Chapter 341: Paradise Without Adults (2)

The ones guarding this prison could try to control it, but he could just as easily make the whole thing collapse. All he had to do was attack its fragile structures and wipe it from existence.

‘As for the trouble it would cause, that’s Giant Horn City’s problem…’

With these thoughts in mind, he turned to the Little Lamb Girl and motioned for her to follow him. They would destroy the place as they left.

Han Su hadn’t actually figured out what he would do with the children after getting them out of this secret prison. He could barely protect himself, so how was he supposed to help them escape their tragic fate?

‘But what else could he do?’

‘Just leave them here to vanish along with the prison?’

So he extended the invitation, doing his best to appear friendly so as not to frighten children who had never known kindness.

Then, to his surprise, the Little Lamb Girl gently shook her head in refusal.

Han Su was taken aback. “You’re not coming with me?”

As if sensing his shock, the Little Lamb Girl gently approached. She reached out with her small hands, took Han Su’s, and a stream of information carried by Spiritual Power surged into his Spirit World.

Han Su instantly understood. ‘So, she does know how to communicate.’

As he processed the thoughts she sent him, his expression slowly turned to one of pure astonishment.

The Little Lamb Girl looked up at Han Su’s face. Sensing that he was about to try and dissuade her, she gave a shy smile but remained firm in her refusal.

…

…

“Have you completely lost your mind?”

「Meanwhile, out in the wilderness」

Mr. Wei Ya learned that the Old Vampire from Skinning Manor was frantically attacking Giant Horn City, even threatening the defenses of the real world.

He was incandescent with rage. He yelled at Count Albarrez, “You were the one who crossed the line first! We haven’t even done anything, and now you want to drag us both down into a fight to the death?”

“Even if no one in Giant Horn City can match your status, what do you possibly stand to gain by pushing things to the point of no return?”

“…”

Count Albarrez had already been on edge after seeing his own great-great-grandmother charge straight for Giant Horn City. Now, faced with such accusations, he roared back in fury, “Weren’t you the ones who tricked me first? Weren’t you the ones who hid the Black Goat?”

“You…”

This argument could have gone on forever. But Mr. Wei Ya, an Investigator by training, saw that the Old Count’s anger didn’t seem feigned. He grew surprisingly calm and suddenly said:

“Is it possible… that we’ve both been played?”

“…”

Count Albarrez stamped his foot. “Played, my ass!”

Investigator Wei Ya pressed a hand to his forehead, forcibly suppressing his anger. “Have you forgotten,” he snapped, “that besides you and me, there are other people here?”

“That Queen Bee Mercenary Squad… they’re the ones who started all this!”

“…”

“But you’re the ones who hired them, aren’t you?”

Count Albarrez sneered. “Besides, they’re just a measly mercenary squad. Without your orders, where would they find the nerve to cause all this trouble? And let’s say, for the sake of argument, that they did have the nerve—what would they possibly have to gain from any of this?”

“You…”

Investigator Wei Ya suddenly realized he had no good way to explain any of this.

But he could see tempers were flaring on both sides, and their respective reinforcements were already on the way. Messages were flooding in from Giant Horn City, but he hadn’t even had a chance to look at them.

Overcome with frustration, he suddenly made a decision. He tossed his briefcase to an assistant, and the malformed eye on his body snapped shut. Then, he slowly stepped forward.

“I am willing to swear the Crimson Oath with you. What do you say?”

“…”

“What?”

This was something the Old Count had not expected.

Watching Investigator Wei Ya slowly approach, his Pale face slick with sweat, the Old Count found himself subconsciously starting to believe him.

But then his thoughts shifted, and he immediately added, “The Crimson Oath requires both parties to be completely open. One moment of carelessness, and you could be betrayed.”

“You already intended to silence me. How could I possibly trust you?”

“…”

“Are you completely daft?”

Investigator Wei Ya suddenly snapped, “You keep talking about me wanting to silence you, but have you considered your own status? You are one of the Ancient Nobles, a descendant of Knights! What possible reason would I have to silence you? And if I did, who would bear the consequences?”

“That…”

The words suddenly made the Old Count feel a bit awkward.

He’d thought the same thing before. ‘With my status, who in Giant Horn City would dare to kill me?’

‘But my life really was just threatened…’

But now, Wei Ya was already stepping forward, his hands spread to show his sincerity. His expression was a picture of helplessness and innocence, and it made the Count’s conviction waver. ‘Could it really have been those Mercenaries?’

Though he still had his doubts, he couldn’t stop himself. He slowly sheathed his Foil, then hesitantly extended a hand toward Wei Ya.

Just as their hands were about to clasp, a strange shockwave suddenly rippled through the air.

They both turned their heads at the same time. In the direction of Giant Horn City, massive dark clouds twisted in the night sky. The darkness of night itself seemed to pale, and amidst the city’s lights, the shadows of an endless forest began to sprout…

“The Fertile Forest…”

The shock of this scene, even from so far away, left both men frozen in place.

The true Fertile Forest was descending.

Unlike the manifestation they had witnessed just moments before, this time it seemed there was nothing to stop it. It descended directly, a bizarre aura surging to the heavens as reality twisted into a grotesque, nightmarish landscape.