Location: Lil Red Storm Realm, Realm's Womb, Seed World
"What are you two scheming?" Wyatt asked, shifting his gaze between Park and Corey. "Nothing, boss. Scheming is your thing, bossman," Corey replied, rubbing her hands together and forcing a wide smile, her eyes twinkling with a mischievous light. Her intentions couldn't have been more obvious.
"Wyatt, how about this: if we get. Susan to date you, will you give her the hourglass relic?" Park immediately got to the point, wanting to get it over with before Corey realized who was tricking whom.
"Sure, why not? Not only will I give her the relic, but I'll also help her use it as an ingredient in her second origin card creation. If that relic isn't compatible with her fate ingredient or if I'm unable to give it to her due to unforeseen circumstances, I'll get her another relic of equal or greater power. If you don't trust my word, let's take an oath," Wyatt promised, ensuring that in case the hourglass relic could be put to better use in the hands of Clown Mask, he could still fulfil his promise by providing Susan with a different one.
"Wyatt, let's not make any oaths. I trust you," Corey quickly agreed, finding Wyatt's words reasonable. She believed Wyatt was capable of what he claimed. He could get a relic compatible with Susan's fate ingredient if the hourglass relic didn't suit her. However, since she planned to trick him, she had no reason to make him take an oath. If the hourglass relic wasn't compatible with Susan's fate ingredient, she could exchange it for a suitable one in the inter-realm network with Clown Mask's help. Not to mention, if Susan truly didn't want to go on a date with Wyatt, she could simply back out. Corey wasn't afraid of going back on her word-after all, she was a demon merchant.
As all these thoughts crossed Corey's mind, she didn't stop to think that everything she had was thanks to Wyatt. If she were to trick him, how could she escape unscathed? That thought never crossed her mind. All she cared about was getting Susan the hourglass relic and proving to Wyatt that she was smarter than him. Honestly, other than the misunderstanding that Wyatt was trying to become her stepfather, she had no complaints with him. In fact, she considered him her best friend. Cortney, Jaya, and the rest were all Wyatt's friends who had grown close to her. It was just her possessiveness over Susan that had repeatedly become a wedge between them. Ultimately, Wyatt was her first pick for a team, but if Susan were present, everyone else was only second to her.
"Great. So, we have a deal then?" Wyatt asked. Without Park's cooperation in tricking Corey, it wouldn't have been easy to convince her to agree to such a deal.
"Yes, deal. My word is golden," Corey said, trying her best to suppress her laughter. Yet, the mischievous glint in her eyes gave her away. Regardless of how hard she tried, she was an open book to those who knew her well.
"Corey, you are the best! It seems I wasn't wrong to trust you. You're the only one who truly cares about me. If not for you, I wouldn't know whom to turn to after Susan rejected me. Corey, I cannot thank you enough," Wyatt said, not sparing any effort in flattering her, even though they had already reached an agreement. With this deal, the strongest force opposing his union with Susan would now work in his favor.
Yes, Wyatt considered Corey the biggest threat to his progress with Susan-not Anna's mother, the Southern Princess. He strongly believed that if he could get Corey on his side, even if the Southern Princess used every trick in her book, she would fail to stop his union with Susan.
Unknown to Susan, Corey had become an essential part of her life. Despite entering Susan's life for a short period, Corey had the most significant impact on her-greater than even Wyatt's.
It was like adopting a pet that, without you realizing it, becomes a part of your family, your life, or sometimes even more. It might not have fought wars for you or brought you the stars, but it was just there, present in your life, it would be happy when you're happy and it would sad when you're sad, yet always selflessly trying to make you smile.
Corey was just like that for Susan. She knew she could depend on Corey for anything without expecting anything in return. Therefore, Corey's opinion mattered the most to her, even more than her birth parents' and, in some cases, even Wyatt's. If Corey were to try and "sell" Wyatt to Susan, considering her feelings for him, she would most definitely be swayed in a heartbeat. With Corey on his side, Wyatt doubted Susan could reject him the next time he asked her on a date.
Listening to Wyatt genuinely praise her and thank her gratefully, Corey suddenly grew conflicted. No matter what, he was her best friend, so she hesitated to push him into the abyss for Susan's sake. However, ultimately, she closed her eyes and resolved to push him for Susan, "Don't worry, Wyatt, leave it to me." Such was her obsession with Susan.
With this, the lingering guilt Wyatt felt for tricking Corey vanished. He was trying to trick her, and she was trying to trick him, so they were even. Hence, without any remorse, he asked, "So, when should I expect to hear from Susan?"
"That-" Corey stammered, finding herself at a loss for words. When it came time for her to deliver, it finally dawned on her what she had done, falling prey to her greed. Seeing this, Park quickly stepped in, "Wyatt, we will tell you after we've talked with Susan, So, be patient until then. Otherwise, deal cancel."
Listening to Park, Corey calmed down, realizing that nothing was set in stone. She could back out of the deal whenever she wanted. As a result, her admiration for Park grew even stronger.