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## Chapter Three Hundred and Five: The Four Elders' Grand Lineup
The camera zooms in on the Rogue Encampment's Detention Center, a place rarely used by the simple Rogue residents. At its very center was an independent Stone Chamber, the entire Stone Chamber reinforced by magic, making it difficult even for a Level 60 Classed Adventurer to break through. It was a place specifically designed to detain Adventurers.
However, this Advanced Level Prison Cell, which had barely been used since its construction, was now guarded by two Soldiers at its entrance. This indicated that the Prison Cell, rarely used in a century, was finally put to use today.
Accompanied by the rhythmic "thump—, thump—, ..." of tremors, the entire Stone Chamber shook violently. Who could have been captured and still be so restless?
"Thump—"
As the tip of a pink, cute Princess Shoes struck the side wall of the Secret Chamber, the violent tremor, like a comet hitting Earth, made the entire Secret Chamber wail. Then, before the Stone Chamber's trembling ceased, the tip of the other Princess Shoes lifted high, bringing a sharp whistling sound, and accurately struck the same spot again. It was incredibly precise, executed in one fluid motion, truly like a Master of leg techniques who had trained for decades.
However, what was unbelievable was that such a terrifying kick was delivered by two slender legs, and the owner of these slender legs—a Young Girl in a white one-piece robe, wearing an exaggeratedly large, fluffy white soft hat, her face covered by a veil—was petite and had a slender figure.
Indeed, inside was the Three-No Princess, caught after causing trouble.
Soldier A and Soldier B, standing ramrod straight like iron poles at the entrance, now had cold sweat trickling down their faces.
What a fierce Little Girl.
What a terrifying Consecutive Kick Technique.
What sturdy Princess Shoes.
"Um..."
Soldier A wiped away some cold sweat, turned his head, and tried to make his smile appear as amiable as possible.
"Hmm..."
With an emotionless questioning tone, the Three-No Princess continued kicking the Stone Wall, her head mechanically turning to look at Soldier A. Even with her veil on, it was clear her cheeks were puffed out, and her originally curved, slender willow eyebrows were pulled into a straight line with her bright yellow eyes, which were squinted into a large equals sign. Although she still appeared emotionless, it didn't prevent others from sensing a dangerous aura from her.
"N-nothing..."
Under the Three-No Princess's stormy gaze, Soldier A's aura weakened, his mouth mumbled a few times, and he finally sighed bitterly, turning his head away, covering his face.
"I was actually intimidated by a child's aura..."
Soldier A was heartbroken. Soldier B, feeling the same, patted his shoulder.
The Three-No Princess paid no mind to the emotions of these two minor characters. She mechanically turned her head back, continuing to focus intently on a certain spot, seemingly treating it as someone's face, constantly unleashing her terrifying Consecutive Kick Technique. Her small mouth, covered by the veil, seemed to be murmuring something.
"Stupid Master, stinky Master..."
Sweat...!!
The sun set. As the two Soldiers had grown accustomed to this sight, yawning boredly, a figure finally appeared under Xi Yang.
"Is the food here?"
Soldier B squinted his eyes, trying to filter out the orange sunlight.
When he saw clearly who it was, he couldn't help but turn pale with astonishment. He quickly kicked Soldier A, who was looking listless from hunger.
"Lord Fan."
The two Soldiers simultaneously planted their spears in hand, their bodies straighter than poplars, their undisguised worshipful gaze falling upon the figure rushing from under Xi Yang.
"Hmm. You've worked hard."
The Protagonist took a breath and forced a smile. Damn it, with so much happening, he had momentarily forgotten about the Three-No Princess.
"It's our duty."
Soldier A and Soldier B puffed out their chests, an indescribable sense of pride on their faces.
"Are you from the Second Brigade, Seventh Squad?"
The quick-witted Soldier B had already turned around and was taking out a string of keys to unlock the door.
"Yes."
"Then I truly thank you this time, and I apologize. I, Morrissa, have caused you trouble. Another day, I'll speak with your Captain and treat everyone to a few drinks at the Bar."
Enduring the Three-No Princess's gaze, which seemed capable of freezing people, emanating from inside the Stone Chamber, the Protagonist spoke with sincerity.
"Not at all, it's our honor." Soldier A looked happy.
The iron-barred door was opened. Soldier B opened the door, respectfully gesturing for them to enter. Then, he and Soldier A consciously moved back a distance.
"My Little Jasmine. Are you alright?"
Stepping inside, the Protagonist immediately fawned with a small face. His peripheral vision caught sight of a shallow pit on the side wall of the Stone Chamber, seemingly kicked out, and for some reason, a sudden cold shiver ran through his entire body.
The moment she noticed someone, the Three-No Princess, who had been lying on the Stone Chamber's Bed with a sullen expression, turned over, her back to him, ignoring him.
"Come on, Little Jasmine, this was my fault. I didn't pick you up in time, I was wrong. You can be as angry as you want, but let's go home first, okay?"
The Protagonist leaned onto the Bed, gently taking the Three-No Princess's slender shoulder and shaking it.
Ah, his hand was shaken off.
"Besides, weren't you also in the wrong this time? Those Soldiers were risking their lives to carry out their quest, yet you ran out to cause trouble. Don't you think that's going too far?"
With a whoosh, the Three-No Princess suddenly sat up. If the Protagonist hadn't reacted in time, his nose would have been knocked crooked by her forehead.
"No!"
She puffed out her round, cute face and said, concisely and forcefully.
"See for yourself, it's written clearly right here." The Protagonist pulled the beast skin journal in front of her.
"No!"
She didn't even look at the journal in front of her, but stared intently at the Protagonist, reiterating with a firm gaze.
Their gazes intertwined for a long time.
"Alright, I believe you. Tell me, what happened?"
Although the Three-No Princess was a bit willful, she wasn't a child who lacked common sense or disregarded human lives. The Protagonist's gaze softened. Like caressing a kitten, he gently rubbed her smooth cheek through the veil. This time, she didn't resist.
"I... want to catch Fallen Ones." She said, puffing out her mouth.
"I wanted to help them, but they told me to leave."
"..."
Although her tone was disjointed from beginning to end, having spent so much time with her, the Protagonist naturally understood her meaning.
Actually, the Little Fellow's goal was very simple: she wanted to help the Soldiers eliminate most of the Fallen Ones first, then leave a few for her to research, or perhaps allocate a few Fallen Ones to her so they could each fight separately without interfering with each other. However, the Soldiers had a misunderstanding of her meaning.
"Did you tell them that?" The Protagonist said, wiping away some cold sweat.
She shook her head.
"My Little Princess..."
