"Are you threatening me?"
Herbert's smile faded.
Realizing that he couldn't compete with the other in terms of authority, Herbert's expression became extremely cold.
The meaning behind Luhier's actions was simple: I really can't help you, but I can refrain from making things difficult for you—if you agree to my conditions.
Faced with Herbert's coldness, Luhier remained calm and composed, gently shaking his head and softly saying, "I was merely presenting a possibility, not trying to..."
"Then it's a threat."
Herbert interrupted Luhier, turning away coldly and indifferently saying, "Sorry, I do not accept any threats."
Luhier: !!!
From the beginning of their conversation, both knew each other's thoughts clearly.
Herbert wanted more benefits, while Luhier hoped to give less.
This was a game of negotiation.
Upon realizing she didn't have enough advantages, Luhier played a card that could threaten Herbert.
Normally, Herbert should have presented a reason she couldn't refuse to counter it.
Thereafter, both parties would compromise a step, reaching a conclusion.
However, what Luhier didn't expect was... Herbert did not accept her challenge but directly chose to flip the table.
"I'm not playing with you anymore!"
Herbert made one thing clear with his distinct attitude—you have no choice.
Luhier had miscalculated something.
Herbert wasn't the kind of Prison Warden Luhier imagined.
He wasn't one to zealously complete his tasks, doing everything possible to educate these trapped alien race prisoners.
Herbert was not.
Regarding this threat, Herbert's thought was—you can let me in if you want; if not, I won't go to the next level anyway!
Herbert indeed gained more skills from other Monster Girls, but the urgency wasn't there.
Thinking of controlling him this way, it was indeed a miscalculation.
Just as Herbert was about to leave the Light Gate without hesitation, Luhier finally realized her misjudgment and called out to stop him:
"Please wait a moment."
Herbert immediately stopped his steps, holding the doorframe, frowning back, "Anything else you want to say?"
His attitude was quite bad, showing impatience and annoyance.
Herbert was still acting.
If he really wanted to go, Luhier wouldn't have had the chance to stop him!
Seeing his expression, Luhier didn't defend herself but chose to lower her head directly.
"Herbert, I didn't expect you to care so much about this matter."
The Fallen Angel slightly bowed to the young man, her posture humble, softly saying, "Please forgive my offense."
"I haven't communicated with the Divine Spirit's devotees for so long that I've forgotten the most basic manners."
"Please forgive me."
Herbert looked at her low posture, raising his eyebrows, shaking his head, "You're mistaken; this has nothing to do with me being a Divine Favorer."
"Does it mean that if I'm not a Divine Favorer, I should be threatened by you?"
He stepped out of the Light Gate, walking slowly to face the Angel, indifferently saying, "Luhier, your arrogance is just like the Divine Spirit you once served."
"You've never truly regarded beings lower than you as equals."
He spoke the brutal critique, mocking the hypocrisy of the Fallen Angel and the Divine Spirit.
"In the eyes of the Sun God, all things in the world are just labeled insects."
"Keep the good ones, eliminate and burn the bad ones."
"And in your eyes, I'm just a mortal, an ignorant child with unauthorized authority to be controlled by you."
Child?
Heh.
It sounds intimate, but she never looked at Herbert with respect.
"…"
The Fallen Angel remained silent, bowing her head without lifting it.
"No need to deny, or need not deny."
Herbert stared at her quiet demeanor, his smile growing more mocking, ridiculing, "Since you're so capable, find it yourself."
"Choosing to ask me for help just shows your lack of courage to face the outcome."
He said:
"You're afraid of the truth."
In this instant, all the sacred songs that had been echoing in the Sanctuary vanished.
The vast space was pin-drop silent.
The souls chanting seemed to awaken suddenly at this moment.
They looked in disbelief at the figure calmly speaking before the kneeling angel.
Does he not know what kind of monster he's facing?
Even these souls who died at Luhier's hands haven't forgotten the fear of falling to him even now.
That was the most ruthless executioner in the world!
The Divine Spirit's sharpest blade!
Herbert truly didn't know this.
He indeed didn't know much about Luhier, unaware of her glorious past deeds.
But so what?
Even if Herbert knew all this, he wouldn't change his attitude.
Because, in his eyes, the Fallen Angel before him wasn't considered a real power.
Even... haha, might not even be comparable to Eliza.
"You're afraid."
Herbert looked at the silent angel indifferently, lightly saying, "You really don't know the answer? No, you can guess."
"With your intelligence, how could you not speculate on the outcome?"
"It's just three possibilities."
Herbert raised three fingers, smiling:
"He forgot about you, He spared you, or He is still hunting you... these are the three outcomes."
"And which one do you want to hear? Or, what do you want me to tell you? Actually, there's only one."
Yes, only one.
"Because, whether He completely forgot you or deliberately spared you, both outcomes would unsettle you."
"It would make you, the traitor, feel your betrayal was meaningless."
He bent down two fingers, leaving only one, slightly shaking it with a mocking tone, laughing lowly:
"So, the answer you're seeking is just one—that He hates you."
"You want to hear that His church has been looking for you!"
"You want to hear they're endlessly pursuing you, hoping to eliminate you, the heretic who betrayed the faith."
"And now, you're fine, only because you're hiding here; they haven't succeeded... this is what brings you a bit of peace, allowing you to keep resenting without guilt."
"Isn't it?"
The young man mocked, ruthlessly tearing the disguise off the Fallen Angel.
You want to continue hating.
Finally, Herbert bestowed the silent angel with a disdainful yet accurate description.
"You, are just a..."
"Coward."