Nightingale lowered his head and thought for a while, his eyes seemed lost in thought. Then he raised his head, his eyes gleaming with a new light, as if he had seen a brand new possibility.

"I know," he said. "It's precisely because you're not a tool that you deserve my consideration."