Chapter 389 183: Shar and Dorunla

Dorunla took out her phone and sent a text to her friend in Sonaros State.

「Kovloki Castle.」

The receptionist's purse started buzzing.

She was with Konina, sitting ramrod straight on a sofa in the castle lounge. She glanced at her bag but didn't dare reach for her phone.

Sean and the others were discussing the Gate of Hell with Bofunova, and she didn't dare make a sound.

Elise, sitting nearby, noticed her discomfort. She smiled and asked, "Someone send you a message?"

Shar nodded nervously.

"Go on, check it," Elise said with a smile. "Since the writer let you tag along, he doesn't see you as an outsider. Just do what you need to do. No need to be so stiff."

Shar still didn't move.

She had been this way ever since discovering that the beautiful woman who was so obsequious toward Sean, always forcing a smile and occasionally calling him "Master," was the very same Bofunova who struck fear into the hearts of countless Wizards.

'Bofunova was terrifying in her eyes, but this man had tamed Bofunova. Didn't that make him even more terrifying?'

Once she thought of it that way, even Sean's gentle and refined smile seemed to twist and distort in her eyes, as if it were a Demon's disguise.

It wasn't until Konina also took her hand and told her with a warm smile, "Don't worry, he's really easy to talk to."

Shar asked in a small voice, "Really?"

Konina nodded. "You saw for yourself on the way here. Everyone jokes around with him."

After a moment of hesitation, Shar finally dared to reach for her bag.

It was always easier to believe someone she knew.

Konina waited for her to finish replying before asking, "Who was it? Someone from White Bear?"

"No." Fearing a misunderstanding, Shar quickly explained, "A friend from out of state."

Konina echoed, "Out of state?"

"Yeah," Shar said. "From Krim State."

"Oh?" Koni leaned over and asked curiously, "Shar, you know people from Krim State?"

Shar said, a little awkwardly, "Actually... I'm from Krim State myself."

Koni said, "Huh?"

"When I awakened, I was discovered by a Smell Crow and had to flee," Shar said, her face twisting with hatred. Clearly, it wasn't a fond memory.

The lucky ones might stumble upon a Wizard Organization and be rescued, as Sean once was. But most people have no one to turn to for help. A second before they awaken, they don't even know what a Wizard is, let alone any other Wizards. Many with incomplete awakenings don't even realize their situation until they're being hunted down. The only thing they can do is run—just like Konina and Genduo did—crossing mountains and wading through rivers, fleeing as far as they possibly can.

"Those Witch Hunters are real bastards," Koni cursed before comforting Shar. "But don't worry, Shar. You'll be able to go home soon, if you want."

Shar said, "Huh?"

She had no idea what was about to happen in Krim State.

Koni didn't explain. She knew some things could be said and some couldn't, and this was one of the latter.

Konina helped change the subject, casually asking, "So what's up with your friend?"

"She said she's coming to me for help," Shar answered honestly.

Konina paused. "She's coming to Sonaros State?"

'This land is about to change hands,' she thought. 'Sonaros State is not a good place for refuge right now.'

This experience had taught Konina one thing: not all Wizards were on the same side.

Perhaps that was true in other states, but in Sonaros State, you couldn't trust anyone.

Shar was also puzzled. "I don't know why she suddenly wants to come to Sonaros State, either."

She and Dorunla used to be classmates. With Dorunla loving piano and Shar loving to dance, they bonded over their shared interests and became good friends. Dorunla was the only one who knew she had come to Sonaros State.

BUZZ BUZZ.

A moment later, Dorunla replied.

"I'm in huge trouble T_T"

Shar's heart leaped into her throat. "Huge trouble..."

'It couldn't be the Wolf Family, could it?'

Konina asked, "Is she a Wizard, too?"

Shar was uncertain. "I don't think so?"

At least, she wasn't when Shar left.

Now... it was hard to say.

"If she isn't, have her come," Konina said. "I'll help you figure something out."

She might not be able to help if it was a Wizard affair—after all, she was only a Tier One rookie. But if it was just a conflict between ordinary people, she could definitely handle it. At the very least, she and Shar would have no problem protecting her friend.

Shar was touched. "Thank you."

