Ilan looked dejected.
"No… I didn't succeed. Nina is surrounded by a bunch of jealous males—I didn't even get a chance. She barely noticed what I brought."
He refused to admit that Nina had simply ignored him—or that what he offered couldn't compare to the others. Instead, he blamed it all on interference.
Hilan's expression darkened. "You've never failed before. Why are you failing again and again now?"
"It's those males," Ilan said bitterly.
Hilan narrowed his eyes. "Then your usual methods won't work. We'll have to use… something else."
He took out a spirit crystal.
"This crystal will react slightly when near the spirit pearl. When Taru and the others aren't around, take it to Nina—pretend you're giving it to her. Once you've tested it, say you brought the wrong one and switch it for an ordinary gem."
He had been reluctant to use something so valuable, but there was no other choice.
As long as Taru wasn't present, Nina wouldn't recognize how rare it was.
