When Teest returned, Nol was on his second cup of frozen grapes.
It was a shady place. All the guests in the tavern wore dark clothing, like crows that had landed in the fields. Even with the distracting effect of the "A Midsummer Night's Dream", Teest spotted Nol immediately.
'Perhaps this was the power of our marriage contract,' he thought.
Half of Nol's face was visible from under his hood, his eyes completely hidden in the shadows. He chewed slowly on the frozen grapes, looking immensely satisfied. After all, these grapes were only eight coppers a cup—his Mr. Lich was easily pleased.
"They're really good." Nol spoke first before Teest had even settled in his seat.
Using a clean silver fork, Nol picked a plump grape from the cup and naturally offered it to Teest's lips. "I used a freezing spell, so the texture should be intact."
Teest took the grape in one bite, raising an eyebrow. "Is this how you treat 'married folks'?"
"Because I need both of your twisted affections. Whoever falters first, I don't lose out," Nol joked, handing Teest a full cup of grapes.
"Well, okay. Actually, I wanted to talk to you about something…"
"I agree."
"I haven't even told you what it's about!" Across from Nol, Teest gripped his fork.
[Let me guess, the General must have relayed some news from your end. The value of Paradise, the reasons you'd want to follow me… Things like that.]
A dwarven waiter, holding a plate of roast piglet, wobbled over to their table. Amidst the aroma of the steaming meat, Nol switched their conversation to telepathy.
[She got the answers she wanted, and you got the intel you were looking for, such as how to locate the "Eclipse Shield"—which is probably tricky. So, you want us to go find it together.]
Nol took a crispy piece of pig skin and dipped it in sour fruit sauce.
"Two green grape sodas, no ice," Teest ordered from the dwarf.
Since he didn't order any alcohol, the dwarven waiter sneered, cursing audibly, "Pair of wimps."
[Why is everyone so skeptical about love?] Teest thought, ignoring the dwarf's disdain. [Can't it be that she was moved by our beautiful marriage, and I was so elated, I decided to confess to you right away…]
[Get to the point,] Nol cut him off.
[I'd like to invite you on a quest,] Teest said. [The method to find the Eclipse Shield is extremely complicated, and I need your knowledge and brains.]
[No problem,] Nol replied succinctly.
He was at ease—no one set a deadline, so there was no rush. Now that the stronghold matter was settled, it was time to help Teest fulfill his wish.
Nol knew little about the "Eclipse Shield" as it wasn't a default system weapon. But if the Mad Monk wanted it, there must be a good reason.
Teest clicked his tongue. [We need a potion called "Time Reversion" to go back to before the church was burnt down and find the shield's storage location from the records.]
[Time Reversion?] Nol paused in his chewing.
Such an oddity wasn't in his system. The best he could offer Players was a flashback.
[Yes. It's available at Grape Collar's secret auction,] Teest explained. [That Billy came to Grape Collar specifically for the auction. Maybe he wants it too.]
"Are we going to the auction?" Nol asked excitedly.
Here it comes, a classic fantasy adventure trope. Maybe they could buy something valuable from the auction. However, they'd need to prepare the money for the potion bid, and time might be short…
"We aren't attending the auction," Teest said with a smile, bursting Nol's bubble. "There are too many skilled individuals there, and it's easy to leave traces."
Deflated like a punctured balloon, Nol inquired, [Then what do we do? That potion sounds precious, not like something someone would just give away.]
[We steal it,] Teest said matter-of-factly.
[...?] Nol almost dropped his fork.
[I'm good at killing, not stealing. Normally, my targets don't lock themselves behind three layers of vaults.] Teest shook his head. [For professional tasks, you need professionals. The General will figure it out.]
Is that really a good idea? Nol was conflicted. Even if it was an underground auction, stealing from someone's vault still felt…
[The "Time Reversion" potion is a specialty of the Eternal Church. They make a fortune off it each time and manage to woo influential figures in need of it,] Teest added, looking at Nol leisurely.
Nol's tone immediately softened. [Do we have enough money to hire someone? Do you want me to add some?]
Teest almost choked on his meat laughing, taking two sips of grape soda to calm his cough.
"You drank my drink too…" Nol pointed out discontentedly.
"That's right, honey. I'm that cruel."
Meanwhile, in the General's reception room.
The General emptied the last drop of wine from the bottle, sighing deeply.
There were two types of businessmen: Those who prospered in chaos and those who thrived in peace. Unfortunately, the General belonged to the latter. And the Mad Monk was like a living omen. His every appearance signaled blood and disaster.
As expected, the intelligence on "Paradise" should no longer be pursued. She didn't want to risk angering the sharp-witted lunatic.
Their last conversation seemed to linger in the air with the scent of blood.
"Do you really want to show him something 'unpredictable'? Like, for instance, the church that was burned down all those years ago by you?" She had asked not long ago.
