Chapter 656: 656
"That looks on your face tells me that my gift pleased you, hehehe"
Zaarae cheekily laughed as she looked at the dumb and surprised look plastered on Arthur’s face . He stood motionless for a solid five minutes before he lifted his head and looked at the Empress, who blew another kiss in his direction .
"Was ’that’ even necessary?"
He looked angry but his tone indicated otherwise .
"Emm..." She giggled and replied, "It’s a give and take . I gift you a useful thing and you give me a ’kiss’ . "
"You..."
She signaled for him to stop talking as she put her finger on her lips .
"One more word and I’ll take you to my room and eat you . "
Arthur glared at her but he didn’t dare speak another word . He let out a helpless long sigh and sat, wanting to read more about the new skills and ambiguous titles . Buo Buo’s Telekinesis was already strong but the one Zaarae just gifted him seemed overpowered, to say the least .
"With that, you don’t need to fear anyone with Purple Stars or any Exalted God but do be careful of those who mastered their techniques, they’re the most dangerous . "
Just as Zaarae finished speaking, her expression abruptly changed . She appeared in front of Arthur and unleashed a domineering aura which made the calm black waters became turbulent . Ten seconds or so passed before a red light pierced through the grey clouds and stopped dozens of meters above the black ship .
The Empress’ face seemed unusually serious as she glared at the mysterious individual who was looking down at all the crew and passengers .
"What a pleasant surprise!"
The man was wearing a funny costume that had a mix of red and purple, cards danced around him as he heartily laughed while looking at Arthur then at Zaarae, who recognized him . She never met the Joker but definitely knew of his existence, moreover, she felt inferior now that he’s before her .
Her figure blurred and by the next second, she was in front of the Joker, punching his chest . Unfortunately, her fist stopped inches away from his body, a small card absorbed the force behind her attack, shocking the woman .
"There’s no need for violence, I’m just passing by . "
He waved his hand before vanishing and appearing in front of Arthur . Zaarae’s face twisted as she was about to attack again only for Arthur to stop her with his hand,
"It’s fine, I know him . "
She fully trusted the parasite but didn’t dare drop her guard . Her figure stood next to Arthur and her aura was still unleashed, causing most of the passengers to faint, with the exception of her companions, of course .
"Oh! You’re a clone! Nice!"
The Joker patted Arthur’s shoulder while smiling, appearing very happy . The parasite also smiled back at his brother and responded, "What brought you here?"
"The octopus is safeguarding something for me . I’ve come back to retrieve it . "
"Octopus? You mean the Black Kraken?"
"Yeah yeah whatever, it’s the same thing . "
The Joker curiously looked at the nearby Shen Shen, who was also looking at him . He then shifted his attention to Fariya, whose face was incredibly pale .
"Bro, I get that Zaarae is with you but a succubus will surely anger sister-in-law . Just make sure to hide her well . "
Arthur chuckled and retorted .
"There’s nothing to hide, she’s a slave but I’m not planning to bring her back . "
"Good good!" The Joker snapped his fingers, causing a wide golden table and big leather chairs to appear around him . He sat on one of them and motioned for Arthur and the rest to sit too .
"I happen to have some good whiskey with me... how about a few glasses? Like the good old days . "
"Sure . "
Arthur immediately agreed as he laughed and sat opposite of his brother . Zaarae, still stone-faced, sat at Arthur’s right while Shen Shen sat on the left, her blue eyes glued on the Joker, who acted strangely and comically .
Glasses filled with whiskey were pushed toward Arthur, Zaarae, and Fariya, while Shen Shen had a cup of hot milk .
The little girl glanced at milk then creased her brows, she didn’t want to be treated like a little kid, despite the fact that she is .
"I want that too . "
She pointed at the glass of whiskey but the Joker laughed and stated, "Brat, just drink your milk, ’kay?"
"I’m not a brat!" Protested Shen Shen but the man ignored her and emptied his glass, which was automatically and immediately filled again .
"Shen Shen, you’re a bit young for this . Next time, okay?"
Only when Arthur spoke did the blue-haired girl calm down and obediently drink the hot milk, although reluctantly . However, her expression betrayed her, she licked her lips and looked at the empty cup with a disappointed look as soon as she emptied it .
"You see? You’re a brat!"
The Joker mocked her and pointed his finger at the empty cup, filling it with chocolate hot milk this time .
"So, what brought my lil brother here?"
"Little brother?" Zaarae frowned and looked at Arthur, who just shrugged his shoulders .
"Got a little errand to do in the Land of Golden Sand . "
"Is that so?" He swept secondary glances at the succubus, the Empress, and Shen Shen, then added, "Lively company you have here, especially the rude brat... she falls a little short in comparison to Saly . "
...
The Joker and Arthur talked for several hours before the former bid farewell as his matter was a bit urgent .
"I didn’t know you were brothers . " Zaarae was very interested in Arthur’s relationship with The Joker and she didn’t hold back her questions but the answers she got were nothing but silence .
*****
"Hey! Wake up!"
The Joker kicked the gigantic head of the black Kraken, which violently shook before it opened its red eyes and looked at the man .
"Move your fat ass so I can enter . "
The Kraken obediently and slowly moved its body to the side, revealing some sort of a whirlpool blacker than the mythical being itself . It was half of the Kraken’s size and resembled a wormhole, though it emanated no light or energy .
The Joker was about to enter but, at the very last second, he turned to look at the black Kraken and said,
"Oh, lay a finger on that black ship and I’ll cut, roast, and eat your useless tentacles . "
He snorted and dived into the wormhole, disappearing the moment he got too close . The trip through this strange portal lasted three seconds and when the Joker appeared on the other side, he was standing on a moon-like planet, the sky was a vast black starry space .
"Time to fix the line conjunction... what a mess . " He sighed and looked at an entity shrouded in a crimson fog .
"Wassup man!"
He energetically waved his hand at the man enveloped by that fog . He had the same appearance as his brother but the Joker knew better than to act recklessly and get close .
"Geez... vampires here are so scary . "
54 cards appeared from his hand and spun around his body like a tornado, each emitting either a red, grey, or black light .
"I don’t think you’ll let me do my business quietly, right?"
A crimson beast soaked in blood leapt at the Joker, causing him to jump back and throw three cards, which were ripped by the blood droplets spat by the ferocious beast .
"Yeah... of course you won’t . "
*******
"Lemme see..."
Edward Ortberg held the piece in paper and read it for the tenth time, feeling lost .
"’The past kingdom now within reach, for the golden sand will rise, its glow full of praise .
The tomb raider now here, and the thief’s identity is clear .
Since time immemorial the leaf is unshaken, it’s time for it to be taken . ’
I mean, isn’t this a bit cheesy and out of place? What am I supposed to speculate from this?"
He looked at the awfully quiet forest then took out a brown apple and took a large bite, fully savoring the taste .
"What golden sand and past kingdom? I’m bored and stuck here... what the hell woman, can’t you explain a bit before throwing me here?"
He chuckled, finishing the apple in three more bites before leaving the area, heading towards a random direction, which seemed to be the safest .
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