Chapter 138: The Three Groups

"The leader in the Right Oasis is a Demoness calling herself Reyna. While in the north, it's a demon who called himself Azor. Both are really powerful demons. Not only that, but they're also a bunch of high-level mercs in their group and nasty elves."

.. .

.. .

"But aren't demons supposed to be cruel?" Seraphina asked.

Ryu frowned and looked to the side. Ferris was cruel, but she was the only one who helped him when the others treated him as nothing more than a slave.

Marcus shrugged. "Those who are powerful and useful are treated well while those who are not. . .  well. .. they just have to suck it in if they wanted to stay alive and reach the next exit."

Marcus then shook his head and forced a smile. "Enough about that. Let me tell you about our organization here since you decided to stay. We don't have a complicated system, just the basics to keep everyone afloat and alive."

Marcus stopped in front of a simple tent with wide columns and blue tapestries. "But you cannot choose what you'll do. I'll personally assign you your work. But don't worry, if your work is more crucial than the others, you'll get a bigger portion of food and a bigger part of the treasures. We usually divide it by who contributed the most. Those who do manual labor and miscellaneous don't get part of the treasures, but they get the food. Is that okay with you?"

Ryu and Seraphina looked at each other first before they nodded. 

"And what happened when we find the exit?" Ryu asked.

"We tell the whole group where it is, and we'll distribute a map to everyone. But as soon as that happens, everyman on their own. You can form groups when that time comes if you want."

It was harsh, but Ryu and Seraphina understood that in here, every man for themselves. Marcus couldn't possibly protect everyone forever. Their alliance was only temporary until they found the exit. And taking so many with them into the Queen Dragon's lair was akin to suicide.

"Come inside, and let's have a cup of tea first." Marcus opened his tent and entered, followed by Ryu and Seraphina.

The place's interior was modest, with rags and carpets as bedding and barrels for small table and chairs at the side. There was also a large table on the far corner where maps and scattered pebbles rest—dividing the rest of the space from the sleeping quarters where just a tapestry hanging on a rope.

"It's not much, but it felt like home." Marcus laughed.

Ryu and Seraphina deducted that Marcus was a jolly fellow who appreciated something little and took joy from it. 

Now they were having second thoughts on telling him about Jane and Theodore.

"Come on and take a seat." Marcus brought out the chairs and grabbed a jag of water and a pouch of tea leaves from the side. "It's not much, but it's tea."

Ryu and Seraphina signaled each other with silent looks while Marcus sat and sipped a bottle of tea. 

"Ah. .. it's really is best to take it at room temperature." Marcus's expression softened while his eyelids dropped. "I usually take my tea hot but Jane. .. my fiancée said that it tasted better at room temperature. .. That is probably the best advice she gave me."

Marcus's laughter boomed in the room while Ryu and Seraphina didn't know where to put their eyes.

"So," Marcus slapped his knees, "what are you guys going to tell me again?"

Ryu made up his mind and decided to tell him straight. "Theo––"

"Actually," Seraphina cut in and gave Ryu a short nod and a tight smile. Honestly, how could he be so dense? "We'll start by saying that this is already our second Islet."

Marcus's eyes shone. "Second-level adventurers! Now that is certainly good news! We don't have those here. Most joined the right and north Oasis."

Seraphina continued after Marcus's excitement died down. "Our first Islet is in underwater, and the boss in there is the legendary beast, Leviathan." 

"Leviathan," Marcus rolled the name in his tongue while his face looked severe. "How did you manage to get past that?" Surely, they couldn't defeat it even if they combined their strength. Possibly, only the five heroes of humanity could hope to kill that beast.

"It was mostly asleep. It was its restriction." Ryu offered no more details as it was purely out of luck that they managed to reach the sanctuary.

"The exit lies near its body," Seraphina added, sensing what Marcus wanted to know. "In our case, the exit was hidden beside its head. You have to be careful not to wake it up and never touch the breath it released."

".. . I see. . ." Marcus was in deep thought. If he happened to stumble on the Leviathan's lair in his second Islet, then he was confident that he could go past it if it were asleep.

But for now, he had to focus on Tiamat first. "If only Tiamat were asleep most of the time too."

Marcus then asked, "Is that the important thing you wanted to say?"

".. ."

".. ."

Both Ryu and Seraphina were silent for a moment before Seraphina said in a muffled voice, "In our first Islet, we grouped with Jane and Theodore Éclair."

Marcus blinked, and his face brightened before his expression fell when he sensed Ryu and Seraphina's depressing mood.

Marcus took a sharp intake of air. "What happened?"

There was silence for a moment before Seraphina and Ryu retold what happened in the first Islet.

.. .

.. .

A heavy silence descended, thick and hard to ignore.

Marcus's face was unrecognizable beneath the dark shadows cast by the light. And despite the sudden news of Theodore's death, Marcus forced a small smile.

"Thank you for telling me." He then went to his feet, and without looking back, he said, "I'm sorry, I remembered I have something to do. I'll ask Echbert to show you around."

And he was gone. 

".. ." Seraphina faced Ryu. "I think he handled it quite well."

Ryu didn't say anything. Seraphina might not see it, but there was a drop of blood on the carpet from Marcus's clenched hands.