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The summer evening breeze blew gently, stirring Raya's hair and letting it sway with the wind.
The two stood by the window of the sky garden balcony, leaning against the railing.
"Jacob, be careful—don't fall," Raya said, watching the intoxicated Jacob lean his entire body against the railing. She couldn't help but remind him, "You should sit down."
Jacob seemed not to hear Raya's words. His hands rested on the railing as he gazed at the brightly lit Imperial Capital, overlooking the endless flow of traffic on the streets below, his mind wandering with distant thoughts.
Several minutes passed before he collected himself and sat down opposite Raya.
"Sorry, Heavenly King Raya. I was a bit distracted just now."
If it were the old Jacob, he would definitely have been respectful toward Raya. He wouldn't have left her waiting for so long—he wouldn't have dared to neglect her for even a moment.
Now, with the improvement of his strength, status, and power, Jacob no longer had to act according to the whims of Trainers at the Heavenly King level. He had already begun to gain a certain degree of influence in this world.
Indeed, strength, status, and power were like poison—captivating and intoxicating. No wonder countless people flocked to these three things.
"Heavenly King Raya, I was just lost in thought and made you wait. I apologize."
Raya also felt a slight displeasure in her heart, but her composure was extremely deep, and her upbringing excellent. She would not easily reveal her true thoughts. "It's nothing. Dr. Jacob is young and accomplished, full of vigor. This is very normal."
"To achieve great success in scientific research while also becoming the strongest Trainer among your peers in less than a year—it's truly admirable."
Listening to Raya's praise, Jacob waved his hand dismissively. "Heavenly King Raya, please don't tease me. You said earlier that you had something to discuss with me. Feel free to speak directly."
Jacob's gaze fell on Raya, and her beauty made him slightly dazed. Under the dim, warm light, Raya was so charming, exuding a captivating allure that was hard to resist.
Jacob considered his self-control to be quite good, but facing a woman as enchanting as Raya, he still found it difficult to remain calm. His heart pounded fiercely in his chest.
He reached out and picked up the teacup on the table. The tea was bitter to the core, with a sweet aftertaste, and its sobering effect was quite good.
"Jacob, this matter is very important," Raya said, looking up and glancing at the entrance of the sky garden balcony to ensure no one was coming in before continuing. "I want to borrow something from you."
"Borrow something?" Jacob's mind wasn't very sharp at the moment, his brows furrowing tightly. He couldn't think of anything this wealthy woman, Raya, would need to borrow. "What is it?"
"The item that allowed your Drakloak to grow rapidly," Raya said. As she spoke, her gaze was fixed on Jacob's face, carefully observing his reaction.
Upon hearing Raya's words, a monstrous wave surged in Jacob's heart.
Although Raya did not specify the exact item she wanted to borrow, given her cunning and composure, she must have known something to come to him like this.
However, Jacob absolutely could not admit it at this moment. He could only feign ignorance and play along with Raya. "Heavenly King Raya wants the exclusive secret recipe for energy cubes? I can recommend that shop to you..."
"Jacob, you don't need to play coy with me," Raya said, directly interrupting him. "Last October, you went to Cloud Village and obtained that treasure in the graveyard behind the mountain."
When Raya precisely stated the time and place, Jacob knew there was no longer any need to hide the truth.
"Jacob, are you curious how I know about this item?" Raya showed a bitter smile—a rare expression for her, who was usually shrewd and calm.
"I have been searching for that treasure for a long time. Just when I finally got some clues and found Cloud Village, I discovered the treasure had already been taken by someone else."
"I was wondering where my mistake was, and who had taken the treasure before me," Raya said, her red lips parting slightly, her voice soft and sweet. She leaned back in a relaxed posture on the lounge chair, her gaze fixed intently on Jacob.
"At that time, I secretly made up my mind that if I found out who had taken the treasure in advance, I would absolutely not let him go," Raya continued, slowly recounting her emotional journey. "In the past few months, I have never given up searching for that treasure, but there has been no news whatsoever."
"Just when I was about to give up, at today's finals, I saw your Drakloak battle. At that moment, I had a strong premonition that the treasure I wanted was with you."
"I've already sent people to investigate. You went to Cloud Village last October, didn't you?"
"So that thing is in your hands, right?" Raya said this, her gaze still fixed on Jacob, and she spoke earnestly. "Actually, when I first learned that you had taken my treasure, I was very angry. But after calming down and considering our cooperative relationship, I decided to have an open and honest talk with you."
"I need the treasure in your hand," Raya said directly, with a hint of pleading in her tone, her eyes like spring water. "Whatever conditions you have, you can state them directly."
After listening to Raya's narration, Jacob's brows furrowed, and he remained silent for a moment, essentially acknowledging Raya's words. However, he couldn't bring himself to lend the broken Prison Bottle to Raya. "What do you want that treasure for?"
Raya sighed inwardly. She knew that with Jacob's cunning nature, he wouldn't act without seeing a benefit first. If she didn't offer some substantial exchange of interests, Jacob would never agree. "Jacob, I can't tell you the purpose of that treasure for now—not unless you agree to lend it to me."
"Then there's nothing to discuss," Jacob's voice rang out, decisively rejecting Raya.
"Jacob, are you refusing me?" The smile on Raya's face faded, and in an instant, her expression became dignified and cold. Her eyebrows furrowed, and her eyes widened sharply.
At this moment, her demeanor truly resembled that of a Heavenly King.
Looking at Raya's expression, Jacob showed no fear or timidity. With Iron Valiant, a powerful weapon at his disposal, he was confident he could easily protect himself from Raya.
"If we can't agree on terms, then naturally I can only refuse. A Heavenly King can't force a sale, can they?"
"Is that Pokémon—the one similar to a combination of Gallade and Gardevoir—what gives you enough confidence?"
Jacob was shocked when he heard Raya's words!
How did Raya know about Iron Valiant's existence?
Unless she knew the Articuno Trainer with the Yamask mask!
Jacob's heart trembled. After half a year, he had finally heard news of the God's Coffin again.
Just then, the serious expression on Raya's face suddenly vanished, replaced by a brilliant and charming smile. "Don't be nervous. Are you curious how I know this information? There are some people in the God's Coffin who are very interested in you and want your life."
"When I ask to exchange for that treasure, I need to have something worthwhile to offer," Raya said. Then she stood up, leaving Jacob with a stunning silhouette. "This information is my sincerity for cooperation. It's not convenient to discuss this here today. Contact me when you're free."