"It's going to be a walk in the park."
Lloyd put a smile on his face, convincing himself to think this way. In fact, it didn't take him long to come up with a solution anyways. But the estate developer noticed the looks from Javier and Sir Giolexius, and opened one eye wider than the other in response.
"What. Why are you two staring at me like that?" Lloyd grumbled.
"I was wondering what kind of outrageous scheme you have in your mind this time, and I was also genuinely concerned," said Javier immediately, as though the silver-haired knight was waiting for Lloyd to say something. "But it looks like we're in dire need of a plan, no matter how outrageous it may sound. I really had no idea the evil sorcerer we got rid of would turn out to be the cause of this much nuisance."
"That's what I'm saying. I really didn't expect him to request the support of the king of hell."
"So, let's hear the easy method."
"You'll find out soon enough," said Lloyd with a mysterious smile. "You'll realize it back in our estate, after we wrap things up here. Alright, Gio... I mean, Lexi."
"Yes, my lord," the hell's knight replied to his new liege immediately.
"Let's start with getting rid of this wall. I've been enduring the aura it's emanating with the help of the Asrahan Core Technique, but it's still a little disturbing. You can remove this, right?"
"Of course, my lord."
"Then do it."
"As you command," Sir Giolexius nodded.
Whoosh. The wall disappeared in an instant, like the fire on the gas burner ran out of fuel, and the cell phone screen turned off due to insufficient battery. The wall of magical energy that shrouded the entire city was gone, just like that, without requiring a complex incantation, evil ritual, or a special performance.
"Dude," Lloyd tilted his head in confusion.
"I am at your service, my lord."
"That's it?"
"It's a rather simple process, my lord."
"Really?"
"Yes, my lord, because it's more like turning off the wall instead of destroying it."
"Then why didn't you turn it off before?"
"Because you hadn't asked, my lord."
"Really."
"I'm speaking the truth, my lord."
"Are you sure you didn't keep it on because having it on was more convenient for you?"
“...”
"I should have expected a hell's knight, who's best friends with Satan, to be a pathological liar!"
"I-I'm not lying, my lord!" Sir Giolexius vehemently denied.
"Are you serious?"
"Yes, my lord."
"Then can you re-raise that magical wall any time you want?"
"No, my lord. It takes thorough preparations to actually erect it."
"That's a relief," said Lloyd, gesturing at Javier and Sir Giolexius. "Let's get going, then. We have a lot of work to do."
He left the city hall with the two, and out of the city towards the temporary camp, in which citizens were outside of their tents despite the time of the night. Regardless of their status and wealth, pretty much everyone was murmuring and clamoring about what could have transpired.
To be fair, they just saw Namaran's Wall being erected and disappearing in a short period of time.
Lloyd suspected the citizens found it strange and mesmerizing, yet mysterious and terrifying. The estate developer passed through the crowd unnoticed, thanks to the hooded robes all three of them were dressed in, and went into the countess's tent.
"You've returned safely," said Countess of Namaran, rising from her seat immediately to greet them, before flinching at the sight of the hell's knight.
"It's okay," intervened Lloyd immediately, noticing the look on her face. "Our hell's knight doesn't bite... I mean, he won't cause any trouble."
"Won't cause any trouble?"
"Yes, my lady. He just signed an employment contract and agreed to work for me for the next five years."
“...”
"You don't have to stare at me like that, ahem. Anyhow, we got it taken care of. You saw the wall rise and disappear, correct?"
"I surely did. Please tell me none of you are hurt."
"We are not, thanks to your prayers," Lloyd replied with a huge smile on his face. "The wall is permanently taken care of, and nothing like this will occur again. It's safe to allow the citizens to return to their homes. And I must get back to my estate immediately."
"To Frontera Estate? Right now?"
"Yes, my lady. Forgive me for being unable to tell you the details," said Lloyd with a bitter smile.
"Since you're keen on returning without repairing the stabilization piles that support the cliff," said Countess of Namaran, having read Lloyd's intentions. "Something must have happened there that requires your immediate attention."
"It's going to very soon. But I would like to make this promise."
"What kind of promise?"
"I will come back and make repairs to the structures after the issue back in my estate is resolved."
"For free?"
"No way."
"I should have expected."
"That's how things work in the world, after all."
Lloyd smilingly assured the countess by telling her there are a few stabilization piles and anchors that were undamaged and solid, and that they wouldn't collapse unless the cliff side sustains additional big damages. He was sorry to have to leave like this, but the city should be safe for the time being, and he was going to come back before anything else happened. He promised and gave her his word, shortly before departing from the camp to hop on the back of Yong Yong, who began dancing happily upon seeing the hell's knight like a retriever wagging its tails at the sight of its owner.
"What the hell...?" Lloyd asked Sir Giolexius, who responded by shrugging his shoulders.
"It seems particularly happy to see me."
"You? Why? Do you know each other?"
"No."
"Then why?"
"Mm... I think it's telling us that he's no longer the newest member of the skeleton corp..."
"Aha."
Sir Lexi was the newest member of the corp, meaning his seniors were going to pick on him. Lloyd barely managed to contain himself from bursting out in laughter from the thought of the hell's knight running errands, as Javier asked him a question.
"Master Lloyd. There is something I'm concerned about."
"What is it?"
"Are we not going to apprehend the culprit behind Namaran's Wall this time?"
"Oh, that," replied Lloyd with a grin, noticing the look of curiosity in Javier's eyes. "There's no need. As a matter of fact, there is no culprit."
"Huh?"
"There is nobody behind this phenomenon."
