Chapter 10.1

Kevin is unsure if there is an excess or shortcoming of tacit understanding. The two individuals unconsciously moved in opposite directions and fainted, ending up face-to-face.

Kevin: "..."

The dungeon was damp and cold, and Kevin was still wearing the suit Oswald had forced upon him. Although it was an improvement compared to the previous ragged clothes, it did little to provide warmth. Thus, Oswald's question about Kevin's cold hands was nonsensical- not only were his hands cold, but his entire body was too.

The coldness became even more apparent when Oswald's hot breath came into contact with Kevin's skin. It caused his skin to crawl. In his heart, Kevin expressed annoyance, finding it strange and uncomfortable when others got too close to him.

With a furrowed brow, Kevin opened one eye and saw that Oswald also had his eyes partially open, wearing a complex expression. It seemed like he wanted to say something but refrained from doing so, probably feeling awkward and not very pleased with this situation.

Just as the wind quieted down in the corridor, footsteps could be heard approaching- some light and some heavy, implying that multiple people were coming. The sound of shifting positions was somewhat loud, and Kevin couldn't take any risks, so he had no choice but to continue enduring in this position.

Unexpectedly, even in such circumstances, Oswald fearlessly opened his mouth. Considering His Majesty the Emperor's dark history from childhood, his newfound arrogance had seemingly given him the courage to speak up and potentially cause a commotion in this situation.

Kevin gave Oswald a cautionary glance, but Oswald merely moved his mouth without making any sound. From the movement of his lips, he seemed to be asking Kevin, "Are you uncomfortable?"

Kevin rolled his eyes, thinking to himself, What is there to say in this situation?

Oswald replied, "Seeing you suffer makes me feel better."

Kevin: "..." Do you have nothing better to do?

Just as Kevin was left dumbfounded by the young emperor's childish behavior, the footsteps in the hallway had already reached the end of the dungeon.

He quickly composed his expression and promptly closed his eyes.

"Are you still awake?" A hoarse voice came from the door. The throat emitted a sound resembling the friction of sand, a sound only a sand ghost could produce.

"Before throwing them into the dungeon, I administered medication to each of them. The dosage was enough to sedate a colossal Uta wild boar. Normal individuals wouldn't be able to wake up tonight." A slightly high-pitched voice replied.

Kevin: "..." I handle it better than a wild boar, I wonder if that's a compliment or an insult.

The sand ghost threw something, and with a "ding," it sounded like a glass container breaking. "That's perfect, this is what you wanted. You can choose someone from here to test it out and witness the effects for yourself."

A shrill voice praised, "We've already seen the effects, otherwise they wouldn't be lying here."

Kevin pondered for a moment-

The reason why they were lying here was due to the sand ghost's interference. According to the conversation between these two individuals, the extraordinary phenomenon of the sand ghost's "deadly touch" was not a common occurrence but rather related to something specific.

However, if this were such a crucial matter, would the Sand Ghost easily hand it over to the people of the Northern Emerald Empire?

"Stop babbling and try it already. If there are no issues, we will return to the desert. The Lord is growing impatient," the Sand Ghost's voice gradually revealed impatience and arrogance.

A sharp voice retorted, "Are you leaving now? His Majesty requested that I treat you well, at the very least, to hold a grand farewell banquet. Otherwise, His Majesty is bound to reprimand me once he recovers from his illness."

The Sand Ghost grew even more impatient. "There's no need. We will leave tonight."

In such a rush to depart?

The act of leaving the prosperous Northern Emerald Empire and returning to the desert without considering the potential consequences goes against Sand Ghost's usual arrogant demeanor. It cannot be true that selfless dedication does not require any form of compensation.