The man's smirk widened just a little when she asked, clearly amused by the way she was sizing him up like she was already suspicious of his entire existence.
He placed a hand over his chest in a slow, almost exaggerated manner, bowing just slightly like he was performing for an audience.
"Gabriel," he said smoothly, his voice carrying that same lazy confidence. "A humble prince… of the tribe business."
Elena blinked. "Errrr... a what?"
"Hmm," he hummed and straightened up. "You may also call me someone who understands value… far better than most." His red eyes flicked to the diamond in her hand, and the smirk deepened. "Especially when it comes to rare items."
Elena followed his gaze slowly… then looked back at him.
Ahhhh. So that's what all his greetings were about.
"Give it to me," Gabriel said casually, like he was asking for something as simple as a cup of water.
Elena didn't move.
He didn't seem bothered. If anything, he looked even more entertained.
"In exchange," he continued, lifting a finger as if he was about to present something truly grand, "I will offer you ten forks."
There was a brief silence. He clearly thought Elena would gasp or look at him like an angel, but Elena's face remained blank.
"Twenty artificial blood packs," he added, sounding very serious like a real businessman.
He intentionally paused. "And…" he leaned in slightly, lowering his voice like he was about to reveal something legendary, "a long magic stick. Once you place it inside water or any liquid and pull… it will come directly into your mouth."
Other tribe members stopped walking and looked in their direction in surprise. "That's new…" someone whispered in shock.
"A long magic stick? húhúhú kì?" an old beast said.
"Did you hear that?"
"What kind of treasure is that?!"
The people who had slowly gathered around were now inching closer, their eyes wide with curiosity and admiration as they stared at Gabriel who had just descended from the heavens.
Elena bit her lip hard. Her shoulders trembled slightly. 'Damn! This laugh… don't come out!!'
She looked down at the diamond in her hand… then back at him. Then back at the diamond again. Her lips twitched.
Sooooo… This man… wants to collect a billion-dollar stone… with what is not even up to fifty dollars?!
"..."
Ah!
Now she understood. This guy is the real villain. He's been scamming them without their knowing!
"You are not satisfied?" Gabriel tilted his head slightly, his tone carrying faint amusement, like he had expected resistance but not silence.
He chuckled softly. "Alright," he said generously. "I heard you are quite greedy."
Elena almost choked. Humph!! What type of situation is this?!! There's no way she will trade a big diamond for ordinary forks unless he offers her a whole fork company!
"I will add another long magic stick," he continued smoothly. "Making it two."
Gasps erupted immediately. "Two?!"
"He's increasing it!"
"And…" Gabriel paused for effect, already enjoying the attention as usual. "With two glass cups."
The reaction this time was even louder.
"Oh my God…"
"He's so generous…"
"He must have been sent by the Beast God to bless us…" Someone said with awe, practically tearing up.
Elena stared at them. Then at him. Then back at them. "Are you people serious?" she muttered under her breath. It was funny how he made a straw such a big deal! And they were like this because they aren't human and don't know these things.
"Why does this demon always see what she doesn't deserve?" another voice complained bitterly from the side.
"That's unfair!"
"I agree! She has destroyed this tribe for so long… even the Beast God cursed her face because of her evil!"
"She should be stoned alive!"
Elena's smile froze.
Ahhh!!
There it is again. Everything is: she's trying to hurt them!
"That's a nice reputation." Gebrel chuckled.
She slowly exhaled, lifting her gaze lazily toward Gabriel, who was now openly laughing.
"Looks like you have quite the reputation," he said, his red eyes gleaming with interest as he studied her reaction.
Elena tilted her head slightly, her expression shifting into something calm, making it difficult for him to understand.
Then she raised the diamond a little higher, letting the sunlight hit it just right.
It sparkled beautifully, blinding everyone for a second. Then she smiled. "Oh," she said lightly, her tone sweet… but her eyes were not smiling at all.
"So you're trying to scam me?"
The crowd went silent. Even Gabriel paused for a second.
Elena continued, taking the matter seriously, "You want to exchange this…" she lifted the diamond in disbelief, "for forks, strawberry juice, and a drinking stick?"
She blinked slowly. "Do I look like I lost my brain when I woke up?"
A few people gasped. Some stepped back. "Look, the demon is bullying someone again!"
"Let's inform the prime lord, what if his good man gets angry and doesn't want to help us again?"
"You are right, there's no way we can tell Lord Zenobius because he will always be on his daughter's side."
"Good idea…"
"But the prime lord isn't around."
Gebrel ignored them and looked at her in confusion and surprise. Because this… this was not how Lady Cece usually spoke.
If anything… the man only grew more interested. "You're different today," he murmured.
Elena scoffed softly, tossing the diamond lightly in her hand before catching it again like it meant nothing.
"Or maybe," she said, shrugging slightly, "you just met the wrong person to scam."
"Scar? " What's scar?" someone asked.
"No fool! she said scam!!"
"That's a trick!!"
For a brief moment, the air shifted. Then Gabriel laughed again. "Well then…" he said, taking a step closer. "That makes things more interesting."
Elena raised a brow. "What are you trying to do?" She looked around for help and got annoyed seeing the tribe members looking excited, as if they should just kill her, someone even tried to offer him a sharp sword while others carried a huge stone.
"Seriously?!!