300 Unexpected Results (2/2)
***
Remian's first priority was trying to get back to his own world.
The second was to bring back as much mana as he possibly could! Remian thought about how badly his world needed mana. If he could bring back a lot of it, he could very quickly become extremely rich.
This was especially true since he had about 30,000 Black remaining. How much mana could 30k Black buy? But he had to be careful not to overspend. He still had to find a way home first, and there was no telling how much that cost.
But abruptly, Remian felt himself turning extremely heavy.
”Uwaah!” Xiao Yan fell to the ground, and looked like she was pinned down. Even the Pod started to creak.
”What… what's going on?” Remian gasped.
To that, Sreso's voice sounded out again. ”You… are under arrest!”
”What? Why?” Remian protested.
”Scans report. That Pod was lost 349 years ago! You are not the rightful owner! By Quarin Law, that Pod was stolen!”
Remian gulped. ”I found it in a shipwreck! And isn't it just an Escape Pod?”
There was some hesitation. ”Quarin Law says… but Corpo-men Law…”
It was clear he was facing a rather complicated dillemma.
”Anyway! We must hold you and call Corpo-men!” Sreso decided. ”You talk to Corpo-men when they arrive!”
***
Mindy slowly opened her eyes to see a dwindling campfire.
”You're awake?” Jans was there, looking bruised and battered, but alive.
”Ugh…” Mindy slowly stirred. ”Where are we?”
”We're almost at the Rift.” Jans pointed.
Slowly, Mindy looked around. They were camped right at the border of the woods and the dead lands, separated from the blackened ground only by a few trees and bushes. Ahead of them, hiding behind a few bushes, Wulfgar and Joshu were eyeing the Rift.
As for the camp itself, Tang Yin was asleep to one side, Denise was by the fire with Jans on another and Mindy was lying down at a third.
”Where's… everyone…?” Mindy asked thickly, trying to think through the throbbing pain in her left thigh.
”This is everyone.” Jans told her slowly.
Mindy froze. ”This…? Herman? The Recon group?”
Jans shook her head wordlessly.
”What about Remian?” Mindy asked.
”No sign of him.”
Though she felt like crying, a dark bit of humor had Mindy ask, ”The Spectres?”
To that, Jans pointed. ”Over there.”
Indeed, there they were. Five Tier-3 Spectres that looked remarkably familiar were lurking around the Rift, directly between them and their destination. ”Are those the ones we tried to avoid earlier?”
”We tried to avoid them yesterday, yes.”
Yesterday, huh? It was already a whole day ago. All things considered… ”If that's all, we're not too badly off.”
”Actually, that's not all. There's more on the way.” Jans told her.
”Great.” Mindy grimaced. ”What are our chances of survival?”
”Pretty low.” Jans admitted.
Mindy got to her feet. ”Do you have anything to live for? Anyone?”
”I have a sister.” Jans glanced over at Denise. ”Joshu and I have been dating. Does that count?”
”It counts. So try to stay alive.” Mindy ached all over, and ached inside, but she gripped the hilt of her sword tightly. ”Even if it's hard. We have to try.”
For a moment there, she felt like she was back at the Ravens Tavern in Fort Spoas, with Mandy whispering these very same words to her during the hard times.
”We have to try to stay alive.” Mindy said looking at the Rift. ”And we have to seal that thing up.”