"Let's go to [ASHFORD TOWN]," James said.
With that, James, Oliver, and the baby Stratos all mounted the Sanatorus, known as TYRUS.
James began to ask Oliver,
"Oliver, when you go down there, can anyone recognize you as being from the Grayson family?"
Oliver, slightly fearful, replied, "Yes, master, many people there know me."
"Okay, are these people enemies or friends?" James asked seriously, as he needed to fully understand how far the Grayson family had fallen.
Oliver responded,
"Master, most of them are enemies of my family. Yesterday, someone who was like a brother to me has now turned into an enemy."
James thought to himself,
"Hmm, from Oliver's behavior, I'm getting a feeling that someone close to their family has been taken down. It seems to have been a very well-planned move, done quietly."
"Oliver is definitely hiding something from me, but that's alright. I'll listen when he's ready to talk."
While thinking this, James asked Oliver,
"Did you take the tail of the Royal Pet Sanatorus?"
Oliver replied, "Yes, master."
James asked, "Why did you take it?"
"When master fried the entire Royal Pet except for its tail, I figured there must be some use for the tail that master might need later," Oliver explained, leaving nothing out.
James was pleased with Oliver's understanding, "You understand my intentions well, Oliver Cattson."
Oliver, feeling proud, said,
"Saying that makes me feel embarrassed, master; it was just my duty."
"So, where is the tail?" James asked.
"In my storage ring, master," Oliver replied, raising his right hand and snapping his fingers. The tail appeared in his hand.
"Here you go, master," Oliver said, handing the tail to James.
James maintained a balance of repulsive and attraction force, holding the tail about 10 centimeters above his hands in the air, as it weighed around 150 kilograms. His body alone couldn't lift it, so he used his skills.
Holding it, James began to inspect it and thought to himself,
"What kind of poison could be made that would limit the power of a MYSTIC SANATORUS to only its stone body?"
Saying this, he adjusted his Astral Energy slightly because if he activated it without adjustment, his soul would once again enter the [ASTRAL WORLD].
To avoid going there, he made adjustments and gently activated his Astral Vision. Now, with one Astral Ray, he could clearly see inside the tail.
The blood was red in color, and the substance mixed in the blood was showing as black.
Seeing this, James asked UNI,
"How many types of skills can I use with this Astral Energy?"
UNI responded, "Host, many skills can be generated from Astral Energy. Its final form of energy is something this world cannot handle."
Shocked, James asked,
"UNI, what are you hiding from me? Tell me. And how can this [Astral Energy] be so dangerous, which I acquired from the Stratos Queen?"
"If the Stratos Queen already had this, then she could have easily killed me with it. Why didn't she kill me, and why did she die so easily?"
"That's because, Host, the Stratos Queen was just a storage body. Only a RULER can fully awaken Astral Energy."
James replied, "So, you're saying that this Astral Energy was hidden for me? From whom was it hidden, and what else is being hidden?" He waited for UNI's response.
"This was all decided beforehand when your body was being prepared on Earth."
At that moment, a black aura began to release from within James. The pressure caused Oliver and TYRUS, who were sitting nearby, to bow down. Both of them let out a simultaneous cry,
"Roar... Arghh... Ma...ste...r."
However, the baby Stratos Queen felt nothing.
Hearing the cries of both of them, James controlled his emotions, withdrew the aura back into his body, and asked UNI angrily, "What... does this mean, UNI? I was created, not born?"
"Yes, Host, you were created with Astral Energy, which you now have in large amounts," UNI replied.
James fell into shock again and muttered to himself, "I was created , not born. Then how could my parents have given birth to me?"
"Ahh... I don't have the strength to think anymore... Just fuck it."
"I'll slowly understand what, why, and who did this."
Thinking this, he turned his attention back to the tail and said, "UNI, can you tell me what kind of poison this is?"
UNI immediately replied, "Of course, Host. Why not? This poison is called
[Void Poison]. When it enters anyone, it attacks their powers and energy."
"There is no cure for it, and this Void Poison only disappears when the energy inside is completely depleted."
