I'll do what I can do to Freedom

Linggis narrowed his eyes. "Wait a minute. If your reason is really that simple, then there's one thing that doesn't make sense."

Sola raised an eyebrow, as if intrigued. "And what's that?"

"I've never worked with you before, let alone known you personally until you and Elyssia approached me." Linggis stared at her sharply. "So when exactly did you start watching me?"

Sola kept smiling, but this time, there was something different about it—like she had been expecting this question all along.

"I wasn't using my current identity back then."

Linggis immediately felt something was off. "So you were in disguise?"

"You could say that." Sola let out a short sigh before leaning against the tree beside her. "I used to be someone with a status equal to—or even higher than—the top-ranked hunters. But no one ever knew it was me."

Linggis eyed her warily. "Who were you back then?"

Sola didn't answer right away. Instead, she gazed at the sky, as if recalling something from the past. After a moment, she finally spoke.

"That name has been dead for a long time, so there's no point in saying it. What you need to know is… I was once in a position where I could observe every strong hunter in this country. I studied them, judged them, and searched for someone truly different."

Linggis felt a bad premonition. "And you chose me?"

"Yes." Sola met his gaze with unwavering determination. "Out of all the hunters I've encountered, you were the only one who couldn't be controlled by the system, the organization, or even your own personal desires. You move purely by your own will—and that makes you dangerous."

Linggis scoffed. "So you're interested in me because I'm dangerous?"

"Because you're free." Sola corrected him softly. "And that's something someone like me could never have."

Linggis fell silent. Those words felt too deep, too honest, coming from someone like Sola.

But before he could say anything, Sola suddenly stepped closer and whispered, "That's why I'll never let you go, Linggis."

There was something in her voice that made Linggis realize—no matter what he did, this woman had already decided that he was hers.