Chapter 1141 Ma.s.s Release (2/3): Stolen Chicken

Life within the tower changed after that. No more monsters appeared, except for the wild beasts that were not created by the tower"s influence. In a sense, growth halted for the residents, but they all enjoyed this period of peace, despite legions of G.o.ds awaiting them outside.

Dorian became the lord of the ten cities, which he rearranged to establish one true city that he called Karma. He spent all his focus on building a self-sustained society that could rely on itself to survive, and he had some small success in those areas. 

As the tower was vast, the second floor did not possess the largest population. In the towns on the first floor and the wilderness on the third, many communities rose to survive. Dorian planned on connecting with them to gain their expertise.

The next thing was securing food, which was sustainable using the farmlands that the Scholar Guardian created for them. Dorian managed to connect with farmers throughout the tower and sought their help to establish an internal network.

However, the most important point was currency. If there was no currency, he would not be able to create a society that enforced each person to do their job. This is where the Scholar Guardian helped as well, as he opened the Trading Menu for everyone within the tower.

Reward points still had the same effect to strengthen the user, but they also became a currency within the tower. The trading menu had strict rules about the range of prices for certain items to avoid farming reward points. Furthermore, both parties need to consent to the transfer to avoid extortion.

Although danger loomed over the horizon, life thrived within the tower. No matter what happens or changes that strike them, people will find a way to survive in new environments. Dorian realized this fact as he walked through the streets, hearing the vendors shout for people to buy.

Coins became obsolete after the new system was implemented, and this resulted in many outcries from rich merchants that hid during the war. However, Dorian didn"t care about them. Coins could not be controlled like reward points, and they could not be traced.

Although some merchants called him a tyrant, the new system prevented them from h.o.a.rding money away from the public. These merchants used to drive prices high to gain profit, and no one could do anything about it.

As he walked through the previous city of Xeloria, many people recognized him and bowed. Some looked at him as if he was his father"s killer, which Dorian liked. After all, Marshal Stormblade was a vile man until the end.

Many warriors still had loyalty to his father, so Dorian noticed many disappearances after he took control of the city. One such example was MK7, the infamous race that could burn souls. However, he was far from worried about a man who turned away and fled. 

The palace of Xeloria turned into a refuge for people who lost their homes during the invasion of monsters, while Dorian lived in a small house in its garden"s vicinity. His advisors said it pained a weak picture of authority, but Dorian liked this house because it belonged to his mother.

As he got closer to the house, Dorian could hear laughter and bickering inside. Instead of being surprised or annoyed, he grinned with excitement at seeing the new guests in his humble home. As he opened the door, he saw them gathered around the long table in the living room, eating lunch.

"You d.a.m.n monkey, I know that you stole my chicken!" shouted Lian as he grabbed Sarohan, who was chewing with his hands over his mouth. "Spit it out right this instant!"

"It wasn"t me!" said the Waiga with a mouth full of food as he chewed faster. Then, the red Waiga turned toward a different corner as he was being questioned, looking at Whisker who was eating far in the corner. "It must be him!"

"You are the closest to me, d.a.m.n Waiga, spit it out!" shouted Lian as he shook the tall Waiga while standing over his chair, threatening to break it. In fact, it did break, but Lian did not let go of Sarohan. The two of them fell toward the table, surprising everyone present.

Squeak! Whoosh! Clang!

Bang!

Instead of raising the falling two, Koby used his ethereal arm to move the entire table aside. Lian and Sarohan fell to the ground, and they began to wrestle without stopping. Seraphine laughed her heart out while clapping, enjoying a good fight over food.

Dorian stared at the scene with momentary surprise before he smiled with happiness. He spent his entire life in an empty room because many people considered him too arrogant to be around. Now, he had a home with guests who refused to leave even if he asked them.

"Dori, more chicken! This tamer is going insane!" shouted Sarohan as he tried to pin the tamer down, but he proved unexpectedly flexible as he broke free and countered it.