The Protagonist sighed, looking up at the sky. "Don't you know the importance of communication? Your Sanwu tendency should change sometimes, shouldn't it? Will you die if you speak to a Stranger? Others are fighting in a well-arranged formation with perfect rapport, and you just go up and start attacking wildly without a word. It would be strange if they *didn't* consider you a troublemaker!"
They glared at each other for a while. The Protagonist finally slumped powerlessly. "Forget it, it's not a one-day or two-day thing. Anyway, sigh, I'll just have to keep a closer eye on her in the future."
"Alright, I understand. How about this: next time, I'll assign a few Soldiers specifically to assist you with your research. Don't disturb the soldiers' quests anymore, okay?"
The Three-No Princess obediently nodded. The incident seemed resolved, the Protagonist thought, feeling relieved.
"Why were you so slow to pick me up?"
The Three-No Princess suddenly turned her bright yellow, cute eyes, her expression fixed on the Protagonist. It made it impossible for him to brush her off.
"Well, because a lot of things really happened. Can you forgive me?" The Protagonist said with sincerity.
"Did you... forget?" She simply asked softly.
"I'm sorry."
Next, the Three-No Princess said nothing more, silently jumping down from the Bed.
"Let's go back."
She said, lowering her head. The Large Hat completely obscured her eyes, making it impossible for the Protagonist to discern her current emotion. He could only silently follow her out of the Stone Chamber.
He took a step. The Three-No Princess's footsteps didn't follow. The Protagonist turned back in surprise, only to see her sitting weakly on the ground, her brows tightly furrowed. Her slender Small Hands propped up her body as she tried to stand with effort.
"What's wrong, Little Jasmine?"
The Protagonist quickly turned back and gently helped her up, but just as she was halfway standing, her legs gave out, and she sat back down.
"Nothing."
After a moment of stunned silence, the Three-No Princess looked up, her face stern. Her bright yellow eye sockets, which only appeared in comics and took up a large portion of her perfectly framed face, blinked lifelessly as she stubbornly refused to admit defeat.
"What do you mean 'nothing'?!" The Protagonist was amused and annoyed. Even if he was slow, he realized there was something wrong with her foot. He couldn't help but squat down and, without a word, grabbed her calf, which was hidden behind her behind.
What appeared before the Protagonist's eyes, peeking out from beneath her robe, was a small section of beautiful jade feet, like a glass work of art. His gaze followed downwards to a pink, cute Princess Shoes. Suddenly, his heart trembled slightly, as if pricked by thorns.
The originally oval toe of the shoe had a large opening, its edges seemingly subjected to countless impacts, tattered and ragged. Peeking out from the opening were five small toes, which should have been flawless, but were now red and swollen, even oozing blood.
The Protagonist reached out and pulled out the other foot; it was the same.
"You..."
His peripheral vision glanced at the side wall, which had been reinforced by magic, noting the worn marks on it. Then, recalling the Three-No Princess's bad habit, the Protagonist suddenly felt his teeth itch.
"Nothing?"
This wasn't a novel or an anime. Kicking the Magic Wall with all her might for so long, even if her feet were made of steel and her shoes of diamond, it would be useless. Yet, the Three-No Princess, whose condition had been discovered, still maintained an indifferent attitude as if the injured one wasn't herself.
"You Little Idiot!!"
Without another word, the Protagonist formed his thumb and forefinger into pliers, pinching the Three-No Princess's chubby face on both sides and pulling it. It wasn't the gentle bullying he used on the Little Ghost; he used at least two or three times the force.
He was truly furious.
"Wuwu~~"
Her face, which had never even been touched by others, was now being forcefully pulled by the Protagonist. The Little Dot Princess finally let out a wail, confusion and shyness flashing in her heart. But the perpetrator's serious gaze, which she had never seen directed at her before, dissolved all of it, leaving only yielding, and a hint of sweetness she didn't even realize, from being valued, cared for, and scolded.
A willful child throwing a tantrum merely wants to be valued by others, even if the expression of that value takes the form of punishment.
"Will you dare to do it again in the future?" The Protagonist asked angrily, looking directly into the Three-No Princess's eyes.
Feeling the face he was pinching shake slightly, the Protagonist, still angry, released his hand. Seeing the little face that had been pinched red, he couldn't help but feel a pang of heartache and gently rubbed it a few times.
"You, you should cherish yourself..."
The Protagonist sighed softly. He picked up the Little Princess, sat her on the Bed, then squatted down and gently took off her pair of damaged Princess Shoes. With his left hand lightly cupped, a volume of ancient texts emitting a golden radiance appeared in hand.
"I'm not afraid to tell you. Actually, during my training, the most important reason I fought desperately to temper myself was because I was afraid of pain. Because I was afraid of pain, I constantly put in effort. To avoid being struck by enemies, I truly hate those who could clearly avoid wounds but stubbornly refuse to cherish themselves..."
As he spoke, a faint white light began to emit from his in hand. After the white light slowly seeped into the red and swollen toes, they immediately began to restore at a visible speed. Only when each toe became crystal clear again did the Protagonist direct the white light in his hand to the other jade feet.
"Especially you, among everyone, you worry me the most. You always have a stern face, and I never know what you're thinking in one's heart. You just love to tinker with strange things..." The Protagonist continued to chatter like an old mother.
"..."
Morrissa stared blankly at her Master, who had condescended to squat down, his head bowed, fully focused on healing her. Listening to his rambling chatter, for some reason, Morrissa's mind was a blank. The warmth and power emanating from her toes, though it came from a seemingly small man, cowardly and full of meaningless self-talk, every word and phrase struck her mind. Looking at the figure at his feet, which wasn't particularly broad but had already been etched into her mind, Morrissa suddenly felt a soreness in her eye sockets.
Huh? Huh?
She incredulously wiped her eye sockets with her sleeve, staring blankly at the water stains. "This... could this be tears?"
How many years has it been? Probably since her Mother died... no, perhaps she had never shed tears since birth.
Tears, so fervent, scalding hot, filled with a sense of warmth.
Always accommodating this indifferent me, this willful me... my irreplaceable Master!
The next moment, Morrissa's mouth curved slightly. Without needing to make a conscious effort, and no longer hesitant, awkward, or stiff, a smile bloomed on her face that would dim a hundred flowers.
In that instant, the world itself seemed to lose its color. Her bright yellow eyes, tinged with mist, and the smile of the 'stone maiden'—what beauty in the world could compare?
After repeatedly confirming that the pair of jade feet in hand were fine, there was still a little white light left. To avoid wasting it, the Protagonist simply lightly applied the remaining white light to the Three-No Princess's face a few times. Eh, although applying something from feet to face might be a bit improper, the Little One's foot was so clean and flawless that the Protagonist didn't feel anything was amiss.
