Mr. Pantalone has no crazy plans today.

Although after meeting you for the first time, the other person will most likely ridicule and mock you.

With this thought in mind, Pantalone, holding a bottle of kerosene, approached the figure and greeted the woman who was also gazing at the scenery below the tower.

"Yo, Arecino."

"Ha, are you here to mock me, the loser, as the victor? Or are you here to show off that you picked up the pawn I discarded?"

After noticing Pantalone's presence, Arecino listened to Pantalone's greeting with a sarcastic expression and a fake smile as she replied.

Arecino had already sensed someone approaching as soon as Pantalone got close.

Almost immediately, they put themselves on high alert.

Although it is the dead of winter here, there should be no enemies.

But this is no reason to let your guard down.

The basic quality that any executor of the Fools should possess is to always maintain a sense of vigilance.

Those who lack sufficient vigilance would have died countless times over.

So even after the figure got close and she realized it was Pantalone, her colleague, Arecino did not let her guard down.

Rather, it was after confirming that it was Pantalone.

Arecino's vigilance rose to another level.

It is precisely because they are colleagues who are also executives that they are even more wary.

This was especially true of the special relationship between himself and Pantalone.

After hearing what Arecino said, Pantalone roughly understood that Arecino was referring to the abandoned child she had discarded, which he had picked up as trash.

After all, even if it was someone Arecino didn't want, having them poached by him was, in a sense, a slap in the face to her.

Especially since she had recently lost a game to herself.

It's normal for Arecino to have this kind of self-perception.

Pantalone, however, did not seem to care much about it; rather, Alegino's reaction was the expected and normal outcome.

Seeing the wariness that Arecino had mentioned to him, Pantalone simply waved the flammable water in his hand and greeted Arecino.

"Don't be so guarded, okay? This isn't work time. Putting aside your role as an executive officer, I don't think it's necessary to be so tense in private. I have some excellent wine here, would you like to try some?"

"It's really unbelievable to hear you say that."

Arecino's words were as barbed and merciless as ever, but for Pantalone, who was already used to it all, these words were nothing more than harmless and ineffective.

Therefore, he simply smiled and replied casually.

"At least I think what I said this time was quite sincere. Want to have a chat?"

"Of course, not as executives, but as ordinary people, setting aside those identities."

"Even if it's just for tonight, how about we put aside our past prejudices for now?"

As he spoke, Pantalone handed over the kerosene in his hand.

He gestured for Arecino to take the bottle of wine from his hand if she agreed to talk to him.

Pantalone's reaction left Arecino momentarily confused about what he was trying to say.

Although she really wanted to just turn around and leave, if she refused Pantalone's invitation and walked away, wouldn't it look like she was afraid of him?

Especially in my recent game, I not only failed to gain the upper hand.

The result was a complete loss, which was undoubtedly a major defeat for her.

If I were to refuse outright, it would be as if I were afraid to face Pantalone because of my previous failures.

So even though she wasn't keen on Pantalone's invitation, she still accepted the bottle of wine Pantalone offered and glanced at him with a composed smile.

"What do I have to be afraid of?"

Chapter 108 Arecino and the One Who Betrayed the Promise (4k)

In the extreme cold of sub-zero temperatures, a world covered in pure white winter snow descends.

In this snowy winter capital, a man dressed in black and a woman dressed in white are gazing at the pure white world beneath the winter capital and the snow country under the pale moonlight.

In this pure white snow country, in this world covered by ice and snow, there is absolute peace and silence.

The figure, clad in a silver-gray coat, stood on the edge of the coldest corner of this snow country, appearing somewhat out of place in this world.

Looking at the snow and ice piled up on the city wall, his long, slender hands with distinct joints touched the cold snow and ice directly, taking away the warmth from his hands.

He swept away the snow and gently blew on it.

The breath exhaled instantly turned into frost, demonstrating the coldness of this snowy land.

Only Pantalone is no ordinary person. If it were an ordinary person here, they would probably freeze to death in this icy and snowy place in no time.

With his hands resting on the cold, icy steps, these thoughts lingered in his mind.

Looking back at the tall female figure leaning against the corridor, he couldn't help but feel a sense of感慨 (gǎnkǎi, a complex emotion encompassing feelings, emotions, and reflection).