"Ha, I think we should go see that bitch."
"Who again?"
"My sister."
"Ah, the black dragon, Misha?"
Murakan nodded.
He frowned as he spoke, as if he were disgusted even thinking about her. Quikantel shook her head at that sight.
"Seems like you made some big mistake, even as a guardian dragon. Well, if it weren't for those Shadow Blade Special Techniques, Jin would be dead. You better get your shit together. Last time I mentioned her, you were really against seeing her."
Murakan had only one reason to go find her.
He felt that she'd know how he could regain his former strength.
"Hey Quikantel. Aren't you underestimating me a bit too much?"
"I admit that you were the greatest dragon one thousand years ago. Probably the strongest in the history of dragons. However, you're just a cripple right now. Your prime is past. Please, face reality."
"I can perform at least half as well as my prime. The kid saw it himself."
"Oh yeah? You had to consume Jin's spiritual energy for a solid ten minutes, and you fainted for days after that. I thought you died from pushing your limits."
"Can you force cancel a vessel projection of a god after feeding off Enya for ten minutes?"
"I'd just fight them for ten minutes."
"Hmph! I still remember the fear in your eyes back on the island with the Demon God's Orb…"
"Yeah, yeah, keep talking. Let's see who wins right now."
Quikantel narrowed her eyes.
"Please calm down, Miss Quikantel."
"Someone's gotta set your guardian dragon straight. Just reminiscing about his past is going to end in his death. How many goddamn times do I have to tell him?"
Quikantel truly worried about Murakan.
Ever since their reunion, Murakan seemed perpetually weak to her.
And Murakan knew none of this. However, he didn't want to be someone who needed to be protected.
He also knew the threats that were about to come.
Stronger and stronger enemies would threaten Jin, and Murakan's role kept on shrinking.
The fact that he had been unconscious throughout Jin's fight with Joshua especially shocked him.
"…So I said I'm gonna go see her. Why the insults? Well, I'm still worried. If even she doesn't know, then I've got nothing."
In the first place, Murakan had to swallow his pride to even go see her.
A demon. When he was a young dragon, Misha was his worst nightmare.
The one being he feared the most, his own sibling.
Although there hadn't been an awkward experience between the two, they also didn't have a nice and cool relationship like Jin and Luna.
"Do you know where she is?"
"Nope."
"Then how are you going to see her?"
"I've got some theories. Only problem is there's too many. The Crasy Mountains, the Northern Jungle, old temples, or the Land of the Beasts. Dark and humid areas, and three-hundred-year-old wines from the Milla Mountains…"
"So, basically anywhere."
Quikantel shrugged.
"Yeah… Misha's always been like that. She hides in the shadows for years and then appears out of nowhere. Fascinatingly, she just shows up whenever he needs her. Maybe they aren't siblings for nothing."
"Kiddo."
"Yeah?"
"I'll be gone for at least a month."
"Why not with me?"
"You've got stuff to do. Also, we don't know when Julien will wake up."
It had been a week since they returned to Tikan, and Julien still hadn't woken up. The shock had been far too great for his consciousness to return.
Joshua didn't make any moves either. Maybe no one had come to Tikan because of Cyron's decree, and there wasn't a bounty for Julien, Kuzan, or Beris.
"That's true…"
"And above all, if I take you, Misha won't meet me. She might think you're trying to uncover our secrets."
Quikantel nodded.
"That's true. When she finished her growth spurt, the first thing she did was have vengeance on her sibling."
"Then isn't going alone more dangerous? There's no one to stop her."
"Don't worry about it. I'll probably take two months. If I don't come back by December, come find me. Either she beat the living shit out of me, or I got captured. I'll let you know what path I'll take and leave marks around."
What kind of bullshit was that?
Jin wanted to speak his mind, but Murakan looked serious for once.
In fact, Quikantel looked very satisfied with the plan. She had been asking him to find his sister for ages.
'If Misha helps him unlock his true power, then it'd be great, but sending him alone feels a little iffy.'
That night, Murakan left Tikan. He left a letter with Gilly.
( My dearest Strawberry Pie,
I chose to make a long and arduous journey. I wanted to discuss this with you, but I realized I had to make the decision…
If I die to Misha, please ask the kid for revenge. Also tell him to open the secret drawer below my bed, burn the rest of my collection, and release it into the river.
Whilst I am gone, I pray you do not yearn in agony for too long.
Meeting you and the kid after my boring slumber feels like a miracle. If I return, let us take a trip together…)
Gilly giggled as she showed this letter to Jin.
"Young Master, where is Sir Murakan headed?He sounds like a young boy going through puberty."
"He's off searching for his sibling, but I didn't think he'd leave so abruptly. He's not in his room?"
"He is not. I heard Euria saw him leave."
"Well, did you two really promise to go on vacation together? Don't know what that's about."
Jin felt awkward asking that question, and Gilly couldn't hold in her laughter.
"Pffft— Not at all! I had to really think about this one. I recall him saying something along the lines of that, so I was confused."
Gilly and Murakan never made such a promise. Murakan simply fabricated it due to his imagination.
"Ah, this is way too funny. Sorry, Young Master. I didn't think you'd be so serious about this, and I burst into laughter."
"No, no. It's alright."
Jin made an awkward smile, and Gilly flashed a grin.
On the other hand, Quikantel scrambled for some alcohol while looking worried sick.
* * *
Before Julien woke, Jin heard first about Kuzan and Beris.
"You were right this time as well. Apparently a prime suspect appeared in the Delki Kingdom."
"Can you tell me more?"
Jin stood up.
"Immediately after the Schucheron Kingdom's ceremony, the Delki Kingdom's soldiers were massacred by some poison. Finding this news on a small article posting, we investigated the case. Turns out, the poison could be identified."
Kashimir determined that this was Kuzan's message to Jin.
"Of course, it may not be Kuzan. It could be an unknown alchemist performing experimental tests. However, it is the Delki Kingdom, home of the Mariuses, and where you first met them, the survivors of Lunar Sacrifice."
And they haven't heard anything about Joshua yet.
They truly believed the clone theory, but without any further information, they couldn't escape the uncertainty.
Through Kuzan and Beris, they could obtain more intel.
"Let's depart immediately. Please prepare a transfer gate."
There was no time to hesitate. If it were someone else, they could just return.
But they had to rush.
"We have to identify them before Joshua!"
If they had any information that could give him an upper hand against Joshua, then Joshua would also aim to erase them with no questions asked.
He definitely knew that Kuzan and Beris met Jin and engaged in conversation.
'Joshua, he definitely knows about this news by now. He's the type to get rid of hunting dogs that don't come back.'
Jin, Kashimir, Alisa, and Quikantel.
That was the group going to Delki. A party that he prepared in case of an encounter with Joshua.
Thankfully, the weather looked good at the transfer gate, so they could arrive within the hour.
"I have dispatched the agents, but we'll need at least a few more hours to find the culprit. We have to start moving as well."
Kashimir opened his map. A map of Delki with markings for landmarks and stationed troops.
They still had their limits in gathering information. At least a few hours or even a day.
Jin shook his head.
"Then we'll be too late. Joshua's on the move. Since Delki is Runcandel territory…"
Remembering something, Jin continued.
"Prince Laika. I must go see him."
He planned to use the kingdom's resources to search, and to control the army. Talking to the prince would be the quickest way.
'If Joshua didn't go see the prince or the king, then we can find them first.'