60 Before The Storm (2/2)

Shesmu and Amaterasu kept walking for a bit more before returning to the main party. From afar, both Shesmu and Amaterasu could see Julia talking with the rest of Hector's crew.

”Oh, seems like Julia is trying to know more about the other parties. We need to understand our strengths so that we could fight better as a team. As expected of Everlast's vice-captain.”

Shesmu nodded at Amaterasu's words, but his eyes kept lingering for a second on Julia's figure before Kazumi took all of his attention.

”Yo guys, I've been waiting for you!”

”Hey, Kazumi. How are you doing? Are you fine now? Before, when you were thinking, you looked super scary that I didn't know you for a second.”

”Haha, I was just thinking about the great mage and everyone we left. Forget about that, how about you guys. Great Master, is your mind at rest now?”

Shesmu looked at Kazumi for a second. His attitude was definitely much different than when they left and it threw him off guard. However, Shesmu didn't let his inner thoughts show. He swiftly responded.

”Thanks for worrying about me, Kazumi. But I'm fine now.” Shesmu then smiled. ”Actually, I have something to tell you about. I already gave this offer to Amaterasu, and I'm going to give it to you too. We already know that Nyarlathotep is one of the players here, and I have a pretty good idea about who it is, but I still have no proof. If either you or Amaterasu finds out who it is before I do, I will prepare a surprise gift for the both of you.”

”Oh, a surprise gift?”

Kazumi's eyes turned into stars and droll spilled out of his mouth.

”Don't tell me, are you going to teach us a new technique?”

Shesmu laughed at Kazumi's enthusiasm.

”Haha! Well, I did say that it is a surprise gift. It won't be a surprise anymore if I say it to you.”

”Tch.”

Amaterasu clicked her tongue at Shesmu's predictable answer.

”Ehh, please, just one hint is fine.”

Looking at Kazumi's pleading eyes, Shesmu was unfazed. He just smiled and said.

”No means no. But, if you guys do get close to the right answer, I'll give you a hint. So work hard!”

Kazumi nodded at Shesmu's words while Amaterasu just looked at him with hopeful eyes.

”I'm going to do some recon. Kazumi, you better go work too. We only have three hours left.”

”Okay, let's go!”

Shesmu looked at Amaterasu and Kazumi's back before sitting down on the moisty floor.

”Now, what should I do? My trap will take some time before activating, and Leo was really mad. We really should have a drinking face-to-face before things become even more ugly. Agh, the more I think about it the bigger is my headache. Well, it's not as if I could do much in here.”

Shesmu then stood up and put DepressedRyan in a more comfortable position.

”Since we're here, let's just have some fun. Dancing in little Nyarl's hand before biting it doesn't sound too bad.”

However, just as Shesmu was about to move out, a certain conversation piqued his interest. While everyone was resting from the battle against the hounds, two players, one black-haired and the other with red hair were whispering to each other.

”Like I said to you. The monster is definitely one of those guys. Especially that golden-eyed bastard, talking as if he was our leader. He is probably the monster and he is leading us to our death.”

”And like I said, why do you think so? It's normal for someone to take the lead. Else, we will never work as a group and all die to the monster.”

”Haha, working as a group? Do you see us doing that? Those three teams only communicate with each other and leave us all in the dark. Don't you see the picture here?”

The black haired player shook his head in confusion.

”They're sacrificing us, that's what they're doing!”

”Ehh!”

”Yes, those three teams think that they're smart. They keep themselves in a tight circle so that the monster doesn't find an easy way to kill them without showing itself, and they leave us scrambled. We're just easy targets that serve as bait for the monster to focus on.”

The red-haired player's face then cracked into a distorted grin.

”But what they don't know, it's that they're all just playing in the palm of the monster. They think that they're safe by grouping together that way, but that only made it easier for the monster to blend in with them. If the monster is that golden-eyed guy, then we're all dead!”