Sigh.

Reece sighs as he scratches his head.

[Are you sure?]

Daniel asks, asking if his decision was final.

"Yeah... taking risks comes with bigger opportunity."

He was obviously reluctant, but now knowing what to do, he has no other option.

Presently, Azure has already met up with two suspicious birds with darker color shades. The birds must have belonged to a certain tribe with dark colors and they look very dangerous and shady.

Reece was currently watching everything with Daniel so his body was asleep outside. He was sure Hugh can handle himself after giving him some instructions, so they can travel safely to where Azure is.

'I'll just wake up if there is a change of plans.'

For instance, if the three decided to bring Azure somewhere dangerous and somewhere they, he and Hugh, could not handle.

'Anyways.'

Now, with the two new additions, Azure has no escape. He was probably not fighting nor finding a way to run away so that he could not be killed.

'I am not sure, but I think he has some sort of plan.'

There is no way Azure is just going to stay still without thinking of a plan. He was definitely not that type of person. It can either be an escape plan or a scamming plan—he definitely has something up his sleeves.

"Since they are currently busy, I need some time to organize things."

It looks like Azure will be taken with the three birds for some interrogation as it looks like the two dark-colored birds were actually chasing Azure. They must have known him, like how the redbird knows of him.

"Hey, don't forget to record their entire conversation."

[Understood.]

"And, can you control the time here?"

He still has no idea where this place is, but surely, Daniel had control over it considering he can pull Reece on this side however he likes.

[Correct.]

"Great. Then make it so that I can have enough time to prepare."

[I understand.]

"Thanks."

Reece thanked before looking away from the screen and glued his eyes at the floating familiar letters in front of him.

"I need to choose an ability that will be helpful."

It was the list of abilities. The abilities that he had collected earlier.

He needed to choose what he can use and can give it to Hugh before they reach Azure. And in case they need some fighting, they should be prepared.

[Notice. You can only choose 3 abilities. That is your limit.]

"Three abilities... I think it's plenty."

Reece just has to choose the most useful and it will already be plentiful enough for him. It doesn't also need to be strong as he already has divine power, though needed some improvements.

"Hmm, there is no mind link or something similar?"

Linking his thoughts to others such as Azure and Hugh will make it easier for him to hide as there is no need to talk to them in the open. Also, when it comes to emergency situations such as today, it is truly in demand.

[There is none. However, why don't you try combining the abilities to create one?]

"I can do that?"

[Yes. I can.]

"... Great. You really are a big help but there is no need to highlight your words."

[Needless to say, they have to be compatible with each other or it will end up as a failure.]

"I know."

Naturally, Reece knew that combining abilities such as fire and water will never work.

"I at least have some common sense."

Reece grumbled as he began to read the description of the abilities he had obtained.

[Yes. Of course.]

Daniel simply agreed and has nothing to say, so Reece was able to focus his attention on reading the descriptions and thinking of the best pairings.

"Ah?"

Thread and sound—was the name of the two abilities that caught his attention.

"Can I use string to channel my voice onto others?"

If he could combine these two abilities like how the popular tin can telephone can transmit speech and is made up of two tin cans attached to a taut string... it could work.

[Indeed.]

A message can be delivered by using the vibration of his voice through the string and to the others.

"Since it said here that the thread cannot be seen nor touch by others unless I wanted to."

Reece claps his hands once.

"Okay, let's do it."

[Are you certain? Once the merging of abilities is done, I cannot unmerge them anymore and the original abilities will never return.]

"Yes. I already expected that."

Reece looks so matured answering the question just now.

He is not playing bartending here. Once it is done, it is done.

[... I see. Understood.]

If Daniel has a physical appearance, he will likely be smiling right now. He was pleased that Reece knows when to play and when to get serious.

As Daniel was busy combining two abilities, Reece watched the recording and listen to Azure and the other three's conversations somewhere in the forest.

It goes like this.

Azure was taken into some kind of secret home. His eyes were blocked, so he was not able to see where they went.

Naturally, Reece, who was watching the birds without them knowing, knows everything.

