The heart fell heavily. Ed's eyes flickered, and he didn't say a word for a moment.

He didn't know when he was revealing himself - they did talk about Bloomer, but he felt he had been calm enough......

He glanced cautiously at Nia. Nia still casually tossed the dagger and looked at him with a smile.

“...... How do you know?" he asked, lowering his voice. If he hadn't been able to fool Nia before, he couldn't do it now—"telling the truth" was probably a wiser choice.

"I don't know. Nia winked slyly, "You just told me. ”

He smiled like a fox that had just caught a fat chicken, but Ed couldn't laugh at all.

"If you want to be a master of deception, there's still a lot to learn, little one. Nyana pointed her dagger at him.

“...... I don't want to be a 'master of deception'......" Ed muttered under his breath, his gaze drifting uneasily towards Sean's closed door.

"Okay, let's put it another way. Nia shrugged, "If you want to keep some of your little secrets, you can't write everything on your face like you do now." ”

Ed was a little unconvinced.

"I don't have ...... either"

He scratched his face and swallowed the second half of the sentence back. The truth is that Nia easily sees the secret that he thinks he is keeping tight...... And he didn't know what Nia wanted to do.

"Just wanted to let you know, little one. Nia's voice was softer, but surprisingly serious, "If you really want to keep a secret, don't because it's not an enemy standing in front of you...... Or you let your guard down thinking it's not the enemy. Filly may not see anything—he is indeed older and more experienced, but he is no different from you at heart. And Scott ...... Scott wasn't a very attentive person, but he had an extremely sharp intuition, which was sometimes frighteningly accurate. He used to claim that it was God's guidance, but I wonder if he still thinks so...... Uh, sorry, I'm off track again. ”

He gestured casually, and his smile was not easy.

"You want to know how I see that? You don't look comfortable when we mention the young man - that's normal, given your ...... Complex relationships. He grimaced, "But when we guess where he might be now, you listen very carefully and breathe a sigh of relief—not obviously, but it can't fool my eyes—that's a little wrong." And not only do you not realize that you are showing this, you don't even realize that I am watching you...... As I said, you let your guard down. So now, all it takes is a surprise poke at you, and you'll be in the open—haven't you even thought about covering it up again?"

“...... Because I believe in you. Ed was a little annoyed, "Isn't that right?"

Nia shook her head.

"I'm glad to hear that. "But don't lie to yourself, little one...... You'll do it because it's easier. You need someone to take on the burden with you...... But there are always things you have to take care of. ”

“...... It sounds like you're trying to tell me, 'Don't trust anyone.'" Ed whispered.

Nia was silent for a while.

"Is that so?" he said, "so be it." ”

"Why?" said Ed, confused, "I have to trust somebody—somebody can be trusted, right?"

"Of course. Nia replied calmly, "But you have to learn to tell...... Like, why would you trust me?"

"Because you risked your life to save me?" Ed replied, "because you're friends with Alan and Scott?"

"I do. The dagger that kept spinning between Nia's fingers paused, "But I've been in hell for a long time...... Ed, that's hell. Do you really think that would make no difference to a person?"

"But Scott still believes you......" Ed's voice lowered in confusion.

“...... No, in fact, not so convinced. Nia smiled bitterly, "He knows that there are some things that I will not do anyway - he knows that there are things I can trust, but in others, he will not allow me to interfere...... He wouldn't even let me know. And he was right. ”

“...... Why are you telling me this?" Ed asked softly, frustrated and dazed.

"Because we all have our own secrets, Ed. Nia looked at him with almost sympathy in her eyes, "We all have ulterior motives more or less - Sean, Scott, Allen, and even Filly...... And you don't. When chaos comes, you may be the only one who can see the way...... If you can make yourself live to that point. ”

"I don't understand......," Ed murmured in annoyance, "I have a purpose...... And I can't sort out a single thread from the mess in my head now, I can't see anything clearly...... Why can't you just tell me what the hell do you want me to do?"

"You'll understand. Nia's tone suddenly relaxed, "Look, you've grown so big in the blink of an eye - let it be, little one, let it be." ”

It didn't make much sense, but Ed knew he didn't want to talk about it anymore.

“...... Did you say that to Is, too?" he asked, still reluctantly.

"Nope. Nia shook her head with a wry smile, "Is...... He had only one tendon in his head, one that was so hard that it was impossible to tie it in a knot. He is stronger than anyone else, but he is also more vulnerable than anyone else...... But you're going to protect him, aren't you? You're going to protect your friends...... I guess that's what you're for. ”

Ed nodded blankly and shook his head - that wasn't right, it wasn't wrong. Of course, he wanted to protect the people around him, but he also desperately wanted to know the truth hidden in the fog...... He wanted to see.

"So-why do you want to protect Bloomer Christus?" said Nia, abruptly changing the subject.

"Not protection. Ed replied, "Just...... A transaction. ”

"Sounds like you're going to tell me?" Nia, smiling meaningfully.

"You already know. Ed replied, "And you didn't know Bloomer before that...... He has nothing to do with you. At least in this matter, I can trust you...... Is that so?"

Nia laughed silently. He has a baby face that can't tell his age, but the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes instantly reveal the wear and tear of time.

"At least...... That's a good start. He said.

(To be continued.) )