"Then... why were the stabilization piles embedded with some kind of mana...?"
"Enforced fate phenomenon."
“...”
Javier was speechless. Lloyd turned around to elaborate.
"The mana that had dissipated in the past came back together due to the enforced restoration of fate, to the spot I discovered the jewel of noctanium during the first wall."
"Are you saying that mana accumulated in the stabilization pile that was installed near that very spot?"
"Exactly," Lloyd nodded at Javier's perfect summary. It was the information he had received through the ending spoiler, in which he was brutally murdered by the hell's knight. "Mana won't gather there again, nor will the wall re-rise, because he is alive."
Lloyd pointed at the hell's knight Sir Giolexius, who nodded in response.
"That's correct. The wall's purpose is to awaken and summon me. As long as I'm alive, it won't happen again."
"You heard him," Lloyd shrugged his shoulders.
"I see. That makes sense," Javier nodded slowly.
"Of course it does."
That really was the case. The enforced fate phenomenon, in fact, would force certain events that were prevented to re-occur in a similar way in the same spot. But with the hell's knight still alive, despite the new employment contract and all; that didn't particularly alter the predestined fate.
Namaran's Wall's purpose is to gather enough mana in order to summon hell's knight Giolexius. The wall completely served its purpose, since he is still alive.
Lloyd suspected the wall wouldn't re-rise, as long as Giolexius worked for him. That was going to keep Namaran safe.
That's why I didn't kill him.
Keeping him alive and making him serve Lloyd instead was the ultimate goal the estate developer had in his mind.
Whew. Mission accomplished.
Lloyd breathed a deep sigh of relief. He wasn't confident he could get things done like this again. He was scared and afraid on one side, but optimistic on the other.
"First things first. Let's go back to the estate."
Whoosh! Yong Yong stomped on the ground and soared into the sky, taking Lloyd and others on its back away from Namaran. They flew all night and saw the sunrise, as they traveled through the morning mist of the mountain range and arrived in the estate. Lloyd immediately went to the mansion as soon as they landed, but not to see his parents.
"Hello? Are you there?"
Knock, knock. Lloyd knocked on the door of the guest rather softly, putting his ear on the door to see if he could hear anything. He couldn't.
He must be asleep.
But he couldn't even hear the sound of breathing, despite possessing the enhanced hearing ability of a swordmaster.
Dragon king Verkis. I knew he was the biggest bum in the world.
Lloyd wondered how deep one's sleep had to be, to make absolutely no noise. He suspected Verkis had reached a transcendental state in sleeping, as he cautiously turned the doorknob. The door wasn't locked, to his relief.
Good.
Lloyd slowly and silently pushed the door a little with the intent to head inside carefully, and gently wake the dragon king Verkis up. He was going to try his best not to agitate him, making offers he couldn't possibly refuse, so as to persuade him to fight for the estate.
If that works, the invasion by the hell's army is nothing to worry about. As powerful as they are, they're no match for the dragon king.
The dragon king could perhaps even give the king of hell a run for his money in a duel, based on the might he had displayed. Lloyd was hopeful, convinced, and desperate. He took a peek into the room with those thoughts in his heart, however, only to be flustered.
Huh?
He wasn't there. Verkis was nowhere to be seen in the entire guest chamber.
What? Did he use magic or something?
Lloyd wondered if the dragon king had cast an invisibility spell to conceal himself, in order to get even better sleep. The estate developer quickly operated all three circles with the help of the Asrahan Core Technique, thoroughly searching the flow of mana in the vicinity. It was no use.
He isn't here.
He couldn't detect a single breath, or a single streak of mana by Verkis. It was absolutely unexpected and frustrating.
Dragon king Verkis is the laziest bum I know. He can't have left his bed and gone elsewhere. This doesn't make any sense.
This was something Lloyd had never anticipated, unless there was a trigger. But Lloyd looked around and discovered a certain item that could hint at the possibility: a small note on the end table.
“...”
Lloyd picked up the note, which contained only a few words: Gone. Don't. Kill.
“...”
Lloyd had initially thought this was some kind of a code that needed to be deciphered. However, it wasn't.
Gone. Don't. Kill. Could it mean I'm gone, don't look for me, or I'll kill you?
It appeared Verkis was too lazy to write down complete sentences, and that was convincing enough for Lloyd to believe it.
Okay, this is definitely left by Verkis. He left, and he's threatening to kill me if I find him and bother him.
Lloyd let out a bitter chuckle at the realization.
Tsk. I could easily resolve this issue with the help of Verkis.
But this seemed out of the picture as of now. Knowing the dragon king, Lloyd thought he couldn't depend on him.
He doesn't listen to others, and is moody. The only person he ever listens to is his wife. He's a selfish prick and acts on impulse. If someone like him went through the trouble to leave a note...
Lloyd couldn't help but think that it was a strong expression of his will. Defying his will in a situation like this did not seem to be a good idea.
I'm going to die for real.
Dragon king sponsorship or not, Lloyd was going to infuriate him and be killed in an instant. He suspected he could die by the hands of the dragon king before facing the king of hell. Having calculated that much, Lloyd grinned bitterly and accepted it.
Alright, the dragon king's help is out of the picture.
Lloyd had just lost his biggest trump card, and that gave him a massive headache. But he wasn't going to give up just yet.
"Master Lloyd. What do we do now?"
"Hmm. I suppose we'll have to go with plan B."
"Plan B?"
"Yeah," Lloyd nodded at Javier and asked the frowning knight in an assuring manner. "Have you ever showered in two billion liters of holy water?"