It was inside of a fat tree, just near where the fighting had happened.

Anyhow.

Azure was nervously sitting in a chair. Beside him was the redbird, Russell, who for some reason also came with them. And in front of him were the two dark-colored birds.

'An interrogation... I feel like a criminal.'

The bluebird sighs as he looks at everyone surrounding him.

"What do you want?"

The grey bird smirk before speaking.

"My name is Slate. And this is Pitch, my partner."

Slate, the greybird, put his right hands into the small round table while not taking his eyes off of Azure.

'Azure and now, Slate and Pitch... They really DID put some effort in their naming huh...'

Just Reece's nonimportant thoughts.

The greybird then continued.

"I guess you already know that we are from the Raven Tribe."

"I do."

The bluebird nodded.

"We are assassins who always use that poison. Now, where did you get it?"

A trade happens only once every three months. And the squirrels usually don't trade any kind of poisons to anyone as it is dangerous for nature if they use it the wrong way.

So mostly, poisons are only traded with professionals such as the Raven Tribe with trained assassins and the Snake Tribe, who consumes poison on daily basis to strengthen their venoms and poisonous breath.

"Why don't we make a deal?"

This time, it was Azure who proposes to make a deal.

"A deal huh."

Slate mumbled.

Truthfully, his real intention of approaching Azure was because he wanted to get closer to him and was not actually thinking hard about how he had acquired the poison. It doesn't matter to him.

What matters is establishing a deep connection between him, the lion mutant, and Azure.

But before Slate could respond, Russell interjected.

"What kind of deal is that?"

Russell wanted to acquire the antidote as he had always wanted to use poisonous weapons. He may be strong, but he likes giving his enemies quick deaths. It just that, he can hardly get his hands on the poison, let alone the antidote.

That is why poison is more precious to him than his teacher's 'very precious gift' to him. Sure, it was a very powerful thing, but he can't even use it. It was very picky that he had thrown and stomp of it multiple times already in annoyance.

"Let me and Hugh escape and be safe for a certain period of time."

"And what can you give in return?"

Pitch asks with a suspicious look on his face.

He was not as friendly and nonchalant as the other two in the room.

"... You two."

Azure glances at both Slate and Pitch before proceeding.

"You two probably chase after me because you wanted something from me. What is it?"

'I am glad we catch up to you.'

Isn't that what he said earlier? They were chasing after him and not to Russell. Nor were they there as just a mere coincidence.

'I feel like they have other objectives other than the poison.'

Because it feels like these two birds from the Raven Tribe knew how he looks and were looking at him like they knew what was going on with his life.

"Hey, since there are three of us here who hold your life, give what the three of us want."

Russell also wants to get some benefits for himself. And, it was also true that he holds this bluebird's life as he can easily kill him.

"... Fine."

Azure's mouth twitches as he responded.

"That's right. Then, I want the ability that you stole from one of our assassins years ago."

Pitch happily responded.

'I see.'

The four assassins that were sent to him four years ago. That was also the first time he had killed.

The Raven Tribe is very strict and they always stick to their laws.

Azure knew that killing and threatening each other in the Raven Tribe is prohibited and those who ignore their number one rule are punished by torture before death.

Because if they allowed that, everyone will probably kill each other as the majority of them had bad blood towards another bird from the same tribe. Everyone does.

It is the reason why most assassins that desire another assassin's ability will chase the one who killed another assassin and take it for themselves.

"I understand."

Pitch grinned.

"Now we are talking."

Azure ignores him as he looks at Slate.

"I am really curious who created and gave you the poison."

"I can't. I do not want to die."

Currently, Azure activated his acting that he looks like he was truly terrified.

The three birds stare at him in silence.

"Why is—"

However, Russell was cut off by Slate.

The redbird stares at Slate with an unamused face.

"I see. Then I want five bottles of antidotes."

The greybird shrugs.

Greybird Slate was planning on trading it to others since he doesn't really need it. Aside from not needing it, its worth is more than the poison so he can obviously gain a lot more from it.

Azure simply nodded before finally looking at Russell.