Chapter 64: The Weight of a Promise

“Hmm, there’s something we need to investigate within the Demon Lord’s Castle. But please, Elder Sister, rest assured that we will neither cause you any trouble nor bring harm to anyone within its walls.”

Yuan Miaomiao’s cat ears twitched, and her long tail twirled nervously, a sight that made one yearn to touch its fluffy softness with their fingertips.

With her hands clasped before her, she spoke earnestly, adopting the most deferential posture she could manage.

Silvya gazed into Yuan Miaomiao’s clear, wide eyes for several seconds, discerning no deceit in her earnest plea. A soft sigh escaped Silvya’s lips, and she spoke in a low, ethereal tone:

“While I might be able to assist you, it would entail considerable risk for me…”

Her words carried an unspoken weight, subtly urging them to comprehend the gravity of her predicament.

“I possess a map leading to a Dragon Worship Altar, where, it is rumored, a dessicated dragon heart is enshrined. Should you agree to our request, we pledge to retrieve it for you.”

Mao Ning took a step forward, exchanging a quick, meaningful glance with Knight Aaron before addressing Silvya in a measured tone.

The intelligence regarding a dragon demon that devoured the flesh and blood of dragons had been supplied by Yuan Miaomiao; the map clue to the dessicated dragon heart, however, stemmed from Knight Aaron’s vast network of contacts.

“A *dessicated* dragon heart!? Can such a rare treasure truly exist upon this land!? This is extraordinary! A dessicated dragon heart is far more valuable than a fresh, living one!”

The scholarly voice of Archimedes, the White Dragon, resonated within Silvya’s mind, making her jump. She turned her head slightly, whispering with a hint of exasperation:

“Since you’re present, why not emerge and speak? Your sudden outbursts are rather startling.”

“I—I’m not particularly adept at handling adventurers. Perhaps it’s best if I don’t.”

Archimedes gave an awkward laugh, for he genuinely dared not reveal himself, knowing that the two adventurers before them were acquainted with his spectral form as a white dragon.

“In any case, if they genuinely possess clues to a dessicated dragon heart, you *must* secure it. Such a heart, devoid of the impurities of flesh and blood, yields far purer energy.”

“This would prove immensely beneficial for your current cultivation. Consider, now that you have reforged your physical body, would it not be a tremendous waste to revert to the perilous method of directly devouring flesh and blood?”

“This dessicated dragon heart could be precisely what you need to break through your current bottleneck. If at all possible, you absolutely must obtain it.”

“Understood.”

Silvya offered a slight nod, yet a deep current of hesitation still flowed within her.

Aiding their infiltration of the Demon Lord’s Castle was an endeavor fraught with peril; for her, in her current state, the slightest misstep could send her plummeting into an inescapable abyss.

The dessicated dragon heart remained, in essence, a mere promissory note. What if these three had, in fact, accepted a mission from her adversaries, deliberately choosing this moment to engineer her downfall? She would truly be irrevocably lost.

Having painstakingly acquired a new body, she was unwilling to foolishly stumble into a trap and thereby betray Noah’s respect and trust.

Yet, the earnest plea and palpable sincerity in Yuan Miaomiao’s eyes seemed utterly genuine, leaving Silvya unable to fully resolve herself to refuse them.

“If it helps, I have several vials of dragon blood here that could serve as a down payment.”

Observing Silvya’s continued silence, Mao Ning presumed her offer was insufficient. She retrieved several vials of the highest quality dragon blood from her satchel, poised to place them upon Silvya’s table.

Mao Ning fully comprehended that their request was tantamount to coercing the lord into an act of rebellion. Even with Yuan Miaomiao’s established connections, making such an audacious proposition remained excessively presumptuous.

Had she been in the lord’s position, she would never have so readily agreed to such a perilous demand.

Indeed, Silvya’s restraint in not immediately expelling them already signified a considerable measure of respect and courtesy.

“I have no need for these few vials of dragon blood.”

Yet, in the instant before the vials could even touch the tabletop, Silvya extended a hand, gently halting Mao Ning and rejecting her proposal.

Knight Aaron observed the unfolding scene with a grave expression. While he excelled at fostering amicable and equitable relationships among his peers, he lacked Mao Ning’s extensive experience in the powder keg atmosphere of business negotiations.

He, too, was deeply concerned about Bai Tong’s whereabouts, leaving him no choice but to place all his hopes upon Mao Ning.

It appeared that merely increasing the monetary stakes would prove utterly ineffectual.

Mao Ning gritted her teeth, realizing she possessed no further bargaining chips that could genuinely entice Silvya.

If the promise of the dessicated dragon heart and the vials of dragon blood proved insufficient, then her satchel contained nothing else capable of swaying Silvya.

‘If there’s no opening through material gain, then perhaps an emotional appeal…’

Mao Ning paused in thought, then a sudden realization struck her: Silvya’s lack of an outright refusal stemmed from Yuan Miaomiao’s heartfelt sincerity.

‘Which means… if we wish for her to deem us trustworthy, we must reciprocate with a corresponding earnestness?’

Mao Ning gritted her teeth once more, her hand instinctively reaching beneath her robe to touch the necklace, still warm against her skin.

A new idea abruptly crystallized in her mind, though she knew it would demand a significant sacrifice.

“Hoo…”

Mao Ning exhaled slowly, then, summoning her system inventory, she unequipped the neck adornment from her gear slot. A silver-white necklace materialized in her palm.

This was the very necklace Bai Tong had meticulously chosen for her, tailored to her attributes, when she first embarked upon this game.

She had cherished it as an invaluable treasure, wearing it constantly, to the extent that even when she later obtained necklaces of superior quality, she never once removed it.

Now, she was prepared to offer this cherished relic as collateral, as undeniable proof of her sincerity, all in the desperate hope of discovering Bai Tong’s fate.

“This is… a treasure of immense personal value. I trust you can discern its profound significance to me.”

Mao Ning gritted her teeth, her head bowed low. Beneath her mask, her eyes shimmered with the agonizing reluctance and profound pain of sacrificing something akin to her own flesh.

“I offer this item as collateral. I understand that adventurers’ promises hold little weight in your estimation, yet I implore you to grant us this opportunity. We truly have vital matters that compel us to enter.”

Tears glistened in Mao Ning’s eyes, her voice trembling as her pearly teeth bit hard into her crimson lower lip. With every ounce of her resolve, she spoke, her words imbued with profound anguish and unwavering determination.

“……”

Silvya observed the adventurer before her in silence, a faint ripple stirring within her golden dragon eyes.

How could she possibly fail to perceive Mao Ning’s heart-wrenching agony and profound resolve? To Silvya, such an unwavering determination, akin to walking a blade’s edge, commanded far greater trust than any vast material gain.

Just as Noah had once respected her own unwavering resolve, Silvya now felt compelled to honor the determination of the young woman standing before her.

Should she still face betrayal after this, then she would simply accept it as her own error in judgment.

Silvya drew a long, slow breath, her small frame leaning back against her seat. This simple, almost imperceptible movement caused the hearts of Mao Ning and her two companions to clench with anticipation.

“….Should you be discovered, do not, under any circumstances, reveal my involvement.”

She spoke slowly, her voice carefully modulated to sound as dispassionate as possible, yet her words betrayed the immense weight of the decision she had just made.