Chapter 2827 - 1339: New Blood (1/2)

Motan raised his brows and curled his lips into a playful smile. "I get it, I get what you mean, Lady Teresa. So basically... you think the people around you can’t protect you? I noticed you just mentioned not only Richard, but also that dean from [Mercury Gold Military Academy]."

"I trust them, but I don’t want to be a fledgling bird for the rest of my life."

Teresa twisted her fingers, her cheeks flushing slightly as she lowered her gaze. "The Black Vatican Priest doesn’t like attracting attention either, yet yesterday he still chose to fight me with everything he had, shocking everyone. He’s bound to become famous, but I know he doesn’t like that."

Motan clicked his tongue and asked with a mischievous tone, "You know him that well?"

"From a certain point of view..."

Very aware that the Black Vatican Priest and the woman in front of him had quite a deep relationship, Teresa hesitated for a moment, but in the end still nodded firmly. "I think I do."

Motan shrugged and spread his hands. "But the Black Vatican Priest is an Otherworlder, just like me... Lady Teresa, you should know what I mean by Otherworlders. For us, the price we pay for anything we do in this world is much lighter than for people like you. It’s even... completely incomparable."

Teresa fell silent, but it was only silence. The look she turned on Motan remained unwavering.

’I’m not very smart, I can’t outtalk you, but I just want to join. Even if it’s just being willful, I still want to join!’

That seemed to be what she was trying to convey.

And Motan, while laughing his head off inside, let out a soft sigh, then asked in a very serious tone, "Then, pardon the question, Lady Teresa, have you... ever killed anyone?"

"Eh?"

Teresa froze, then hugged her shoulders and shook her head hard, saying in quick succession, "No, no, I’ve never hurt anyone."

"Mm, I figured as much."

Motan nodded and said with complete calm, "Then, Lady Teresa, do you realize that in the near future our organization will start dabbling in that kind of business? Admittedly, taking on assassination requests isn’t our original intention, but we’re opening a shop to do business here, and we’re hardly some righteous, aboveboard institution. If we want to gain a foothold in the industry... we still have to take a few cost‑effective shortcuts where we can. You get what I mean, right?"

Teresa nodded with a complicated expression and gave a soft "mm".

"At its core, we’re an organization that takes all kinds. Most members are the type who seek thrills and just happen to be short one cushy sideline job. We may have different stances, different identities, we might even be enemies to each other, but that doesn’t stop us from sharing resources, trading what we have for what we lack, and, when necessary, contributing to the organization’s development."

Motan blew aside a lock of hair hanging over his forehead and smiled. "Actually, in my eyes, at least for the current cadre members with card suits ranked seven or above, they’re all a bunch of lawless maniacs. And aside from Foster, the rest of them more or less have a few lives on their hands already—and they absolutely don’t mind that number going up."

"What you mean is, our organization doesn’t stand for justice, and our comrades don’t really count as heroes..."

Teresa inclined her head slightly, grasping Motan’s implication without a pause. "Mutual help and mutual exploitation are the foundation of everything. Becoming a tool for each member to achieve their goals is the value of this organization?"

Motan smiled brightly and nodded, pleased. "Having you pull out the key point that fast is honestly really gratifying."

"I... my brain’s actually always been pretty decent, you know."

Teresa gave a somewhat awkward little laugh, then said softly, "So the higher your rank in the organization, the more resources, intel, and connections you can leverage. And there’s a certain degree of mutual assistance among the cadre. As for the more macro‑level overall direction, that’s controlled by you as the leader, and by specific talents like Senior Foster?"

"For now, that’s right."

Motan dipped his head slightly, then gave a self‑mocking chuckle. "Though the way we say it sounds pretty high‑end, in reality we’re just a bunch of no‑name scrubs at the moment. It wouldn’t be surprising if one day we accidentally messed up and the whole thing fell apart."

