67 – QUESTIONS 2

"Haaa," Joheki gave a deep and heavy sigh. "You are smart, but sometimes you act really dumb," Joheki said. "So let's assume we have betrayed our home. What are you going to do, fight me or worse, both of us?" He continued, "You truly overestimate yourself. You are not that strong. You don't have the power to change the outcome or make anything better, but you passed anyway. Well done," he said after another sigh left his mouth. I was left confused and a little irritated. 'What the hell was that supposed to mean, and I passed, passed what?'

"Now for your explanation, the things I am aware of is, yes, your last assumption was correct. You were used as bait for whatever the creature that is disturbing is, to get a glimpse of its power, skill, and at least gain a better understanding of what we were facing. That should be understandable, though at the same time unbelievable. Why would we use three of our strongest warriors, three massive pillars of our society, and the assigned future chief as bait?" he said to me. "Why wouldn't we just have used any other person, either from the adult group or wouldn't anyone from any division suffice as bait?

"Wrong. You were there while the chief said the more powerful one becomes, the less interest he or she has for beings weaker than them (chapter45). Without a doubt, it wouldn't work. The only reason we and the Grand Elder haven't lost the will to help is simply that there is nothing else to do anyway, but that is not a complete truth either. He made us find ways to attach ourselves to our kind. He himself made games like 'The Escape' to entertain himself. Simply put, we were doing similar things, weren't we?" he said.

"I became intrigued by training my soldier, the chief playing with kids in his Air domain, and Aleazm exploring the outside world with other enthusiasts like him. Mul loved her domain and all who appreciated it, creating the Filler group, which is now the most important group of all," he added.

"That doesn't answer how you are sure we wouldn't be attacked or what I passed," I said, still on alert. I was aware I may have been a bit irrational; anger got the best of me. What I should have done was either follow them home or escape and then get home secretly to inform the Grand Elder of my suspicions.

"The Grand Elder was sure, Mul and the Chief were also in agreement with him. They believed the creature would do something to catch our attention, and it did, didn't it?" Joheki turned his head to the direction of the crater and then back to me.

"I am also fully convinced now. If not, why would it help Aleazm and others on their way to the 'Well of Hope'?"

"That was just speculation," I replied.

"Were they?" Toko said, signifying he was still here. It wasn't like I forgot anyway.

"Hmm, speculation. How do you speculate something that was confirmed by several people, even those unaware of our situation knew they were being helped? Well, if you don't believe that, then there has to be no way that the chief is on his way back right now with Aleazm in one piece and with no injury," Joheki said.

"How would you know?" I replied to him.

"Well, I could, as I am a legend-level being; you are merely an emperor," he said.

'Tsk, I don't know why, but that reply really stung me. I am merely an emperor, eh? Yes, I am. I could be greater, but for now, I am only an Emperor level. There is no way I could stand a chance against both Toko and Aleazm. Tada himself would be a challenge, but at least I knew my chances of winning were… okay.'