Date: Unspecified Time: Unspecified Location: Myriad Realms, Lil. Red Storm realm, Seed World, Living Section Henricks hesitated, his jaw tightening as he weighed Wyatt's words. He looked like a man carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders, his pride at war with the urgency of his mission.
Wyatt remained calm, his gaze steady, silently conveying that he understood the gravity of the situation. Deep down, he hoped this moment could serve as a bridge—an opportunity to bring Henricks and his crumbling organization into his fold.
Henricks cast a cautious glance at Wyatt but quickly realized something. The young man standing before him wasn't just anyone—he was someone who had earned the Field Marshal's unwavering loyalty. Winning Wyatt's approval was as good as gaining the Field Marshal's backing. After a brief moment of hesitation, Henricks exhaled sharply and decided to open up.
"It's the Southern Princess," Henricks began, his voice tight with restrained anger. "She double-crossed us." He paused, visibly struggling to control the storm of emotions brewing within him. Just saying her name seemed to light a fire in his chest, his fists clenched by his sides.
Wyatt's gaze sharpened his expression hardening. "Don't tell me you handed her the Silver Beach dungeon?" he asked, his tone laced with disbelief. While he didn't think the Freedom Fighters would make such a reckless mistake, Henricks' current mental state left him bracing for the worst.
"No, we didn't," Henricks replied quickly, shaking his head. "Not only is the Silver Beach dungeon still in our possession but the dungeon relocation apparatus she gave us to turn the silver dungeon into a card once again is also in our possession, that is exactly why I don't understand her action. Why would she do this?" His confusion was evident, and it mirrored Wyatt's. Henricks couldn't grasp what the Southern Princess stood to gain by exposing the secret deal between the Freedom Fighters and the Southern Royal family to the rest of the Card World. Her actions had effectively forced the other World Leaders to launch their attack on the Freedom Fighters out of fear of losing the dungeon to the Southern Royals.
Wyatt's brows furrowed as he considered the situation. The fact that the Southern Princess would resort to this risky strategy despite handing the dungeon relocation apparatus to the freedom fighters was just puzzling. After all, though a dungeon relocation apparatus would not compare to a silver beach dungeon it was still a priceless and tactical possession for the Southern Royal family. It could allow them to move SSS-rank or other high-rank or resource-filled dungeons to more convenient and strategic locations. How could she part with something so valuable for the Southern Region so easily? This did not make any sense, just as Henricks said.
"Did she put forward any other conditions?" he asked, wondering if the Southern Princess was using the World Leaders as pawns to get the better of her deal with the Freedom Fighters.
"She did," Henricks admitted, his tone heavy with frustration. "And we had no choice but to agree. Yet she hasn't replied since. I've tried reaching out to her, but she's completely disappeared. That's why I'm here, looking for the Field Marshal. Maybe she knows a way to find or reach out to her." Henricks spoke quickly, the words tumbling out as if he feared losing his train of thought. Before arriving here, he first went to Sky Blossom City, hoping to find the Field Marshal there. Instead, he encountered her incarnation, who informed him she hadn't yet returned from the Lil. Red Storm realm. Desperate, he rushed there, only to find the realm transformed.
Arriving there he glanced around, with apparent confusion. The entire landscape was different, the space feels more stable, almost like another realm entirely. At first, he thought he had ended up in the wrong place but when he double-checked the coordinates, he realized he was in the right place. He guessed these changes had something to do with Wyatt and the Field Marshal staying here for so long.
Wyatt remained silent for a moment, processing everything Henricks had just shared. His eyes narrowed, the wheels in his mind turning as he pieced together the implications of the Southern Princess's action. An odd thought crossed Wyatt's mind—what if Henricks was a present prepared by the Southern Princess for him? Given their tumultuous history, it seemed far-fetched, but considering her unpredictable actions now and Henricks' growing desperation presenting a godsent opportunity for him, it almost made sense.
Wyatt shook his head, dismissing the idea for now. Whether Henricks was a present that the Southern Princess prepared for him or not didn't matter. What mattered was the opportunity that had presented itself. The Freedom Fighters, despite their financial struggles, were an impressively solid organization. They had members of all realms, a structured hierarchy, and a level of operational efficiency that even the World Government couldn't crack—until Henricks had prematurely exposed their existence by attempting to seize the Silver Beach dungeon and corner the silver milk powder market.
Wyatt folded his arms, his expression steady but firm as he addressed Henricks. "I think you should stop trying to find the Southern Princess," he said, his tone calm but pointed. "And start focusing on how you're going to save your organization and its members. Because if she doesn't want to be found, I doubt even the Field Marshal can help you."
Henricks flinched slightly at Wyatt's bluntness, but the weight of his words clearly settled on him. His shoulders slumped as he let out a heavy sigh, eventually giving a reluctant nod. But then, with a helpless expression, he muttered, "Finding the Southern Princess was my plan to save my organization and its members."
Wyatt raised an eyebrow, his expression a mix of disbelief and exasperation, as if silently questioning whether Henricks had lost his mind. Unable to hold back, he asked bluntly, "How exactly did you expect the Southern Princess to help you and your organization? Not only are your opponents the World Leaders, but they also have a legitimate reason to hunt you down. Or have you forgotten that, in the eyes of the five regions, you're nothing more than rebels they want to bring to justice?"
Henricks's lips tightened into a thin line, and he lowered his gaze, unable to refute Wyatt's harsh but accurate assessment.