CHAPTER 488: 488. OFFSHOOT TALES

Side Story #1: Before Departure

"We absolutely can’t do it," Lily said firmly, her tone sharp enough to cut through the tension in the room.

Tyler leaned back in his chair, smirking. "No wonder I occasionally find you rather refined."

Her eyes narrowed. "What do you mean, ’occasionally’?"

"Exactly what I said," Tyler replied, his voice dripping with mockery.

The air between them crackled like flint striking steel.

Mana’s gaze bounced between the two, her innocent expression betraying the fact she had no idea why they were sparring like this. Finally, her eyes drifted toward Mathilda, who sat leisurely in a recliner, chin resting on her palm.

Mathilda pursed her lips, amused. They look more like a couple bickering than crewmates strategizing. She chose not to interfere, curious how long it would take before one of them gave in.

Tyler broke the stalemate first, waving Lily’s complaints aside with a flick of his hand. "Enough bragging, let’s discuss the matter seriously."

But Lily wasn’t done. Her brows drew together as if a forgotten thought had suddenly resurfaced. "Dammit! I didn’t even check if we were being watched."

She whirled toward Mana, her commanding presence filling the space. "Mana, go to the CIC room and check if there are any enemies spying on us."

"Ok." Mana nodded without hesitation, her ghostly form floating up and slipping through the ceiling.

Tyler immediately extended his Divine Sense, sweeping the room carefully. He only relaxed once he was certain Mana had left.

"Now she’s gone..." Lily’s voice lowered, her tone grave. "If Mana comes with us, she might uncover the Red Dragon’s identity. If she learns her ex—the one who betrayed her, killed her father, and destroyed her family—is the red dragon, she won’t be able to control herself."

Tyler rubbed his temples. "Alright, alright... but Mana’s ability to devour and digest evil spirits will make her ability boost at that time and if I’m close by, our energies synchronize. She can sometimes glimpse fragments of my memories unconsciously during that time, and that’s the problem. If she catches even a shred of what I know..."

"Stop whining like a child," Lily cut in, arms crossed. "You’ve got the Divine Sense of a Loose Immortal. Yes, it’s unstable, but you can control it with some effort. You’re not going in alone, either— you’re already dragging along that turtle girl and the dragon girl. You can use them as excuse and indulge yourself with other thoughts. If you really want, you can pick one more person to accompany you."

Tyler raised an eyebrow. "How about Darla?"

"Definitely not." Mathilda’s voice was sharp, slicing through before Lily could even answer. She leaned forward from her recliner, arms folded. "Without you, Mana, and Darla, how do you expect us to maintain our merchant Buisness? Do you think Lily and I can handle it all by ourselves?"

"Hey I am good with those..." Lily said but her voice become silent in the end. It just navigating the Ship itself takes lots of work.

Tyler smirked at Mathilda, "What about you, then?"

Mathilda shook her head immediately. "No chance. In a few days, our angel will wake up. Someone has to stay behind and look after her. That responsibility’s mine."

"I can’t take Su Fei with me. She needs to guard the ship. Then it’s settled," Tyler muttered, tapping the table. "It’ll only be the four of us."

At that moment, Mana drifted back down from the ceiling, head tilting in curiosity. "Four?" she echoed.

---

By evening, the ship’s Pocket Dimension was alive with activity. Inside, a flying boat had been prepared, cloaked in layers of concealing arrays and hidden charms. It shimmered faintly before vanishing into near invisibility, ready to carry them out unseen.

Tyler is the one who is installing those. He made final checks when a small, hesitant voice broke the silence.

"I... I want to see the outer world. Can I come with you? I promise I won’t be a burden."

He turned to look.

Standing behind him, her eyes wide with determination, was Lanny. The girl’s hands were clenched tightly in front of her, her mask hiding her full expression but unable to mask her resolve. "I’m already a one-star Master Mage. I can help."

For a moment, he was silent. Then Tyler gave a slow, approving nod. "Alright. You can come."

Mathilda’s mouth twitched, unable to hold back her sarcasm. "Tsk. First the turtle girl, now this one... He’ll probably end up pushing them both onto his bed before long."

"You’re only upset because you couldn’t join them yourself," Darla quipped with a sly grin, her words smooth as silk.

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Side story #2 : Bathhouse

"Time is on our side, and the future lies within our grasp. A minor setback will not hinder the ultimate outcome. You must always believe that our actions represent justice."

