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“Aha. Concerned about him, are you? I suppose that’s only natural.” Morgunov paused. “Still a bit surprising, though, now that I’m thinking about it. I mean, do you really care about the little Lion? Or are you just going through the motions, ‘cuz of your sense of duty?”

“Of course I care,” said Rasalased. “Why would you say that?”

“Oh, c’mon. You’re a god now, aren’tcha? You’re above such base, mortal concerns, surely! Aren’t you much more interested in the big picture, hmm? Things that we on this plane of existence can barely even glimpse, let alone comprehend?”

Rasalased made no response.

Oho? Had he unexpectedly hit the mark, Morgunov wondered? Truthfully, he’d just been saying stuff, rambling with whatever came into his head. Usually, when he did that, he discovered all sorts of new ways to piss people off.

Ehehe. Perhaps this “Dry God” was even more full of surprises than he’d hoped.

The still-nameless sister chimed in again. “You will not be harming Asad Najir any more than you already have, Little Fool.”

Morgunov giggled. “Ooh, that sounds like a threat. I admire your confidence. Unless it turns out to be arrogance, of course. Ehehe.”

This was music to his ears. Even though it was quite likely that this lady had simply been lying about being a Primordial in order to intimidate him, it would be absolutely perfect if she’d been telling the truth.

The fact was, he didn’t want a pet god like Rasalased. Someone amicable and courteous from the outset? No, no. He wanted someone mean. Someone egotistical.

Someone whose spirit he’d be able to take great joy in breaking.

Because after all, once that was done, courtesy and amicability could be taught. In fact, that’d probably be the most fun part.

She, however, did not immediately respond. Despite her rudeness, perhaps she still wanted to be careful with her words here.

Morgunov hoped not. That sounded boring.

Instead, Rasalased was the next to speak. “If you harm the Lion further, you will not find us cooperative with whatever it is that you want.”

“That’s one way of looking at it, sure,” said Morgunov, “but I could also pose the opposite perspective. If you don’t cooperate, then your sandy boy won’t be having a very good time in my custody.”

“Either way, the result is the same,” said Rasalased. “You must leave him be. In fact, releasing him and his reaper would be best.”