Divine Beast Ascension

Chapter 341: Wagering with the Undisputable

Desperate, Ania grunted, “This is why we wanted Oli to–”

“You know Oli would be too worried about cultivation to attempt leading a territory. Just because he might be mentally capable of that, doesn’t mean he would have the strength to back it up,” reasoned the man, shooting down every excuse Ania offered. “That would be seen as puppet leadership, with you being the target of the rumors.”

“I would never do that!”

“I know. They know. But that’s what the rumors would be all the same.”

“Uhhh...” Pestered to not think of anything else, Ania tried to change the subject. “Where is Oli, anyway? Maybe I’ll agree if I can meet him and–”

“Sorry, but I won’t disclose that information.”

“Why not?! At least tell me where he is, even if we’re not allowed to meet up,” complained Ania, rapping her fingers along her hammer’s hilt in impatience. But while the man remained silent, she remembered something. Her gaze instantly shot back at Vloz. “Tell me where Oli is!”

.....

“Ania–”

“Tell me! He never said you weren’t allowed to tell me,” argued the mother gorilla.

Blinking, Vloz looked at the man’s unchanged stance and hidden expression. Not getting an immediate response from the man in charge, Vloz bit his lip. “Ania... I don’t know exactly where Oli is.”

“But you have an idea?”

“... Yes–”

“Then stop wasting time and tell me! I’m sure Puula’s curious as well.”

Once more, Vloz looked at the hooded man as if seeking permission. And since no verbal or physical expression was shared, Vloz caved. “Well, you already know that we were in Trighton Territory inside of the Toxic-shadow Prefecture... But you don’t know which region that’s in, do you?”

“No, now hurry and tell us!”

One last time, Vloz scanned over the shadowy man for some means of denial but found nothing of the sort. “... Oli’s probably in Bore City–”

“WHAT?!”

“Where’s that–”

“Oli’s in Bore City and you never thought me or Rathe would want to hear about that?? Huh, Vloz?!” Ania’s yell drowned out Puula’s question, not letting anyone hear the fox. Then, Ania turned to the mysterious man with a serious expression etched into her brow. “You sent Oli to Bore City? What can’t he learn here that he can learn there? Why would you–”

“Ania, be calm,” the man kindly ordered while lifting a hand to interrupt.

“Calm? How–”

“Your father is fine and Oli even met him, though your father has no clue of the meaning behind that encounter.”

“Your father? Ania, your father is still alive?” Puula stated in a louder voice, speaking quickly to not get left out. “If he’s alive, how did your clan get passed down without him?”

“He’s retired,” answered Ania, shrugging to her fox friend.

“Then if he’s alive, why haven’t you invited him to live here?”

“That...”

At first, Ania was going to reply with some reason as to why her father wouldn’t be up for it. But then she realized that no such reason existed. Suddenly, a hint of rage flashed over her face as she smashed her hammer back into the ground and glared at Rathe. “YEAH!! Why haven’t you invited him back??”

“Don’t blame him just yet,” chuckled the man. “Save that for when he finally wakes up. I’m sure you’ll both enjoy that interaction far more.”

“Wait, if we invite him to Iron Territory, can’t he take charge?”

The tinges of anger and desperation washed away from Ania’s face before she could curse her brother yet again. “Vloz, you’re a genius!”

“Is that the way you want to do things?”

Looking back at the man, Ania nodded emphatically. “Of course! I’ll just cook him something and he’ll be begging to move in!”

“That’s true..” chuckling, the man shifted from the new jovial tone back to his firm one, “though that doesn’t mean you’ll be able to meet Oli on your trip to retrieve Bradok.”

“WHY NOT??!!”

“Ania–”

“You’ve stripped me of my son, and if you know so much about everything then you could’ve probably saved Dioro too! Couldn’t you have?!!”

“...”

That pause caught Vloz and Puula off guard. Even Ania was surprised to not get another casual reply.

“YOU COULD HAVE??!!!!”

“Everything I do is to fulfill a certain purpose–”

“YOU COULD HAVE SAVED DIORO!!!!!!”

“And I still might, again thanks to your son.”

“WHA–”

“If you continue shouting, I’ll be forced to calm you down myself, like I did with your brother,” admitted the man, using one hand to point at the snoring gorilla uncomfortably prostrated on the ground. “Would you like that?”

“No. But still! You could’ve.. You could’ve saved him....”

“Again, know that your husband might yet be saved thanks to your son’s unbridled tenacity and unwavering negotiations. I’m sure you’ll eventually have a chance to sit down and discuss the matter with Oli, though not for quite a while–”

“I want to see Oli.”

“That–”

Ania interrupted the powerful man and repeated, “I want to see Oli. It’s the least you can offer since you’ve taken my husband, my son, and nearly my brother away from me.”

“... Fine..” nodding slightly, the man blinked under his hood. “When you go recruit your father, I’ll allow you to see him. But nothing more.”

“Thank you.” Offering a formal bow, Ania finally showed a tone of gratitude, though it was somewhat muddled in disappointment.

“If there’s nothing else, then I’ll be off.”

“Wait!”

But before Ania could question anything else, the man’s visage vanished from before their eyes.

While Ania lightly pounded her hammer into the dirt, Puula clicked her tongue in thought. “So... what’s next?”

“You get used to that...” Vloz sighed, tilting his head to where the man once stood. “Ania, I’ll take Rathe. You and Puula should help coordinate the recovery effort and help set up camp for the night. We’ll need time in order to finish what Rathe had planned.”

“I suppose you’re right...” Shrugging, Ania struggled to get her mind off the conversation still fresh in her mind.