---o---
"H-Hello?"
The young woman cautiously shielded Anaxa behind her, mustering the courage to look up at the Dromas that could effortlessly turn the Black Tide monsters into a bloody mist. As for the three people on its back, they were backlit against the sun, their faces impossible to make out clearly.
"Hm? There are people here?"
Fu Zhu was a little surprised. When he had checked the minimap earlier, the markers for the Black Tide monsters were so dense that they must have overlapped with the siblings' markers, obscuring them from view.
The moment he spoke, Cipher and Tixi also noticed the pair. Tixi recognized Anaxa almost instantly, looking up at Fu Zhu and exclaiming in a hushed, urgent tone.
"Fu Zhu!"
Fu Zhu hopped down from the MK2000's head and walked over to Tixi's side.
"Fu Zhu, that little boy, he's one of the Chrysos Heirs from the prophecy!"
The little boy?
Fu Zhu followed her gaze and saw the boy named Anaxa looking at him—or rather, at the MK2000 beneath him—with a face full of adoration.
Fu Zhu had no choice but to shift his attention to the sister, who was still capable of conversation.
"Where are you two headed?"
"The Grove of Epiphany! I was planning to send my little brother there to study!"
The woman immediately pushed Anaxa forward so Fu Zhu and the others could see him. Nudged by his sister, Anaxa snapped out of his daze and nodded vigorously at the three of them.
"Yes, yes! Thank you for saving my sister and me!"
Hearing that the two were headed for the Grove of Epiphany, Fu Zhu waved a casual hand. "It was nothing. We just came from the Grove of Epiphany ourselves. The road ahead is clear of any danger. You two should be safe on your way there. See you around."
With that, Fu Zhu lightly patted the MK2000. It understood and began to resume its course.
From where they stood, the two siblings bowed deeply toward the departing figures before continuing their own journey toward the Grove of Epiphany.
---o---
On the back of the MK2000, Tixi looked at Fu Zhu with some confusion.
"Fu Zhu, I thought for sure that after hearing he was a Chrysos Heir, you would take him with you for protection."
"Do I look like I have that much free time?"
All the Chrysos Heirs he had helped so far were either people he had met along the way or those he had a good relationship with. But Anaxa was different. He was headed to the Grove of Epiphany, and Fu Zhu had already saved him once, which counted as helping him out.
"Besides, since you said he's a Chrysos Heir from the prophecy, I doubt he'll be of any use to the Journey of Chasing Fire at his current age. He'll surely need to grow up before he can play his part. But by the time he's grown up, he won't need my protection anymore. So, the conclusion is that I don't need to help him."
Tixi was left speechless. Why did it feel like what Fu Zhu said made perfect sense, and yet… there was something just a tiny bit off about it?
Just then, Cipher scrambled over, sidling up to Fu Zhu with a look of slight anticipation. "What about me? I've grown up too!"
"You?"
Fu Zhu glanced at Cipher's twitching cat ears and gave them a rough little rub.
"I'm the one who picked you up. I'll help you until you're properly settled."
Cipher's cat ears perked up instantly as she muttered to herself.
"So you're saying, as long as I'm homeless, you'll always stay by my side and take care of me?"
"Hm? What did you just say?"
"Nothing, meow~"
Cipher's words ended with a sudden "meow," and Fu Zhu was certain something was up.
But he didn't have time to dwell on it, because the Holy City Tixi had spoken of was now in sight.
Sitting on the back of the MK2000, Fu Zhu gazed into the distance. Far away, he could see a giant with four arms holding up a faintly glowing sphere. Below it, a city rose up around its base. That was Okhema, the Holy City Tixi had mentioned.
As they drew closer and closer to Okhema, Fu Zhu patted the MK2000, signaling it to slow down.
The MK2000 let out a low rumble and gradually began to slow its pace, coming to a complete stop before the city gates of Okhema.
The moment they stopped, a guard approached, looking up at the three of them and ordering, "Get down. Prepare for inspection!"
Tixi glanced down at the armor style of the guard, then leaned over and whispered to Fu Zhu, "Those are people from the Council of Elders... they've never supported the Journey of Chasing Fire. They might give us trouble later, be careful."
Trouble?
Fu Zhu stroked his chin. He had beaten up Lygus and Nous without a second thought. This Council of Elders, which was still caught up in internal strife when the end was nigh, actually had the guts to provoke him?
"Their heads had better be harder to chop off than an Aeon's."
Fu Zhu jumped down from the MK2000, casually dusting himself off, and turned to the guard.
"What needs to be inspected? Weapons?"
The guard sized Fu Zhu up. He wasn't carrying any weapons, but that wasn't what he was looking for anyway. He then took out a small knife from his pocket and said to Fu Zhu.
"Cut your finger. I need to confirm the color of your blood!"
Fu Zhu's eyebrows shot up. This guy was clearly targeting Chrysos Heirs.
"And what if my blood is gold?"
Hearing Fu Zhu say this, the guard's face lit up. The elders of the Council of Elders had been instructing them to search for any unaffiliated Chrysos Heirs not already rounded up by Imperator. If they found one and brought them to the Council, they would receive a massive reward!
"If your blood is gold, you just need to register your name and address."
Fu Zhu was a little surprised. He had just heard Tixi say the Council of Elders didn't support the Journey of Chasing Fire, yet their attitude towards Chrysos Heirs seemed rather friendly.
Or were they only friendly to unaffiliated Chrysos Heirs?
Fu Zhu didn't bother using the small knife to prove anything; a blade that sharp couldn't even break his skin anyway.
He simply turned his head and gestured for Cipher and Tixi to come down. The two women jumped down from the back of the MK2000.
Cipher was one thing, but the moment Tixi appeared, the smiling guard's expression instantly soured.
These two actually came back with the Saintess of Janusopolis? Damn it, Imperator's side got to them first again!
"I've changed my mind. All three of you need to undergo a thorough inspection!"
The guard raised a hand, and more guards swarmed over to surround them.
Since he couldn't recruit them, he would just gather as much intelligence on the three of them as possible. At least he'd have something to report to the Council of Elders.
"My, my, changing your tune so fast?"
Fu Zhu crossed his arms and watched the approaching guards. He had no intention of making a move, because he saw on the minimap that an acquaintance was approaching.
"Stop!"
A sound like crashing waves echoed in everyone's ears. When they turned, Hysilens was standing at the city gate, a pair of swords in her hands, her expression grim.
The guards who were about to give Fu Zhu and his group a hard time turned pale.
Trouble! Why is Imperator's most ruthless general here? Looking at us like that, she's not planning to start a massacre, is she?
But Hysilens was staring right at Fu Zhu, or rather, at Cipher, who was hiding behind him.
Why is that little cat so close to Fu Zhu?