Chapter 39: I Want You, Deerling

"The answer is no."

"Thank you, Lydi—What?!"

A painful disbelief filled Zachary as Lydia pulled her hand away. He was staring at Lydia’s hand like she just announced the end of the world.

"That was all of a sudden, Senior. What has gotten into you? We barely know each other. Not to mention, I am your junior’s fiancée."

Sure, Zachary had prepared himself for several possible answers, but he never thought he’d get rejected. His black panther ears flattened to his skull as if Lydia had scolded him.

Besides, what if the worst were to happen? If I mark him and he force-marks me, I won’t be able to mark another Sentinel.

Girl, long-term plan is important.

Having someone like Zachary by her side would be wonderful. He was handsome, powerful, and obscenely wealthy.

Bond Marking wasn’t something Lydia could decide on a whim. Zachary wasn’t someone she could simply walk away from if things went wrong.

Getting tangled up in a complicated relationship before securing her future sure wasn’t part of the plan.

Perhaps Zachary wasn’t used to hearing the word no. With that much money, he could buy almost anything he wanted.

But his money can’t buy my life. What’s the use of having tons of money if it can’t keep me alive?

"Why me, though?" Lydia asked curiously.

"Do you really want to know why? Fair enough." He pulled out the chair opposite her and sat down, resting one arm against the table. "Well, to put it simply, do you know how difficult it is for a high-ranking Sentinel to find a compatible Guide?"

"Is it?"

"The best compatibility Ephraim ever had with a Guide was 7%. Even my grandma has more teeth than that."

The comparison was something else! Lydia burst out laughing.

"The higher a Sentinel’s rank, the harder it becomes to find a Guide with high compatibility," Zachary continued. "And for an SSS-Rank Sentinel like me, the problem is even worse."

"Even with your money?"

"Unfortunately, yes." Zachary sighed. "You think I haven’t tried?"

He ran a hand through his hair, leaving the dark strands slightly disheveled. "I’ve suspected something about you for a long time."

"Because of our compatibility? Sure, it’s 98%. But is it that impressive?"

The highest compatibility I ever had was 3%. By this point, I was used to seeing negative compatibility."

"I never knew that Sentinel and Guide could go below 0%! Are you natural enemies or what?"

"Color me surprised."

Guess that was new. This was the first time Lydia knew that such things could happen between Sentinel and Guide.

"What would it feel to have minus compatibility, Senior? Tell me, tell me!"

"Disgusting. Think of it like bugs crawling all over your skin when that Guide got near you." Zachary leaned back in his chair and continued. "And when they touched you? That’s the worst. I felt as if I were being groped and molested against my will."

Lydia reached for the tea pot and poured it for them both.

"So that’s why you are interested in me?"

"Partly. But there’s more to it than that. Resonance Amplification and Resonance Break. You know your thing, Lydia. Not only synchronizing and guiding, but you could provide support—buff and debuff—for Sentinels. That’s a HUGE thing in Rift Battlefields."

His expression softened as he met her gaze.

"I want that. I want you, deerling."

Yesterday’s battle had shown Lydia how much her abilities could help. Even Zachary’s great strength hadn’t been enough to defeat the rabbit.

He needed an opening, and she had given him one by taking away the monster’s greatest advantage—speed.

His explanation made sense. Zachary wasn’t asking Lydia to become his Guide just because they had high compatibility. He had seen her abilities in battle and knew how useful they could be.

"Senior, you did mention about Resonance Amplification. How did you know about that?"

"...."

"I knew it. So you were the one who watching Ephraim and me when we were inside that Dimensional Rift at Belfort University. But how you managed to see past the Rift Barrier?"

Zachary didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he lifted his teacup and took a leisurely sip, his green eyes turning calculating and mysterious.

"Let’s just say... My Resonance allowed me to do some extraordinary things, deerling."

What a smooth talker.

Having a contract was one thing. Bond Marking was another.

Lydia studied him more closely and noticed the mole beneath his left eye.

Both Ephraim and Senior Zach are quite attractive. Solid, solid. Perhaps I should gather more high-ranking Sentinels to secure my future.

Both for safety and financial reasons. Besides, having some eye candies won’t hurt, will it?

"You like what you see, Lydia?"

"I’ll leave that to your imagination, Senior Zach."

Such playful answer made Zachary smirked.

"Careful, deerling. I might not be able to keep my paws at bay if you keep being this captivating."

"So this is why you want to sign a contract with me?"

He picked up a small strawberry shortcake from the plate and feed it out to her.

"Correct." Zachary grinned. "Guide me, my deerling, and you’ll have me at your disposal."

After taking a bite, Lydia considered his offer while enjoying the sweet cream and fresh strawberries.

An SSS-Rank Sentinel with extraordinary combat abilities, high compatibility, and enough money to solve any problems just with a snap of fingers.

The idea was almost too good to be true. Was Zachary a genie in a bottle? Well, unless he could grant unlimited wishes, she wasn’t complaining.

It was certainly an interesting proposal. But Lydia wasn’t going to Bond Mark him just because he asked nicely.

A soft chuckle escaped Zachary when a little cream caught on the corner of Lydia’s lips. He wiped it away with his finger, then slowly licked it off as his eyes lingering on hers with a satisfied smile.

"What if I raise the bar to sweeten up our deal, deerling? We can start by monetizing your crystals."

"My crystals? Monetize?!"

Like a Cheshire cat, Zachary’s grin grew wider as he rested his chin on one hand, looking thoroughly pleased with himself.

"You love hoarding them, don’t you? Let me help you build your OWN wealth, deerling."

He paused, allowing those words to sink in.

"Interested?"