After the white light dissipated, her flushed face also returned to its jade-like color. With this, the task was complete. However, looking at the Three-No Princess staring blankly at him, the Protagonist once again ground his teeth.
This ungrateful Little One, had all those "very pleasant to hear" words he just said been in vain?
Little did he know, he had already missed the most beautiful sight.
"How is it, does it still hurt?" The Protagonist asked, putting away the book.
Although it looked serious, with the miraculous efficacy of the healing art, this bit of redness and swelling was nothing. Morrissa gently wiggled her toes; they were completely fine. However, feeling the other party's concerned gaze, she inexplicably nodded.
"You Little Fellow, you're impossible!"
The Protagonist sighed deeply. "Sigh, there's nothing for it, it has to be this way. Besides, her shoes are already ruined, and I'd be a bit annoyed to let such perfect feet touch the dirty Ground."
"Come on up."
He turned around, squatted with his back to the Three-No Princess, then looked back at her, helplessly rolling his eyes.
Without any hesitation, her feather-light body pressed against the Protagonist's back. The Young Girl's slightly developed chest, barely perceptible, pressed against his back, making him shake his head—she was already fifteen or sixteen, and this level of... flat chest, oh, flat chest.
Speaking of which, it was his first time carrying someone on his back. Thinking of this, the Protagonist's movements immediately became cautious. Gently supporting the Little Dot Princess's behind, he stood up with a grunt, walked out of the Stone Chamber, and nodded slightly with a smile to the two Soldiers who had moved far away.
"Let me tell you. You need to get rid of this bad habit in the future; don't kick things anymore."
Thinking of the Three-No Princess's Consecutive Kick Technique, which could be called peerless, the Protagonist suddenly felt a cold sweat. He decided to seize this opportunity to seal this move, listing it as a forbidden matter.
"No."
The answer from his back was faster than the Protagonist had imagined. Tsk, this Little One, so arrogant even while leaning on someone else's back?
"Then, at least don't kick hard things anymore. If you need to vent, can't you find something softer?"
Feeling helpless, the Protagonist had to compromise. After all the effort to train it to max level, he wouldn't give up so easily if it were him... probably.
"Like, Master, you?"
Why did the Protagonist feel that this sentence had much more certainty than a question?
"Hoh-hoh~~, you Little One. Are you trying to stage a rebellion? Take this move!!"
Haha~~, in this posture, the Protagonist could easily hit her behind.
"Ah, don't bite my ear, you ungrateful scoundrel!"
Wuwu~~, in this posture, she could easily bite his ear.
Watching the overlapping figures gradually disappear under Xi Yang, Soldier A and Soldier B fell silent for a long time.
"So... so touching..." Soldier A wiped his nose.
"The first time. It's the first time I've felt such an overwhelming and pure fatherly love. Lord Fan is truly Lord Fan; even his fatherly love is unique." Soldier B's eye sockets were a little moist.
"Indeed. He's practically a role model for all of us fathers. It seems I'll have to change the way I educate that little rascal at home."
"I also remembered my deceased father, and how he used to play with me when I was little. I thought I had long forgotten it." Soldier B sighed with a world-weariness expression, then shamelessly said to Soldier A.
"How about you let me ride on your back for a bit, so I can relive it?"
"Go to hell..."
Over the next few days, the Protagonist suddenly found himself busy.
First, every morning he had to rush to comfort the clingy Twin Little Girls. They had only recently arrived at the Rogue Encampment, were young, and had no relatives, so it was understandable that they felt a great deal of fear towards the unfamiliar environment, making them quite clingy.
However...
"Why me?!" The Protagonist had only met them once in Lut Gholein and given them a few books. Why did they treat him as relatives? Was it the Protagonist's universal affinity at work again?
Also, recently, not only Auntie Shali but even Velas had been smiling and saying that the Protagonist was becoming more and more like a competent good father. "Wuwu~~ No! I don't want to exude a fatherly aura, and I don't want to step on a dad aura! Even a dominating aura would be better than this!"
After leaving the Priest Training Camp, next was the Three-No Princess. This Little One was particularly fascinated by the Grassland, and especially fond of Fallen Ones. She was practically on the verge of dissecting them with a scalpel to research the function of every single tissue inside.
Speaking of which, if it were this task, the Three-No Princess could actually manage it alone. With her strength as a Level 18 Ice Mage (Huh, wasn't it Level 15? When did she gain three levels? How did the Protagonist not know?), catching a few Fallen Ones would be no problem at all.
But don't forget her trouble-making attribute. Any simple problem would become complicated in her in hand. Although the Protagonist wanted to advise her to take it easy and not cause trouble, seeing her eyebrows twitch a few times and her expressionless agreement, he became even more uneasy. Feeling helpless, he could only accompany her all the way. Fortunately, Fallen Ones, being a common type of creature, frequently appeared around the Rogue Encampment, so they didn't need to travel too far or spend too much time.
Returning from outside, before the Protagonist could even catch his breath, Fara came trotting over again. "Go to hell, go to hell, drop dead on your research table!" Although the Protagonist thought this, for the sake of being able to buy potions in the future, he reluctantly became a guinea pig. Of course, it wasn't without haul; his bag gained nearly a hundred bottles of energy potions and mental power potions, which gave him some comfort.
When he finished his tasks and was about to practice properly, he looked up and found that the sun had already set. Velas's gentle figure appeared on time, and her wife-like virtuousness mixed with a young girl's shyness as she called the Protagonist home for dinner, a sight he found utterly irresistible.
Evening. Hmm, evening, when the night was dark and windy, was precisely the high-frequency period for Protagonists to unleash their divine might, either slaughtering entire enemy families or suddenly comprehending some godly skill under the moonlight. However, it seemed accompanying his little wife was also a good thing. Bullying the gentle and shy Velas in bed for a bit, and teasing the stubborn yet slightly lecherous Saintess for a while, was also a great joy in life.
Kneeling powerlessly...
However, what's that famous saying? Time is like cleavage; you can always squeeze some out. Yes, even with the 'smallest' Little Sarah among the crowd, if you just squeeze a little... *cough cough*. Getting off topic.
For example, the Twin Little Girls only sought a sense of peace of mind when they were with the Protagonist. As long as they were together, it was fine; what they did together was entirely up to him. They wouldn't mind whatever strange things he wanted to do. Also, anyone who misinterprets the meaning of this sentence should go shout "I'm a Lolicon" a hundred times on the Street.
Thus, this period was fully utilized by the Protagonist to practice his skills. They watched from the side, occasionally cheering and applauding for the new tricks he came up with. As the saying goes, practicing cool moves, accompanying Lolis, and not neglecting anything.
