Chapter 175: Setting Out to Find Thunder

Time waited for no one, Kei understood that reality all too well.

The Tree of Life remained trapped within the Dungeon, while he had yet to figure out a reliable method to supply her with natural energy. If he simply sat around waiting, no one could predict how much longer her condition could hold out.

The following morning, Kei made immediate preparations to visit Thunder.

Yet the instant he stepped into the shop, he was greeted by the news that Thunder had departed Dong-San City for Ji-pong, the city housing the headquarters of the Zootopia Guild. He would be stationed there for roughly three months due to a long-term project that required his attention.

"Three months?" Kei furrowed his brow.

The shop attendant nodded. "Thunder-nim has business to attend to over there. It’ll likely be quite a while before he returns, but before leaving, he specifically instructed me to notify all the shop’s regular clients."

Kei stood motionless before the counter, a heavy weight sinking into his chest.

He couldn’t afford to wait three months.

Not because he wanted to rush Thunder, but because the Tree of Life simply didn’t have the luxury of time to let him wait around asking people one by one.

If he failed to secure a source of natural energy and successfully expand the internal space of the Divine Space Ring to house the Tree of Life’s physical form, every single effort to rescue her would remain nothing more than empty talk.

Just as Kei was about to inquire further regarding how to contact Thunder, the sound of rushed footsteps echoed from outside the door.

"Kei!"

The moment Kai caught sight of him, he closed the distance instantly, his expression radiant as though the two of them had been separated for an entire month. Do Ae Young trailed right behind, exhaling a soft sigh as she carefully pulled the door shut.

"Sorry about this," she apologized, fixing Kei with a helpless look. "Kai refused to sit still back at the Guild, constantly pestering me to come find you. Sora mentioned you were heading over here, so we had to rush right after."

Kai had been pacing anxiously since early morning, relentlessly demanding they track down Kei. Do Ae Young had exhausted all her options and ultimately had no choice but to cave to his demands.

Kei shot a sideways glance at Kai, who was practically glued to his side.

"Don’t you have any work left to take care of?"

"I spent a terribly long time locked inside that Dungeon!" Kai retorted instantly. "I’m taking a few days off."

For the time being, the high-rank Dungeons located within the cities managed by the Black Dragon Guild had all stabilized following Kai’s grueling stretch of hard labor.

Do Ae Young crossed her arms, offering a smile that carried a touch of sympathy for Kei. "The guild master is entitled to a few days of rest. I suppose we’ll have to impose on you during this time."

She certainly didn’t wish to be irresponsible, but the workload of a vice guild master was relentlessly demanding; Do Ae Young couldn’t afford to shadow Kai and babysit him forever. Leaving Kai in Kei’s custody, however, gave Do Ae Young absolute peace of mind!

"You say that as if I ever agreed to it."

Kei let out a helpless sigh.

Kai paid zero attention to the rejection. He surveyed the shop for a beat before pivoting to Kei and asking in a soft murmur:

"Kei... what are you doing over here?"

"I came to look for Thunder, a highly skilled blacksmith," Kei sighed. "Turns out he went all the way to Ji-pong City. He won’t be back for about three months."

"Then let’s go find him."

Kai uttered it as though it were the most natural, trivial matter in the world.

Kei froze mid-thought. "Head to Ji-pong City?"

"That’s right! Since Thunder’s over there, we’ll just go over there to meet him," Kai nodded eagerly. "I finally managed to score a rare few days off. What could possibly be better than getting to travel alongside Kei?!"

"This isn’t a vacation."

Kei’s mouth twitched repeatedly.

"We can travel and sightsee at the same time! As long as I’m by Kei’s side... I don’t care where we go!"

Kei reached up to massage his temples.

He had originally intended to brainstorm an alternate method to get in touch with Thunder, but conducting remote consultations without meeting face-to-face wouldn’t yield ideal results, Kei lacked confidence in that sort of workflow efficiency.

Furthermore, Ji-pong was precisely the home of the Zootopia Guild’s headquarters. The design blueprints for the Purification Necklace still needed to be handed over to them anyway.

Kei had intended to deliver them to the Zootopia Guild beforehand, but a rapid succession of events had kept him from organizing the trip. Right now, this journey would allow him to track down Thunder while simultaneously tying up that loose end.

Perhaps this timing was genuinely meant to be.

Kei lifted his gaze to look at Kai. The dragon was still grinning from ear to ear, clearly operating under the absolute conviction that Kei’s compliance was a done deal.

"Alright."

Kai’s eyes lit up instantly.

"Really?"

"We’ll head to Ji-pong City. But don’t call it a vacation, I actually have work to take care of. Kai, you’d better behave yourself!"

Kei instructed sternly.

"Got it, got it! I’ll definitely be a good boy, Kei!" Kai nodded repeatedly, barely able to contain his surging excitement. "So when are we leaving?"

"Let me make a few preparations first."

Kei had no earthly idea what answers this trip would yield. It was entirely possible Thunder knew nothing about natural energy either. But at the very least, he couldn’t afford to stand around passively waiting any longer.

Meanwhile, Kai had already begun chattering happily about all the sights he wanted to check out once they reached Ji-pong City. Ji-pong was rated as an SS-hazard-level city, and Kai had visited the place on numerous occasions.

Kei caught fragments of his rambling before turning to Do Ae Young with a helpless expression.

"Would you mind keeping an eye on him for me?"

"To the best of my abilities."

Do Ae Young covered her mouth, giggling softly.

That reply only amplified Kei’s underlying anxiety. He gazed outward toward the pale blue sky dotted with wispy white clouds, fervently hoping this expedition would deliver a favorable outcome!