"I'm not the kind of bastard who plays fast and loose with lives, and I definitely won't use my companions without their knowledge."

"I can guarantee that."

"The only reason I'm telling you, Jack, is because I trust you guys and feel that I shouldn't hide things from companions who have shared life and death. Consider it as me venting."

With that, Yun You handed the empty cup in her hand to Jack, a sweet smile appearing on her small face behind the mask.

"The orange juice was good, another cup please!"

"..."

Jack remained silent for a long time before finally taking the cup and slowly refilling it with orange juice and ice.

His expression had been somewhat sullen from the start, seemingly still immersed in the "dangerous topic" Yun You had brought up earlier.

But just when the little girl thought Jack might beat around the bush and blur over the topic...

The mercenary suddenly spoke, giving an answer Yun You completely did not expect... and never hoped to receive.

"Chica."

"Revenge is a natural thing, and avenging your blood is a person's most basic duty."

"No one has the right to reproach that, not even me."

"Suppose."

"Suppose you want to take revenge on Black Tiger in the future, then..."

Jack paused, his tone becoming firm.

"I will stay by your side, do my best to lend you a hand."

"This is Jack Carlos's promise."

An unexpected answer.

Yun You initially thought that after she confessed her intentions, Jack would avoid her, maybe even distance himself.

Just like Jack said before, mercenaries are innately inclined to seek fortune and avoid danger, and considering how to achieve the greatest benefits with the least risks is what they should be contemplating.

And Yun You's goal clearly doesn't fit these two principles.

Black Tiger Yang Lie, a 2nd-grade Mad Dog Sequence Apprentice Death God, a dangerous and powerful being.

Assassinating him had no significant benefits and was extremely dangerous. Even if Yun You spent a fortune hiring from the talent market, probably... not many would dare take the task.

But now, Jack was willing to face dangers with Yun You, not even mentioning the word about money.

To be honest, the little girl was a bit moved, her heart warmed.

Though Nest City is a godforsaken dump of a place, there are still a few sincere people willing to offer their precious goodwill.

Of course, though Yun You was moved, if the time for revenge truly came, she would certainly not bring Jack along.

She, Yun You, is solitary, having no attachments in the world, so she's ready to risk her life at any moment...

But Jack's different; he still has a sister to take care of and cannot just die so easily.

Yun You has a straightforward nature, always knowing gratitude... since Jack is willing to be honest with her, she won't harm the mercenary either.

Hence, after taking a big sip of orange juice, the little girl slowly spoke, intending to politely decline Jack's help.

But right then, a voice laced with surprise suddenly appeared from aside, interrupting their conversation.

"Wow! Are you guys having a barbecue?! Smells so good..."

It was Frost Moon's voice.

The little hacker was originally half-asleep, but then caught a whiff of spicy and meaty aromas...

He initially thought it was a dream, yet the scent grew stronger, continuously wafting into his nose!

Finally, when drool trickled down to the ground from his mouth, he awoke, only to see the barbecue grill before him.

"Why didn't you call me?"

He complained quietly, his voice rarely tinged with a hint of resentment, but more than that, he was impatient and eager...

"Can you even eat such spicy food?"

Jack eyed Frost Moon in mild surprise and asked, "I heard that altered humans have little sense of taste and can't have too much greasy meat, otherwise it damages their internal chip components..."

"That's the dolls!"

Frost Moon rolled his eyes and retorted, "Only the dolls of the Apprentice Death Gods undergo such extensive transformation."

"Although I was once 'spare material' for dolls, they only modified part of my prefrontal cortex, and back then, you personally rescued me from the convoy. Do you even forget that?"

Saying so, Frost Moon rudely picked up two skewers and gnawed heartily.

"We've known each other for so long, and you still don't understand me... what a fool."

Seeing Frost Moon wolfing down, Jack shrugged helplessly.

"No choice, who told you to act like a wildcat, disappearing every time after a mission, I can't even find you for a meal."

"Alright, alright, my bad, okay? Let's eat together, I'll grill more meat."

With that, Jack took out a few more bags of meat rolls, resuming his role as the chef.

Listening to their banter, Yun You paused slightly, then curiously turned to Frost Moon.

"Dolls?"

"Frost Moon almost became a doll?"

"Mm."

Jack nodded, glanced at Frost Moon, who was busy eating and didn't notice, then began explaining quietly.

"This kid's had a tough life."

"His parents were downright scum, trafficking people, sending bottom-tier children to outskirt bio-factories to be processed into dolls, and then selling them at high prices to the Apprentice Death God Organization."

"And Frost Moon... their child, was one of the first batches to be transformed."

"At that time, the couple just started human trafficking, but their cash flow snapped, and without healthy test subjects, they simply sold their own child."

"Normal doll transformations occur in three stages, each with a mortality rate over 90%, hence the huge demand for 'materials'... which are healthy children. Thus, small players like Frost Moon's parents could partake in this trade."

"Frost Moon survived the first transformation stage, so he was taken out of the bio-factory and transported to other labs."

"Back then, I hadn't left my family, and was ordered to attack the factory's transport convoy..."

"Initially, per mission demands, we were supposed to dispose of Frost Moon, yet seeing a kid as old as my sister, I couldn't bear it... so I let him go."

"However, he didn't go home with me but fled like a wildcat."

"Later, I left the family, becoming a mercenary in the Black Market... couldn't get tasks or earn money at first, it was stressful... then suddenly Frost Moon reappeared, covering several months of my sister's medical bills and joined my team."

"Only then did I realize, this kid had made it, leveraging abilities from preliminary modifications and becoming a successful hacker."

"In terms of earning, he's way ahead of me, sometimes a simple website alteration brings thousands."

"But this kid's nature remains; all these years, he's still like a wildcat, often disappearing, only showing up when needed."

"I see..."

Hearing this, Yun You understood the relationship between Jack and Frost Moon.

Can't deny, both a hacker and a mercenary who are grateful and reciprocate kindness are lucky finds.

Meeting such partners in the 'startup phase', Yun You felt her luck wasn't too bad after all...

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