Chapter 896 (2/2)

Mrs. Hamilton just smiled. “Three… is such a lucky number. Don’t you think?”

Han didn’t answer. He just spun on his heel and walked toward the portal. His companions followed.

“What was that about?” Sam asked, completely bewildered.

Mrs. Hamilton just shook her head. “No idea. Perhaps something he ate?”

Before Sam could lay into her for feeding him something that was obviously a lie, there was a pop above them. A firework had gone off. Both looked up immediately. Sam’s mouth went dry.

It hadn’t been a firework, it had been a flare. Which now hung red and fizzing above their heads, slowly drifting lower over Donnyton. It only took a second from the moment that they saw the firework to when the alarm bells began to ring.

Although they had drilled until their actions in such a situation came without thinking, there was still a moment of shock as both attempted to cope with the news that was hanging above their heads, glowering down at them from an otherwise clear and blue sky.

Donnyton was under attack.

*****

Contrary to Randidly’s expectations, the Toad Lord simply chuckled as Randidly’s bald threat. “No need to be so serious… I was just teasing, teasing! Actually, I will tell you a secret; we also wish that you would handle this… wild element contacting Toad Lords.”

Pursing his lips, Randidly said lightly. “Oh?”

Nirfik nodded emphatically. “We Toad Lords… we have ourselves set up pretty well. Perhaps if your world was weak… even I have to admit that things would be different. We are not a kind people. But despite their… questionable quality, your Demon King killed two Toad Lords. Due to that obvious strength, it is not an easy thing to antagonize the Demon King if he does not force our hand. We have lived comfortably for quite a long time; if possible, we would like to keep it so.”

Grimacing, Randidly said. “So you are claiming that you would prefer that our worlds… keep from interfering with each other?”

“Exactly. Look at me, my youth has fled. I no longer hold bold dreams of conquest; now I just want to retire and manage my estates. Such is also the feeling of the leader of our faction, Toad Lord Tisha. Scrambling after riches is not what we want at all.” Then Nirfik paused. “But of course… there are some younger Toad Lords who will be swayed by this interloper's words.”

That focused Randidly’s attention. He wasn’t quite sure if he believed Nirfik’s statement that there was very little interest among the Toad Lords in the new world, but Randidly certainly wanted more information on Roy. “So, can you tell me what you remember about the one that came and spoke to you?”

For the first time, the Toad Lord’s eyes flashed. It was surprised that he knew it had spoken to Roy? Then did it think he had simply wandered South?

“Ah… well… He spoke to one of my administrators… but I received a description of what he said.” The Toad Lord opened its mouth and belched, then continued to speak. “Very emphatically, he told us about the rich energy of your Earth. Spoke of the politically fractured States. Described how easily we could overwhelm your defenses…. Ah, actually, I have a question. Why is it that you look different than both this emissary and the Demon King? They are both creatures of bone. You are… a fleshy thing.”

Randidly chuckled in surprise at the sudden shift in the discussion topic. It was true, he had wondered when someone would point out his differences from the Demon King. “Well, that’s not wrong…”

After considering it for a moment, Randidly shrugged. Nothing much wrong with explaining some version of the truth. “Most people from Earth are like me. At least in look. The Demon King… is a very special existence. Not in power, but in form and temperament.”

The Toad Lord nodded sagely. “Which is why he so hastily invaded? That sort of decisiveness suits a Demon King. Just like… the bravery to so casually enjoy my personal hot springs suits a Demon Prince.”

Randidly’s smile was razor sharp. But largely he ignored the threat. He was still confident in his ability to defend himself. Instead, he considered the confirmation that Roy was traveling through the area as a victory. Yet Randidly was puzzled why Roy was revealing his natural skeleton form and not using illusion to seem human.

Did the constant rain interfere with the illusion? Was that also why Neveah used her natural form?

Before Randidly could decide where to move to next, the Toad Lord spoke again. “And this… emissary? The wild element? Is he also a bold and groundbreaking existence?”

This time, Randidly’s laughter was caustic. Despite him not activating it, Deific Mien of Yggdrasil activated as he gritted his teeth and envisioned catching Roy. “Heh. In a way, yes. He is a being that has died before. And somehow he crawled his way back into existence. Let me assure you that the mistake will not happen a second time.”

Although Nirfik’s expressions were difficult to read, Randidly was able to catch a flicker of unease as he listened to Randidly. So this was the limit of your nerve, Nirfik? It seems there was less to fear than I had thought.

Randidly shifted. “Thank you for the information. I’ll go take care of this issue immediately.”

Yet immediately the mood shifted. Underneath the mud, Nirfik’s legs tensed. But he did not move. He simply watched Randidly as the younger man stood and calmly worked his limbs free of the grasp of mud. Some part of Randidly was ready to wash this shit off in the lagoon.

Then the Toad Lord laughed. When it spoke, its voice was low and smug. “Hehe, I doubt you will be leaving soon. My poisons have no doubt entered into your porous skin at this point. It was a mistake to jump so quickly into this mud. Brave… but foolish. I’m afraid I will not provide the antidote until you answer me about the state of Feed in your world. I am quite curious.”

After blinking, Randidly began to laugh. Poison? Did this fool mean the organic compounds in the mud that Randidly had steadily gathered to use as a defense against an ambush from the Toad Lord? Although he had brought them in close proximity to himself, he didn’t casually let any be absorbed into his body.

Not that it would matter. What could the poison do once it was absorbed into his body? Randidly’s blood was one of the most destructive substances that he was aware of. Combine that with his images of ash and fire…

Randidly didn't believe that his Images, Resistance, and Skills would totally inoculate him to poison. But from every scrap of evidence he had been able to gather from this Toad Lord, this being wasn't one who would be able to overcome him. Even if this shifted to a fight, Randidly remained confident.

“I don’t fear poison,” Randidly said languidly. He stood and stretched. Then he turned and walked out of the mud pit.

Behind him, he could feel the waves of fury rolling off Nirfik. In the depths of the mud, the Toad Lord's legs drew themselves together, preparing to spring.

Randidly continued to walk forward, grinning. I'm so glad you chose to do things the hard way.