Being with Morrissa was even simpler. Since it was about causing trouble for Fallen Ones, he could practice even while walking. Firestorm and Molten Boulder were handled with such ease.
As a result, the Fallen Ones, who had been launched onto the glorious Stage by a certain poet with the title 'Mother of Novices,' encountered the greatest nightmare of their lives. For quite some time, not a single Fallen One appeared near the Rogue Encampment, and the Soldiers' workload was greatly reduced. For this, the Protagonist was even awarded the honorary title 'The Man Feared Even by Fallen Ones.' To be honest, the Protagonist didn't think this title was a compliment. Of course, no one but the Old Drunkard could have come up with such a vulgar title.
Thus, another half a month passed in a daze of chaos. When Firestorm had been mastered to perfection by the Protagonist, and Molten Boulder had also achieved some success, Akara suddenly called him to her Tent. Inside were Deckard Cain and Fara, with only Kashya missing. "Hmph, has she finally been removed from her Elder position due to character issues?" Even without the Great Eye, predicting this situation was an easy matter for the Protagonist.
"Wu, the reason I called you here this time is regarding the problem of rescuing the Horadrim," Akara said with a smile.
The Protagonist didn't find Akara's words abrupt at all, because just a few days ago, the Horadric Staff had been transmuted. Although the King's Staff and Amulet of the Viper's attributes were junk, the time required for transmutation was by no means negligible. The Horadric Cube had put him through nearly a month of torment, and during that time, he even thought it would be a failure. Until a few days ago, with a flash of white light, to quote an advertisement: "Hey, it's done!"
Horadric Staff
Two-Handed Attack Damage: (-40
Strength Requirement: 50
Required Level: 10
Staff Tier: Increased Attack Speed
+100% Increased Attack Speed
+30% Enhanced Damage
+50 Life
+50 Mana
+10 All Elemental Damage
+15% All Resistances
+50% Damage to Undead
Indestructible
+2 Skill Points
Now these attributes truly looked like a unique item! Especially that incredibly powerful 'indestructible' attribute; it was the first time the Protagonist had seen it. His drool was practically flowing onto the floor.
Handing the Horadric Staff to Akara, she carefully held it in hand, stroked it a few times, then suddenly passed it to Fara.
"Elder Akara, what is this..."
The Protagonist looked at Akara, then at Fara, who had a smug expression, and couldn't help but ask in confusion.
"That's right, Fara will be in charge of this action, and Deckard Cain and I will also go with her," Akara said with a smile, clarifying the Protagonist's confusion.
"..."
The Protagonist looked at the three of them with an incredible expression, not because of some boring reason like "they're coming with me because they don't trust me," but because he was filled with astonishment at the simultaneous deployment of the Three Elders.
Perhaps, he would finally have a chance to see Fara in action.
"Fara, don't you still have many experiments to do?"
"That's true, but one person's strength is limited. So many Sorceresses have already gathered in the Rogue Encampment, so one more or one less of me doesn't matter. This action is of great significance, and Akara naturally has to go herself. I'm acting as a bodyguard, and as for Deckard Cain, he's already impatient to return for ancestor recognition..."
Fara explained at length, finally giving the Protagonist a general understanding. "Hmph, aren't they just trying to make the Horadrim owe them a personal favor? With the Old Fox Akara making a move, it would be difficult for the Horadrim not to feel indebted."
"Go prepare. We'll depart tomorrow morning." After explaining some precautions, Akara said seriously.
"That fast?"
The Protagonist murmured a few complaints and left with a dejected expression.
That evening, the Protagonist and Velas naturally exchanged sweet talk, clinging to each other until dawn. Looking at Velas's tired, sleeping appearance, he gave her a loving, gentle kiss, then turned and left.
Outside, the Three-No Princess and Auntie Shali were already prepared. "Hmph hmph~~ Finally, a business trip on public expense!"
"Wuwu, Big Brother..."
Sarah, who had followed out of the Tent, her eyes moist, was gently embraced by the Protagonist and comforted for a while, finally departing with reluctance as they left.
Inside the Long-Distance Teleport Station, the Four Elders were already standing together. Fara, seeing that the Protagonist was still bringing three others, couldn't help but roll her eyes furiously. She secretly resolved that in the future, she would definitely create a double... no, a quadruple-priced potion package for this kid who took advantage of the situation to slack off.
"Elder Akara, is it really alright to leave this fellow in Rogue?"
The Protagonist pointed at the Old Drunkard without hesitation. "After we leave, she'll be the only Elder presiding over the Rogue Encampment, and who knows... no, I think something will definitely happen. To be honest, if it's for the good of the Rogue Encampment, I'd rather take this fellow with us too. The Rogue Encampment might even be better off in a leaderless status."
"Kid, what's the meaning of this?" As expected, the Old Drunkard glared, her eyes wide.
"You dare to underestimate me? Just you wait! I'll make sure you see a brand new Rogue Encampment when you return, and you'll regret saying those words!"
"No, actually, I already regret it now. Just pretend I farted, and please don't suddenly decide to implement any reforms because of my nonsense."
A group of six, they actually mobilized fifteen Advanced Level Sorceresses. Looking at the gems socketed in the Magic Array, OMG, they were Perfect Gems! Who knew how much energy would be left after the teleportation? What a sin, what a sin!
With a flash of white light, they appeared in Lut Gholein.
"Teacher...!!"
As soon as the radiance dimmed, Taren, Lut Gholein's chief Sorceress, with tears streaming down her face, was already impatient to stage a touching scene of master-student reunion.
"When are you going to return the six Perfect Gems you owe me from twenty years ago?"
"..."
"You unfilial student! What's mine isn't yours, and what's yours isn't mine? Why distinguish between us?" Fara gave Taren a frustrated rap on the head.
"Alright then, what about the magic information you promised me?" Taren looked aggrievedly at Fara. Money was one thing, but this information was something he had been eagerly awaiting for a long time.
"Hehe, well, I'll be able to get it out in a few days." Fara chuckled awkwardly, then received a collective "BS" from the others—"You just want to casually find some information from the Horadrim to fob him off with!"
Indeed, one should definitely not become this Old Man's disciple.
At the Protagonist's suggestion, Akara and the other two rested for a while at the Mage Guild. The Protagonist, meanwhile, took the Three-No Princess and Auntie Shali back home for a trip. After resting, the four gathered and collectively launched their challenge towards the Imperial Palace.
The Four Elders walked together. Although very few in Lut Gholein knew that the three elders and one youth walking on the Street were actually the ones who could decide the future fate of the entire Dark Continent, there would always be observant individuals who noticed their differences.
