(A week before everything went down...)
After Ellie disconnected the call with Jacob, her lips curled up as she muttered in disdain, "Although he's ambitious and vigilant, but it also made him predictable. Dad already predicted that he might want something like a route map toward the epic plains or an Epic Rank Magic Evolution Manual, or even knowledge about the rank Epic Alchemist Tiers.
"In the end, he was just content with maps. I guess a lowborn will remain a lowborn no matter how high they can climb the ladder. Since he wanted to be a dog without a leash, he could be one. I just need him to direct him in a certain direction then."
Coldness crept into her eyes as her Star Watch's interface started to before a contact appeared, and then a voice call request was sent, and soon it got connected.
A melodious voice with a hint of surprise exclaimed, "Oh? Tell me if it's really my little darling, Ell, or did some Star Hacker manage to hack my Star Watch!"
Ellie instantly snapped with a hint of killing intent in her eyes, "Lucy, you bitch, cut the nonsense and tell me if you're interested in making a bet with me or not!"
Lucy's playful voice rang again, "Long time no see, Ell. I was just making sure you are the real deal since the Star Hackers are getting out of hand lately as the trial is upon us. As for the bet, if you need money, then just ask. You know I won't reject you even if I have to sell my body for you!"
Ellie gritted her teeth in indignation, "Bitch, if you don't want to talk properly, I'll cut the call!"
"Hehe, how cute. You're just making me more excited. Alright, I'll bite." Lucy giggled without any hint of seriousness.
This made Ellie even more rageful, but she didn't lose her calm as she said icily, "I recently discovered that you tried to undermine me regarding the matter of Faceless Ancient.
"Don't worry, I won't hold it against you, but this matter also involved Faceless Ancient, so it was necessary to mention him. I know you put some kind of commission on him. So, I want to bet on this exact thing since the stage is already set. Do you dare?"
"Oh? It seemed that Old Pervert finally had his way with you, huh?" Lucy chortled wickedly.
"Do you believe I'll raise your bank branches in Alchemy Region into the ground if you dare to spout any more nonsense?" Ellie nefariously questioned.
"Alright, you know we are best friends, and best friends joke all the time. Tell me what you suggest." Lucy coolly changed the subject.
Ellie controlled the urge to cut the call and revealed, "I want to bet whether Faceless Ancient could come to Epic Plains alive or not."
Lucy remained silent for a moment before her intrigued voice rang again, "Are you betting on; he can?"
"Yes," Ellie answered without hesitation.
"I know it won't be so simple with you. So, what will be the conditions?" Lucy questioned.
"I only have one condition, and that if he is stopped or dies at the hand of any epic level being, or anything epic as a matter of fact or type-2 or above treasures, poisons, mech, this bet will be voided," Ellie answered coldly.
Lucy again fell into contemplated silence before she replied with a hint of interest, "You want to void the bet but not place a condition like if I violated this, I will have to give you the item I bet? Don't tell me, if you found yourself losing, you will just go out your way and use this loophole yourself so you could save your own ass?"
'This bitch is as sharp as ever.' Ellie narrowed her eyes. She didn't deny it nor admit it and coldly spoke, "I'm placing this condition only because if I didn't place, you would never bet the item I want."
"Then you should've tried to ask me. I might've fell for your trap, you know." Lucy mockingly replied.
"Are you betting or not?" Ellie snapped.
"I want to add another condition, then. If you accept, then let's talk about what we're betting." Said, Lucy.
'Here it's come.' Ellie took a deep breath, "Tell me."
"I want to confirm two things first. The first one, this journey will be made by Faceless Ancient alone, right? Second, if he dies in the Star Ocean by some epic-level beast or gets poisoned by a type-2 rank poison or some pirate ship, even some epic stray dog, before stepping on the soil of the epic plains, this bet would be voided, right?" She questioned.
"To answer your first question, I have already sold him the map of the epic plains' sea routes, but he will not get any help from my side, and I have nothing to do with his actions except that map he bought from me for his services.
"As for your second question, yes, as long as he won't die by anything but epic or type-2 and with their involvement and can't reach the epic plains, you won. But if you did, you lose." Ellie replied.
"Heh, giving him a map is akin to giving him a shortcut. But it would make it more interesting. The last question, we are using Zodiac Oath Contract, right?" She asked again.
"Of course, it goes without saying. Or do you think I would make a bet with a willy bitch like you?" Ellie scoffed.
"You know that's kind of hurt." Lucy sighed sadly, which was clearly just to tease Ellie more before she said, "Alright, then, then my condition is simple, before this bet, if anyone, this included all the beings in existence, including you and me, so if 'anyone' had made any prior arrangements expect that map part, the bet shall be won by the person who didn't win the bet the moment he Zodiac Oath was established. If you agree to this, then let's talk about the items."
Ellie wasn't got flustered by this condition at all. On the contrary, her lips curled slightly, 'The old man was again right!'
"Alright, I agree to this condition as well." Ellie agreed without hesitation.
"Oh? It seemed you didn't sleep with him after all." Lucy's voice contained a rare surprise.
Ellie's expression instantly went dark, but before she could curse, Lucy continued, "Then tell me, what are we betting?"
Ellie suppressed her murderous urge as she knew it was now a critical point, and she couldn't miss this chance, or she won't get another.
"You know damn well what I want." Ellie coldly declared.
"The Scripture of Blank? Alright. But you should know how precious it is, so unless you bring out that Old pervert's Null Space Mirror, I won't bet it." Lucy stated her own condition as if she had expected this much.
Ellie, on the other hand, was also expecting this type of demand from Lucy, 'Old man, you better be right about this, or it's not my fault.'
After taking a deep, cold breath, she solemnly declared, "Let's seal the deal then!"