Chapter 98: A Council of Disbelief

Theodore joined Theresia’s table, and the group instantly huddled together.

“You all heard it, didn’t you?” Theodore began. “It sounds plausible at first glance, but upon closer analysis, it’s completely illogical. Still, we need to probe further.”

“Each of those drunkards is quite powerful,” Alicia added. “Even in their inebriated state, the sense of danger emanating from them hasn’t lessened at all.”

“They’re being so secretive; something’s definitely amiss,” Aesop chimed in. “We should be wary of the food and drink he offers later. It’ll likely taste awful and could even be poisoned.”

“According to our authoritative elven experts, the unique terrain of the Deathly Wilderness makes it impossible for the magic currents within to settle and form deposits,” Lola declared with a scoff. “What a ridiculous excuse. Ignorance truly is frightening.”

“Just give each of them a small piece, a mere trifle to send them on their way,” Theresia muttered, shaking her head. “If they don’t know our identities, then damn it. If they do know our identities, then it’s even worse!”

Larkin had all his lines stolen, yet remaining silent would make him appear foolish. And so, he spoke.

“Mm-hmm, exactly.”

Theresia and the others stared at Larkin, speechless.

After two months of ‘slaughter,’ Larkin’s skin had grown as thick as iron. He shamelessly retorted, “What are you looking at? Can’t an Imperial Prince state the obvious?”

“So, esteemed guests, have you finished your discussion?” the Mayor asked, poking his head through the tavern doorway.

“Everything’s settled. Let’s go.”

The group rose in unison, their gazes sharp and their footsteps synchronized as they marched towards the door, like a squad of assassins preparing for a mission.

The Mayor, for his part, felt that this group wasn’t coming to stay at his home, but rather to commit murder and silence witnesses.

****

The Mayor’s opulent villa and his office were located in the same complex. The buildings, constructed from yellow earth, exuded a desolate and bleak aura under the whipping sandstorms.

However, upon entering, Theresia and the others discovered a hidden world within. Soft, reddish-brown carpets stretched from the entrance deep into the rooms, immaculately clean—a clear sign of diligent upkeep.

Bright magic lamps, an artistic decorative style, and priceless-looking ornaments all pointed to one conclusion: the Mayor was corrupt.

Then, he watched as Theodore and the others began searching everywhere, as if they had returned to their own homes.

Theresia yawned, remarking, “There’s certainly an air of unprepared poverty about this place, but it should be adequate for a night’s sleep.”

The Mayor’s smile stiffened slightly. Yet, it wasn’t over. Theodore squeezed a nearby wall, which resembled white jade, only for it to crumble like a block of tofu.

He sighed and said, “A shoddy facade, is it? Still, for a dilapidated place like yours, managing to acquire such superficial decorations is already quite impressive.”

‘He distinctly remembered all the building materials being high-priced, quality goods!’ the Mayor thought.

Alicia stood before the Mayor’s massive portrait, a hint of regret and disdain in her voice. “While there are many types of artworks, their styles are too disparate. They’re merely scattered haphazardly, failing to form a cohesive system. Clearly, this is the layout of a nouveau riche.”

The Mayor’s mouth twitched. Just as he was about to retort, he saw Larkin pick up a bottle.

“I recall the genuine version of this bottle being housed in the Imperial Royal Academy’s library,” Larkin stated. “Ah, but I suppose it’s understandable. Without sufficient status, one can only adorn themselves with fakes.”

The Mayor was utterly stunned. That was a collectible Lord Clown had purchased at great expense, a reward for him! Was it truly a fake? Could it be true?

Aesop emerged from the kitchen area, sighing as he went. “The ingredients in the kitchen are fresh, but their preparation is far too primitive. One might think the meals here are cooked according to a thousand-year-old recipe.”

The Mayor thought, ‘…The Deathly Wilderness is like this. It’s fine. Once we dig up the Crimson Flame Crystal, everything will get better.’

‘I will endure!’

‘If Lord Clown hadn’t explicitly ordered me to keep them here, I would, I would, I would turn and leave, paying them no mind at all!’

The Mayor’s heart wept, realizing this was the consequence of not having a harder fist than his opponents.

Theresia and Theodore exchanged glances.

‘He can still endure this?!’