Why were they here?
(end of chapter)
The camera zooms in on the Rogue Encampment's Detention Center, a place rarely used by the simple Rogue residents. At its very center was an independent Stone Chamber, the entire Stone Chamber reinforced by magic, making it difficult even for a Level 60 Classed Adventurer to break through. It was a place specifically designed to detain Adventurers.
However, this Advanced Level Prison Cell, which had barely been used since its construction, was now guarded by two Soldiers at its entrance. This indicated that the Prison Cell, rarely used in a century, was finally put to use today.
Accompanied by the rhythmic "thump—, thump—, ..." of tremors, the entire Stone Chamber shook violently. Who could have been captured and still be so restless?
"Thump—"
As the tip of a pink, cute Princess Shoes struck the side wall of the Secret Chamber, the violent tremor, like a comet hitting Earth, made the entire Secret Chamber wail. Then, before the Stone Chamber's trembling ceased, the tip of the other Princess Shoes lifted high, bringing a sharp whistling sound, and accurately struck the same spot again. It was incredibly precise, executed in one fluid motion, truly like a Master of leg techniques who had trained for decades.
However, what was unbelievable was that such a terrifying kick was delivered by two slender legs, and the owner of these slender legs—a Young Girl in a white one-piece robe, wearing an exaggeratedly large, fluffy white soft hat, her face covered by a veil—was petite and had a slender figure.
Indeed, inside was the Three-No Princess, caught after causing trouble.
Soldier A and Soldier B, standing ramrod straight like iron poles at the entrance, now had cold sweat trickling down their faces.
What a fierce Little Girl.
What a terrifying Consecutive Kick Technique.
What sturdy Princess Shoes.
"Um..."
Soldier A wiped away some cold sweat, turned his head, and tried to make his smile appear as amiable as possible.
"Hmm..."
With an emotionless questioning tone, the Three-No Princess continued kicking the Stone Wall, her head mechanically turning to look at Soldier A. Even with her veil on, it was clear her cheeks were puffed out, and her originally curved, slender willow eyebrows were pulled into a straight line with her bright yellow eyes, which were squinted into a large equals sign. Although she still appeared emotionless, it didn't prevent others from sensing a dangerous aura from her.
"N-nothing..."
Under the Three-No Princess's stormy gaze, Soldier A's aura weakened, his mouth mumbled a few times, and he finally sighed bitterly, turning his head away, covering his face.
"I was actually intimidated by a child's aura..."
Soldier A was heartbroken. Soldier B, feeling the same, patted his shoulder.
The Three-No Princess paid no mind to the emotions of these two minor characters. She mechanically turned her head back, continuing to focus intently on a certain spot, seemingly treating it as someone's face, constantly unleashing her terrifying Consecutive Kick Technique. Her small mouth, covered by the veil, seemed to be murmuring something.
"Stupid Master, stinky Master..."
Sweat...!!
The sun set. As the two Soldiers had grown accustomed to this sight, yawning boredly, a figure finally appeared under Xi Yang.
"Is the food here?"
Soldier B squinted his eyes, trying to filter out the orange sunlight.
When he saw clearly who it was, he couldn't help but turn pale with astonishment. He quickly kicked Soldier A, who was looking listless from hunger.
"Lord Fan."
The two Soldiers simultaneously planted their spears in hand, their bodies straighter than poplars, their undisguised worshipful gaze falling upon the figure rushing from under Xi Yang.
"Hmm. You've worked hard."
The Protagonist took a breath and forced a smile. Damn it, with so much happening, he had momentarily forgotten about the Three-No Princess.
"It's our duty."
Soldier A and Soldier B puffed out their chests, an indescribable sense of pride on their faces.
"Are you from the Second Brigade, Seventh Squad?"
The quick-witted Soldier B had already turned around and was taking out a string of keys to unlock the door.
"Yes."
"Then I truly thank you this time, and I apologize. I, Morrissa, have caused you trouble. Another day, I'll speak with your Captain and treat everyone to a few drinks at the Bar."
Enduring the Three-No Princess's gaze, which seemed capable of freezing people, emanating from inside the Stone Chamber, the Protagonist spoke with sincerity.
"Not at all, it's our honor." Soldier A looked happy.
The iron-barred door was opened. Soldier B opened the door, respectfully gesturing for them to enter. Then, he and Soldier A consciously moved back a distance.
"My Little Jasmine. Are you alright?"
Stepping inside, the Protagonist immediately fawned with a small face. His peripheral vision caught sight of a shallow pit on the side wall of the Stone Chamber, seemingly kicked out, and for some reason, a sudden cold shiver ran through his entire body.
The moment she noticed someone, the Three-No Princess, who had been lying on the Stone Chamber's Bed with a sullen expression, turned over, her back to him, ignoring him.
"Come on, Little Jasmine, this was my fault. I didn't pick you up in time, I was wrong. You can be as angry as you want, but let's go home first, okay?"
The Protagonist leaned onto the Bed, gently taking the Three-No Princess's slender shoulder and shaking it.
Ah, his hand was shaken off.
"Besides, weren't you also in the wrong this time? Those Soldiers were risking their lives to carry out their quest, yet you ran out to cause trouble. Don't you think that's going too far?"
With a whoosh, the Three-No Princess suddenly sat up. If the Protagonist hadn't reacted in time, his nose would have been knocked crooked by her forehead.
"No!"
She puffed out her round, cute face and said, concisely and forcefully.
"See for yourself, it's written clearly right here." The Protagonist pulled the beast skin journal in front of her.
"No!"
She didn't even look at the journal in front of her, but stared intently at the Protagonist, reiterating with a firm gaze.
Their gazes intertwined for a long time.
"Alright, I believe you. Tell me, what happened?"
Although the Three-No Princess was a bit willful, she wasn't a child who lacked common sense or disregarded human lives. The Protagonist's gaze softened. Like caressing a kitten, he gently rubbed her smooth cheek through the veil. This time, she didn't resist.
"I... want to catch Fallen Ones." She said, puffing out her mouth.
"I wanted to help them, but they told me to leave."
"..."
Although her tone was disjointed from beginning to end, having spent so much time with her, the Protagonist naturally understood her meaning.
Actually, the Little Fellow's goal was very simple: she wanted to help the Soldiers eliminate most of the Fallen Ones first, then leave a few for her to research, or perhaps allocate a few Fallen Ones to her so they could each fight separately without interfering with each other. However, the Soldiers had a misunderstanding of her meaning.
"Did you tell them that?" The Protagonist said, wiping away some cold sweat.
She shook her head.
"My Little Princess..."
