The cell was still thick with the violent mana fluctuations from before their cease-fire, which were gradually settling into a relative calm, leaving only the faint light from the domed ceiling vent flickering in the space.
The Poet of Great Love slowly walked toward Sinora, while Sinora watched her intently, complex emotions flickering in her eyes.
Although Sinora was full of doubt, she temporarily set aside her hostility to exchange a few words.
"What kind of upheaval has occurred in the Protos Empire that allows you to come find me here?"
Sinora pulled back her weapon for now, resuming her initial posture, seemingly open to a brief conversation.
Antanas was covered in magic that disguised her as a human, and this black-haired, green-eyed fellow likely had magic disguising her as a human as well.
"Miss Sinora, we would like to reach a fair demonic transaction contract with you. Would you care to state what demands or wishes you have?"
The Poet of Great Love stated her purpose plainly.
Antanas raised a hand to stop the Poet of Great Love from approaching any closer to Sinora, constantly protecting her safety like a mother bird shielding her fledgling.
Even though Sinora had halted her attacks, Antanas still regarded her as a formidable enemy.
"...My decision not to kill you is based on the condition that you do not offend me."
Sinora looked at the Poet of Great Love's face. The corner of her mouth lifted slightly, though it bore no genuine warmth.
At the same time, she was hinting at the consequences of pressing further.
Sinora had been observing Antanas's attitude toward the Poet of Great Love all along, and a suspicion had already formed in her mind.
If a human dared to deliberately disguise themselves as Talia, Antanas would probably be the first to slaughter them.
That Antanas could tolerate, condone, and even protect this girl so tenderly could only mean that her true appearance had deep ties to Talia—in all likelihood, she was Talia's biological daughter.
"I merely wish to negotiate a deal you deem fair. Of course, as part of the price, you would need to form a contract with me to leave Herrom Prison."
The Poet of Great Love finished what she had to say.
Naturally, this contract referred to Herrom Prison's slave contract.
Even if they could sign one much closer to equal standing, the mere concept was already an insult to a great demon.
"Heheheh, quite gutsy. Too bad we have nothing to discuss. There is no seat for the weak before me."
Sinora let out a low chuckle, though anger simmered beneath it.
A mere demon fledgling, expecting her to pledge fealty?
If the one coming to rescue her were Talia or Efatia, bearing a fierce resolve to restore their kingdom, perhaps she might consider sacrificing her pride, submitting, and lending a helping hand.
For this creature to expect her to follow along was utterly naive.
Deep within Sinora's demonic pupils, the crest flared into intense activity. Intricate lines instantly surfaced in her crimson irises, unleashing the primal, overwhelming aura of the demon race.
Great demons naturally exerted an innate aura of suppression over ordinary demons. Once they unsealed their mana restrictions, marks symbolizing their noble titles would appear within their eyes.
These marks were not merely symbols of power, but the very proof of a great demon.
They spun in Sinora's eyes, radiating a profound light that made it impossible to look directly at them.
The mana radiating from Sinora felt like an invisible mountain. Her gaze locked firmly onto the Poet of Great Love, intent on crushing her completely.
"Sinora!"
Antanas barked at her in fury.
Although she was there to protect her, ensuring the Poet of Great Love would not be harmed by a direct physical assault, such instinctive pressure from a great demon struck straight at the soul. It was not an attack that could be blocked or repelled with barriers.
Just as Antanas prepared to launch an attack on Sinora to stop her, she suddenly noticed that Sinora's expression had turned puzzled instead.
For the Poet of Great Love had not yielded a single step before this overwhelming pressure.
She simply gazed straight at Sinora with elegant, courteous poise, as if no matter what Sinora did, she had no intention of answering with force, desiring only to have a proper talk.
Gradually, patterns distinctly different from Sinora's surfaced within her emerald-green eyes.
These patterns slowly formed in her eyes and began to flicker in resonance, as though pulled by an invisible thread, passively responding to Sinora's power.
Seeing this, Sinora was frozen in shock, an alien expression breaking across her cold, impassive face.
"—?!"
In that instant, Sinora instinctively flashed backward, putting distance between them and falling into extreme vigilance.
The girl was clearly a great demon, so why did she feel like she was only at Tier 1?
When one could not sense the other's true mana, there were usually only two possibilities:
either extremely weak, or terrifyingly strong!
When she had stepped close to her earlier without any wariness, perhaps the girl truly had nothing to fear—and might even have been able to kill her with a flick of her hand.
Just what kind of monster had Talia given birth to, that she could grow to such heights?
"Miss Sinora, I came here solely to break you out and ask for your assistance. In return, I will offer you something of equal value."
The Poet of Great Love spoke with not the slightest intent to attack or defend.
As if nothing had happened just now.
"..."
Her continued polite demeanor left Sinora feeling deeply unnerved.
The more rational a demon was, the more terrifying they tended to be. And since the other party was also a great demon, yet Sinora could not fathom the depths of her strength at all...
Only that resonance was undeniably real; otherwise, she might never have realized how dangerous the girl truly was until she chose to reveal it.
"Before we discuss a deal, may I see your true form?"
Sinora swept her gaze over the Poet of Great Love from head to toe and asked.
Demon royalty, a great demon, and capable of reaching her presence.
At this point, she certainly possessed the qualifications to negotiate.
Though not strictly essential, it was naturally preferable to see the other's true face when striking a deal.
Among the demon race, there had always been those who constantly shifted their appearances and silhouettes, disappearing and reappearing time and again from the sight of both demons and humans.
Such creatures were exceptionally cunning.
For instance, during the Holy War, there had been a memorable surrender factionist; even if the entire demon race were wiped out, that creature would likely still be alive and well.
"I cannot show you my true form just yet. However, if you are willing to leave with me, you will see me in the Protos Empire."
The Poet of Great Love offered a faint, elusive smile and said.
"Now that you say that, my interest has vanished."
Sinora shook her head.
She had never harbored much curiosity toward women to begin with, and not knowing what the other truly meant stirred a hint of dread within her.
Perhaps she genuinely would show it to her, or perhaps seeing her true form meant the hour of her death.
Utterly unlike humans, demons might sound like they were having a friendly conversation one second, only to strike to kill the next.
Chapter 430