"Alright, it's time to get to the point." Rulu set down the hair dryer, grabbed C.C.'s shoulders with both hands, and turned her body around so she was facing him directly. He fixed her with a sharp gaze, his mind revolving around one particur matter.

  "Hmm? What are you trying to do?" Though Rulu was staring at her up close with piercing eyes, C.C. showed not the slightest trace of arm. She met his gaze with calm, unruffled eyes.

  "I want to know about you — everything about you, C.C.!" Rulu said firmly.

  "How bothersome." C.C. turned her face away, looking thoroughly reluctant. "I don't like talking about myself. I'd even say I hate it. I'd prefer you not ask me anything that concerns me."

  "No — I have to ask." Rulu turned her face back toward him and said with great seriousness, "I only want to know about your retionship with the Sanctuary, why you left, and why the Sanctuary's emperor is hunting you."

  "How stubborn." C.C. let out a soft sigh and turned the question around: "And what about you, Rulu? Why did you leave the Sanctuary and come here?"

  "I'm the one asking the questions — don't answer my question with a question!" Rulu said, his tone sharpening.

  C.C. gave a cold snort. "How cunning. You won't say a word about yourself, yet you want others to spill everything about themselves."

  "I have my reasons," Rulu argued. "If I don't understand your situation, it could put me and the people around me in danger."

  "So what?" C.C. said. "Don't forget — without the power I gave you, you would have already been dead days ago."

  "Are you going to tell me or not? I kill without blinking, you know — don't push me—" Rulu reached out both hands and wrapped them around C.C.'s throat, putting on an exceedingly fierce expression.

  "I've already died in front of you once," C.C. said, her face ice-cold and completely unmoved. "Do you really think that works on me?"

  "Ugh. Then how about this — if you tell me, I'll let you stay here, and I'll get you plenty of good food every day, all the snacks you can eat. What do you say?" Rulu released his hands from her throat and softened his voice. Intimidation had failed, so now he tried temptation.

  "That doesn't sound too bad, but I'm feeling a little sleepy right now. Let's save this for ter. Good night… Rulu." C.C. ignored him entirely. She let out a yawn, stood up, and flopped down onto the bed, stretching out across it.

  "You infuriating woman — think that means I can't do anything about you?" Rulu grew a little angry. He climbed onto the bed as well, pinned himself on top of C.C., pressing her down with both palms, and stared down at her from close range with a brooding look.

  "Answer my question, C.C. What is your retionship with the Sanctuary? Why are you so important that the emperor himself must find you?" The light in Rulu's eyes turned strange as he spoke in an eerie tone.

  C.C. stared up at his face, momentarily stunned — then she couldn't help but ugh. "You think making that bizarre expression will make me do what you say?"

  "What's going on — why isn't the Spiritual-power working?" Rulu thought to himself, baffled. He focused again and fixed his gaze on C.C.'s eyes. "C.C., I want you to tell me everything about the Sanctuary — everything you know!"

  C.C. let the smile fade from her face and looked back at him with sharp eyes. "Don't waste your energy," she said coldly. "Spiritual-power has no effect on me. You can't control me."

  "How can that be…" Rulu stared bnkly, feeling at a complete loss.

  "You understand now, don't you? So I suggest you give up." C.C. said this with total indifference.

  Rulu gritted his teeth. "No. Let me ask you one more question — this one you have to answer. Why did you seek me out? Why did you give me this strange Spiritual-power? Don't tell me you had no purpose in doing so."

  "Because you have the aptitude to use this kind of Spiritual-power." This time, C.C. finally consented to answer. Her expression turned grave as she spoke slowly:

  "Not just anyone can use this power. You were born with the potential for it. Even if you had never met me, as long as you kept training on your own, you would have eventually mastered it. All I did was forcibly awaken and draw it out — and greatly amplify it."

  "Then what is your purpose in giving me this power? You must have a reason."

  "You're right. I granted you this Spiritual-power that ordinary people don't possess. In return, you must do one thing for me — something that can only be accomplished using that very power."

  "One thing? What thing?"

  "I can't tell you yet. With your current abilities, you aren't capable of it. When the time is right, I'll tell you naturally."

  Rulu thought carefully, then said slowly: "So this is a transaction. You give me this formidable Spiritual-power, and in return I help you do one thing — something only I can do. As long as that task remains unfinished, you'll need me and won't betray me. That's right, isn't it?"

  "You've painted a rather unfttering picture of me," C.C. said, "but you're not wrong. And if you want to keep using that Spiritual-power, you'll need me regardless — because only I can repair the damage it does to your mind."

  "Mm. This transaction is reasonable. I do need this power — I need you to stay by my side, C.C." Rulu nodded, a smile spreading across his face as things became clearer to him.

  "So we have a deal? If there's nothing else, can I sleep now? And Rulu — can you get off me? Your face is practically touching mine. You're not thinking of taking advantage of the moment to kiss me, are you?"

  "Hmph, who'd want to kiss you? Don't ftter yourself…" A faint flush crossed Rulu's face. He scrambled up in some disarray, climbed off C.C., got off the bed, and headed toward the door.