Daybreak arrived and the burst of sunlight illuminated the world. Inside the Empire of Eternal Faith. Within the deep recesses of the Paradyne Academy at the top of Fragrant Peak.
Three figures clad in fiery robes could be seen standing before each other. One figure looked like an emaciated old man carrying a sword strapped to his waist while the other was a middle-aged man whose expression looked solemn and rugged.
The remaining figure carried a young child in her arms as the old man turned and said, "Girl, are you sure about this? Although we do not have any chance, I can just search for him on my own. You can stay here, take care of your daughter and wait for my news."
The young woman shook her head, "No, Senior Takemikazuchi, I have already decided, ever since he thought of me as his wife, I also thought of him as my husband. Since he disappeared, it is my job to find him, even if I die..."
"Don't say such grim words, young girl..." Mathias interjected at the side, he admired the courage and determination of this young woman. If not for her daughter that acted as her restraint, she would've dived inside the Great Wilderness of Torb to personally search for her husband.
"Okay, fine, I won't ask anymore. But what are you going to do with your daughter? Don't tell me you're going to have her accompany you on this journey?" Takemikazuchi asked, and Natalie shook her head, "No, the reason why I carried Juliet here is to temporarily leave her in the care of Senior Mathias. "
Mathias stared at her with a light of comprehension, the land of the Great Wilderness contained dangers that could easily end a child's life. It was certainly a good move for her leaving her child in his care.
However, would Juliet, her child accept this arrangement?
The nine-years-old Juliet somehow understood their discussion and she tightened her grip on her mother's clothes. When Natalie tried separating her, she insisted and shook her head, "No, I want to be with mama, papa is already gone, I don't want mama to be gone too!"
Hearing her words, Natalie turned speechless and numerous emotions welled up in her heart. But in the end, she kissed her daughter's forehead and explained, "Juliet, I will be going in an adventure to find your papa so can you stay with uncle Mathias until we return?"
"No! No! I don't want anyone, I only want papa and mama!" She clung and embraced her neck like a monkey, " Mathias who saw Juliet's relentless actions and Natalie's helpless expression sighed, how long has it been since he interacted with her daughter in such a way?
And when he thought that he finally had a chance in reconciling with his daughter, fate toyed with him and she disappeared from his sight.
Stretching his hand inside his robe, Mathias took a small ore that shone in a brilliant light. When Takemikazuchi saw this ore, he exclaimed, "That's a Deep Sea Gold Essence! Mathias! Are you sure about this?!" His shock and surprise turned into an exclamation which came out of his throat.
As a Legendary Forger, If Takemikazuchi claimed that he was the most knowledgeable one when it comes to forging materials in this continent. No one would dare to object.
And the material before him, called the Deep Sea Gold Essence could only be found from Deep Sea Gold Chunks that were tempered for several millions of years under the pressure of the ocean. Only when it met a certain condition would it form and it could be considered as incredibly rare.
Weapons forged using this Essence would have the potential to reach the Realm beyond the Heaven, possibly causing a strife between Empires and Countries or even Continents itself.
"Senior, you must know that keeping this precious material with me won't do me anything good since I can't even do anything about it. However, if this is in Senior's hands, it would truly shine..." Mathias handed over the small ore and Takemikazuchi hurriedly deposited it within his Spatial Storage Device, afraid that he may renege.
Natalie who observed at the side threw the two a look of confusion but the two old monsters stared at each other in understanding, "I understand your wish, I will certainly do it since you sacrificed such a precious material..." Takemikazuchi smiled, and Mathias nodded his head in appreciation.
The three then walked their own paths and Takemikazuchi, along with Natalie and her daughter disappeared into the distant horizon. Mathias who was left standing atop the mountain peak mumbled, "As the Leader of the Black Widow Gang, I am quite certain that you, Senior, will definitely find the two..." His voice dissipated in the air as his figure disappeared into nothingness.
Meanwhile, at the Desert Wilderness Bazaar, a commotion in the form of two murders erupted in the entire area. The members of the Jollibee Gang frowned, what's so special about a murder in this lawless City? They thought but when they heard the contents of the news, they hurriedly reported it to Caitlyn.
