Angor rejected Sunders’ suggestion.
Sunders would only allow himself to use the Gravity Garden. If he did, it would be nearly impossible for Nausica and the others to stay alive in this darkness.
Sunders chuckled as he had expected such an answer, but his attention was soon attracted by a small figure right next to Angor’s feet.
Before coming, Sunders used his spirit power to sense everyone’s presence, but he overlooked a certain animal among them.
“You still have that creature with you?”
Sunders would like to question Angor for more details about the puppy, but Yorkshire interrupted him.
“You bothersssssome humans... especially you, Mister Watcher. Not only did you refuse to serve Her Highness, you even attempted to sabotage her nightwatch?”
Yorkshire suddenly stopped moving as it looked at the boy standing next to Sunders.
“My greetings... Lord Shava.”
Greya followed Yorkshire’s gaze and was confused to find Angor to be the one addressed.
Angor was preparing to leave and take the ladies to the edge of the darkness so that they might find a way to escape, but he stopped moving when Yorkshire spoke to him.
It was too dark for him to see Yorkshire clearly a moment ago. Now, Yorkshire had moved closer to the glowing monster nest beneath, and just as Sunders said, Yorkshire did not have a human shape.
It was a snake.
A crimson crown, a pair of yellow and muddy eyes glimmered with cruelty, and dark, glossy scales covered under countless golden strings that turned into different shapes as the monster moved. Sometimes the strings weaved into a pair of wings that lifted Yorkshire into the air, and sometimes they would turn into shiny claws and make the snake appear as certain mythical creatures Angor saw in Jon’s stories about eastern cultures.
There were three puppets being dragged behind Yorkshire. They looked identical to the one which fought Sunders earlier.
“Why are you together with this betrayer, Lord Shava? The queen would like to make this city her outpost for our next plan. And you’re opposing her will!” Yorkshire’s tone turned harsh as it spoke.
Angor narrowed his eyes while listening. This was the first “projection from Padt Manor” that showed hostility toward him.
When he considered how to reply, Sunders responded first by saying, “Know your place, Yorkshire. You’re no one to question the decisions of Lord Shava.”
“You—” Yorkshire stuttered but did not say anything against Sunders. It only stared at Sunders in rage.
Sunders smiled as he found his earlier theory proved. “As I said, you have no right to suspect Lord Shava’s plans. Our battle is between you and me. Do not drag Lord Shava into this.”
Again, Yorkshire gazed at Sunders without replying.
Greya gave Sunders a questioning look as well, but Sunders didn’t intend to explain to her.
“Get away from here. I’ll look for you later,” Sunders told Angor.
Angor intentionally cast a cold glimpse at Yorkshire, who avoided his look.
“Mister Watcher spoke the truth this time, Yorkshire. You know well that your question is improper. You also know what will happen to you if the queen learns about this, don’t you?” Fox blinked into existence next to Yorkshire while holding that powerful harp.
“But you saw it, Fox! If I’m not mistaken, Lord Shava just destroyed—”
“Mind your words.” Fox’s eyes twinkled. When she saw Yorkshire still not convinced, she sent a voice transmission, “Which is more important to the queen? Shava, or a small outpost? Do remember. We both are merely pawns for Her Highness, whereas Lord Shava...”
Yorkshire looked down.
Unfortunately, nobody else heard their communication.
“Now go. The coming battle is not something you can interfere with,” Sunders urged again.
Angor complied and hopped onto Toby’s back.
Toby lingered in the air for a brief moment and activated his gravity power to head into the darkness in the distance while Angor’s group sat on his back.
It wasn’t long before Angor saw explosions and flame pillars rising into the sky behind him. He could almost feel the intense fight even though Toby had brought them to a great distance away from the battlefield. He knew that he would get burned into ash should he remain behind.
He shook his head and decided to concentrate on the journey ahead.
Since he had achieved every goal, he told Toby to take it easy this time.
Now that he felt safe, Angor pulled the puppy in front of his face and offered his sincere thanks. It was all thanks to the puppy that they managed to get Nausica out.
This was not all. The puppy also helped him learn great knowledge regarding Mystery energy. Even though Angor could not put it to test in his soul form, he meant to truly thank the dog for granting him a chance to pursue the title of a “Mystery Alchemist”.
Things said, he still had not forgotten the various terrifying deeds done by the creature, such as how it “swallowed” him and consumed Hookdick’s sequence power. Angor would like to be on guard around the puppy even though it had been acting all innocuously.
He kept the puppy with him because he believed it could also provide them with a clue that might help them escape from the outer city.
Nausica had recovered some strength. She spoke to Angor while using Toby’s mane as a resting pillow, “Shan has told me. It’s all thanks to you. Otherwise, every one of us will die in this place.”
“You’re welcome. I happen to have something that needs your assistance. Guess I paid you in advance.”
“Alright.” Nausica shrugged. “What do you need?”
Angor told Nausica to go to Phantom Island later and check out the bloodline problem of the Krakoks.
“That’s simple enough. I’ll get to it as soon as we get out.”
She knew that Angor was using the favor as an excuse so that she would not feel bothered after receiving his timely help. Yet she would still remember the life-saving benevolence until she could truly repay it.
“Oh right. So you have disposed of Hookdick?” Compared to her friends, Nausica didn’t seem sad about this matter. The only thing she cared about was whether their threat was dealt with. Who finished the job didn’t matter.
“I did. Never thought that guy would keep hiding in Sleepless City.”
“‘Flame Walker’ Mister Filo, a Brute Cavern wizard stationed here, is a good friend of Mister Ness. It’s only natural that he allowed Hookdick to stay here... Hey Angor, Hookdick was a Soul Manipulator. Are you sure you completely eliminated his soul as well?”
“Yes. I know because I’m using my soul form as well.”
Both Nausica and Shan looked at him with widened eyes.
“Wait, you are?”
“Oh come on, you should have noticed. I never cast a single cantrip yet. The reason is so obvious.”
Nausica and Shan looked at each other.
“No. We never noticed...” said Shan.
“Oh, my,” Nausica commented, “if your soul is SO solid... you don’t have to kill Hookdick at all. Just swagger your achievement in front of his face and that fool will die of jealousy.”
They were talking in a more relaxed way since all urgent problems were solved, but Angor noticed that Shan was trying her best to hide her true emotions.
Apparently, she had not gotten over the sadness for losing Gank.
As for Shiliew... she had returned to playing her part as “Dripping River the Sleeper” by sleeping again.
“Speaking of souls, I think my soul just got stronger after escaping from those strings,” Nausica said, uncertain of something.
“Misfortune and blessing often accompany each other. Guess you earned a new destiny after surviving the crisis.”
“What was the monster trying to make? A ‘prototype puppet’, right?” Nausica mumbled while thinking about the strange snake she saw earlier. “What is this place, Angor? Who is that monster?”
“This whole matter involves secrets that people of our level aren’t supposed to learn. Trust me, it’s better if you don’t know.”
“I see.” Nausica nodded and looked at the creature in Angor’s hand. “At least you can tell me about this little thing, no?”
“I... actually, I don’t know where this puppy came from.” Angor scratched his head.
“Alllright.”
Nausica spent some time describing what happened after she was captured by Yorkshire.