The forest grew quiet again.
Only the sound of wind brushing through leaves remained.
Butterfly’s blade was still resting lightly against Ut 2’s neck.
No one dared to move.
And yet—
Ut 2 suddenly smiled.
Just a faint smile.
Calm.
Almost amused.
That small expression alone made Tru feel a strange chill.
— Why is she smiling…?
Tru thought.
Butterfly narrowed her eyes slightly.
— You don’t look scared.
Ut 2 answered simply:
— Should I be?
Silence.
The tension didn’t break.
But something had already shifted.
At that moment—
Tru suddenly stepped forward.
— Wait.
Both Butterfly and Ut 2 glanced at her.
Tru took a deep breath.
Her eyes were serious.
— I have an idea.
Ki immediately had a bad feeling.
— …Why do I feel like this is going to be dangerous?
Tru ignored him.
She looked straight at Ut 2.
— Join our team.
The forest went completely silent.
Even the wind seemed to stop for a second.
Ki:
— …What???
Em Bé Công Nhân:
— T-Tru…?!
Even Butterfly turned slightly.
— You’re inviting her?
Tru nodded firmly.
— Yes.
— She’s strong.
— And…
She hesitated for a second, then smiled.
— I feel like she’s not a bad person.
Ut 2 looked at Tru quietly.
Her gaze was unreadable.
— You’re strange.
Tru grinned.
— I get that a lot.
Ut 2 tilted her head slightly.
— And what makes you think I’d join you?
Tru answered honestly:
— I don’t know.
— But I still want to try.
Another silence.
Then—
Ut 2 spoke.
— I can consider it.
Tru’s eyes lit up.
— Really?!
Ut 2 raised a finger.
— But I have a condition.
Immediately, Butterfly tightened her grip on the katana. Find the original chapter at g.com.
— Say it.
Ut 2 glanced at the blade near her neck.
— First…
— Let me go.
Butterfly didn’t move.
The atmosphere instantly became tense again.
Ki whispered:
— …Is that safe?
Tru hesitated for a second.
Then— she nodded.
— Let her go.
Butterfly looked at Tru.
A brief moment passed.
Then— she slowly withdrew her katana.
The pressure in the air vanished instantly.
Ut 2 rolled her wrist lightly.
— Thanks.
No hostility.
No sudden attack.
She simply stood there calmly.
As if she had never been restrained in the first place.
Tru stepped closer.
— So… what’s your condition?
Ut 2 looked at her.
This time— her expression became serious again.
— Help me.
The group blinked.
— Help… what?
Ut 2 spoke clearly:
— Help me save someone.
A faint wind passed through the forest.
Her voice lowered slightly.
— Ut 7.
Butterfly’s eyes sharpened instantly.
— The one representing intelligence?
Ut 2 nodded.
— She’s been captured.
The group froze.
Ki frowned.
— Captured?
By who?
Ut 2 shook her head.
— Unknown.
— But not normal enemies.
Her voice remained calm.
But there was something different now.
A trace of urgency.
— Ut 7 is extremely intelligent.
— But physically weak.
— If she stays there too long…
She didn’t finish the sentence.
But everyone understood.
Tru clenched her hand slightly.
— Where is she?
Ut 2 looked at her.
— I don’t know the exact location.
— But I have a lead. This story is hosted at g.com.
Silence.
Then—
Ut 2 continued:
— If you help me save her…
— I will join your group.
Tru’s eyes lit up again.
— Deal!
Ki immediately reacted:
— WAIT WAIT WAIT—
— That’s a rescue mission against unknown enemies?!
— That’s not “deal,” that’s suicide!!
Tru crossed her arms.
— Adventure!
Ki:
— That’s not the point!!!
Even Butterfly didn’t interrupt this time.
She was thinking.
Then—
Ut 2 added one more sentence.
— And not just me.
Everyone paused.
— What?
Ut 2 looked directly at Tru.
— If you succeed…
— I can bring more Uts into your group.
Tru froze.
— …How many?
Ut 2 answered casually:
— Depends on you.
— As many as you can handle.
The world seemed to stop for a second.
Ki whispered:
— …We’re about to recruit a whole species…
Em Bé Công Nhân held onto Tru’s sleeve.
— Tru ….
Is it alright …?
Tru stood there silently.
Then— a slow smile appeared on her face.
Bright.
Determined.
— I want all of them.
The others turned to her.
— If possible…
— I want your entire family to join us.
Even Ut 2 paused this time.
A few seconds passed.
Then— she smiled again.
This time, a little wider.
— Interesting.
She nodded.
— Fine.
— If you can save Ut 7…
— I’ll agree.
The wind rose once more.
Leaves swirled through the air.
And just like that— a simple encounter in the forest had turned into something far bigger:
a deal…
that could change the future of their entire group.
~End~