Chapter 402 - 400: Did You Forget the Other Appointment You Just Made?

"Yeah, we’re going. After our last dungeon mission, we were rewarded with an Invitation Card for the Rhovan side quest in Dungeon 3. I figure we might as well go. Go back and tell Mr. Pierce to clear his schedule."

Finn Ford agreed at once, but then he hesitated, opening his mouth as if to say something. ’Our strength still isn’t on par with the top-tier teams,’ he worried. ’Will I just drag them down?’

Faye Yardley gave him a curious look. "What is it? Mr. Ford, if something’s on your mind, just say it."

"I’m afraid I’ll drag you all down."

Faye Yardley hadn’t really thought about that. She had no idea what the Rhovan side quest was actually like. If someone’s combat strength wasn’t up to par, losing their life would be a price too high to pay.

’But then again, aside from the constant theme of killing zombies, everything else about Dungeon 3 changed with each entry. Thinking about it that way, this wasn’t really any different.’

’Besides, everyone knew you had to be prepared to fight for your life whenever you entered a dungeon.’

So, she asked, "Are you afraid?"

Somehow, Finn Ford understood she was asking if he was afraid of dying. He quickly shook his head. "I’m not."

"Then that settles it. Besides, none of us ever knows what we’re getting into when we enter a dungeon."

"Okay. I understand. I’ll tell Pierce as soon as I get back."

Finn Ford was gone as quickly as he’d arrived.

Once he was gone, Zephyr Sterling asked, "Could you take my master and me along for the dungeon run?"

"We’ll call you if we need more people."

"Don’t forget. Oh, and you’re right, there’s definitely an energy within these bullets. It feels rather violent to me."

Faye Yardley let out a surprised "Ah!" then glanced over at Master Veridian. He had already spread his things all over the floor, and she had no idea what he was up to.

Having received the ore, Faye Yardley immediately called Franklin Yardley, telling him to come pick it up and deliver it to the lab. She wanted them to prepare as many bullets as possible before she left the next day.

Zephyr Sterling asked bluntly, "Can I see that ore?"

Tossing him a piece, Faye Yardley said, "Here. You can study it to your heart’s content, Mr. Zephyr Sterling. By the way, have you learned the Master’s arrays yet?"

Zephyr Sterling shook his head decisively. "I’m not skilled with arrays," he admitted frankly. "My fundamentals in that area aren’t even as good as my junior brother’s."

"As long as the Master knows them, it’s all the same."

As she spoke, both of them turned to look at the busy Master.

Faye Yardley had no clue what he was doing, not that she particularly cared.

Still, she found an opportunity to ask, "Master, do you have any other Array Plates? I need a small one, just big enough to cover a small courtyard. Anything but a Killing Array will do."

SWOOSH~

Master Veridian tossed a small, round plate over to her. Faye Yardley caught it and saw it was a small Two Harmony Array, one used only for concealment.

’Perfect.’

The Seven-Colored Tree was just too conspicuous. Even though it was in a hidden area, she was still uneasy. An extra layer of protection would help her rest easier.

"Willow, could you look after the Master and Mr. Zephyr Sterling for me? I’ll be right back. Just give all the leftover ore in the crate to Mr. Franklin."

"Okay."

With that, Faye Yardley hopped on Bella and rode off.

When she arrived back at her home, Eamon was still planting trees. Lucy White and Cole Kensington were helping nearby—one was digging holes, while the other moved saplings and backfilled the soil.

Without disturbing their teamwork, she reached the backyard in a few graceful leaps. In the darkness, the Seven-Colored Tree shimmered, exuding an enticing aroma.

"Seven-Colored Tree, you’re going to stay here and help me guard the house, understand? Don’t let anyone come and rob me blind."

As she spoke, Faye Yardley began the simple process of placing and activating the Array Plate.

The Array Plate pulsed with light for a moment before vanishing, hiding itself from view within the courtyard.

The Seven-Colored Tree rustled its branches before Faye Yardley, as if to say it understood.

’Who would have thought that even after sprouting leaves and blossoms, it was still only half-mature?’ She then placed all the containers of rainbow-colored rainwater she’d traded for around the courtyard.

Almost immediately, long roots snaked out from the soil and into the various containers.

"Be good and stay here," she cooed. "Guard our home well."

As she spoke, Faye Yardley began consolidating the rainwater, pouring it from the various smaller containers into large, stainless-steel buckets.

After all, the containers she’d received in trade were a motley collection, and there was limited space to set them out in the yard.

She couldn’t even pour the rainwater fast enough to keep up with the speed at which the roots were absorbing it.

After emptying all the rainwater she had traded for from her backpack, Faye Yardley gave the Seven-Colored Tree a few more words of encouragement and left.

Back on the raft, Master Veridian immediately waved her over. "Yardley, quickly, come here! I’m dying to test these out on some ghosts and ghouls. If we could go back to the Isle of Damnation now, we certainly wouldn’t be as passive as we were last time!"

"What wonderful new toy have you made this time, Master?"

"Heh heh, take a look."

Faye Yardley took a Soul Destruction Talisman from the Master’s hand. "Soul Destruction?"

"That’s right. It’s a shame I didn’t have enough materials. I had to make this by fusing the bullets from that pig with vermillion."

Master Veridian’s eyes were shining, thrilled at having created a talisman with a brand-new purpose.

The sheer brightness of his gaze, that blazing desire for *more*, nearly blinded Faye Yardley and made her feel a pang of guilt. "I... I’m out," she stammered. "How about this? Next time I get more, I’ll send them over to you, Master."

"That’s the trouble with you, girl," he grumbled. "You show an old man something good just to flaunt it, but then you won’t hand it over."

Faye Yardley: ...

"I just figured that since you and Mr. Zephyr Sterling are so knowledgeable, I’d let you take a look so I’d have a better idea of what I’m working with."

Seeing Master Veridian’s crestfallen and disappointed expression, Faye Yardley’s heart softened. "Alright, how about this," she offered. "Let’s go kill zombies in Dungeon 3 together."

"Really? That’s wonderful! When are we going? I need to prepare a few things. Zombies aren’t the same as ghosts, so I’ll need to get some other supplies ready." Master Veridian was instantly revitalized. To him, zombies were similar to the jiangshi of folklore—all body and not much brain.

He had been to Dungeon 1 before. While it hadn’t been a huge challenge for him, it hadn’t been a complete walk in the park either.

’When that dark tide of them rushes you, you need to be ready with some area-of-effect talismans.’

"We’ll go at dawn."

"Deal. We’ll head back and get ready then."

Zephyr Sterling glanced from his master to Faye Yardley. ’Good grief,’ he thought. ’These two are both so impulsive.’

"Yardley, if I remember correctly, didn’t you also make plans with Mr. Pierce and his group?"

Zephyr Sterling was immediately on the receiving end of a glare from his master.

Faye Yardley just waved a hand dismissively. "It’s fine. It’ll probably take them a while to clear their schedules anyway. We’ll make it a quick trip—in and out, three days at most. We can take them after we get back. It’s no big deal."

"Alright then, we’ll go get ready. See you in a bit."

Willow Yardley, who had been making a sweet dessert soup, asked, "Master, would you like a bowl before you go?"

Once they were gone, Faye Yardley settled cross-legged into a hanging swing chair and closed her eyes to rest, mentally running through a checklist of supplies and food to bring.

’After all, the zombie dungeon was the one she knew best.’

RING RING RING~

She glanced at the time—12:21 AM. Faye Yardley answered the phone with a laugh. "Miss Jonas, to what do I owe the pleasure this early in the morning?"