"No, no, the point isn't the church… To have someone solve the riddle, you have to present it," Teest said nonchalantly. "I just want to show him what I can't understand."
"Oh, I thought you were introducing him to your parents. Nearly brought him home." The General said sarcastically, imitating a boy's voice, "Daddy, Mommy, this is my boyfriend! …Oh sorry, I remembered, your parents have been long dead."
Teest's face remained impassive, as if he had just heard someone say, "The sun rises in the east."
The General wasn't surprised. She tapped impatiently on the table. "Seriously, are you sure he's willing to act with you…"
"Yes, he's quite interested in me," Teest confidently declared.
"You truly are the most ruthless bastard in the world."
"Glad we agree." Teest stood up with ease. "Guess what? I still have that coin from back then."
The General's lipless mouth fell open. Half a minute later, she managed to speak.
"Do you really just want to solve the riddle?"
"I don't know."
Teest walked to the exit without looking back.
From that moment, the General had been frowning, and the creases still remained on her rough skin.
She knew that the "lunatic" in her words and the "lunatic" in the public's eyes weren't the same. Teest's mind was indeed not normal, but he was far from the "crazy blasphemer" or "twisted religious artist" in people's minds. If she had to define him, Teest was more of a pragmatic killer with clear objectives.
Teest always knew exactly what he was doing and understood the consequences of every step.
Yet now he said, "He doesn't know."
"'Paradise' has some means. It seems something big is about to happen," the General muttered, leaning back in her armchair. "How ominous…"
With that, she shook her head, activating a communication crystal.
"Contact the 'Drifting Mercenary Group'. I have a commission related to the auction." She paused, her voice becoming grave. "I want to hire the leader, Painter, personally."
...
Nol looked over the supplies piled in the small warehouse, feeling unusually pleased.
The vegetables and fruits were fresh and plump, seasonings of all sorts were available, and high-quality crop seeds were included. Fresh meat, smoked meat, sausages, and other meat products were separately packed. The General's men had even prepared live livestock and an abundance of candies and desserts per his request.
Mountains of potion ingredients stood beside stacks of various books and stationery. The finest phonographs and records were chosen, and the General thoughtfully included popular board games.
Though they said they would deliver a cartload of supplies, the goods in front of him could fill five carts.
"Please convey my gratitude," he thanked the guide politely.
"If you need, we can provide transport," the guide, a hunched young man with empty sockets, said, his head bowed very low.
"No need this time. You may leave," Nol replied.
He intended to give the "General" a bit of a shock.
"You're not thinking of putting all this into my pouch, are you?" Teest said alertly as the guide left. "My pouch can't fit all this."
Nol smiled at him and removed the top of his staff, revealing the blinking Kando.
"Good, you're all dressed up." The black candle looked around the warehouse with a discerning eye and began chattering. "This place is quite hidden. So, you two are finally getting serious?"
"Yes, I need to open a spatial passage."
"Oh?" Kando's blue eye turned to him. "What terrifying creature are you summoning this time?"
Nol shook his head. He stuck the staff diagonally into a pumpkin, causing Kando's pupil to tremble. "Wait, wait, what are you—"
Nol began imagining the first floor of the Lost Tower.
"—doing?" Kando screeched just as its flame enlarged into a circle.
Beyond the fire ring was the hall of the Lost Tower. The setting sun bathed the Tower's top in a splendid glow. Uncle Ma, who was strolling around, exclaimed in surprise and hurried over to see what was happening.
However, he didn't dare cross the fire ring, stopping two steps away. Uncle Ma still looked thin, but he appeared healthier than a few days ago.
"This thing is impressive," he said in awe. "Hey, are those potatoes? Is there any cabbage? Get some bacon!"
"Everyone will get a share." Even though succubi couldn't survive on this kind of food, Nol believed Uncle Ma would take some. He wondered if he'd even get to taste kimchi.
"How's the warehouse preparation?" His tone lightened.
"It was done this morning by Xiao Lin. There's a huge icehouse. It's very cold," Uncle Ma replied. As they talked, more neighbors gathered, and Nol spotted some new faces.
The Luo and Zhu couple weren't present, probably out on patrol. Witch Lynn was likely busy with her infrastructure. Besides that trio, there was a giant Armored Bear over two meters tall, a Harpy with a human-like head, and a maroon Centaur with a face longer than a horse.
"By the way, let me tell you. These few recently joined us."
Uncle Ma pointed at the three monsters. "They were originally from the Black Forest and started looking for the Tower after seeing the notification. They were discovered by Xiao Luo and Xiao Zhu. The Bear is Elder Wang, who looks after children in the countryside. The Centaur is Mr. Wu, who works at a bank… Remember the Harpy? It's Granny Meng from your corridor, the one who likes to stand by the door at 4 or 5 in the morning and scold people."
Uncle Ma spoke quite directly, oblivious to the presence of the subjects of his comments.
Elder Wang and Mr. Wu nodded at Nol, trying to look grateful with their unfamiliar faces.