The Protagonist sighed, looking up at the sky. "Don't you know the importance of communication? Your Sanwu tendency should change sometimes, shouldn't it? Will you die if you speak to a Stranger? Others are fighting in a well-arranged formation with perfect rapport, and you just go up and start attacking wildly without a word. It would be strange if they *didn't* consider you a troublemaker!"
They glared at each other for a while. The Protagonist finally slumped powerlessly. "Forget it, it's not a one-day or two-day thing. Anyway, sigh, I'll just have to keep a closer eye on her in the future."
"Alright, I understand. How about this: next time, I'll assign a few Soldiers specifically to assist you with your research. Don't disturb the soldiers' quests anymore, okay?"
The Three-No Princess obediently nodded. The incident seemed resolved, the Protagonist thought, feeling relieved.
"Why were you so slow to pick me up?"
The Three-No Princess suddenly turned her bright yellow, cute eyes, her expression fixed on the Protagonist. It made it impossible for him to brush her off.
"Well, because a lot of things really happened. Can you forgive me?" The Protagonist said with sincerity.
"Did you... forget?" She simply asked softly.
"I'm sorry."
Next, the Three-No Princess said nothing more, silently jumping down from the Bed.
"Let's go back."
She said, lowering her head. The Large Hat completely obscured her eyes, making it impossible for the Protagonist to discern her current emotion. He could only silently follow her out of the Stone Chamber.
He took a step. The Three-No Princess's footsteps didn't follow. The Protagonist turned back in surprise, only to see her sitting weakly on the ground, her brows tightly furrowed. Her slender Small Hands propped up her body as she tried to stand with effort.
"What's wrong, Little Jasmine?"
The Protagonist quickly turned back and gently helped her up, but just as she was halfway standing, her legs gave out, and she sat back down.
"Nothing."
After a moment of stunned silence, the Three-No Princess looked up, her face stern. Her bright yellow eye sockets, which only appeared in comics and took up a large portion of her perfectly framed face, blinked lifelessly as she stubbornly refused to admit defeat.
"What do you mean 'nothing'?!" The Protagonist was amused and annoyed. Even if he was slow, he realized there was something wrong with her foot. He couldn't help but squat down and, without a word, grabbed her calf, which was hidden behind her behind.
What appeared before the Protagonist's eyes, peeking out from beneath her robe, was a small section of beautiful jade feet, like a glass work of art. His gaze followed downwards to a pink, cute Princess Shoes. Suddenly, his heart trembled slightly, as if pricked by thorns.
The originally oval toe of the shoe had a large opening, its edges seemingly subjected to countless impacts, tattered and ragged. Peeking out from the opening were five small toes, which should have been flawless, but were now red and swollen, even oozing blood.
The Protagonist reached out and pulled out the other foot; it was the same.
"You..."
His peripheral vision glanced at the side wall, which had been reinforced by magic, noting the worn marks on it. Then, recalling the Three-No Princess's bad habit, the Protagonist suddenly felt his teeth itch.
"Nothing?"
This wasn't a novel or an anime. Kicking the Magic Wall with all her might for so long, even if her feet were made of steel and her shoes of diamond, it would be useless. Yet, the Three-No Princess, whose condition had been discovered, still maintained an indifferent attitude as if the injured one wasn't herself.
"You Little Idiot!!"
Without another word, the Protagonist formed his thumb and forefinger into pliers, pinching the Three-No Princess's chubby face on both sides and pulling it. It wasn't the gentle bullying he used on the Little Ghost; he used at least two or three times the force.
He was truly furious.
"Wuwu~~"
Her face, which had never even been touched by others, was now being forcefully pulled by the Protagonist. The Little Dot Princess finally let out a wail, confusion and shyness flashing in her heart. But the perpetrator's serious gaze, which she had never seen directed at her before, dissolved all of it, leaving only yielding, and a hint of sweetness she didn't even realize, from being valued, cared for, and scolded.
A willful child throwing a tantrum merely wants to be valued by others, even if the expression of that value takes the form of punishment.
"Will you dare to do it again in the future?" The Protagonist asked angrily, looking directly into the Three-No Princess's eyes.
Feeling the face he was pinching shake slightly, the Protagonist, still angry, released his hand. Seeing the little face that had been pinched red, he couldn't help but feel a pang of heartache and gently rubbed it a few times.
"You, you should cherish yourself..."
The Protagonist sighed softly. He picked up the Little Princess, sat her on the Bed, then squatted down and gently took off her pair of damaged Princess Shoes. With his left hand lightly cupped, a volume of ancient texts emitting a golden radiance appeared in hand.
"I'm not afraid to tell you. Actually, during my training, the most important reason I fought desperately to temper myself was because I was afraid of pain. Because I was afraid of pain, I constantly put in effort. To avoid being struck by enemies, I truly hate those who could clearly avoid wounds but stubbornly refuse to cherish themselves..."
As he spoke, a faint white light began to emit from his in hand. After the white light slowly seeped into the red and swollen toes, they immediately began to restore at a visible speed. Only when each toe became crystal clear again did the Protagonist direct the white light in his hand to the other jade feet.
"Especially you, among everyone, you worry me the most. You always have a stern face, and I never know what you're thinking in one's heart. You just love to tinker with strange things..." The Protagonist continued to chatter like an old mother.
"..."
Morrissa stared blankly at her Master, who had condescended to squat down, his head bowed, fully focused on healing her. Listening to his rambling chatter, for some reason, Morrissa's mind was a blank. The warmth and power emanating from her toes, though it came from a seemingly small man, cowardly and full of meaningless self-talk, every word and phrase struck her mind. Looking at the figure at his feet, which wasn't particularly broad but had already been etched into her mind, Morrissa suddenly felt a soreness in her eye sockets.
Huh? Huh?
She incredulously wiped her eye sockets with her sleeve, staring blankly at the water stains. "This... could this be tears?"
How many years has it been? Probably since her Mother died... no, perhaps she had never shed tears since birth.
Tears, so fervent, scalding hot, filled with a sense of warmth.
Always accommodating this indifferent me, this willful me... my irreplaceable Master!
The next moment, Morrissa's mouth curved slightly. Without needing to make a conscious effort, and no longer hesitant, awkward, or stiff, a smile bloomed on her face that would dim a hundred flowers.
In that instant, the world itself seemed to lose its color. Her bright yellow eyes, tinged with mist, and the smile of the 'stone maiden'—what beauty in the world could compare?
After repeatedly confirming that the pair of jade feet in hand were fine, there was still a little white light left. To avoid wasting it, the Protagonist simply lightly applied the remaining white light to the Three-No Princess's face a few times. Eh, although applying something from feet to face might be a bit improper, the Little One's foot was so clean and flawless that the Protagonist didn't feel anything was amiss.
