The conversation had taken a turn for the worst, and Jonas could feel that he and his new acquaintance were just moments away from becoming enemies for good. It wasn't that Jonas needed Xiao Lin; he hated the idea of having another obstacle to go along with Garth, Howard Hurts, and Thomas Vale. If the conversation was salvageable, Jonas ought to try. However, that didn't mean he would appease Xiao Lin to the point of harming his Pride.

“Let me get this straight. You'd rather lose your life trying to stop slaves from escaping; rather than lose your life while trying to escape. Come on, Xiao Lin, we both know which one is more appealing.”

“You’re correct, but how could you assume I'd die when I have Garth, Howard, and Thomas by my side?”

“Garth will mind his own business. Yuki will handle Thomas, Ahmed will take you, and I'll take Howard. Then, the rest of our crew will jump in and help against you three. You'll have the advantage while one-on-one, but you'll be overwhelmed by our numbers. The fighters in my crew aren't cannon fodder. My team consists of strong-willed people that Ahmed and I have personally trained."

“Garth will mind his own business?” Xiao Lin looked skeptical.“I don’t think you believe that. You shouldn't use it as a bargaining chip. Honestly, it makes you seem naïve and unconvincing," Jonas agreed that Garth wouldn't stand aside, but he wanted Xiao Lin to think that he was ignorant: it would help lower his guard during the argument.

“I’m not naïve,” said Jonas. “Fine, I'll change the plan. After Howard and Thomas leave the complex, I and everyone else will kill Garth in his sleep. Then, we'll go to your room and do the same. Problem solved?" Jonas was pleased that Xiao Lin was grimacing and looked uncomfortable with the thought of three top-five fighters breaking into his room and killing him while he slept.

"That would have been a good plan had you not told me," Xiao Lin tried to regain his footing. "I'll tell Garth and Howard beforehand," these words made Jonas cackle.

"If I was worried about exposing my plans to you, would I be here discussing things? Xiao Lin, I'm only here because of a simple fact."

"Which is?"

"I'm confident I can kill you right here and now," Jonas' Sin Scars began to glow like two headlights. "You don't think I can? I know for sure. Yuki told me about you: a great martial artist, a perfectionist of technique, but a downright coward and a below-average talent at Sin," Xiao Lin bit his lip and narrowed his eyes. It seemed that Jonas had touched on one of his insecurities.

"It's unfortunate that Yuki sees me the way you describe. I've only ever treated her with kindness and respect. I may not have the same talent for Sin as you do, but I feel that I'm more than adequate to take you here and now," Xiao Lin's Sin Scars glowed in protest, and they were in the shape of flames.

"Once we've killed all of you and escaped," Jonas hoped his bait-and-switch tactic would do the trick. "I'm leaving to go take the Sin Assessment."

“The Sin Assessment?" Xiao Lin's eyes grew wide, and his breathing became irregular." Even if I accept the premise that you have enough talent to at least try to become a True Sinner, you don’t have any backing, don’t know where it is, and don’t have the resources to accomplish it.”

“That’s not true,” said Jonas. “I have a master, and he’s already a True Sinner—a powerful True Sinner,” Xiao Lin's mouth fell open. Jonas had never intended to bring up Old Louie because he wasn’t sure if he’d ever see the old quack again, let alone get information out of him.

“Your master is a full-fledged Sinner?” Xiao Lin closed his mouth and glared at Jonas very skeptically.

“He is,” said Jonas, and although it wasn't the whole truth, it was good enough to convince Xiao Lin.

“Where is he? Why are you a slave, and why hasn’t he broken you out?”

“I’m not sure where he is,” Jonas tried his best to keep a straight face while he told half-truths and half-lies. “We argued, separated, and then some goons sold me into slavery.”

“What do you mean? I want to hear the truth before I believe something that far-fetched,” Xiao Lin's skepticism caused Jonas’ brain to whirl in circles because he hadn't prepared to lie about Old Louie.