A group of people in identical robes stood in a circle, their voices echoing as they chanted together:

"Justice prevails..."

Their tone was solemn, but no one around seemed to care. Passersby ignored them like they were background noise. A moment later, the robed figures filed into the nearby bathhouse, which—on this island—was known for offering special services under the guise of cleansing one’s body and spirit.

Ling Tian’s mouth twitched at the sight. At first glance, he thought he had stumbled across the infamous "Justice Bandits," but upon closer inspection, it was just another random cult group trying too hard to sound important.

Not worth my time.

He turned away and continued down the crowded street, his eyes scanning the endless line of bathhouses that advertised everything from herbal baths to "enlightenment through body contact."

Finally, he found the one he was looking for. The signboard proudly displayed the name in big bold letters:

"Put in All Your Stuff, My Legs Are Always Up."

Ling Tian rubbed his temple. Whoever named this establishment had issues, but since it was the place he needed, he entered anyway.

The moment he stepped inside, his self-control was tested.

The interior was a haze of steam and perfume. Girls of various ages and races strolled about with nothing covering their flawless skin. Some stretched languidly, deliberately flaunting their curves. A few even brushed close to him, their hands lingering on his arm or chest as they teased, "Care to join us, handsome?"

Ling Tian’s face almost turned red, but he forced himself to maintain composure, replying with only a faint smile. He headed straight toward the reception desk, where even the receptionist stood stark naked. She was tapping away on a shimmering projection screen as if nothing was out of the ordinary.

"Welcome, Guest," she said brightly. "What type of service do you prefer? We offer a variety of packages. Our most popular is the Ultra Package—unlimited girls, unlimited numbers, one hour of pure bliss. Just 50,000 Lydia."

Ling Tian gulped and quickly waved his hands. "No, no... I don’t need that. I want information."

The receptionist’s expression didn’t change; she merely adjusted her tone. "Information, is it? Then you’ll need to visit the Orgy Floor. That’s where most knowledge is exchanged—usually during the, well, activities. Of course, if you want to remain a spectator and still receive information, there’s a separate cost."

"I just want information," Ling Tian interrupted before she could elaborate further.

"Very well." She clicked something on the projection screen, and a card materialized with a soft shimmer. She handed it to him after he paid a small fee of 500 Lydia. "Remember, the price of each piece of information varies depending on its subject."

Ling Tian accepted the card and walked deeper into the building. A wooden door slid open sideways, leading him into a hall filled with moans, laughter, and the sounds of unrestrained indulgence. Men and women of all races mingled freely, their voices rising above the steamy haze.

Before he could take another step, a naked bunny girl hopped right in front of him, her soft ears bouncing. She gazed up at him with pitiful eyes and purred, "Big Brother, wanna join me? Bitcha is lonely."

Ling Tian nearly tripped over himself as he dodged her grasp. "N-no. I’m here for information. I want to know about mysterious phenomena—particularly the kind happening near the Nox Pass these past few months."

Bitcha’s demeanor shifted instantly. The playful seductress vanished, replaced by someone sharp and businesslike. "There are plenty of strange events," she said.

"Anything involving memory loss?" Ling Tian pressed.

Her eyes lit up. "Ah... that one. Yes, but it will cost you 7,000 Lydia."

Without hesitation, Ling Tian pulled out the cash and handed it over.

Bitcha smiled, her long ears twitching. "There was a case recently. A merchant ship sailing the Haltz Route suddenly found itself on a completely different course. When the crew regained their senses, three days had passed. They had no memory of what happened. They believed the entire ship was possessed by a ghost."

Ling Tian’s eyes narrowed.

Bitcha continued, lowering her voice. "But that wasn’t the only one. Not long after the merchant ship regained consciousness, a pirate ship experienced the exact same phenomenon. Three days later, another pirate ship disappeared and reappeared, all with no memories of those missing days. From what we’ve gathered, this so-called ’ghost’ seems to be jumping from ship to ship, using them to sail toward some unknown destination."

Ling Tian absorbed every word, he controlled his every muscle in his eyes not to look anywhere other than Bitcha’s eyes.

---

After leaving the bathhouse, the cool night air felt almost refreshing compared to the steamy haze inside. Ling Tian walked down the street, hands in his pockets, his mind replaying the details.

"So... Ms. Lily Gomes’ analysis was right after all," he muttered to himself. "It must be the Manhunter. Hypnotizing ships, controlling them, moving in circles around the Nox Pass... "