A voice with a metallic quality resonated in her mind, a voice utterly different from the old and feeble tones of Toragotos that Fang Hong had heard before, yet it too was filled with an arrogant tone and pressure.

"I don't want any complications, Mr. Toragotos."

"No, these aren't your thoughts—" If others could hear this voice, they would be surprised to discover that its source was actually the blood-red-eyed crow on Alice's shoulder.

"Are you afraid, Alice?"

Alice's face turned pale, and she shook her head.

"Let him continue speaking."

The girl nodded lightly. Her sister had not left danger behind; she knew what she should do and could only grit her teeth, her fingertips slightly moving, and typed: "I am here, Mr. Ade."

"I am here, Mr. Ade—"

And the same phrase was being relayed by Elisa to Fang Hong, appearing on his screen.

"Where are you?"

"I'm in the central area of the Holy Sanctuary."

Fang Hong's tone between the lines became full of disappointment: "I know you're with the Jiefulite Red Cloak Team, why? Where's the Rain Listener? Do you know what the Jiefulite Red Cloak Team is doing? I guess you do—"

"Miss Hilveld told me that you killed your sister, but I think you were protecting her because you clearly know the Jiefulite Red Cloak Team's schemes. But do you really think that's enough?"

Upon seeing this line of text, Alice's fingertips turned somewhat pale, and for a moment, she didn't know how to reply.

"Interesting—"

The sharp voice of the crow on her shoulder was like a chisel, piercing into her brain and giving her an excruciating headache. "Interesting," it said: "Tell him you are being coerced, that the Jiefulite Red Cloak Team is forcing you to do this, ask him to come help you."

"He is irrelevant to our plan, Mr. Toragotos; this doesn't align with our agreement." Alice said urgently, her face pale.

"No," Toragotos sneered: "I've changed my mind; he has something I want. Let him come to you."

Alice clenched her teeth and remained silent.

"Don't be foolish, little girl," Toragotos reminded her: "Do you think by killing your sister, she's truly escaped my control? As long as she is in Fenris, or even in Eteliria, I will find her one day."

"And even if she returns to your world," the voice of the crow was full of a biting chill: "she won't be able to escape this destiny. You're well aware of how those people operate, aren't you?"

Alice shivered, her eyes showing fear, and her teeth chattered. However, with Prophet Kopan and Stirling right by her side, she dared not make a sound. She struggled to suppress herself.

"Do you understand now?"

Alice's eyes were dull as she could only nod lightly.

"I am being coerced, Mr. Ade, I have to cooperate with them, it's just a temporary choice, I'm not with them."

Upon reading this passage, Fang Hong slightly pursed his lips.

"But have you considered your sister? What the Jiefulite Red Cloak Team is doing is a severe violation of the Stargate Declaration; the military has already intervened. Don't act rashly, Miss Elisa; we still trust you—"

"I, I understand, but I can't turn back now... they, they won't allow it."

After relaying this sentence, the elder of the twins looked up at Fang Hong, her eyes red-rimmed and filled with tears, clearly understanding the situation her sister was in.

Fang Hong was also silent for a while before replying: "Don't let the Jiefulite Red Cloak Team catch on to your intent; you can still turn back, trust me—please try to stall for time."

"Try to stall for time, Elisa; perhaps I can still make it in time to stop them, think more of your sister."

He repeated one last time: "Try to stall for time."

After typing this, the communication was aptly cut off.

Alice almost couldn't help but want to tell him not to come, but Toragotos, as if sensing her emotional fluctuations, cut off the communications first. It was as if it took the girl a moment to realize this fact, turning her face deathly pale.

Fortunately for her, Stirling and the Night Lizard Prophet were right in front of her, and no one looked back at her expression.

"Try to stall for time..." the crow mused over this phrase with a hint of amusement.

"He really might do that, Mr. Toragotos," Alice whispered softly: "I, we should probably speed up our progress."

"Of course not," Toragotos sneered: "Don't think I don't see through your little scheme, girl. My patience has its limits. We might give him a chance—as a bonus, we could prepare a little surprise for him."

Alice remained silent.

She didn't know if she was right or wrong. Fang Hong bore her no grudge; he even owed the Rain Listeners a favor. Yet on one side of the scales was herself and her sister, while on the other was just a stranger whom she had known but in a few encounters.

She was at a loss as to what choice to make.

Silence pervaded the communication channel.

"The communication has been interrupted," Elisa said with a slightly ugly expression.

"It's enough," Fang Hong replied: "The rest is up to fate now, but I think we will have another opportunity."

The elder twin shook her head lightly, her demeanor utterly dejected.

Seeing her like this dampened Fang Hong's spirits as well, and he couldn't help wanting to say something to lighten the mood. After thinking for a moment, he said, "You and your sister must have been very close, right?" But to his surprise, upon hearing these words, Elisa just nodded, her lips tightly pressed, too overwhelmed with sadness to utter a single word.

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