It all seems to be true that they have captured him, but it was all a big lie. Benny and Karen broke his illusion for the 6th times and still couldn’t pulled themselves out to end him. Mr. Funny Man sat down and drinks his coffee in the middle of an empty space. It was all white and seemingly never ending.

When Mr. Funny Man tilted the hallway the two fell straight in the room and that’s where it all began. They were trapped in his spell and began to hallucinate.

“So, you broke my illusion again.” He stated and commended them, indulging them with his petty words of encouragement. “I am quite intrigued. There are very few people who were easily able to break my spell. You two are exceptional.”

Karen stands up. “Black suit, powerful and versatile Inquiara Magic. You must be the one they called Mr. Funny Man. The leader of the Kris Krux.”

“Indeed, I am.”

“I meet one of the Kris Krux before,” Benny said. “Ms. Sunny Dale? Is that her name?”

“Correction, it’s Mrs., she is my wife.”

“Ever since you trapped us here. I guess you want something from us?”

Mr. Funny Man sighed and sip his coffee. “Yes. I want you to tell me who the nobles from the opposing faction that hired you lot.”

“What makes you think that we’re hired hitmen?”

“Come on,” Mr. Funny Man dismisses his denial, “The nobles won’t be able to create such warriors without the palace noticing and at such a short time they were able to mobilize assassins to hunt down the princess.”

Benny smirked. “You’re not just the leader for nothing.”

“But still,” Karen talked back. “We will not talk.”

For quite some time now, Karen observed his footsteps of where it came. He saw black linings that form into a door.

“You made this room for interrogation, am I right?”

He didn’t reply.

“Then, I guess. The effects are only limited this space.”

Karen sprang and crashed onto the wall. Benny was able to follow her while Mr. Funny Man stayed behind enjoying the last of his coffee before opening the door and watched them struggled to stand up.

The two heaved a breath and unleashed their blade to him.

“I’ll cut your heart at make you watch as I crush it by my own hands.”

As Karen finished of her words, she lunged forward and slash her blade vertically. But it passed through him as if he’s made of mist.

“What?” Benny blinked twice.

Mr. Funny Man smirked. “I was never here to begin with.”

The whole place began to rumble. Dust and dirt began to crawl their way out of the walls and ceiling. As his image began to disappear, Karen doubt again if they were still in the illusion. But clearly, they can feel the rumble and smell the grossing smell of land.

“Shit, are we still on his illusion?”

“No, this… this is real.” Benny responded.

They went back and jumped on the hole back in the house. It was sealed by the earth.

Karen is still infuriated by the fact that they were tricked. Benny, on the other hand, is quite amused of what he had found out just now.

All her profane had become nuisance for his ears.

“Karen, Karen! For once, shut your mouth. Instead, of yattering bullshit why won’t you help me formulate a plan as to how to track them.”

Karen took a long breath and with the last of it she screams out of frustration.

“Feel good enough?” Benny asked

“We have one job and we weren’t able to accomplished anything. We were so close. This close on getting our hands on the princess.”

They got in the house where few of their men waited for them. There were horses for them at standby.

“Why do we have to use horses?” Karen queried. “Does the nobles didn’t give the Renegades enough money to buy us some appropriate modern vehicles?”

“Maine told us that we can’t waste money that luxuriously. They allocate the money for other deemed to be important than this one.”

“Tsk.” She hisses. “Simply to speak, they just don’t want to give a shit about the nobles.”

“It’s not like.” Benny dismissively speaks to her. “It seems that they believe that the number of our men can do the job and sending the two of us.”

“That’s quite bold for them to assume. We don’t even know what kind of abilities the enemies had until now.”

Benny sighed. “I understand your disappointment.”

“We tried so hard to blocked the possible roads they might go, but we got outwitted by the enemies and tricked by a single person.”

There’s a paused on their movements when there’s a sudden rumble almost like there’s an earthquake. Up ahead, they saw the villagers, men and woman along the adventurers, all their heavy rally directed at them.

“Damn it. We’re cornered.” Every corner road was occupied by the villagers and they’re at the tall border. Benny uses fire magic to blow it and make their way. They successfully got out but some of their men was caught by stakes and arrows before they could even move out. Their horrid screams reached them and the soldiers could only close their eyes.

A soldier got closer to them and reported the situation, “Ma’am, our men were able to track them down on one of the roads we blocked just near this village.”

“Take us where it is.” Karen ordered.

And the soldier politely nodded and went ahead first.

Up in the sky, Mr. Funny Man flew. His eyes scanned below watching the vehicles burning, horses that became astray and several dead bodies on the ground. Ahead, a blueish color was spread like a paint. He smirked.

“It seems that they live up on my expectation. That’s good. At least the princess is in good hands now… even I’m away.”

He flew past the forest and across the river. He finally saw the carriage and Mr. Funny Man carefully descends and sat beside Alastor.

“Son of a bitch!” Alastor profaned. “I thought you were dead.”

“No. Quite the opposite actually. I was interrogating the enemies, but it seems they managed to break my spell. When I felt the enemies’ presence around this carriage, I immediately went out to find you guys, but it seems there’s no need for me to intervene.”

“I told you we can handle a lot of situations.”

“And so, I have saw the result.”

“Did you just come from above?”

“Yes. I can fly, remember?”

He snickers. “By the way, it’s not going to be easy. The enemies are using guns.”

“Come again?”

“I couldn’t believe it to, but whoever are supplying them, they must have a lot of budgets to buy some guns. But don’t worry, the princess is safe. Ken and Linda made sure they weren’t given a chance to use guns.”

Mr. Funny Man sighed in relief. “Very good. Then, I’ll take my rest.”

“Yeah, you better do that. We need energy in case of emergency.”

And so, Mr. Funny Man entered the carriage. He saw Caroline sleeping quietly with her head on the pillow at the edge of the corner. The others were also seemed exhausted and fell asleep.

Mr. Funny Man watches her. He remembered back then, when he was in 20’s. At that time, she met the little Caroline, she was 3 years old at that time, but she’s quite elusive as little she is.

She would always wander around the castle by herself until she met him. He’s not that good at that child but when the little girl asks for food, he didn’t hesitate and gave her some of his homemade pudding, a delicacy that he ate quite often. It was not an ideal food for a child, but she like it anyway and ask for more.

Mr. Funny Man is indebted with her family after Jven Teralhan save him during the war of tribes. He was one of the many victims when the Mephistic Hunters and the Gustafahl Hunters waged war.

Ever since then, he made it his responsibility to act as her brother. But when her father became ill and died during the meeting of the 6 nations, she became distant even with her sister. She denied her heritage and began to travel away.

He expected that she’s only passing the time but she never came back and that’s when he began to investigate her whereabouts. He was able to gather some information and heard that she’s selling her artworks and her beautiful captions.

If there is such as wishing star, then he’d wish that everything would turn back to the way it is, but he knew and definitely within his nature deeply understand that some pains are deeper that it can change the person from inside and out.