Jonas had never been a fan of lying, but this matter involved the fate of more than just himself, so he didn't have the luxury of keeping his character clean. If his Pride had to choose between being deceptive or saving his friends, Jonas would lie with a clear conscience.

“The truth?” Jonas licked his dry lips. “We disagreed. I wanted to take the Sin Assessment for this year, but he wanted me to wait a bit. I thought I was ready, but I was wrong.”

"Of course, you were wrong," Xiao Lin looked outraged. "You told Howard that you've only been practicing Sin for over a year, which means that before you got to the Hurts Gang, you had barely any exposure to Sin at all. How could you possibly think you would be ready to take the Sin Assessment?"

"I know that now," Jonas was happy with the direction the conversation had taken. "Me being naive made things difficult for my master, and he just wanted what was best for me. The point is, he and I are still tight, he just has no idea where I am, or else he would have already come to rescue me."

"I'm still not sure if I fully believe you," however, his expression betrayed him because Xiao Lin looked like he was very invested in Jonas' story.

"Xiao Lin, just use some reasonable deduction. Is it strange that a talented nineteen-year-old Sinner has a powerful master?"

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"No, it isn't," he conceded. "So, you need to escape, and then you can contact your master?"

"Exactly. A silly argument would never break the bond between master and disciple. Just think, when my master sees how much I've progressed in such a short time—"

"He'll take you to the Sin Assessment," Xiao Lin got over-eager and cut Jonas off.

"However, that doesn't matter to you, does it? You're already planning on snitching, aren't you?" Jonas narrowed his brow, and Xiao Lin swallowed some saliva.

"Well, maybe I was a bit hasty," he tried to flash a friendly grin.

"I know a little secret you might be interested in," Jonas leaned in and lowered his voice. "It's about Original Sin."

"Oh, do tell," Xiao Lin leaned in too.

"My master told me there's a secret method to unlock Original Sin for those who were born without great talent for Sin," and because he was so close to Xiao Lin, Jonas could see his pupils dilate as if he had just pumped his veins full of drugs.

"That's far-fetched. There's simply no way you can become a talented Sinner if you weren't born that way."

"No need to call me a liar," Jonas made a mock-angry expression. "I didn't say it was a method to make you talented. I said it was a method to help those WITHOUT talent unlock their Original Sin. Never mind, since you're not interested."

"No, no," Xiao Lin's facade broke, and his desperation began to seep through. "I'm sorry I offended you. Please, continue with your guidance."

“I don’t know if I should be explaining these things to a potential enemy?” Jonas asked, “Would you tell me if you were in my shoes?”

“Err,” Xiao Lin was blundering for words. “Of course not, but what enemies are you talking about; we’re not enemies, are we?”

“Not yet,” said Jonas. "However, I want to escape this prison, and you’re unsure if you will help me, ignore me, or get in my way. Should I be telling you the deepest secrets of Sin that my master passed down?”

“No, no, of course not,” Xiao Lin was serious. “The relationship between master and disciple is a sacred bond, and you cannot be so flippant about those secret teachings that he passes to you. Believe it or not, I once had a master many years ago.”

“Then I’m happy you understand,” said Jonas. “Xiao Lin, I’m not a greedy person,” he held up the back of his hands and showed off his cross-shaped Sin Scars, “Nor am I a deceptive person."

“Of course,” said Xiao Lin while wearing a smile. “I’ve garnered that from our conversation, and of course, Ahmed wouldn't have been so loyal if you weren’t something special.”

“Thank you,” Jonas smiled as he put his hands down. “I’m a Crusader, and this escape plan is my crusade. Do you understand the importance of that?”

“I’ve never met a Crusader,” Xiao Lin said. “But I’ve heard enough about them that once they set their mind on something, you’ll be hard put to stop them.”

“That is very true,” said Jonas. “Xiao Lin, may I ask if you are interested in taking the Sin Assessment and learning about Original Sin?”

