"Oh yeah? Well, I'm not buying that," Fai retorted, his voice laced with skepticism. He had no intention of believing anything Johnson said.
If there was one thing Fai had learned from his past experiences, it was not to blindly trust others.
He had made such mistakes in high school, and it had never ended well for him.
He wasn't about to repeat those mistakes; he wasn't going to take any chances, not now, not ever again.
The bitter taste of past betrayals lingered, making him inherently wary of anyone offering seemingly generous assistance.
Hearing Fai's resolute refusal, Johnson couldn't help but scratch his head, racking his brain for anything that might convince him.
He was genuinely sincere; he truly didn't want to harm Fai.
In his eyes, Fai was already beginning to feel like a friend, and Johnson wasn't the type of person who would intentionally hurt a friend.
However, he didn't blame Fai for his reaction; it was perfectly normal.
Anyone in Fai's shoes would likely react the same way. In fact, if Fai had reacted differently, Johnson might have felt like he was the one in danger, trapped in a potentially deceptive situation.
'How do I convince him now?'
Johnson thought, his fingers still raking through his hair, a sign of his internal struggle.
He was accustomed to direct action, not delicate persuasion, and this situation was proving to be a unique challenge.
Due to his painful past experiences, trusting others was an incredibly difficult and risky endeavor for Fai.
He had been let down and hurt countless times after placing his faith in others, and those incidents had left deep scars.
This history was precisely why he found it so challenging to believe anything Johnson said, despite the latter's earnest attempts at reassuring him .
It wasn't a matter of logic, for Fai; it was a deeply ingrained defense mechanism born from repeated disappointment.
At this very moment, Johnson stood before Fai , still scratching his head, visibly struggling to come up with the right words.
He was searching for the perfect words to bridge the confusion that separated them.
He knew that words alone might not be enough , but he had to try.
"Think about it," Johnson finally began, his voice calm and reasonable, "if I truly wanted to harm you, I would have done so the moment we got here.
With my mutant ability, I wouldn't have given you a second to rest. I would have quickly overpowered you, taken your coin, and disappeared again, leaving you disoriented and defenseless."
His logic was undeniably sound, a stark truth.
Hearing Johnson's explanation, Fai couldn't help but acknowledge the validity of his point. It made perfect sense.
If Johnson's true intention was to harm him, even at this very moment, he wouldn't be bothering with explanations.
With his inherent ability, he could simply overwhelm Fai, seize his coin by force, and, given the flexible rules of the assessment, it wouldn't even matter what condition he left Fai in.
Yet, here Johnson was, attempting to explain himself, an act he was clearly finding difficult to do.
However, no matter how much Fai considered it, his past experiences with people made it impossible for him to simply trust Johnson based on spoken words alone, even if those words held a ring of truth.
And Johnson, observing Fai's unwavering skepticism, seemed to sense this fundamental resistance.
"Well, from the looks of things," Johnson said, a hint of defeat creeping into his voice, "I feel like it doesn't matter what I say; you still won't believe me." He was genuinely at a loss; words truly weren't his forte.
He preferred direct action, clear outcomes, and this delicate dance of persuasion was proving to be an unfamiliar and frustrating terrain.
Despite his lack of words , Johnson wasn't going to give up entirely. Not without trying by every possible means he could . He was determined to convince Fai .
"Well, a wise man once told me, 'Actions speak louder than words',"
Johnson declared, With that, he reached into his pocket, his hand delving inside as he searched for something.
Fai, witnessing this unexpected action, immediately became tensed. He braced himself, preparing for the worst.
There was no telling what Johnson might pull out, what unforeseen maneuver he might attempt. His mind raced, anticipating a sudden attack or a cunning trick.
From his pocket, Johnson retrieved something round and unmistakably golden in color. Fai's eyes widened in recognition; he knew instantly what it was.
It was a golden coin, identical to the one each student had received after successfully passing the first stage of the assessment.
The sight of it sent a ripple of confusion through Fai.
'What's he planning to do with that?' Fai couldn't help but ask himself, his guard still up, his mind churning with possibilities.
Johnson held the coin openly in his hand, displaying it clearly for Fai to see. Then, to Fai's utter astonishment, he did something completely unexpected.
He threw his golden coin towards Fai, not with aggressive force, but with just enough strength for it to land directly in front of Fai's feet. It was a deliberatel gesture.
"There, that's my golden coin," Johnson explained, his voice even and calm. "I'm assuming you know that I don't have any other coins; we only received one each." This statement was a crucial point, highlighting the personal sacrifice he was making.
"But, to earn your trust," Johnson continued, his gaze unwavering, "I will work with you, and make sure you have a total of five coins before I even begin gathering my own." This was his proposal, a tangible demonstration of his commitment and a risk on his part.
"Oh, I see where you're going with this," Fai scoffed, a cynical smirk playing on his lips.
"So that once I have five, you can just take them for yourself? Nice try, but I'd rather you go your way and I go mine."
He wasn't going to fall for such an obvious trap, not again, not this time. His past experiences had taught him against such seemingly generous offers.
He saw through such actions, perceiving the underlying self-interest.
"Okay, fine then, let's make it ten," Johnson countered, unfazed by Fai's rejection, his determination undimmed.
"I'll help you gather ten coins, and if you want, after that, I will go my own way." This new offer was even more astonishing, making Fai's confusion deepen. Why would Johnson make such an incredibly favorable deal? Why would he help Fai accumulate ten coins, far exceeding the minimum requirement, and then simply leave? It simply didn't make sense.
It was a deal too good to be true, pushing the boundaries of rationality.
"Why would you even do such a thing?" Fai finally voiced his curiosity, his skepticism momentarily replaced by genuine curiousity .
He wanted an explanation, even if he might ultimately choose not to believe it. He needed to hear Johnson's reasoning.
And since Johnson didn't seem to be planning an attack anytime soon, Fai cautiously lowered his guard a little, though he remained alert and prepared for any sudden movement.