But after pondering for a few moments, Teresa shook her head, her expression turning solemn. "No, I think compared to most ’organizations,’ the Clo... uh... is it really okay to say it out loud here?"

"If it wasn’t okay, it’d already be too late anyway."

Motan’s lips curled cheerfully as he waved a hand. "Relax, this shop belongs to a friend of mine. The people inside are reasonably trustworthy."

Only then did the suddenly tense Teresa let out a soft breath of relief and continue, "I think the way the Clown Brand exists is very ideal, at least its Life Force is exceptionally tenacious. And given that the leader is an Otherworlder like you, the possibility of accidentally falling apart... theoretically doesn’t exist."

"Looks like you’re not wavering, Lady Teresa."

Motan took another sip of coffee and said lazily, "Even though you don’t even know what it is you want."

"Precisely because of that, I’m more interested in joining the Clown Brand."

Teresa drew a deep breath and lowered her voice, her soft, pleasant tone ringing clear. "If it’s like you said, and everyone in the organization is different, each with their own thoughts, goals, and stance, then maybe I can find my answer among them. What’s more... I might also need to make use of the organization to achieve my own ends."

Motan narrowed his eyes slightly, studying Teresa. "That’s the reason you’re using to persuade me?"

"No, that’s the reason I’m using to persuade myself."

Teresa shook her head, then suddenly broke into a smile. "I don’t think I need to persuade you, Mr. Tan Mo. After all, you said yourself that as the one in charge, you don’t mind recruiting any excellent talent like me into the fold."

Motan let out a soundless laugh, staying quiet for several seconds before murmuring, "The Clown Brand will dirty your hands, Lady Teresa. I have to remind you of that. As far as I know, you don’t have any combat ability, and your Physical Fitness isn’t even on par with a Common girl of your age. But the single most valuable thing about you will inevitably spawn problems far beyond one or two lives."

"I’ll refuse any arrangements that go against my bottom line, but I’ll also do my best to make whatever Contribution I can to the organization within my abilities."

Teresa answered without a hint of hesitation, then looked a little nervously into Motan’s playful eyes. "So... if you don’t mind..."

"I want you to stay in Academy City and continue studying at Dan Slave Military Academy."

Motan stated his decision lightly, and just as a hint of disappointment flashed across Teresa’s face, he added with a grin, "At least... during the assessment period, you’ll keep living the daily life you’ve had these past ten‑plus years."

Teresa’s beautiful eyes immediately widened, and she let out a soft cry. "You mean... you agreed?!"

"I’ve never had a reason to turn you down from the start."

Motan lounged lazily against the back of his chair and added, "Of course, even though I said I want you to keep to your ’daily life,’ during that process you’ll still need to take care of some organizational matters. You have the right to refuse, but I promise every task will be within your capability."

Teresa nodded vigorously, her pretty face flushing with a lovely blush of excitement. "I... I’ll do my best!"

"Good. Then let’s call it a day for now."

Motan rose to his feet and smiled. "I’ve got a date later, so I shouldn’t drag this out too long. Anyway, it was a pleasure meeting you, Lady Teresa."

"Ah, p‑please... please wait a moment!"

"Mm?"

"Um... I heard that members of our organization all have, um, that... that... uh... It’s not that I doubt you’re taking me seriously or anything. If you just forgot to bring it, that’s fine too. I just... don’t know when I’ll be able to..."

"Oh, if you hadn’t mentioned it, I would’ve almost forgotten."

Motan cut Teresa off with a look of sudden realization, then casually flicked her a metal card inlaid with a beautiful Ruby. "Please keep it safe. Your codename and identity credential."

"Oh, oh! Thank you, Mr. Tan Mo... ah!!"

"What’s wrong?"

"Th‑this, this this this... this... um... Are you sure you didn’t give me the wrong..."

"Whatever it is, save it for later. I really am in a bit of a rush."

"But..."

"Well then, see you around, Lady Red Heart A~"

Chapter 1139: End