“Of course I am,” Xiao Lin said quickly. “I don't have the talent to unlock my Original Sin, and I'll need that to pass the assessment.”

“I understand now. You’ve been in Hell for a few hundred years, correct?”

“This is correct,” Xiao Lin nodded. “It’s been just over two hundred years since I died.”

“I’ve been in Hell for just a year now,” said Jonas, “I’m only nineteen, and look what I’ve managed to accomplish. I came to Hell with nothing, no martial ability, no power, no resources, and no backing. I was just a scared, skinny, eighteen-year-old kid with nothing but the ragged clothes on his back. It only took a year, but I managed to kill Wolf in a duel."

“Impressive,” Xiao Lin resorted to flattery. “You accomplished so much at such a young age.”

“When I was just a slave living in a cage, I looked Ahmed in the eyes and told him I’d throw him out of the fight pit, and I bet my left hand that I could do it in a week. They told me I was insane and that it was impossible. One week later, I threw Ahmed out of that sandy fight pit and onto his ass.”

“I heard that story,” said Xiao Lin. “I thought it was a bit too good to be true.”

“I told Wolf I’d fight his warrior, even though I had yet to participate in a real match, and they called me crazy. One day later, I crushed his man under my knee,” Jonas folded his hands and placed them on the table. “When I got my first real cage fight against a man much bigger than myself, you know what I did?”

“What?” Xiao Lin looked absorbed in every word that Jonas spoke.

“I went and found the biggest motherfucker in the Hurts gang and used him as a practice dummy,” Jonas smirked. “I got my ass whooped two days in a row, he threw me around like a rag doll, but when they told me I was crazy to pick a fight with someone bigger and stronger than me, you know what I did?”

“You beat him on the third try,” Xiao Lin had heard that story too.

“Knocked a seven-foot giant unconscious, and then I looked his boss in the eyes; a top-five fighter I had no business speaking to, and I told him that he was next.”

“Daring,” said Xiao Lin. “That took guts.”

“They laughed at me,” said Jonas. “They never took my threats seriously. How could a teenager kill an elite fighter? Are they still laughing, Xiao Lin?”

“They aren’t,” Xiao Lin felt goosebumps on his skin.

“No,” said Jonas. “They can’t laugh because just a few months later, I bashed their leader's head in with a five-pound weight, his brains still stain the floors of the gym,” and he added, “So, Xiao Lin, when I say that I’m going to do something, you can surmise that I’m not just talking out my ass, am I?”

“No, you aren’t,” Xiao Lin couldn’t help but feel lost for words. He hadn’t realized that Crusaders would be so intense.

“When I say I’m going to escape this prison, do you think they’ll laugh at me?”

“No,” Xiao Lin was feeling an indescribable emotion at the moment, and never in his two-hundred years had he felt so bland and colorless.

“No,” Jonas repeated. “I don’t think they’ll laugh at me. I’m willing to team up with you. Not only will I help you escape this prison, but I’m also willing to teach you everything I know about Sin, and when we escape, we’ll find my master, and I’ll have him tell us the location of the Sin Assessment.”

“I…” Xiao Lin was trying to think of something clever to say, and the conversation had left him so uncomfortable that he felt like he needed to steer momentum his way. “Neither of us can beat Howard Hurts or Thomas Vale.”

“Xiao Lin,” Jonas smiled. “I’m going to beat Howard Hurts and Thomas Vale.”

“I’m not laughing at you,” Xiao Lin quickly said. “I just don’t see how it’s possible right now.”

“Do you want to become a True Sinner or not?”

“I do,” said Xiao Lin. “I might have some martial prowess, but I'm nothing to the guys up top without an Original Sin. They're evil monsters, and they'll eat me alive. I can't face them with my talent. If I help you, you’ll help me, right?”

"Of course," Jonas felt Pride flood his body. "I'll help you. But first, you need to help me."