"That's more like it!" Mike muttered, clutching the coins, still feeling a phantom pang of heartache. He shoved the money into his backpack, taking a few deep breaths to compose himself. Then, turning to Poseidon with a disarmingly friendly smile, he asked, "Since I've answered your question, and I didn't even charge extra for killing you eight times, it's only reasonable that I have another small request, right?"
Poseidon didn't immediately agree. Instead, he cautiously replied, "Tell me what it is first. Then I'll decide."
"There are a few things I don't quite understand," Mike said frankly, no beating around the bush. "First, why are *you* on this floor?" Poseidon's escape from the Temple of Truth to the 34th floor clearly wasn't done under his own power.
"That's easy," Poseidon said casually. "The human race's Ultimate Lord told me that escaping the Temple of Truth through the black fog at this time was possible."
