Jack didn't chase after them. Instead, he turned to Layton and said, "Layton, you must have heard the mission I just announced. If you'd like, I'd like you to take on this mission with another team."

“Young Master Jack, we just had a conflict, how can you entrust this task to me so easily?” Layton glanced at Jack and deliberately reminded him.

“I trust my judgment, and I know your character. The best way to protect your teammates is to do your best to complete the mission. Don’t you care about the lady next to you?” Jack looked meaningfully at the priestess beside Layton.

"Hmph, you don't need to remind me of that, Young Master Jack." Having his thoughts exposed but unable to do anything about it, Layton could only angrily turn and leave. However, after taking a few steps, he turned back and said, "I'll take this mission. Consider it my apology for bothering you today."

“Thank you.” Jack’s response was flat, but quick, perfectly following the last syllable uttered by Layton.

When Jack came out after chatting with the signboard girl for a few minutes, Wu Yu was squatting boredly at the entrance of the Adventurers' Guild, staring blankly at the crowds coming and going.

It wasn't until Jack appeared that Wu Yu jumped up and casually said, "Finally done. So, where's our next stop? Lead the way."

“Everything we needed to do today is done. Let’s go home now,” Jack replied, then headed back the way he came.

"Wait a minute," Wu Yu called out from behind him.

"Is something the matter?" Jack always accommodated Wu Yu, and this time he immediately stopped and turned around.

"Jack, we've known each other for a long time, haven't we?" Wu Yu asked, staring intently at Jack.

“Today is the fortieth day,” Jack quickly replied.

"You remember that clearly." Wu Yu looked helpless, but soon he put on the most serious tone he had ever used and said, "I think we should have a good talk."

"What do you want to talk about?" Jack blinked and asked innocently.

“We’ve known each other for so long, you must have noticed my eccentricities and your unconventional ways. I was really happy when you offered to team up with me today, but it’s precisely because of that happiness that I want to be honest with you. I don’t want to invade your privacy, but you’re becoming more and more important to me. Before you become irreplaceable to me, I want to ask you this once: can we exchange our secrets?”

Seemingly afraid that Jack wouldn't understand his decision, Wu Yu emphasized again, "This is the first and last time I'll make this request."

Jack's expression remained unchanged; he simply pointed out the inconsistency, "But I might lie to you. You wouldn't trust me completely, would you?"

"I know, but I don't care. The truth doesn't matter. Can't one find happiness even if they live their life amidst other people's lies?"

Wu Yu said with burning eyes, his gaze so intense, just like when they first met. Only, back then Wu Yu was looking at the sword, but this time he was looking at the person. Back then he longed for life, but this time he longed for something more important than life.

One second, two seconds.

For the first time, Jack hesitated when answering Wu Yu.

Doubt, confusion, and a host of other complex emotions swept across those azure eyes, which were no longer as cold and piercing as they had been when they first met.

“Okay!” Jack finally uttered the two words that Wu Yu had been longing for.

"Then let's do it tonight," Wu Yu said eagerly, finally free from the agonizing wait.

“Not tonight.” Jack shook his head, refusing Wu Yu’s request.

But just before Wu Yu's expression turned grim, Jack added, "The battle for the title isn't over yet. Can you wait another ten days? Once I become a viscount, we'll have a whole night to ourselves and have a proper heart-to-heart talk after we've let down our guard."

"Ten days?" Wu Yu murmured.

For some reason, the fact that it was just a time unit measured in days gave him a feeling of being out of reach.

But in the end, Wu Yu nodded firmly and said, "I'll wait for you."