NOVGO.NET Chapter 788 Puppeteer
Villain Ch 788. Puppeteer
Allen’s frown deepened as he wrestled with the nagging sense of familiarity that surrounded the NPC’s name. “Gheppetto? Why do I feel that name is similar to something,” he mused aloud, his voice tinged with uncertainty.
His companions exchanged puzzled glances, their curiosity piqued by Allen’s apparent recognition. But Red_King dismissed it with a casual wave of his hand. “It’s just an NPC name, Godlike. Don’t think too much about it,” he advised, his tone laced with reassurance.
Despite Red_King’s attempt to dispel the unease, Allen couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to the name than met the eye. He wracked his brain, delving into the recesses of his memory in search of answers. The name seemed to hover on the edge of his consciousness, tantalizingly close yet frustratingly out of reach.
The group approached Gheppetto cautiously, their curiosity mingled with a sense of apprehension as they observed the aged NPC. Gheppetto, with his weathered features and stooped posture, looked every bit the part of a weary elder.
“Hello,” Arcana greeted tentatively, breaking the silence that hung heavy in the air.
Gheppetto turned to face them, his expression devoid of enthusiasm as he regarded the adventurers with tired eyes. “Adventurer, what brings you to this sad place?” Gheppetto’s voice was heavy with sorrow.
Arcana hesitated, unsure of how to respond to Gheppetto’s melancholy question. After a moment’s pause, he spoke, his tone gentle yet uncertain. “We were just hunting around here and came by accident,” he explained, hoping to offer some semblance of an explanation for their presence in the cemetery.
Red_King seized the opportunity to inquire further, his curiosity piqued by the mysterious surroundings and the NPC’s somber demeanor. “If we may know, what is this place, and why are you here?” he asked, his voice tinged with genuine concern.
Gheppetto’s sigh was heavy with resignation as he began to recount the tragic tale of his home and his loss. “This is my home, where I live,” he explained wearily. “I live with my children. But a group of criminals attacked and killed my children,” he continued, his voice faltering with emotion. The pain of his loss was evident in every word. His sobs punctuated the air.
Azura saw an opportunity to glean more information from the NPC, her sharp mind already formulating a plan to uncover any potential quests or missions that Gheppetto might offer. “Who did this to you?” she asked, her voice tinged with determination. “Tell us, and we will punish them.”
Gheppetto’s response was cryptic yet poignant, his words laden with sorrow and resignation. “Bad guys,” he muttered softly, his gaze downcast as he struggled to articulate the depth of his anguish. “A bunch of bad guys. They are strong and cruel.”
Bored Hunter voiced the question that lingered on all of their minds. “What do you mean? Are those werewolves and puppets?” he asked, his tone laced with concern.
Gheppetto’s reaction was immediate and startling. His eyes widened in surprise, a flicker of fear crossing his weathered features as he processed Bored Hunter’s question. It was as if the mention of the creatures had struck a nerve, dredging up memories that he had tried desperately to bury.
Bored Hunter’s assertion seemed to ring true, sparking a glimmer of hope that their questioning had indeed triggered a quest or mission. However, Allen remained skeptical, his instincts warning him of potential danger lurking beneath the surface.
His gaze never wavered from Gheppetto, his senses heightened as he observed the NPC’s every move. Something about Gheppetto’s demeanor set off alarm bells in Allen’s mind, a primal instinct urging him to remain vigilant.
Suddenly, Gheppetto’s expression darkened, his anger boiling over. “So, you guys who killed my children?!” he shouted in anger. Before anyone could react, he hurled an object toward them with alarming speed, his rage palpable in the air. Stay tuned for updates on My Virtual Library Empire
In that split second, Arcana raised his shield in a reflexive attempt to shield the group from harm. But Allen acted even faster. With lightning speed, he drew his knives and intercepted the incoming projectile, deflecting it with precision and skill.
– Clang! – Clang! -Clang!
With a sharp clang, the true nature of Gheppetto’s attack became clear. The strings hit the ground, their pincer-like ends clattering against the cold earth.
The strings, eerily reminiscent of puppeteer’s tools, seemed poised to ensnare anyone unfortunate enough to be caught in their grasp. It was a chilling realization that Gheppetto intended to turn them into his next puppets, mere marionettes under his control.
‘Gheppetto and the puppets…’ he thought. For Allen, the sight triggered a flood of memories from his childhood. He recalled the stories his grandmother used to read to him, tales of magic and wonder that had once captivated his imagination. Among them was the story of Gepetto, the old woodcarver who had crafted a wooden boy.
In the classic fairy tale, the wooden puppet had been brought to life by a benevolent fairy, embarking on a journey of self-discovery and adventure. But the twisted reality before them bore little resemblance to the innocent tales of his youth. Here, Gheppetto’s strings were not instruments of whimsy, but tools of manipulation and control.
The parallels between the storybook character and the vengeful NPC were impossible to ignore. It was as if Gheppetto had stepped out of the pages of the fairy tale, his intentions far more sinister than those of his literary counterpart.
With a sense of urgency in his voice, Allen sounded the alarm. “Be careful, everyone! He’s the puppeteer!” His words cut through the tense atmosphere. In that moment, it became clear that Gheppetto was the mastermind behind the puppet monsters they had encountered.
Gheppetto’s emotions shifted, and so did the status hovering above his head.
Puppeteer (Mini-boss) <Level 130>
With caution etched on their faces, the group swiftly put some distance between themselves and Gheppetto, retreating to create a safe buffer zone. Each member assumed a defensive stance, weapons at the ready and eyes fixated on the Puppeteer.