James listened to UNI's explanation and asked, "Who created such a dangerous poison and why?"
UNI said, "The Union Table created it, and why it was made, I do not have an answer for."
With that, UNI fell silent.
"What a dangerous mindset the Union Table has, and what do they intend to do with this?" James wondered aloud.
At that moment, Oliver, in a tired voice still affected by the aura, spoke up, unable to ask about the cause of James' anger due to fear,
"Master, we are about to reach the gates of [ASHFORD TOWN]."
With that, he fell silent.
James, lost in thought, snapped back to attention and began to carefully observe his surroundings. The walls of Ashford Town stood 50 meters tall, which was quite high. There was only one entrance.
There were 10-meter tall gates, and on one side, a 2-meter door through which people were passing.
Looking at the large castle, James remarked,
"WHAT A BIG BIG TOY HOUSE."
In front of the large gates, there were guards in five different colored uniforms standing watch. Each guard was powerful enough to strike fear into an entire district.
Seeing this, James asked Oliver, "Oliver, why are there guards in different colors here?"
Oliver replied, "Master, these guards represent five different countries. They are here to provide security and also keep an eye on each other."
"Hmm... They've managed to keep things under control by constantly watching one another. I have to admit, their leaders have done well," James remarked, acknowledging what Oliver had said.
James noticed photos posted on the walls, and among them was a picture of Oliver. He commented,
"Oliver, you've become quite famous here."
Oliver, hearing his master's playful remark, responded,
"Master, that's not called being famous—it's called being hunted."
James chuckled and asked, "So, how much is the bounty in Zyphorins?" (The currency in Zyphoria.)
Oliver replied, "500 million Zyphorins, master." (1 Z = $10)
James said, "Then you're on the VIP hit list,"
And thought to himself,
"If Earth were nearby, I could collect Oliver's bounty and become a billionaire in an instant. Tch... Bad luck."
Snapping out of his daydream, he suggested, "You should do something about your face."
Oliver replied, "Master, don't worry. I have a face-changing cream. When I apply it, my face will take on a different appearance, but only for five hours. That's enough time to hide in a rented room."
With that, he fell silent.
Hearing this, James said,
"Good, you've prepared well." Then, he told TYRUS,
"Let's go, TYRUS," and they began moving toward the gate again.
Suddenly, a yellow-uniformed guard shouted, "Stop! Where do you think you're going?"
Oliver replied, "We're heading into town, sir."
The yellow guard, with an arrogant tone, said, "I can see you're heading into town, but on whose permission?"
Understanding the guard's implication, Oliver snapped his fingers, took out a pouch containing 100 Zyphorins from his storage ring, and placed it in the yellow guard's hand, saying,
"With your permission, sir."
The guard glanced at the pouch, snapped his fingers again, and the pouch disappeared into his own storage ring. Smiling slightly, he said,
"Yes, that's the correct answer. And a little tip from me—never pass in front of anyone wearing a red uniform.".
When the Yellow Guard warned Oliver about the guard in the red uniform, a surge of killing intent began to emanate from Oliver, as if he was ready to take the guard's life right then and there.
Sensing this, James placed his hand on Oliver's shoulder and quietly whispered so that no one else could hear,
"Control yourself. Your chance will come, just as the Cattson Family promises."
With these words, James fell silent.
Hearing his master's assurance, Oliver calmed down and continued forward without a word.
As they moved ahead, the Yellow Guard remarked,
"This Sanatorus is impressive. Is it yours?"
Without showing any anger, Oliver replied, "It belongs to my master, sir."
The Yellow Guard then asked, "Who is its master?"
Oliver gestured ahead, indicating James, and the Yellow Guard understood. He responded,
"Alright, noted. We'll meet inside sometime."
A moment later, the yellow guard shouted, "Green Guard, open the gate! This visitor has been granted permission."
With that, the gate creaked open, and the Green Guard said,
"Welcome to [ASHFORD TOWN], sir."
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What... Will do Our MC in
[ ASHFORD Town ]
See... Ya .. Next Chapter