Death... and me

The day passed, and things proceeded as normal in the Inquisition Forging Hall. Rean was even ready to get out of there in case there were any changes due to the events in Gratlur's office. Yet, nothing happened from there. Finally, the time was over for those trying to fix the Puppets, and Flafei came back to check. Looking at the scores, only two people made it through. One was a man in the Elemental Transformation Realm called Vlomaro. The other was obviously Rean, who made just barely enough to reach the required 800 points.

Flafei wasn't that impressed with Vlomaro. Considering the guy's cultivation, it was obvious he spent a very long time studying puppets before attempting to enter the Inquisition Forging Hall. That's what most of the candidates usually did. However, Flafei couldn't say the same about Rean.

"Oh! 813 points..." Flalei looked at Rean with a different expression this time. Considering Rean was only in the Soul Transformation Realm, reaching the necessary score was truly remarkable. "Filiato is your name, right? You weren't kidding when you said you had some skills in Puppetry. You barely got past 800 points, but you should be proud to have done it at your cultivation level. For someone so young to already be this good, you have a bright future."

Rean smiled in response. "Thank you, senior Flafei. I hope to learn a lot more in this place." At the same time, Rean didn't care much about it. He only had to get close enough to the core in the Puppetry Sub-Branch, and Sister Orb should be able to hack it as well.

Flafei sent the two who failed away and then upgraded Rean and Vlomaro's status in the Inquisition Forging Hall system. That way, they would have access to a lot of information, depending on whether they joined it permanently or temporarily.

Of course, Rean selected the temporary option. Flafei tried to change his mind, but Rean simply said that was his Master's order. He just threw all the blame on Popon. Without another choice, Flafei could only give him the Temporary status for the moment.

Once he came out, Rean went straight to the fourth floor. 'How is it, Sister Orb?'

[That's perfect. In fact, I probably didn't even need this one. You and the others had already got close enough to five cores, after all. In any case, this sixth one will guarantee that I can make this Inquisition Forging Hall fly through the skies.]

Rean nodded. He patiently waited on the fourth floor until Sister Orb finished her preparations, and only then he decided to... go to the Resources Sub-Branch! Let's not forget what was the first reason for Rean to come to this place. It was to acquire precious metals and ores to feed Kentucky.

Roan appeared in the Resources Sub-Branch for a split second before disappearing again. His exit was still back in Gratlur's office, so he had to come out on Rean's side to change it. Exiting here in the Resources Sub-Branch would update his exit to this place. Next time he used his own exit, he would appear right in here.

With that done, Rean walked out of the resources sub-branch and then outside. At the same time, he contacted Popon and the others, telling them to leave.

Except for Kentucky, the rest of them felt slightly sad. There was much that could be learned in this place, but they couldn't stay anymore. Several minutes later, their group was now outside, looking at the Inquisition Forging Hall's entrance. Popon looked at Rean, asking the obvious. 'How was it?'

Rean faintly smiled. 'It was a success. The cores have been modified, and in an hour, they should start presenting problems. The pressure in the volcano will start to rise fast as a result. I made sure that no one would be able to revert this, so the people of the hall could only run away or stay to experience the explosion. Regardless of their choice, this place is as good as gone.'

Kentucky wasn't interested in that. 'What about my meals?'

'It is taken care of,' Rean added to Kentucky alone.

Kentucky's eyes lit up, still feeling the presence of the many metals and ores in that place. 'Then let's get out of here.'

Without thinking twice, Rean's group left the Inquisition Forging Hall, soon arriving at the city's west exit. Temporary members of the Inquisition Forging Hall didn't have any attachments. They didn't need to report their leave to anyone. The Inquisition Forging Hall system would record the moment they left on its own but wouldn't do anything. It was just protocol.

Finally, several tens of kilometers away from the city, Rean's group stopped and looked in the city's direction from high above in the skies. There were still many cultivators and other races passing by them, leaving and entering the city since it was one of the biggest cities on the planet. None of them knew what was about to happen.

Rean checked the time. "Should be any time now."

The volcano at the back of the city was even easier to see due to its size. It always had smoke coming from the top, so the people in the city were used to it. The volcano was an active one. However, that smoke suddenly began to increase several times, and it didn't stop.

---

Back in the Inquisition Forging Hall, a man quickly entered Gratlur's office. His expression was serious, and he seemed desperate. "Director! It is bad!"

Gratlur immediately grew angry. "What part of 'don't bother me' did you not understand?" He was even preparing to teach the guy a lesson. However...

*Rumble!*

The entire Inquisition Forging Hall suddenly trembled for a moment before settling down. That was only the start, though.

Gratlur got up, having never experienced such an event in this place before. "What happened?"

His subordinate quickly explained. "We lost control over all the cores that extract the geothermal energy from the volcano! Pressure is building nonstop, and we don't know what to do!"

"Impossible!" Sure enough, Gratlur didn't want to believe. Too bad he had no other choice but to do so.

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