Just as Master Unrestrained finished devouring his half-watermelon with impressive speed, he burst into booming laughter at Ethan's words.
"Ethan, you rascal! That's rich! Offering my daughter material compensation is like a pauper trying to impress a king with his trinkets."
"Don't you know her heritage? She's a treasure-sniffing mouse! No rare artifact within miles can escape her keen nose."
Ethan shot him a sideways glance brimming with exasperation. "Master Unrestrained! If you're aware of this, how could you abandon Seraphina here alone?"
"With such a coveted gift yet no means of self-defense, it's no different than a toddler waving gold coins in a thieves' den. Aren't you worried she might be kidnapped by greedy cultivators seeking to exploit her?"
To Ethan's surprise, the monk
