Qin Siyang didn't answer. He just quietly stared at Chris.
His eyes gave away nothing.
"Protector Chris, that's a question I can't answer."
Qin Siyang first threw out a noncommittal Tai Chi move.
He had a feeling Chris hadn't just suddenly thought of this question before leaving, it was premeditated.
In fact, hiding in a trash can, coming all the way to South Glory, even trading for the Corrosive Black Centipede's remains, those were all secondary.
His real purpose was to probe for information about Hu Chan.
Chris smiled slightly, "It just popped into my head, no need for you to be so on guard, Mr. Qin."
Qin Siyang remained expressionless.
In his mind, he guessed that Chris must've activated his portable lie detector by now.
So answering "yes" or "no" would be meaningless.
If Chris got any useful information from him, he'd definitely move against Hu Chan.
That wouldn't do.
He still needed Hu Chan to go with him outside the safe zone, to be his hunting dog.
Qin Siyang sighed inwardly.
He said, "Protector Chris, I'm not the kind of person who casually leaks trade information."
["Truth."]
A low mechanical voice came from Chris's body.
Qin Siyang smiled faintly, 'So, the lie detector is on.'
Chris sighed. Since he'd been found out, there was no point pretending anymore.
He took the device out from his coat.
"Please don't mind, Mr. Qin. I was just curious what your answer would be."
"That's not very polite."
"Even so, I still hope you can answer my question. I can pay additional compensation."
It seemed Chris was quite wary about Hu Chan obtaining the Titan Grass inner-leaf fragments.
Or rather, he was wary of the person Hu Chan was trying to save.
At this point, Qin Siyang could only think of one way to protect Hu Chan, redirect the trouble elsewhere.
He'd have to compromise his morals a little.
"Protector Chris, our transaction for the Corrosive Black Centipede's remains was also being watched by someone."
["Truth."]
Sure enough, Chris's attention was immediately caught, "Mr. Qin, who was it?"
"Who it was isn't important."
Qin Siyang lifted his cup and crossed his legs, looking calm and composed.
For most people, a lie detector was a double-edged sword.
Only someone like him, used to lying all the time, knew how to turn it to his advantage.
Wu Yu needed Blood Moon Tarantula eyes, so before trading with Chris, Qin Siyang had confirmed with Wu Yu that five eyes would be enough.
Wu Yu said yes, and then asked how he'd obtained them. Qin Siyang replied that it was through a trade.
Naturally, Wu Yu became interested in this transaction and began texting him daily to ask for updates.
By answering vaguely, Qin Siyang let Chris mistakenly believe that someone inside Zephyr Sect was keeping an eye on him.
He took a sip of water and said leisurely, "Who that person is, I can't say. But I can tell you I didn't reveal our trade details to them."
["Truth."]
Qin Siyang continued, "Protector Chris, like I said, I'm just a materials trader. I don't deal in information."
"I'm already living as cautiously as possible, and still plenty of people want me dead. If I start talking nonsense, I probably won't live much longer."
"Hope you can understand."
Chris said, "Perhaps doing it once and then quitting for good wouldn't be such a bad idea either."
As he spoke, Chris reached into his coat.
"Protector Chris, I already told you, I don't need money. If you're about to pull out a few gold coins, don't bother wasting your effort."
But to his surprise, Chris took out a bracelet.
"If you'll tell me, I'll give you this bracelet."
"What's this?"
"The Illuminating Bracelet, a Tier-4 god-hunting tool. It can nullify one psychic-type attack against you."
"A one-use Tier-4 tool?"
"Yes."
Qin Siyang couldn't help but click his tongue.
He'd seen a one-use Tier-4 item before, the artillery shell Hu Yunsheng fired at him.
It had quite the punch.
To be able to block a psychic attack, it sounded like something worth keeping as a trump card.
Looking at the bracelet, his eyes lit up and his heart burned.
"You had something this good, why didn't you offer it when trading for the Corrosive Black Centipede's remains?"
"The remains weren't worth that much."
"I could've given you more."
Qin Siyang immediately decided: forget trading the Corrosive Black Centipede's remains for spider eyes, he wanted this bracelet instead.
As for Wu Yu's needs, those could wait.
Obviously, his own needs came first.
Chris smiled, "Mr. Qin, I didn't mean your Corrosive Black Centipede's remains weren't worth it, I meant no such remains are worth this price."
"Tier-4 god-hunting gear, at our level, weapons and armor can be obtained to some extent."
"But tools with unique functions like this one are very hard to come by."
"Of course, if you could give me a complete Corrosive Black Centipede's remains, including its acid gland, then I might consider trading."
Qin Siyang frowned, "So you're offering a Tier-4 tool now just to trade for one piece of information?"
"Yes."
"Why didn't you offer it earlier?"
Chris smiled again, "In your country there is a saying, 'to catch a white wolf with empty hands.' If I could get the information for free, why spend anything?"
"Protector Chris, you came here this time just to ask me this question face-to-face, didn't you?"
"If Mr. Qin wants to think so, that's not wrong."
Looking at the determined Chris, Qin Siyang shook his head and sighed.
He was about to break his own rule of trade confidentiality.
He couldn't help it, Chris's offer was too tempting.
And besides, Chris had backed him into a corner where refusal was no longer an option.
If Hu Chan hadn't traded with him for the Titan Grass inner-leaf fragments, he could've just denied it and still walked away with the bracelet for free, a genuine "Tier-4 god-hunting tool for nothing" deal.
So even if he refused, it would just be an obvious lie, Chris would figure it out anyway.
Qin Siyang took the bracelet and said, "Hu Chan did get a bit of the Titan Grass inner-leaf fragments from me."
["Truth."]
Chris clenched his fists slightly, then released them.
"Alright. Thank you for telling me, Mr. Qin. I've learned what I wanted. I'll be leaving now. Oh, and please keep today's visit between us."
Qin Siyang shook his head, "I won't tell anyone about our trade. But the fact that you know I gave Hu Chan the fragments, I will tell him."
Chris paused, confused, "Why?"
"Because I'm a kind man."