‘A Ninja Turtle!’ Theresia mused.

Then, the Mayor watched helplessly as Lola conjured a simple magical shockwave, blasting a large skylight into his sealed room.

“Your magic resistance is terrible,” Aunt Jersey declared shamelessly. “I’d be treading on eggshells just to conduct magic experiments in here.”

“It’s only for one night,” the Mayor gritted out.

“I will certainly find a place that fully satisfies everyone! For now, let us partake in some thousand-year-old delicacies and prepare well for tomorrow’s hunt.”

“How can food be treated so casually?” Aesop scoffed. “Fine, even as a guest, I’ll mercifully let you witness my culinary skills. Pay attention next time.”

“I… thank you,” the Mayor replied.

Though Aesop’s food was incredibly delicious, the Mayor found it tasteless. Dining with this group of inhuman individuals, in every sense of the word, was sheer torture.

Especially Larkin, who had been chattering at him since the meal began, discussing everything from the customs and religious beliefs of the City of Light to Imperial culture and Imperial truth.

These two highly contradictory philosophies constantly tore at the Mayor’s cognitive abilities, leaving him unsure when to agree and when to object. Crucially, Larkin was truly capable of endless conversation.

By the end, the Mayor had become a mindless parrot, merely repeating “Mm-hmm, mm-hmm, mm-hmm.”

During the meal, Theodore suddenly spoke, “Looking at your decor, you should have a communication crystal, right? I wonder if we could borrow it? We’ll cover all expenses incurred.”

“To show our sincerity, you can supervise the content of our communications throughout. Rest assured, we are absolutely not the type to double-cross anyone.”

“The communication crystal was originally here,” the Mayor said with regret, “but it broke a month ago. So I sent someone to repair it, and it will be delivered with the next batch of supplies.”

“As you can see, our location is remote, and transporting supplies is inconvenient. Therefore, deliveries usually happen every four to five days. So, in three days, the communication crystal will arrive. Please bear with us a little longer.”

Having not held much hope to begin with, Theodore nodded. “That’s truly a pity. By the way, Mayor, you seem to have lost your appetite. Are you worried about our strength?”

Larkin understood the cue, gesticulating wildly as he spoke. “Hahahaha, Mayor, you can rest assured! It’s just a worm, you know. Our team, we have giants if you want giants, dragons if you want dragons, an Imperial Prince and a chef…”

“Tomorrow, we’ll bring that worm to your dining table and invite everyone in town to feast!”

The Mayor was already weary from listening, nodding numbly. “Mm-hmm, mm-hmm, I naturally believe you. After all, it’s clear at a glance that all of you possess extraordinary skills.”

Theresia’s eyes flashed with a glint as she observed his reaction. “It seems His Excellency the Mayor doesn’t quite believe us, Theodore. How about we give His Excellency a live transformation demonstration?”

“No, don’t!”

The Mayor cried out in despair. “I believe you, I absolutely believe you! Oh dear, it’s getting late. You all should rest early. I’ve prepared the finest rooms for you. No transformations, no destruction, no magic experiments, no more trips to the kitchen, and no more comments on my decor! Please, I beg you, spare me! I’m just a Mayor trying to make a small fortune.”

Witnessing the Mayor’s tearful anguish, Theresia and the others were deeply moved. They all nodded, assuring him that they would not engage in such behaviors.

Lola even stated that if she were to conduct magic experiments, she would erect a defensive barrier, allowing him to rest peacefully tonight.

However, Larkin had no intention of letting the Mayor off the hook. He grabbed the Mayor’s hand, ready to follow him to his office and discuss the Mayor’s legendary life story: from his glorious beginnings to his current decline, from the surprise discovery of the ore vein to his current half-dead existence.

Facing the Mayor’s countless subtle rejections and objections, Larkin fully utilized the experience he gained from the bishops in the City of Light who dealt with him. He simply turned a deaf ear, letting the Mayor speak his piece while he spoke his own.

Meanwhile, Theresia and the others took the opportunity to return to their own rooms, then, by unspoken agreement, gathered in Lola’s room.

After confirming that the doors and windows were securely closed and the magic barrier was erected, Theresia looked at her teammates, who were seated around the table, and announced, “Meeting.”

Everyone immediately sat up straight, awaiting instructions.

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