Chapter 164: Diarrhea

"...I have something to report"

The four stared at Viel as they waited for him to reveal what it was that was so important he had to go all the way here, a thousand kilometers away from where he was supposed to be. How was he even able to find them anyway?

"When we got out of the portal, the standby unit was gone", Viel said in a very serious tone as he took a sip of Sofia's tea.

"Gone?", Xing Cai could not help but furrow her eyebrows, "What do you mean gone?"

"I think...", Viel clasped his hands together as he leaned in closer to the group, "...They all had massive diarrhea and decided to all go together at the same time"

"...What?"

"Yes… I think there's an outbreak going on", Viel said, "I think we should isolate the rest of the citi--"

Before Viel could continue his spiel any further, Xing Cai interrupted her.

"Are you sure they were gone when you got out of the portal?", Xing Cai said as she placed her hand on her chin, completely ignoring Viel's conclusions.

"Y...yes", Viel stuttered, "That's why I said we--"

But once again, before he could finish his words, Xing Cai interrupted him.

"If that is true…", Xing Cai muttered, she then looked at Princess Cha Jin-ri with a serious expression, "...Could it be that there's someone else involved here belonging inside the Explorer's association?"

Standby units were not allowed to leave the portal's proximity at any given time. They would stay there until the portal is cleared or fully closes. The only way they would abandon their posts is when… someone higher up orders them to do so, like the standby unit leader.

"...Quite possibly", Jin-ri nodded in agreement. Most of the inner members of the Explorer's association worked directly under the Royal Palace. If this is proven to be true, then that would mean that someone is going behind the King and was in cahoots with the Heaven Bamboo sect.

��This… might be bigger than we thought", Jin-ri could not help but furrow her eyebrows, "It seems it won't finish with just the Heaven Bamboo sect"

"Ehh… are you sure it's not just diarrhea?"

"Viel, stop with your diarrhea theory, it's not even infectious!"

Xing Cai finally could not help it anymore as she pinched Viel's cheek. "How were you even able to find us anyway!?"

"Oh, using this", Viel opened his collar and grabbed the necklace dangling from his neck. It had the same color and pattern as the ring that Sofia was wearing, "It's telling me where you are. I could also use Mr. Jack's skill, but I think they are sleeping. I don't really want to interrupt too much"

Viel could still fully use the Souls' skills, but he usually asks permission from them first through Mr. Voice so as not to be rude, but something seems to be going on between them. If only Earth Goddess Mirella was here, she could probably tell him what was going on.

But alas, she was in that place called… the Planet of the Gods, was it?

"...Interesting"

Viel's thoughts were interrupted by Sofia's murmuring.

"It… has that kind of function?", Sofia could not help but look at the ring on her finger, her curiosity once again reaching the roof, "How... did you know?"

"Hm? It says right there", Viel pointed above the ring, "...Can't you see it?"

[ Ring of the Red String

Basic Info: Glows when the wearer of the Necklace of the Red String is within proximity. Activate to know the location of the Necklace of the Red String. ]

"What? Where?", Sofia rotated her hands to see where Viel was pointing to, but no matter what angle she rotated her hand to, she couldn't see anything. Xing Cai and Princess Cha Jin-ri were also intrigued as they focused their eyes on the ring.

"Could it be… you're seeing the Dungeon's Words!?", Cha Jin-ri stood up in shock.

"Yes, it's right there", Viel once again pointed above the ring as he shrugged his shoulders.

"But ho--"

"Ah!", Viel suddenly stood up before Cha Jin-ri could finish her questions, "My mission!", he shouted before rushing out of the tea shop.

The group stared at the swinging door, their eyes blinking in confusion. You don't just drop a revelation like that and disappear.

"Sir Viel… truly has a strong personality, does he not?", Jiff could not help but comment.

"That boy… is as mysterious as ever", Princess Cha Jin-ri retrieved her fan from her pocket, "...Wrinkled raisin, leave the boy in my hands, I will take care of him from now on"

"He's not a pet, royal cow. He's my brother", Xing Cai scoffed, "But on to more important matters, if someone from the Palace really is involved, then that would mean we won't know who to trust in the Explorer's association anymore… or the palace", Xing Cai then looked at Cha Jin-ri with eyes of suspicion.

Seeing Xing Cai's eyes full of suspicion, Princess Cha Jin-ri could not help but click her tongue, "You're not seriously thinking I am involved in this, are you?"

"Of course not", Xing Cai let out a slight chuckle, "You're too stupid to orchestrate something like this"

"Y...you!", Cha Jin-ri aggressively pointed her fan towards Xing Cai, "I could plan something like this in my slee--"

"Perhaps I may be of help with the investigation"

Before Xing Cai and Cha Jin-ri could once again start their war, Sofia raised her voice.

"...Help?", Xing Cai furrowed her eyebrows.

"Yes", Sofia nodded her head, she then raised her hand and slightly waved her finger, "...With the help of a shadow"

As soon as she said this, one of the customers that were on a separate table stood up and walked towards them.

Jiff could not help but squint his eyes as he looked at the familiar face of the man that just approached them. He could not quite put his finger on it, but he was sure has seen this man somewhere before.

"You!", but after a few seconds, Jiff quickly stood up as he pointed at the man,

"You're the man from the Explorer test!"

It was number 95, the handsome man wearing a white robe.

"You called for me, Princess Sofia?"

***

"Sorry, it took so long. I got infected by diarrhea by the standby unit"

"...What?"

Viel walked out from the forest, his hair once again green as he pretended to wipe his hands on his clothes. Viel made sure to focus on Liu Bai's expression as he mentioned the word diarrhea. But it would seem he really was wrong with his diarrhea theory since Liu Bai only had a confused expression on his face.

"Let's go", Liu Bai said, "We have already wasted enough time here", he said as he dragged Viel inside a carriage.

If it were any other Drifter, Liu Bai would not allow them to even take breaks during the journey home. But this green-haired boy was special. He needed to treat him well so that when the time comes that the boy is fully indoctrinated into their sect, he would choose him as a master.

They were still far away from the Heaven Bamboo sect and Liu Bai's excitement was already shooting through the roof. It would be faster if they ran, but they could not just leave the carriage they prepared for the Drifters. He wouldn't want to be tired as well since it was a long journey.

A day passed by in their journey and Viel's boredom was also already shooting through the roof. He didn't really want to talk to Liu Bai that much as he might accidentally reveal that he was on a mission to infiltrate their sect.

He tried to talk to the Souls, but it was to no avail. Mr. Voice was not even conveying what they were feeling like he usually does. He just repeated the same thing over and over again-- that they were unavailable.

What does that even mean? ...Were Miss Lu Yi and the others gone? Viel could not help but furrow his eyebrows with the thought. Was he… going to live without them from now on?

But no. If he concentrates hard enough, he could still feel them inside of him. It was faint, but they were there.

What exactly was happening there!?

Viel could not help but sigh as he once again thought of Earth Goddess Mirella. Perhaps he should visit this so-called Planet of the Gods so that he could learn more about the Souls. He had no idea where it even was, though.

Viel shook his head in frustration. He should probably focus on the mission at hand, he thought.

And so, hours once again passed by. Viel's eyes were already red as he was getting closer and closer to death due to this boredom.

But as if hearing his pleas--

"There's trouble in front, senior!"

The carriage suddenly stopped as one of the Heaven Bamboo sect disciples shouted.

"What is it!?", Liu Bai quickly exited the carriage.

"Members from the White Bamboo sect are blocking our path!"