After the white light dissipated, her flushed face also returned to its jade-like color. With this, the task was complete. However, looking at the Three-No Princess staring blankly at him, the Protagonist once again ground his teeth.
This ungrateful Little One, had all those "very pleasant to hear" words he just said been in vain?
Little did he know, he had already missed the most beautiful sight.
"How is it, does it still hurt?" The Protagonist asked, putting away the book.
Although it looked serious, with the miraculous efficacy of the healing art, this bit of redness and swelling was nothing. Morrissa gently wiggled her toes; they were completely fine. However, feeling the other party's concerned gaze, she inexplicably nodded.
"You Little Fellow, you're impossible!"
The Protagonist sighed deeply. "Sigh, there's nothing for it, it has to be this way. Besides, her shoes are already ruined, and I'd be a bit annoyed to let such perfect feet touch the dirty Ground."
"Come on up."
He turned around, squatted with his back to the Three-No Princess, then looked back at her, helplessly rolling his eyes.
Without any hesitation, her feather-light body pressed against the Protagonist's back. The Young Girl's slightly developed chest, barely perceptible, pressed against his back, making him shake his head—she was already fifteen or sixteen, and this level of... flat chest, oh, flat chest.
Speaking of which, it was his first time carrying someone on his back. Thinking of this, the Protagonist's movements immediately became cautious. Gently supporting the Little Dot Princess's behind, he stood up with a grunt, walked out of the Stone Chamber, and nodded slightly with a smile to the two Soldiers who had moved far away.
"Let me tell you. You need to get rid of this bad habit in the future; don't kick things anymore."
Thinking of the Three-No Princess's Consecutive Kick Technique, which could be called peerless, the Protagonist suddenly felt a cold sweat. He decided to seize this opportunity to seal this move, listing it as a forbidden matter.
"No."
The answer from his back was faster than the Protagonist had imagined. Tsk, this Little One, so arrogant even while leaning on someone else's back?
"Then, at least don't kick hard things anymore. If you need to vent, can't you find something softer?"
Feeling helpless, the Protagonist had to compromise. After all the effort to train it to max level, he wouldn't give up so easily if it were him... probably.
"Like, Master, you?"
Why did the Protagonist feel that this sentence had much more certainty than a question?
"Hoh-hoh~~, you Little One. Are you trying to stage a rebellion? Take this move!!"
Haha~~, in this posture, the Protagonist could easily hit her behind.
"Ah, don't bite my ear, you ungrateful scoundrel!"
Wuwu~~, in this posture, she could easily bite his ear.
Watching the overlapping figures gradually disappear under Xi Yang, Soldier A and Soldier B fell silent for a long time.
"So... so touching..." Soldier A wiped his nose.
"The first time. It's the first time I've felt such an overwhelming and pure fatherly love. Lord Fan is truly Lord Fan; even his fatherly love is unique." Soldier B's eye sockets were a little moist.
"Indeed. He's practically a role model for all of us fathers. It seems I'll have to change the way I educate that little rascal at home."
"I also remembered my deceased father, and how he used to play with me when I was little. I thought I had long forgotten it." Soldier B sighed with a world-weariness expression, then shamelessly said to Soldier A.
"How about you let me ride on your back for a bit, so I can relive it?"
"Go to hell..."
Over the next few days, the Protagonist suddenly found himself busy.
First, every morning he had to rush to comfort the clingy Twin Little Girls. They had only recently arrived at the Rogue Encampment, were young, and had no relatives, so it was understandable that they felt a great deal of fear towards the unfamiliar environment, making them quite clingy.
However...
"Why me?!" The Protagonist had only met them once in Lut Gholein and given them a few books. Why did they treat him as relatives? Was it the Protagonist's universal affinity at work again?
Also, recently, not only Auntie Shali but even Velas had been smiling and saying that the Protagonist was becoming more and more like a competent good father. "Wuwu~~ No! I don't want to exude a fatherly aura, and I don't want to step on a dad aura! Even a dominating aura would be better than this!"
After leaving the Priest Training Camp, next was the Three-No Princess. This Little One was particularly fascinated by the Grassland, and especially fond of Fallen Ones. She was practically on the verge of dissecting them with a scalpel to research the function of every single tissue inside.
Speaking of which, if it were this task, the Three-No Princess could actually manage it alone. With her strength as a Level 18 Ice Mage (Huh, wasn't it Level 15? When did she gain three levels? How did the Protagonist not know?), catching a few Fallen Ones would be no problem at all.
But don't forget her trouble-making attribute. Any simple problem would become complicated in her in hand. Although the Protagonist wanted to advise her to take it easy and not cause trouble, seeing her eyebrows twitch a few times and her expressionless agreement, he became even more uneasy. Feeling helpless, he could only accompany her all the way. Fortunately, Fallen Ones, being a common type of creature, frequently appeared around the Rogue Encampment, so they didn't need to travel too far or spend too much time.
Returning from outside, before the Protagonist could even catch his breath, Fara came trotting over again. "Go to hell, go to hell, drop dead on your research table!" Although the Protagonist thought this, for the sake of being able to buy potions in the future, he reluctantly became a guinea pig. Of course, it wasn't without haul; his bag gained nearly a hundred bottles of energy potions and mental power potions, which gave him some comfort.
When he finished his tasks and was about to practice properly, he looked up and found that the sun had already set. Velas's gentle figure appeared on time, and her wife-like virtuousness mixed with a young girl's shyness as she called the Protagonist home for dinner, a sight he found utterly irresistible.
Evening. Hmm, evening, when the night was dark and windy, was precisely the high-frequency period for Protagonists to unleash their divine might, either slaughtering entire enemy families or suddenly comprehending some godly skill under the moonlight. However, it seemed accompanying his little wife was also a good thing. Bullying the gentle and shy Velas in bed for a bit, and teasing the stubborn yet slightly lecherous Saintess for a while, was also a great joy in life.
Kneeling powerlessly...
However, what's that famous saying? Time is like cleavage; you can always squeeze some out. Yes, even with the 'smallest' Little Sarah among the crowd, if you just squeeze a little... *cough cough*. Getting off topic.
For example, the Twin Little Girls only sought a sense of peace of mind when they were with the Protagonist. As long as they were together, it was fine; what they did together was entirely up to him. They wouldn't mind whatever strange things he wanted to do. Also, anyone who misinterprets the meaning of this sentence should go shout "I'm a Lolicon" a hundred times on the Street.
Thus, this period was fully utilized by the Protagonist to practice his skills. They watched from the side, occasionally cheering and applauding for the new tricks he came up with. As the saying goes, practicing cool moves, accompanying Lolis, and not neglecting anything.
