Faced with Gulwige's eyes that seemed to pierce through the soul, and that inquiry aimed directly at the core, Lynch's heart skipped a beat. The system, this was his biggest secret, an ace that must never be revealed.
He took a deep breath inwardly, forcibly suppressing the waves in his heart, and lifted his head, his gaze sincere yet with an undeniable persistence, meeting Gulwige's eyes. His voice remained calm as usual, but the pace was slightly slower, revealing due caution:
"Master Gulwige," he slightly bowed, his tone respectful yet firm, "When I accepted Fran's invitation and decided to come here, Dean Abbas, on behalf of Fran, had solemnly promised me—our cooperation is based on trust and mutual benefit, and Fran would never seek the roots and secrets of my personal abilities."
This was negotiated before coming to Fran, and it was the prerequisite for his agreement to come to Fran, otherwise he wouldn't have left his nest for anything.