"Someone needs to teach you not to steal!" said Lian as he brought the Waiga to the floor, pinning him down. "Give me back my food!"

"I didn"t steal it! It was the d.a.m.n cat!"

"Always blaming the cat," said Whisker with a sigh. "You should stop taking responsibility for your own theft, my friend."

The feline sounded mature, but he forgot the crucial aspect of holding a chicken drumstick in his hand. As the tamer noticed it, so did the rest of them, before Sarohan and Lian jumped from the ground and marched toward the feline.

"I will restrain him, go count the bones!" shouted Sarohan as he wrapped his long arms around Whisker, holding him down. As he was caught off guard, the feline had no time to react before Lian began counting the bones.

The tamer did not stop there and even took a step further. He restructured the bones to know if they matched one chicken or more. In the end, the truth was revealed.

"We found the thief! These bones are enough for two chickens!"

"How dare you frame me, d.a.m.n cat?!" shouted Sarohan as he stared at the feline with betrayal, who feigned a surprised expression. "You still act like you haven"t eaten it?!"

"I never saw those bones in my life! Someone is framing me! My king, please save me!" turned the feline toward Arthur, who was watching the scene with amus.e.m.e.nt. As the matters fell into his hand, everyone turned toward him, including Dorian.

Arthur found all eyes staring at him, so he seemed to ponder for a few seconds. Then, he raised his fork and waved at the feline, lecturing him. "You shouldn"t steal from friends, Whisker. Please return the chicken to Lian over dinner."

"I am being framed!" shouted the feline, but Sarohan and Lian did not believe him. As they dragged him outside to throw him out, Arthur rose from his seat and decided to leave. The laughter and shouts were ongoing as he walked out of the house.

Dorian decided to follow after him and left as well. When he went outside, he found Arthur laughing his heart out. When he noticed Dorian, he tried to act composed again.

"…you stole the chicken, right?" asked Dorian with suspicion, and Arthur looked at him without answering. "Why would you steal and cause a fight to break out?"

"Just a little harmless prank," said Arthur with a smile as he watched Lian and Sarohan using ropes to tie the feline. "It"s more fun this way."

"People would mistake you for a teenager if they did not know you," said Dorian with an amused laugh. "I almost forget that I"m older than you are."

"Not based on looks."

"You have the short beard to help," said Dorian as he rolled his eyes. "Where are you going now?"

"To take some lunch for Ilia," said Arthur with a smile as he raised his hand, revealing a boneless chicken and buns. "He has been gone for a while now. Do you want to come over too?"

Dorian considered it for a few seconds and nodded. Arthur smiled and led the way, but not before he hid the chicken from the angry tamer and Waiga. They have tied Whisker in a rope and decided to hang him from the house for some reason.

As the two walked for a safe distance, Arthur snapped his fingers and a portal opened. It led them to the fifth floor, which was an endless gra.s.sland. Their walk lasted for ten minutes before they reached the tower within these plains.

At the base of the tower, a small bonfire was lit with two people sitting next to it. One of them was sitting and rolling the embers, while the other leaned on the wall of the tower. The two turned toward Arthur and Dorian as they arrived.

"I brought you lunch, Ilia," said Arthur as he took out the food he had in his legacy and presented it toward the worn-out warrior. "You should take some rest."

"Thank you, my lord," said Ilia as he received the food and lowered it, but he seemed devoid of spirit. "There is not much time left before he dies. He has already begun to lose himself, muttering incomprehensible things."

Dorian turned toward the man leaning on the tower"s wall, but he did not recognize him from anywhere. According to the rest, he was the younger brother of Ilia Perli and the man Arthur wanted to kill in this tower. However, he looked nothing more than a lifeless body now.

Yuvan was muttering something as his eyes looked toward the sky. Tears rolled down his face as his face was filled with regrets. This was the fate that Arthur has cursed him with: the knowledge of what could have been.