Being with Morrissa was even simpler. Since it was about causing trouble for Fallen Ones, he could practice even while walking. Firestorm and Molten Boulder were handled with such ease.
As a result, the Fallen Ones, who had been launched onto the glorious Stage by a certain poet with the title 'Mother of Novices,' encountered the greatest nightmare of their lives. For quite some time, not a single Fallen One appeared near the Rogue Encampment, and the Soldiers' workload was greatly reduced. For this, the Protagonist was even awarded the honorary title 'The Man Feared Even by Fallen Ones.' To be honest, the Protagonist didn't think this title was a compliment. Of course, no one but the Old Drunkard could have come up with such a vulgar title.
Thus, another half a month passed in a daze of chaos. When Firestorm had been mastered to perfection by the Protagonist, and Molten Boulder had also achieved some success, Akara suddenly called him to her Tent. Inside were Deckard Cain and Fara, with only Kashya missing. "Hmph, has she finally been removed from her Elder position due to character issues?" Even without the Great Eye, predicting this situation was an easy matter for the Protagonist.
"Wu, the reason I called you here this time is regarding the problem of rescuing the Horadrim," Akara said with a smile.
The Protagonist didn't find Akara's words abrupt at all, because just a few days ago, the Horadric Staff had been transmuted. Although the King's Staff and Amulet of the Viper's attributes were junk, the time required for transmutation was by no means negligible. The Horadric Cube had put him through nearly a month of torment, and during that time, he even thought it would be a failure. Until a few days ago, with a flash of white light, to quote an advertisement: "Hey, it's done!"
Horadric Staff
Two-Handed Attack Damage: (-40
Strength Requirement: 50
Required Level: 10
Staff Tier: Increased Attack Speed
+100% Increased Attack Speed
+30% Enhanced Damage
+50 Life
+50 Mana
+10 All Elemental Damage
+15% All Resistances
+50% Damage to Undead
Indestructible
+2 Skill Points
Now these attributes truly looked like a unique item! Especially that incredibly powerful 'indestructible' attribute; it was the first time the Protagonist had seen it. His drool was practically flowing onto the floor.
Handing the Horadric Staff to Akara, she carefully held it in hand, stroked it a few times, then suddenly passed it to Fara.
"Elder Akara, what is this..."
The Protagonist looked at Akara, then at Fara, who had a smug expression, and couldn't help but ask in confusion.
"That's right, Fara will be in charge of this action, and Deckard Cain and I will also go with her," Akara said with a smile, clarifying the Protagonist's confusion.
"..."
The Protagonist looked at the three of them with an incredible expression, not because of some boring reason like "they're coming with me because they don't trust me," but because he was filled with astonishment at the simultaneous deployment of the Three Elders.
Perhaps, he would finally have a chance to see Fara in action.
"Fara, don't you still have many experiments to do?"
"That's true, but one person's strength is limited. So many Sorceresses have already gathered in the Rogue Encampment, so one more or one less of me doesn't matter. This action is of great significance, and Akara naturally has to go herself. I'm acting as a bodyguard, and as for Deckard Cain, he's already impatient to return for ancestor recognition..."
Fara explained at length, finally giving the Protagonist a general understanding. "Hmph, aren't they just trying to make the Horadrim owe them a personal favor? With the Old Fox Akara making a move, it would be difficult for the Horadrim not to feel indebted."
"Go prepare. We'll depart tomorrow morning." After explaining some precautions, Akara said seriously.
"That fast?"
The Protagonist murmured a few complaints and left with a dejected expression.
That evening, the Protagonist and Velas naturally exchanged sweet talk, clinging to each other until dawn. Looking at Velas's tired, sleeping appearance, he gave her a loving, gentle kiss, then turned and left.
Outside, the Three-No Princess and Auntie Shali were already prepared. "Hmph hmph~~ Finally, a business trip on public expense!"
"Wuwu, Big Brother..."
Sarah, who had followed out of the Tent, her eyes moist, was gently embraced by the Protagonist and comforted for a while, finally departing with reluctance as they left.
Inside the Long-Distance Teleport Station, the Four Elders were already standing together. Fara, seeing that the Protagonist was still bringing three others, couldn't help but roll her eyes furiously. She secretly resolved that in the future, she would definitely create a double... no, a quadruple-priced potion package for this kid who took advantage of the situation to slack off.
"Elder Akara, is it really alright to leave this fellow in Rogue?"
The Protagonist pointed at the Old Drunkard without hesitation. "After we leave, she'll be the only Elder presiding over the Rogue Encampment, and who knows... no, I think something will definitely happen. To be honest, if it's for the good of the Rogue Encampment, I'd rather take this fellow with us too. The Rogue Encampment might even be better off in a leaderless status."
"Kid, what's the meaning of this?" As expected, the Old Drunkard glared, her eyes wide.
"You dare to underestimate me? Just you wait! I'll make sure you see a brand new Rogue Encampment when you return, and you'll regret saying those words!"
"No, actually, I already regret it now. Just pretend I farted, and please don't suddenly decide to implement any reforms because of my nonsense."
A group of six, they actually mobilized fifteen Advanced Level Sorceresses. Looking at the gems socketed in the Magic Array, OMG, they were Perfect Gems! Who knew how much energy would be left after the teleportation? What a sin, what a sin!
With a flash of white light, they appeared in Lut Gholein.
"Teacher...!!"
As soon as the radiance dimmed, Taren, Lut Gholein's chief Sorceress, with tears streaming down her face, was already impatient to stage a touching scene of master-student reunion.
"When are you going to return the six Perfect Gems you owe me from twenty years ago?"
"..."
"You unfilial student! What's mine isn't yours, and what's yours isn't mine? Why distinguish between us?" Fara gave Taren a frustrated rap on the head.
"Alright then, what about the magic information you promised me?" Taren looked aggrievedly at Fara. Money was one thing, but this information was something he had been eagerly awaiting for a long time.
"Hehe, well, I'll be able to get it out in a few days." Fara chuckled awkwardly, then received a collective "BS" from the others—"You just want to casually find some information from the Horadrim to fob him off with!"
Indeed, one should definitely not become this Old Man's disciple.
At the Protagonist's suggestion, Akara and the other two rested for a while at the Mage Guild. The Protagonist, meanwhile, took the Three-No Princess and Auntie Shali back home for a trip. After resting, the four gathered and collectively launched their challenge towards the Imperial Palace.
The Four Elders walked together. Although very few in Lut Gholein knew that the three elders and one youth walking on the Street were actually the ones who could decide the future fate of the entire Dark Continent, there would always be observant individuals who noticed their differences.
Why were they here?
(end of chapter)
