Bonk!
"Ouch... That hurts..." Mana muttered while rubbing her forehead, pouting like a child who just got caught playing a prank.
"Yeah, stop trying to scare . It’s not working," Tyler said flatly, barely glancing her way.
"Oh really? But Mana did get you, right?" Mana asked with a mischievous grin, her eyes twinkling.
"Heh... I’ve ventured into the Abyss, faced horrors that would drive most n insane. You think little tricks like this will even make flinch?" Tyler scoffed, waving her off.
"Hehe..." Mana chuckled mockingly, crossing her arms. The eerie, ghostly grins on the twin illusions that had been lurking nearby faded like mist in sunlight.
"Was that an illusion?" Tyler asked, finally sitting up straight and narrowing his eyes.
"Yeah. Just a small-scale one," Mana replied with a smug smirk. "If you’d used your Divine Sense, you might’ve noticed it."
Tyler shook his head and sighed. "Looks like Mana’s getting naughtier these days... Might need to teach her a lesson." He chuckled, adding, "This ti I’ll really drag her to a Love Hotel."
And he really did it and only let her out the other day.
---
Three Days Later
Inside the sa Love Hotel on the first island —
Yes, Tyler had indeed booked the entire hotel. Not just one island, but both. He decided because he liked the architecture and the vibe. Now, only his crew were allowed inside. To others, it appeared like so rich young master booked the both hotels to enjoy with different ladies.
No one knows who spread this rumour. But every clue points at a Pervert Alchemist.
Tyler was lounging lazily on a soft recliner, a small pearl rolling between his fingers. It was the one Kael Driftsbane had handed him. To make him choose the different trial during the Dreamwalker challenge, Kael gave this Pearl.. It contained precious information... particularly about a particular secret Realm – Vael’quessir.
The Holand of the Elves.
He was thinking of Silvia — who was the first person he t in this world. She has been taken away by so elves. The only place she possibly be is Vael’quessir. In Kael’s dream-sequence, Tyler had briefly seen that realm, even escaped from it. But the mory was fragnted, offering no useful clues.
The room door creaked.
Lily entered, flipping her dark brown hair back as she carried a pouch filled with docunts, notes, and intel. She tossed the pouch on the table with a dramatic sigh.
"Sotis I seriously envy you," Lily said with a teasing tone, plopping herself beside him. "You literally do nothing."
"What do you an? I’m the boss who pays your bills," Tyler replied nonchalantly, still eyeing the pearl.
Lily chuckled and leaned closer. "There’s so news about the Orion Cube fragnts. Word is... all fragnts currently in the seas are already in the hands of a powerful factions. They’re just waiting for the Orion Cube to reappear. No one knows where it’ll resurface. Except us. That gives us a huge advantage."
Tyler pocketed the pearl into his dinsional storage and finally gave Lily his full attention.
She handed him a map. "Looks like it won’t be easy to head for Nox Pass. A massive storm has consud the sea route we were supposed to take. Not even an entire island could survive it. We either wait until it passes... or take another route."
Tyler tapped the map thoughtfully. "Another route? Is it faster? Safer?"
"Faster? Yes. Safer?" Lily hesitated. "Not quite. This route goes straight through Dragon King Territory. And I’m not talking about so island that just flies the Dragon King’s flag. I an his actual territory —fully under his one of his branch faction’s control."
Tyler’s brow arched. "You’re saying going in as rchants might not work?"
"Exactly," Lily nodded. "It’s risky. The chances of getting trouble is so High because many pirates are wandering there . We might get flagged before we even reach that territory."
Tyler grinned. "Well, if White can’t get the N Pass... we go Black."
Lily smirked, catching on. "You an - turning into Phantom Pirates again?"
"Exactly," Tyler replied. "As long as we get there. Doesn’t matter which face we wear."
"Our biggest obstacle might not even be the patrols though," Lily said, turning serious. "It’s the Dragon Princess."
Tyler blinked. "Wait. As in... the daughter of the Dragon King?"
"Well... that’s the thing. It’s only a rumor," Lily began. "So say she’s a myth. Others claim she’s a rogue dragon, a savior who defies the Dragon King and fights for the lesser dragon races. She’s like a bandit in Dragon King Territory. Stealing resources, rescuing prisoners, sabotaging outposts."
Tyler narrowed his eyes. "So what’s the problem? If she’s against the Dragon King, wouldn’t she leave us alone?"
"That’s what makes it complicated," Lily replied. "No matter what she does, the Dragon King’s faction turns a blind eye. They’ve never hunted her. So say she’s his daughter. Others say she’s his future consort. Whatever she is, she’s untouchable."
Tyler leaned back, folding his arms. "Why would she be an obstacle for us?"
Lily lowered her voice and said, "Because... According to so whispers I picked up... she might’ve once belonged to—"
"Belonged to who?"
"...The Phantom Pirates."
Tyler froze.
"What?"
Lily nodded gravely. "There are traces, rumors, sea tales from the rmans and rmaids from that place. They talk about a rogue dragon girl sailing with a Mask that looks like a Phantom, also that affects how people perceive."
The room fell silent.
Tyler stood up and walked to the window, gazing out at the sky. "That’s a phantom mask?."
"Exactly."
Tyler smirked. "Oh Interesting."
Lily gave him a look and sighed "Looks like there are more than one Phantom Masks out there.... Other than those you copied."
Tyler took out a chocolate from his Copper Pot and ate it.
"Seriously?"
"What? This is limited edition."
"Even after going into that Cheat Pot?"
Tyler just shrugged and tossed her a chocolate. Both chewed it.
"Looks like we need to find this Dragon Princess."
"As expected..."
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