Intensified

"Let's go and look for them. The higher-ups would not shut their mouths if we did not bring them back. Regardless of the reasons," the stern guy suggested as he hurriedly quickened his pace, leaving the clinic.

The smiley guy followed suit albeit left behind by the stern guy as the latter quickly took off as fast as the wind.

"Hey, wait!" The smiley guy yelled out loud as he watched his partners' back dart off to somewhere.

As he was quite fast, the smiley guy lost track of his partner. He left the building and now looking to the right and left, his partner could not be seen.

"Why does everyone keep disappearing? Not like this is hide and seek!" The smiley guy said in a self-deprecating manner as he went to the right by instinct.

Which was in the opposite direction of his partner.

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In the locker room, Cecil browsed through the red lockers, which filled a rather large room. Her tiny and cute appearance naturally attracted everyone's attention there, which was goblins by the way.

These little fella put in many different things like wood, meat, leather, iron, steel, and any other resources.

On these lockers, there was a slit gap. Seemingly for coins. As soon as one enter one of the resources, gold coins came out of the coin acceptor.

On the note that the locker had to be closed. Some lockers were like this and some were normal.

"136… 136… Got it," Cecil softly muttered as she walked at a rather slow pace. She halted her steps as she found what she had been looking for. She was delighted, for the fact, there were many lockers and she had to ask the goblins.

It was as though finding a nail in a haystack and she finally found it 

Using the key and turning it to the right. Cecil heard 'click' noises. She opened the locker and a rather strong stench spread out to the entire room as she saw a white backpack sitting there.

Goblins ran in different directions. It was as though the smell was toxic.

"I'm curious what monster Morgiana and Xu An catch? They told me to not open it but…" Cecil's gaze was focused on the backpack. Her mind was debating whether she should open it or not.

As she was in her mind, a woman came to the locker beside her and opened it.

Creak.

The woman got her stuff in. Close the locker and upon noticing Cecil and the bag, the woman asked: "Do you know what's in there?"

Cecil shook her head without breaking eye contact with the backpack.

"No," she simply replied.

"Don't you want to know what's inside?" The woman asked again, seemingly wanting Cecil to peek.

"Morgiana said I must not see it no matter what," replied Cecil with an almost monotone voice.

"Why? Morgiana isn't here and even if you take a peek, she will not know."

After that, Cecil did not utter a sound as she fell silent. Cecil felt like what the woman was saying made sense. Trusting the woman's words without a second thought. Her hand moved sluggishly towards the zip.

As she did so, her eyes lost their luster. The woman curved the edge of her lips.

Unzipping the backpack, Cecil suddenly stopped midway as she got a glimpse of what was inside.

The woman silently observed Cecil's expression as her eyes turned wide and she was extremely shocked. Her pupils were constricted. Her heartbeat was palpitating.

She dropped the backpack as her expression was that of disbelief and shock.

"No…" She staggered as she retreated a few steps. She could not believe what she was seeing.

"What's wrong?" The woman asked 'worriedly'. As one of you had guessed already, it was the woman who targeted Cecil. 

"It's– it's my tamed beast! But why?! Why did Morgiana and Xu An kill it?" She asked without expecting an answer. It was unknown to who this question was being asked. Perhaps to the woman or herself, it was unknown.

"They are your friends, yes? Why would they do it?" The woman asked as she gasped.

"We just met. They aren't exactly my friends but they've killed my partner! She had been by my side since I was a child! Whoever kills her will be my enemy!" She declared in fury.

"Are you sure? Didn't one of your friends save you from getting caught?" The woman pondered.

"How did you know it?" Cecil became skeptical as her eyes frowned.

This kid is sharp… the woman thought to herself.

"It's just a wild guess. I saw you being saved by someone and from there, I assume he is your friend." 

"Not anymore, I swear I'll kill them!" Cecil's tone pitched as she was furious.

"Don't you think it's weird why they approach you? They probably have ulterior motives," said the woman.

Cecil swallowed what she said and immediately believed it without a second thought.

"Why, big sister?" Cecil pondered.

"For example, they are working with a Rufh Hunter. Of course, this is only a speculation, it could be off the mark," said the woman as she was quite unsure.

"That's it! There is no other explanation. Not only did they kill my tamed beast, but they also wanted my life! If I follow them earlier, it is clear that my life is going to be in danger!" Just thinking about it made Cecil shiver.

She retracted her gaze to the woman, "Thank you, big sister! If not for you, I would've been killed!" She said gratefully.

"No problem, they are indeed terrible people. Tricking a child," she said with deep hatred before continuing, "I'll help you, little one. I will not forgive those who trick a child and get away unscathed."

"That's…" Cecil was in doubt. After what had happened, she could not believe anyone easily any longer.

"Don't worry. Unlike them, I'm trustworthy."

"How can you prove that?" Cecil pondered. The woman smiled mysteriously.

She willed it and paper and a pen condensed on her hand. The ring glowed simultaneously.

"Spatial ring…" Cecil blurted out as she was surprised and continued, "Big sister, who are you?"

"Just a wandering traveler," the woman replied as she smiled.

After that, she sat on the nearest wooden bench, which was in the middle of the room.

Shortly thereafter, she placed her hand on top of the paper and her free hand was a pen.

"Big sister, what are you planning?" Cecil asked curiously as she had a bad feeling of where this was going.

Went down to her right hand, the pen stabbed it as it penetrated the flesh and bone. The sound of flesh getting penetrated could be heard.

It was enough to make everyone's heart sink and terrified. Yet at the same time amazed.

Blood gushed out as it dyed the paper red. The pen was not any better. The woman's expression was calm, heck, she was smiling!

Casually pulling out the pen from her right hand, blood dripped to the ground as it made blood splashes. It looked like fireworks.

Showing the paper to Cecil, the woman said without changing her expression, "Is this not trustworthy enough for you?"

Cecil paused for a second as she processed what the hell had happened before replying with a vigorous nod, "Yes!"

No way she could say no!

"Okay then, I'll promise you that I will not betray or hurt you until we kill your former friend," the woman said. 

At the same time, the red paper dimly lit up and in the next moment, the part where the paper dyed with blood vanished.

This results in the paper losing some of its parts, as though bullets had penetrated it.

The next part was even bizarre. The blood seeped into the woman's body!

"Should I betray you. The blood will turn to paper. You know what happens if a foreign object is in the blood vessel, yes?" The woman said.

"Yes, I am aware. Thank you, big sister, for helping me! At first, I was confused and worried as to how I would get my revenge as I'm rather weak without my beast. However, with your help. I could do it!" Cecil said as she felt relieved one of her worries had been solved.

"Don't mention it," the woman shook her head with a smile.

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Xu An was walking in the forest as they left the Goblin Gnome's town. They went through some sort of barrier as the air rippled like water.

After they left, Xu An turned around as he halted his steps. Strangely, he did not see the town but instead the forest. He was not surprised. 

This was because, before he entered the town, what he saw was the forest until one of the goblins opened his mouth and said in a language Xu An did not know.

After that, the scene changed to the outskirts of the town. The process was magical and bizarre.

"What's wrong?" Fred asked.

"I feel like something is wrong but I don't know what it is," Xu An replied as his gut was active all of the sudden.

"You worry about your girl?" Fred pondered.

"She's not. Wait, she kinda is." Xu An pinched his chin as he paused as something come to his mind. Which was the fact that Morgiana was his slave.

Xu An said as he continued, "the point is, she is not my girlfriend. What I'm worried about is something else."