"Miss Boss! It seems like Young Master George of the Black Widow Gang has been killed by someone! Every minion of the Gang has been searching relentlessly culprit, however, they only have a single lead."
Caitlyn knitted her eyebrows, the person that killed a member of the Black Widow Gang inside their very own territory really was courting death.
"The last person that the young master was seen with was a drop-dead beauty!" The man reported and Caitlyn almost spat her coffee, a drop-dead beauty? With the exception of me and that Charlotte girl, there seems to be no one that could be considered as a drop-dead beauty.
As expected, investigators from the Black Widow Gang visited and asked some questions. But because her men backed her alibi, the investigators could do nothing and could only report their findings back to their superiors.
Knocking on the doors where Dan's Forging Room was, Caitlyn, entered and tightly closed the door, even going to the extent of setting up an early warning device.
Dan raised his head and stared at him, "Dan, tell me honestly, are you the one that killed that Roger?"
"Roger?" Dan absentmindedly mumbled, "Who is that?" He had a bad feeling that the young man that he killed yesterday was that Roger guy, but still he asked this question.
"Don't fool me anymore, the reason why she was poisoned by that drug yesterday should be because she was caught by that despicable Roger, right?" When she spoke these words, Dan could only resign and said, "Yes, he should be that Roger," He then returned to his forging.
Witnessing his casual actions, Caitlyn said, "How could you be so casual? That guy is a member of the indisputable number one in this territory, you know? By doing that, you're dragging us with you" She raised her trembling finger and pointed.
At this time, Dan lifted his head once again and said, "Then, what's wrong? Do they know that I am the culprit? Unless Miss Boss says anything, no one will know about my involvement about that matter, after all, as a newcomer, they would think that I would be too afraid of killing someone in this City..." He explained and Caitlyn reacted,
"Yeah, that's right, now that I think about it, how did you know the loophole within the System? Even I knew about it only after several months passed when I witnessed an Assassination in the streets..." She frowned and stared at Dan with a confused expression.
"Well, although the declaration was domineering, when I entered this Bazaar, why is it that if murder is forbidden, why could I smell a heavy scent of blood? If murders are prohibited in here, there should be no smell of carnage or even killing intent..." Dan shrugged and Caitlyn crossed her arms,
"So that's the reason," She sighed before continuing, "However, even though you are safe, that doesn't mean that your girlfriend is, according to the witness, the last person they saw with Roger was a Goddess-like beauty and with the exception of me, there should be no other woman that could be considered as a Goddess..."
Dan rolled his eyes at her, "Why do you consider yourself as a Goddess?"
Natalie lifted an eyebrow, "Is there something wrong?"
"Nothing."
"..."
"Setting that aside, your girlfriend is doomed to stay in her transformation or else once someone finds out about her true identity, she would definitely be hunted until she dies," Caitlyn shivered when she remembered the ruthlessness of the Black Widow Gang, back then, someone dared to block their path and as a result, the man was hanged and quartered before being displayed at the entrance of the Bazaar as a warning to those that challenged their authority.
"I understand, I understand, I think she has since learned her lesson after that affair anyways and she won't dare return to her previous state for now, But Miss Boss, since I'm a man, can you help me with something regarding her?" Dan scratched his cheek in awkwardness and embarrassment, Caitlyn stared at him in amusement before saying, "What is it? Go on."
Dan looked fidgety upon hearing her words and only until a moment passed did he say, "Well, when I woke up this morning, I found that there's a pool of blood on her lower body and..." He didn't explain anymore, but Caitlyn's expression that turned crimson understood what he meant. Turning her head to the side, she said, "O-o-okay, I understand, I'll head for her now..." She turned around and walked towards the exit.
But before she could twist the doorknob. A fierce explosion racked the entire region where the Tyrannical Jollibee Gang stayed. The earth itself trembled and Charlotte who peacefully slept was shaken into consciousness.
The tremor that Dan felt didn't come from Qi, instead, it came from explosives. Knitting his eyebrows, he took the weapons that he completed with him and rushed towards Charlotte's room as the screams of men erupted in the skies.
"Intruders!"
"Bastards of the Dog Gang! To think that you would initiate an attack against us in broad daylight!"