The God of Jesters
Chapter 263 - 4.11.1 Working together.

Chapter 263: 4.11.1 Working together.

Who were they?

Enemies for one, but definitely not on the side of Pulgasari. They were rats like him, who were escaping from the disaster behind their backs. The pursuit of experts from Bothal was not something anyone wished to experience.

Getting captured ascertained one’s doom. Including his own, who was considered to be someone dead. If they were to find out that he was behind or at least part of the reason why the void event happened in their city, he wouldn’t be able to speak a word before being thrown into the lava.

A fate that he doesn’t wish to experience.

Enough about the improbable future that might happen, Vegal looked toward the figures that appeared in his telescopic eyes. The same old man carrying the woman who appeared injured when she left his house. Though unlike before, she was unconscious.

With the addition of another man, a young one who seemed to be their partner.

’Two against one... not worth it.’ He thought to himself. And Vegal was correct. They were enemies and they were running in the same direction. It doesn’t mean they have to fight though.

There are no eternal enemies in this world and it would seem their goal is the same to begin with. ’I will take a different path.’ He chose to ignore them for now, conflicting with them would create a disturbance, which might light up like flames in this dark and silent forest. Which in turn would bring some dangerous elements to him.

So it was really not worth the effort.

As for working together? That was next to impossible. There is no trust between the two, nor can it be built up after what happened between the two parties just a few hours ago.

"The flatlands might be dangerous for now, but there is no other choice left." originally, he planned to go over the mountains, which might be slow and take time. But it would ensure that he would always have a cover to hide from prying eyes in the form of various abandoned mines that existed in these mountains.

A liberty that didn’t exist among the plains.

’Speed is what matters.’ He thought to himself while changing his direction.

But to his surprise, he noticed something.

’What is going on?’ His sight was sharper than others in his rank, for his eyes were artificial to begin with and hence he could see farther than anyone.

It was through such eyes he saw that the trio had changed their direction as well, still ahead of him, as their bodies followed a bizarre tangent.

When he changed his path again, they did the same thing as before and moved in such a way that they would always come ahead of him, which made it annoying.

’Are they aware of my existence?’ He wondered because this was too coincidental.

’No.. the correct question should be, who are they and where are they going?’ They were obviously not people that were welcomed in Pulgasari. Were they criminals? Or spies?

Obviously not from this country as well. But they seem to hold something against him. But considering his past, he has no interaction with anyone besides people from Yethel, who were the ones who pushed him to Jester.

And if they were to meet up with him, there would be no need to be so secretive and enter his household like a headless chick.

’Which leaves the only other connection... Jester... they were after Jester. And I became their victim.’ And Vegal really looked at himself as a victim. There is no lying that he just wished to live happily, and enjoyed the little treats of life. And he was looking forward to it as well until everything went to shit.

Of course, Fahna can be considered the bad omen before all of those bad things happen.

’Now that I am closer, I can confirm one thing, it’s the young man who is leading the other two, but his sight is mostly focused on the ground as well.’

"I see your game now, Clown." With those words, Vegal rushed toward the trio, with the old man, their butler being the very first to notice his existence.

"Be on guard, something is coming." He didn’t drop Fahna to the ground just yet, the butler maintained his eyes towards the Vegal, who after reaching a certain point, came to a halt. "I come in peace." He spoke, before giving a deep look toward the Butler.

"Were you following us?" The Butler asked an obvious question that anyone in his position would wonder, while Farhad kept quiet on the side, acting as a side piece to the attraction, which was his butler.

On the other hand, Fahna, who had suffered so much under the attack of Vegal also remained motionless, like a dead body. Although his words did cause her heart to burn with hatred. But she knew that the element of surprise took priority.

"Not at all. My eyes are good, you see.’ Vegal said while pointing toward them. "I saw you people about ten minutes ago. And as I didn’t wish to meet up with you, in case anything bad happens, I changed my direction." Vegal explained his side of the story. Already felt glad that these people were not mindless enough to attack him outright and have even bothered to question him.

Well, it’s not like he can’t understand them. They probably held similar fears, that a conflict might attract some unwanted attraction. The reason why the two had de-escalated the fight before when Fahna was captured.

Which showed that a dialog was possible between the two parties.

"I did find the direction changes, a tad bit odd." The Butler spoke, giving Farhad a curious glance, who can only remain silent for now. But then, he bowed toward Vegal and said, "I apologize, my adjutant might have made some mistake. I promise that it was all a weird coincidence." A lie and an excuse made to push Vegal off his back. He had hoped that the dwarf would end up accepting this simple agreement and play along with him.

As neither he nor the dwarf wish to be closer to each other.

But the Butler was in for a surprise. "We both know that there is no coincidence in this world," Vegal spoke, before turning to look at Farhad. "You there... Are you part of Team Two as well?"

Vegal asked, causing the suspicion in Butler’s eyes to sharpen as his body posture suddenly turned guarded against Farhad.

Too many weird points, too unexpected. ’I can’t ascertain what is the truth anymore.’ The Butler thought.

On one hand, he had to take Fahna out of there to safety. Fahna’s identity was easily confirmed.

Then there was the young master of their family, who had appeared out of nowhere at a random but opportune time. And that was right after Fahna suffered a grievous injury, right under the hands of the dwarf that had followed them in the same direction where they were escaping.

A tad bit coincidental, isn’t it?

"Team two?... no such thing in my understanding. But I do know of Team One’s Owl." But Farhad remained calm and answered truthfully. "Also no need to be confused here, I am just following the path a bunch of rats were showing me." there were not only rats.

There were crickets, ants, and owls, who would organically pass the torch of leader to each other, as they led Farhad out toward safety.

"Obviously, I made the wrong choice, as they led me to stand in the path of this gentleman," Farhad spoke cordially, neither panicked nor scared under the scrutinizing gaze of both the Butler and the dwarf.

"What is this Team One?" The Butler asked while readying himself to bolt out of this place in case he had fallen into an ambush. But Farhad just shook his head. "I know of it as much as you do, meaning nothing."

"But I still believe we should leave this place soon enough. The rats were screeching too loudly in my ears, they seemed to be panicking."

In his words, the rest of the group obviously noticed the sounds of rats echoing in the air. Making them understand that they were under the eyes of something.

Of course, Vegal knew this very well. But this scope seemed a bit larger than before and now, it has become harder to sense Jester when he is close.

"The rats lead us down the wrong path.’ The Butler denied Farhad’s suggestion, intending to go his own way. But then Vegal pitched in. "It’s not that boy’s fault. You might not know of the owner of the rats, but with as long as I have worked with him, it’s not harder to see what he intended here..." After a bit of pause and seeing that he had everyone’s attention on him, Vegal continued. `` ...he probably wished me to join up with you people, nothing more.``

"Impossible."

"Improbable"

A different but similar answer front Farhad and his Butler, but they knew that there was some truth to the matter.

No, what can they even do in such a situation?

Running was not an option, the experts from Pulgasari will catch up to people like them easily. As for hiding?

It’s not hard considering most of these mountains have been mined. But the moment a mage appears with powerful detection magic, they will be captured.

So what to do?

"Work together, there is no other option left for us," Butler answered.

If there was time, there might have been better options, but for now, he had to trust the words of this so-called young master.