Stealing a Tree: Part V

"I'm just an ordinary man. Takeda Yuichi, 17 years old this year," Yuichi spoke slowly, smiling innocently he watched as the woman's expression cooled, she was angry, for some reason that kind of reaction pleased him.

I liked to tease this woman?

"Tell me, who are you!?", the woman clenched her fist, she felt Yuichi was teasing her.

She wanted to punch him but restrained herself, although he looked harmless at first glance, he wasn't at all, although his aura wasn't overwhelming, his wealth was!

"Hmm... Let's just say... I'm the solution to your problems," Yuichi replied.

"That's why you called me, right?"

The woman stiffened, there was some truth to it, initially she wanted Yuichi to "cure" her little Norn, but she didn't know where to start, it was too embarrassing a request.

However, the whole situation had overwhelmed her, she had never thought that Yuichi would treat her so well, even going so far as to give her a new lease on life, well, only half of it.

Besides... where did he get this treasure from?

At first glance he looked like a normal human, his family was also normal.

There was no explanation convincing enough to alleviate her suspicions.

His motives are definitely not pure... the woman thought inwardly.

There were no free meals anywhere in the Universe.

"Who are you really? What do you want to accomplish here?", the woman spoke slowly, she calmed down a bit, after thinking about it briefly, she realized that Yuichi could kill her if he wanted to, but he didn't, he didn't seem to treat her with hostility either.

Yuichi looked at her, he was expecting some sort of more violent reaction, but this would do as well.

"Hmm, what I want is simple. I want this world. Hey! don't look at me like that I haven't finished my explanation yet~", Yuichi calmed the woman down with a gesture, she looked like she wanted to pounce on him, "I like equivalent exchanges, in exchange for this world, I can help you. Think about it, I noticed this world has a good camouflage formation, though too exaggerated... I assumed you wanted to hide from someone.... or hide something... or both?"

"...", the woman stiffened as she broke out in a cold sweat.

He is dangerous! He had even discovered her most hidden formations, this involved many of her secrets, one little slip up and everything she had created would be reduced to ashes.

Wait... he discovered "it"... I should kill him... no... yes, keeping him alive is dangerous!... I must do it...

Before the woman could react, golden chains had appeared, encircling her body at an impressive speed, the woman was instantly imprisoned.

"Bad choice...", Yuichi looked at her indifferently, the woman didn't say any words but Yuichi could deduce her answer.

He was not disappointed, on the contrary, this woman's principles were good, Yuichi would have reacted the same way if he were in her place.

Only her resistance was particularly exaggerated.

The woman gritted her teeth in fury, trying to use her authority as the ruler of this world, but she failed, this world was a Sacred Land but its development was still at an early stage, moreover, combining Yuichi's pious concealment and META-Luck running at full power, it was impossible to detect any anomalies, the World did not react.

"...," the woman was speechless.

She had noticed that Yuichi had taken many precautionary measures from the beginning.

"You bastard, let go of me! Norn won't forgive you if you do anything to me!", the woman's blurry figure was becoming clearer, showing her true face.

The woman sensed something was wrong, she saw Yuichi's somewhat curious look.

A blush was spreading across her face, she felt wronged!

"...", Yuichi observed the large red scar that adorned her face.

It stretched from the middle of her forehead, down her nose, past her right cheek, extending down her slender neck.

The same pattern was repeated on the left side of her face.

It was eerily symmetrical.

"Don't look at me!", the woman momentarily forgot her fury only to unleash it with greater intensity as she realized she could no longer hide her "shame".

Her entire body was coiled by golden chains, after all.

"...," the woman seemed very insecure about her appearance, Yuichi thought that the scar in no way minimized her wonderful looks.

But her beauty couldn't care less, Yuichi was interested in that scar.

Mystic energy!

Abundant Mystical Energy!

That kind of energy META-Luck needed to free itself.

No wonder META-Luck was too anxious, at least he could break two shackles, that equaled two new abilities!

The woman was giving him more and more wonderful surprises, Yuichi was very pleased.

The woman squirmed uncomfortably under Yuichi's gaze.

Go ahead! Make fun of me, I'm used to it, the woman expected that as she gritted her teeth.

"Hmm... what do you want in exchange for your scar?", Yuichi asked her seriously.

"...", the woman was dumbfounded.

Do you think I'm stupid? I would give it to you if I could!

"I can remove that scar," Yuichi felt her doubts so he answered sincerely.

"Y-you're serious?", the woman looked at him flatly, she deeply doubted his capabilities.

"Very serious, too serious. I can give you two... no... three artifacts of your choice," Yuichi rubbed his chin, thinking that he was a bad trader.

"...", will you continue with this game? It's no fun!

"You don't believe me?", Yuichi sighed wearily, why is it that when I tell the truth they don't believe me?

He stood up from his chair impatiently and moved to the woman's side, his hand touched her face before the woman could say anything.

The woman tried to pull away, but could not.

Her face heated up for a second, feeling something move on her face.

"Ready!", Yuichi nodded in satisfaction, pulling his mana away from the woman's face.

A red scar appeared on his right hand.

In less than an instant the woman regained her "beauty".

Yuichi took out a mirror and presented it to the woman.

The woman stared dumbly at her image in the silver mirror.