"Don't thank me," Konina said with a laugh. "Have you already forgotten? Genduo and I hadn't eaten for days and had no money, and you were the one who bought us a meal."

Shar seemed to recall how filthy and pitiful Konina and Genduo had looked back then, and she smiled too. "So, I should tell her to come?"

"Do it!" Konina puffed out her chest confidently, giving a little wobble. "Whatever happens, you can count on me!"

"Oh?"

"So you're feeling brave, are you?"

Sean suddenly chimed in.

Konina instantly deflated. She shot Sean a resentful, reproachful glare. 'Why'd he have to call me out while I was bragging? This guy... He has zero respect for me. The nerve!'

Elise winked at Sean. "All done talking?"

Sean nodded. "Pretty much."

"We'll rest here for two days and wait for Carlos to arrive. Then, we're off to the Gate of Hell."

"In the meantime, if you see anything you like in the castle, feel free to take it. No need to be polite with Miss Bofunova."

"Isn't that right, Miss Bofunova?"

Bofunova: "..."

She forced a smile. "Yes. As long as the ladies like it, they can take whatever they want. I've already given the word."

"I didn't know they had all-you-can-take shopping sprees in Sonaros State," Elise said with a grin. "In that case, we won't be shy."

Bofunova really wanted to curse them out.

But she didn't dare.

Besides, compared to having her entire estate confiscated, this "shopping spree" was getting off light. Sean had only brought a handful of people along. The Wolf Family was a vast and wealthy enterprise. Even if Sean and his group stuffed their pockets to bursting, they couldn't take that much. She would just have to consider it a small price to pay to avoid a greater catastrophe.

Yisha, who had listened to the entire conversation, could only laugh to herself.

'For an old woman, she's surprisingly naive,' Yisha thought.

She had participated in several of Sean's plans and had never once seen her dear "teacher" leave anything behind for his enemies.

Forget enemies—some of his allies had only walked away with a few bottles of mineral water in the end.

'There was definitely a reason he wasn't just confiscating everything.'

Bofunova wasn't actually stupid.

It was just that she didn't have the mental energy to think about most things in detail right now. Her only concern was how to appease Sean and get back to the "New World" alive.

If Sean hadn't rejected her advances, she would have gladly let him fill her to the brim.

After all, Sean was still a man. She reasoned that any man would soften a little toward a woman he'd been intimate with and treat her more leniently.

But Sean didn't fall for that. Since she couldn't appeal to his heart, she would have to appeal to his head. She would do her best to shift all the blame to Carlos and let that stingy bastard who'd misled her bear the brunt of Sean's fury.

「And so, the next day.」

Bofunova went to the airport herself to greet the arrival.

Carlos had also arrived on a private jet, bringing a full twenty bodyguards in black suits.

Bofunova had always looked down on such so-called pageantry. In her eyes, bringing bodyguards was a sign of weakness. Seeing Carlos descend from the plane with his men, she immediately taunted him, "Long time no see. Still as timid as ever."

"Incorrect," Carlos corrected. "This is called avoiding unnecessary trouble."

Traveling with bodyguards wasn't just for show; it also effectively prevented any clueless fools from getting in his way.

"Oh," Bofunova said flatly. "And her?"

She glanced at Dorunla, who was being "escorted" by two bodyguards behind Carlos. "And who might she be?"

"My pianist," Carlos said. "As you know, I can't appreciate the music in Sonaros State."

"So?" Bofunova's eyes narrowed. "You bring an outsider to do business with me?"

"Rest assured, Miss Bofunova," Carlos said with a smile. "She won't hear a single word she isn't supposed to."

Dorunla trembled, not daring to make a sound.

She knew this woman who could be so discourteous to Carlos had to be a big shot, and their conversation was not something she could take part in. Whether she was met with scorn or insults, she could only accept it quietly.

Outwardly, Bofunova sized up Dorunla, as if to check if she posed a problem, but inwardly, she was sneering.

'Death is knocking at his door, and he's still here talking about music, trying to act all elegant.'

'I wonder if this pianist Carlos brought with him knows how to play a funeral march?'

'Let's see how elegant you are when we get to Kovloki Castle.'

Bofunova turned to lead the way, saying coldly:

"Follow me."

...