The Harpy, with her ugly face, showed no expression, acting as if she hadn't heard Uncle Ma's comments.
Creatures of this kind were giant birds with the heads of women—their very form being somewhat terrifying. At this moment, her eyes were wide open, slightly bulging, and as lifeless as those of a corpse. With these dead-fish eyes, Granny Meng stared at Nol, without uttering a word, making him somewhat uneasy.
"Everyone's here. Help me move some stuff." Nol's good mood was dampened a bit as he tried to steer the conversation back on track.
To be honest, he was somewhat scared of Granny Meng. She had been yelling at people early in the morning in the staircase for several years, never missing a day, more punctual than a rooster's crow. Thanks to her, Nol had never needed to set an alarm in the morning.
The content of Granny Meng's rebukes typically revolved around trivial matters. For example, noises from the ceiling in the middle of the night, strange smells in the corridor, or water leaks from the floor above. The property management had inspected these issues many times but never found any evidence. Some neighbors even called the police because of her, but since she was almost eighty, the officers were at a loss.
She also behaved strangely on regular days, often squatting in corners and staring at people intently without responding to anyone. As a result, everyone assumed she had some mental issues and kept their distance from her. This fear of Granny Meng carried over into Tahe World.
"So, just move it directly like this." Teest spoke, pulling Nol from his memories. Teest easily lifted a bag of fresh meat and stepped over the blue flame circle. "Move what you can and be quick about it. We have other things to do!"
Granny Meng, who had been blocking the entrance, spread her wings and flew to a statue on the first floor. She cocked her head, still silently staring at Nol.
"You're just using me for this… This is mule work…" As Nol caught up, he heard the indignant mutterings of Kando. "You're just using me for this… What am I even here for…"
"It's a huge favor," Nol said. "I promise, just this once!"
"You swear!" The candle screamed softly.
"Uh…"
"I knew you were lying to me!" Anger laced the candle's screams.
"I'll find you a cooler task," Nol whispered, trying to appease the upset candle. "I swear, okay?"
Thanks to Kando's distraction, Nol's attention was pulled away from the eerie Granny Meng.
As night fell, the last bag of supplies from the warehouse was moved. Bags of different sizes piled up on the first floor of the Lost Tower, exuding a simple beauty of abundance.
"Leave the seeds to me." Armored Bear Elder Wang assured. "I have a vegetable garden at home and have raised livestock before. These three floors are perfect for farming."
"I don't know much about it, but I know growth magic." The Centaur, clearly nervous, stood stiffly as if Nol could dismiss him on a whim. "I'll help, really. I learn really fast."
"Just work it out amongst yourselves. Don't be so nervous," Nol quickly assured. "Contact me if you need anything else. Let's call it a day."
He didn't like feeling like a leader. It would be better to leave these interpersonal interactions to Lynn and the others.
As the fire circle closed, Nol sat on the empty cart, gazing at the dim walls. A sense of satisfaction gradually filled him.
The supply issue was resolved, ten neighbors had been found, and he hoped things would continue to go smoothly…
"From now on, all my time is yours." Nol looked up at Teest, who was standing on the edge of the cart. "That 'Time Reversion' potion—"
"Don't worry about it. The general will have it delivered," Teest said, hopping playfully on the edge of the cart, looking in good spirits. "All we need to do is wait patiently."
"Sounds good."
"Right?"
...
Inside the Lost Tower, the two newcomers sighed in relief.
"Xiao Xu has a good temperament," Elder Wang said, standing straight and gently patting his chest with his bear paw. "When you first said he was the White Bone Demon, it scared the daylights out of me."
"I've said it before, Xiao Xu is a pretty good guy," The Crow Father interjected. "Oh dear. Sisi, we forgot to ask him about the curtains again…"
"I thought he would be one of those elitist types. Turns out he doesn't charge a fee," the Centaur said, still a bit startled. "His race seems a bit better than ours. At least he looks quite human."
"Officer Luo said he's always looked like that," the Banshee Mom, hugging her daughter, explained. "He probably transformed himself. We don't know that kind of magic."
"What?" Uncle Ma suddenly interjected.
"Ah, I said, he probably used magic to transform himself." The Banshee Mom was a bit cautious, as it was her first time conversing with this stern gatekeeper.
"No, no, your previous sentence? He's always looked like that?"
"Yes, that's what Officer Luo and his group said…"
"That's not right." Uncle Ma frowned. "It's been almost a year. How come I've never seen him?"
"It might be because you work the day shift." The Crow Dad tilted his head and explained in a gruff voice. "You're on duty from eight in the morning to eight in the evening, right? I've heard that Xu Yue and his team often work late hours, so you probably just missed him."
Uncle Ma hummed. "That's possible."
"…Hee."
Atop a statue, the head of the Harpy rotated ninety degrees. She let out a soft giggle, unheard by anyone below.
"Hee hee, hee hee." She sneered at the people below without blinking.