Chapter 1020 (2/2)

In the center of the surrounding trees was a small area with no vegetation. There wasn’t even any grass. There were only dirt and the buzz of electricity. Small mechanical worms seethed together in a rather disgusting pile, crawling in an over one another while their miniature gears whirred.

“Indeed, thanks are in order.” Ghost said easily. Randidly barely suppressed a sigh. Good, if he admitted that he had received something, the fallout of the additional favor might not be as dangerous as Randidly had feared. But just as Randidly was about to speak, the small sparrow opened his mouth once more.

“In fact, I’ve spared no effort to prepare for you some information as payment for all that you have done for me. Would you like to hear it?”

Randidly could only nod.

Ghost continued to speak through his small sparrow as the dirt in the central area was cleared away by the buzzing insects. The longer he spoke, the more Randidly’s hands twisted in claws. “Based on my observations of you, you are preparing to depart from Earth. Obviously, you have done this before; your business is your own. However, I cannot in good conscious allow you to leave without illuminating the current state of our world.

“The threats that seek to force our surrender to the System’s trials are more powerful than it would seem from a casual glance. There have been stirrings around the ogre gorge. I believe that new factions are emerging from that world. In addition, all drones I send to investigate the Toad Realm are immediately cut off from me; someone is screening my gaze. Someone who understands your precious Engraving methods and how to cut them off.

“Let’s not forget that the Nemesai have settled in the Royal Sea, but I have been unable to locate them no matter how hard I try. In addition, we have the addition of the three monsters in the Zone Eleven that are nearing Level 80. I have a feeling… allowing any of the three to reach Level 80 would not be a good idea.”

Randidly bit his lip. The sparrow continued to speak.

“In addition… there are two individuals of note that I am having a lot of difficulty tracking directly, but the trail of death they leave behind is almost insultingly obvious. The first… is, of course, your father, Ezekiel Ghosthound. It seems he could not keep his hands clean once he parted from Hank Howard.”

A thrill of shock went through Randidly’s spine. Then he forced his eyes closed and spoke even though he knew he should remain silent. “Why are you telling me this…?”

Ghost ignored him. By now, a steel panel could be seen in the five-meter deep hole that the worms were quickly clearing. “The last individual… I can only assume he has come from Zone Eleven. But no matter where I research or interview, I can find no trace of him. Of who he was. He’s heading South, directly toward the new Zone at the moment. Those he doesn’t kill are left shaken and mentally deranged. Those he kills have been drained of blood. The only thing I could tear from their lips was a name: Straud.”

Barring his teeth, Randidly walked over to the edge of a hole. “It is generous that you’ve prepared a gift of your own to repay me. But let’s stop dancing around the issue; you predicted that I didn’t just come to give a gift. I need a favor.”

“Favors have costs.” The sparrow on his shoulder hummed softly. “It did not escape my awareness you came here in a hurry. I do not understand karma so well as you, but I have nothing but time right now to consider and plan. But I must stress that I have no desire to force the issue of repayment. I have no wish to antagonize you. I expect to enjoy a long and fruitful partnership with you, Randidly Ghosthound.”

Randidly considered that and nodded slowly. Even though the resonance between their images was not very strong, Randidly could see the earnest honesty of Ghost through the small tremors in the air around Ghost. It was possible that Ghost was deceiving Randidly and would use the karma between them to force Randidly’s hand. But it was true that Randidly was no longer dealing with Lucretia or The Spearman.

Forcing himself to relax, Randidly nodded again with much more vigor. “...understood. For this, and for everything else that you’ve done, I will owe you one favor going forward. A favor that I will pay in a timely manner when you bring it to my attention. But I would add that I’ve carefully refined my past plans; you won’t be disappointed in your new body.”

“Excellent.” The sparrow hopped twice in place in a visible demonstration of glee. Randidly wondered how much of it was a show for his benefit.

“...I just have one last question before I give you the promised gift: how well can Earth handle the threats you mentioned?”

“One last test? You’ve become increasingly preachy.” The sparrow fluttered up onto Randidly’s shoulder. As Randidly watched, the mechanical worms scuttled off one another and revealed the exposed metal canister. “But fine. As I implied, I believe it is extremely precarious. Most of these threats are ones I don’t understand. And that is exactly why I have been behaving so cautiously.”

Randidly smiled sharply. “This isn’t me asking for anything. I’m just speaking aloud to myself. You are right, I’m leaving; I don't know when I’ll be back. This new body of yours possesses a gleaming sword that can cut through the night. I just hope that heroes will step up in my place while I’m gone.”

The sparrow looked at Randidly for a long time. Its eyes were blade and brown. But there was a weight there that hadn’t been present previously. Ghost’s almost obsessive yearning seemed to set the images in the surrounding area buzzing. Randidly could feel how much this trapped and artificial being craved just that.

Randidly kept himself from smiling; to make light of another’s dream was not something he wanted to do. Neither did he want to reveal that he had predicted that Ghost’s reaction would be just this. So he stared seriously forward and waited.

But Randidly couldn’t deny he would feel a lot better about owing Ghost a favor if he chose the Path of a hero. Randidly couldn’t force it, but this was just a nudge in that direction.

Finally, the sparrow tilted its head to the side. “...acknowledge. So, while you provide me a body, tell me; what is it that Randidly Ghosthound needs now?”

Randidly grinned brightly. “Help me make the impossible, possible.”