Zenchi crosses her arms and adopts a serious, somewhat condescending tone. She breaks the heavy silence by requesting the hunter’s identity, “...and you are?” Zenchi is weathered and always battle-ready and can immediately tell that Roseland wasn’t exactly on their side. On the other hand, Ithaca puts a finger to her mouth and takes a curious look at their unexpected guest for the night. “Umm, kitty?” She jokingly asks, merely taking notice of Roseland’s appearance as a slender, somewhat imposing leopard. Roseland, unfazed by Zenchi’s intimidating, deep tone, keeps her machine pistols on standby, ready to act if necessary. Looking Zenchi dead in the eye, she gladly introduces herself, “Call me Scarlet Heart. Pleased to make your acquaintance.” Unimpressed by the leopard’s odd name, Zenchi retorts with a passive-aggressive question of her own, “What are you, a performer? We've got somewhere to be now, thanks.”

The two continue their stare down, both becoming more aggressive by the second. Roseland, despite her masked appearance, signifies her attitude by squinting her cool blue eyes and telling the Hero upfront, “I'm a bounty hunter, and that is my codename. You're coming with me, Hero Of The Lands.” Clearly, she did not appreciate Zenchi’s offhand comment on her chosen name, and affirmed them that this encounter was assuredly going to go in her favor. In response, Zenchi grits her sharp, bladelike teeth. She reciprocates the bounty hunter’s demeanor by mocking her, “Oh really? You're a cocky one, aren't you?” The dragon’s eyes shift from their natural purple to a glowing, vibrant shade of azure, signifying that she is, in fact, Gifted. Being one of a very rare few with such great power, she is not afraid to show it to Roseland firsthand.

---

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