Beautiful Lies

Fred exuded a sigh of relief. For a second there, he felt chills.

"Why are you following him?" Fred asked.

"I'm his slave and I have nowhere to go. I have no goals or of the sort," Morgiana simply replied. She had little interest in anything and easily got bored.

Hearing her answer, Fred was stunned for a moment.

"You're his slave? Not his friend?" He asked as he was shocked.

Morgiana nodded, "You surprised? Not that I can blame you though. I did not think something like this was going to happen either. I'm working in the pub to make some money so I could release myself.

"For your information, I am a hundred million Yakhu slave. It will take a lot of time but I believe I can do so within ten years. Two years have passed since I made the decision and this happens."

"Why are you telling me all of this?" Fred pondered.

"Since Xu An started to trust you. I'll try even a little," replied Morgiana.

If Fred was a spy like Morgiana, think of him to be. He would share this information with Chin Sha.

Currently, only the Grand Noble knew that Morgiana was a slave. It was a question as to how Chin Sha missed the information.

Either the Grand Noble hid it from Chin Sha or the latter simply missed it, which was impossible considering he was smart and so, the plausible answer was the first option.

How did the Grand Noble do it? Morgiana had no interest in finding that out or wanted to.

Fred understood Morgiana's intention by telling him this and felt pleased, slightly pressured.

Someone putting trust in you was undoubtedly a pleasant thing yet Fred was uncomfortable with it. He was not used to it.

Fred recalled his guild. It was a place where there was no trust, every man for themselves. Following this line of thought, an unpleasant memory surfaced in his mind.

It was after he joined Chin Sha's guild. They encounter monsters and get attacked. After the fierce battle, all the members went back to rest.

At this time, as he was on his way to his room. Fred saw a girl in bruises and heavily injured lying on the floor yet no one bat an eye on her as they kept walking. No one even offered her their help but instead looked at her in disdain.

Fred went back to his room and midnight arrived. He went out to where the girl was but she had disappeared. Searching for her traces from the blood on the ground.

He finally found her. She was resting her back against the dumpster and her breathing was slow.

Fred approached her and saved her. After recalling that, Fred chose to snap back to reality.

"You guys are weird," said Fred.

Morgiana smiled yet she did not respond.

After their conversation, they felt a presence behind them and turned their heads warily but what they saw was something unexpected.

"Xu An. How did you get here? Aren't you just entering the alleyway?" Morgiana asked curiously.

"I have my tricks to get away from being chased. How do I enter? From the front door of course.

"They didn't recognize me."

"How about the girl? How did she get in?" Morgiana pointed her hand to the little girl, which was in Xu An's embrace as she was carried like a princess.

"Most people don't know who is the one causing the ruckus. The front desk clerks don't know either but only a matter of time though."

Morgiana nodded as she asked, "So, why are you bringing her with us?"

"Her tamed beast is missing and I want to help her."

"What's her tamed beast look like?" Morgiana asked again after she grunted in acknowledgment.

Putting the girl down, she replied, "It's a white serpent with a long, white body, has two red eyes, and is powerful!"

Morgiana and Fred looked at each other strangely before retracting their gaze to Xu An. The latter winked as he indicated them to act naturally and as if never met it.

"Where is the last time you've seen it? How do you end up here and what is your name, dear?" Morgiana sent a barrage of questions in a rather gentle tone. She crouched down as she leveled her eyes the same as the little girl.

"Right, I'm sorry. I'm Cecil, a beast tamer. I was looking for something with my friends but then people in black robes attacked us and forcefully stole our tamed beast.

"We tried to keep our beasts in us but those people used some kind of tools to get them out and capture them.

"Most of my friends get captured and I'm the only one who survives as my beast is stronger than my friends.

"However, on the way. We encountered a strange flower and my beast, suddenly couldn't be controlled as she approached the flower.

"When we're there, the flower abruptly glows as it floats in the air before exploding into white light. I immediately lost my consciousness and I was here when I woke up."

"What are you looking for?" Fred asked.

"A beast king."

After her reply. The room fell silent.

A beast king was a powerful beast that ruled a vast territory of the forest. Defeating it was the greatest feat a beast tamer could get and their carcass was quite expensive in the market. One could get rich overnight.

