274 The Trade 3 (1/2)

Gio's eyes immediately left the equally shocked red-haired witch. Sofony was only frozen there for a moment. Thinking of who the other party was and how fragile non-hosts usually were in front of those at the mid-levels and above, she hurriedly left her seat and jumped in front of Gio.

The man saw the deep fright and worry in her eyes. That time, he didn't know whether to laugh or cry. The short-haired woman wearing a simple shirt and denim pants wanted to hug him, but hesitated. She must have been put self-conscious of her appearance. This was the reason why the man almost laughed. Sofony didn't know but even though she looked different due to her disguise, he knew it was her.

The pet ghost inside the coin didn't have to tell him for him to know.

'No matter if it's the present or the future, she always uses this disguise...'

”Who are you?” The lady dressed like a typical B Empire royal woman asked in a hostile voice.

That sudden question appeared to have sobered Sofony up. She withdrew her raised upper arms and turned around. The way she protected him from the enemy's sight using her slim and dainty body made the man chuckle. If his guess was correct, based on how she frequently stole glances on the broken entrance, she was busy overworking her brain thinking how to get the two of them out there alive.

'Cute, but unnecessary.' The twenty-eight years old man shook his head. A second later, his unfriendly eyes met the red-haired woman's.

”I'm Gio Albarez, Blood Countess. Pleased to be your acquaintance.”

In front of the red-dressed woman, a man did a perfect bow. However, she was not in the mood to compare his gesture and greeting to the greatest gentlemen she met before. There was a problem with this young man.

'Why didn't I feel his presence approaching this place?' Like a broken recording, this question kept playing in her mind.

”A non-host?” There was an undisguised surprise in Bathory's tone.

”I am.” With a smile akin to that of a predator, Gio replied to the woman. Since he was still taller even though Sofony was wearing high heels, patting her head did not prove much of a problem for him.

”Gio, I'll talk to her. This is me, Sofony. Don't provoke her.” The girl held his arm and prevented him from walking forward.

Gone was the woman trying to brave the deal against Bathory. Because in her mind, Gio would die if that monstress wanted to, she even wanted to have him leave and not ever come back without contacting his uncle. She was betting that the old man was the king referred to by Bathory.

”Trust me. I got this.” Gio showed her a very confident smile that made her not able to react immediately when he did walk forward.

Bathory continued watching with narrowed eyes.

”The ghost in my coin relayed to me something so funny,” he said. ”Somebody tried to scam my Baby with her future awards with just information and then when the negotiation almost fell, she threatened her with death.”

”Oh. I see. It means that coin housed a ghost-type system user. Which old foggy is it?”

The man angrily laughed. Mysteriously, although the opposing party was a genuine old legend, she was not able to counter the sudden drop in the room's temperature. She heard him barking out,

”Who my pet ghost is doesn't matter. Anyways, why should you care about something so trivial when you're about to die, huh? Ms. Tudor?”