Even further, your career as a beast tamer was as bright as the stars. Many organizations were willing to recruit them at any cost.

"Isn't that dangerous?" Morgiana asked with great concern.

The little girl slightly frowned. A girl she had met showed her this much of a concern, was odd and Cecil could not help but think there's an ulterior motive.

Cecil intensified her guard as she hid behind Xu An.

Morgiana raised her hand to her as she saw Cecil get away from her. She smiled bitterly.

"It's okay. Her name is Morgiana, she's not a bad person," Xu An assured Cecil. The little girl lifted her head as she met with Xu An's face before retracting her vision to Morgiana.

After a short pause, Cecil gathered her courage as she came before Morgiana's side.

"It is dangerous but we have strong merchants with us. I have no idea what happened to them either. I flee as soon as those guys tell me.

"But I'm hesitant as I saw my friends get captured. I want to save them but the enemy is more powerful than all of us combined. I have no choice but to run away.

"I have to rescue them!" She clenched her fist as she said out loud before continuing, "And for that, I need her, my tamed beast. Have any of you seen her?"

The three of us hesitated before shaking their heads in regret and they felt terrible inside.

The tamed beast this girl was looking for was the one they had killed! No way they were going to tell the world.

Well actually, Fred took a step forward but was immediately stopped by Xu An as he raised his right arm, blocking Fred's way.

Fred shifted his line of sight to Xu An. Xu An shook his head.

"I see," said Cecil disappointingly, there was a faint sadness in her tone.

"Don't worry, haven't I said it earlier? We'll help you get your tamed beast back." Xu An patted Cecil's shoulder to get her attention.

Cecil looked up as her eyes got watery and her vision slightly blurred from the tears.

"Thank you, uncle. I appreciate your kindness but I have nothing in return."

"Don't worry, I have some matters with those guys attacking you. Consider it as us having a common enemy and working together. Anything beyond that point, like rewards, can be set aside," said Xu An with a smile.

Cecil almost doubted her ears. These people were willing to help her for free? She was touched and impressed that the world still has kind people.

"Thank you."

Xu An swayed his hand to the left and right as he said with a smile, "No worries."

After that, his smile vanished as he asked solemnly, "Do you have any clues of where they go?"

Cecil nodded and Xu An was slightly surprised. He did not expect much but her answer was a pleasant surprise.

"Really? How did you do it?"

"My friends and I have an item that could track our location in case something bad happened. As expected, the people in black robes noticed this and the connection had been cut off.

"However, if we go there. We might get a clue." Cecil fished out something from her small backpack. It was a blue tablet.

"What's this?" Morgiana curiously asked as she pointed her finger to it.

"It's a device that will tell us my friend's latest position," Cecil replied as she tap the tab a few times. The display turned on as it showed the map of the entire empire.

On the right screen, there was a list of names with four bars before it. However, only Cecil had full bars while the others had none and were covered with translucent, grey x

× (No signal) Rudy.

× (No signal) Nroke.

× (No signal) Ewa.

✓ Cecil.

"This is quite cool." Morgiana was deeply amazed and impressed. A tool to track one's position. It might come in handy in a few fields.

Cecil tap one of the four names, Rudy. The scene changed as the map dragged on itself to the other side of the Empire.

Everyone had different expressions and Xu An was no exception.

This world is not as I imagined. A modern sniper rifle, a clock, and a tablet. Although the Empire looks like an ancient Chinese empire, some of its technology said otherwise, Xu An silently pondered.

"Where is this?" Xu An blurted out a question.

"This is the third biggest city in the Empire. Near the sea and in the middle of a popular trade route. The Jade Sea city!" Cecil replied

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.

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On a vast field with fences surrounding it. A man was wearing a familiar robe. He was hung upside down as he swayed by the gust of the wind. His body was covered in serious wounds.

The sharp sunlight burn his skin as he was covered in black mud from top to toe. The man had his eyes closed.

"Reizen! You're not dead yet? You should be grateful that I give you some time so you can regret what you did before dying."

"Heh, I did not regret anything." Reizen's voice was solemn and firm as he chuckled.

"But still, I did not expect you go as far as disguising as a woman."