Chapter 132 - The Signal Is Beauty

"LeiLei, you wait for my signal and if it gets too dangerous in there, you immediately take us back to Ocasia," Hecathe instructed in a serious tone that certainly had the authoritative feel to it. 

LeiLei blinked in surprise as she took a minute to understand the man and nodded her head. 

"Okay," The girl agreed and Hecathe nodded. 

"The signal is the word 'beauty'. If I say the word then without any questions asked, you take us back," Hecathe continued as he spoke. 

LeiLei once again nodded her head but frowned just a few seconds later as she questioned in confusion, "Why is it such a common word?" 

Hecathe pursed his lips into a thin line as he heard this but didn't bother giving a response to it as he felt that the girl would be able to figure it out on her own.

Marvin, who understood why Hecathe had chosen this word, couldn't help but snicker as he spoke, "It's because he would never compliment someone. It's a common word for me and for a beauty like you, but I believe it doesn't even exist in his vocabulary." 

LeiLei was a bit surprised as she heard this but when she looked back at Hecathe and remembered his personality, she felt that this was indeed a possibility. 

She could never imagine the man calling anyone beautiful... Just thinking about such a word coming out of the man's mouth sent a shiver down her spine. 

Hecathe kept his lips pursed and didn't dare say anything to that since Marvin had really guessed it right. 

Hecathe specially chose this word that he had heard a lot from Marvin because he knew that he himself would never be using such a word in a conversation. 

Hecathe was really not the type to compliment people... 

"Sir, this indirectly means that you also think this is going to be dangerous...?" LeiLei sighed as she pointed out and Hecathe nodded his head once again. 

"I wouldn't say that it is going to be safe, but you need to trust me on this." Hecathe responded seriously, "And I'm also going to be trusting you this one time. Let this be practice for what's waiting for us ahead in the future." 

LeiLei had no idea that Hecathe was planning a war so of course, she innocently nodded her head in understanding as she trusted the man.

.

.

.

They were walking along a forest route that was famously infested with mutants but so far, no mutants had come near them and this was because Hecathe was controlling them in order to keep them away. 

There were still close by in case he needed them, but at the same time, he had ordered them not to be seen since he didn't want to freak LeiLei out. 

LeiLei and Marvin seemed to be aware of the fact that they were not being attacked by mutants which was an occurrence considered to be normal in this forest, however, although they had noticed the lack of mutants, they didn't question it and kept walking. 

Marvin already knew what type of power Alphius had so it wasn't shocking to see the boy be so laid back, however, LeiLei was still unaware of the fact that Hecathe could control the mutants but she still nonchalantly continued walking with confidence as she didn't bother questioning it. 

Zeblor was right next to Ocasia, however, although they were neighbors, there was a dangerous forest in between them that made it hard for people to go from one city to another. 

Usually, people would travel to Zeblor for work, and for this, they would use a different route that went around the forest because although it was a longer route, it was still safer and people prioritized their safety over their time and energy. 

However, since Hecathe didn't need to worry about the mutants, he chose the quickest route that could get him to Zeblor, but even this quick route took at least a solid half an hour. 

Ignoring the fact that it was shorter and less time-consuming, there was also another reason why Hecathe had chosen this route and it was because they could get to Zeblor easily through this route that was not heavily guarded. 

Zeblor was the capital city so it was only natural that the city was thoroughly protected and in order to get to the city, one would need to pass all security checks that Hecathe was already bound to fail because of his identity as Alphius. 

Hecathe was sure that he would meet guards through this route as well but at least, the guards would be lesser in number and not as strong as the ones guarding the main gate of the city. 

"Sir, why do you want to terrorize the people there?" LeiLei suddenly spoke up and asked innocently as she tilted her head. 

Hecathe couldn't help but chuckle as he heard this question and shrugged his shoulder as he lied through an honest expression, "Why not? It's going to be fun and it would be a good chance to see just how powerful the guards are." 

This was a lie and at the same time, it was not completely a lie since Hecathe really was planning on testing how strong the guards were around the place. 

LeiLei frowned as she heard this response and the girl didn't look to have believed it as she questioned, "You previously said that you were hunting the one who killed Raven's father. Does that person live in Zeblor?" 

Hecathe blinked in surprise as he heard this question and couldn't help but think that the girl was certainly the curious and talkative type. 

Hecathe took a minute as he sighed and responded, "It's better if you don't know who that person is." 

The suspect on Marvin and Hecathe's mind at the moment was one of the three willows of spring so it was naturally better not to tell LeiLei this little piece of information. 

However, LeiLei wasn't too happy to hear this answer and opened her mouth to say something more but before the words could roll out of her tongue, the girl was interrupted by Hecathe who looked over at Marvin and questioned.

"Are you still in contact with them?" 

LeiLei closed her mouth as she heard this and unconsciously turned her head towards Marvin as she waited for the boy's response. The girl had no idea who the 'them' in the question was referring to but she didn't bother questioning it since she already knew that Hecathe wouldn't be giving her an answer. 

Marvin, however, was different and could guess what Hecathe was talking about. 

"I don't know," Marvin sighed as he shook his head and honestly responded, "They are suspicious of me but are yet to call me a traitor. Remember the guy who was with me back at the city gate when we first arrived at Ocasia? He's one of my subordinates who is here to keep an eye on me." 

Hecathe couldn't help but frown as he heard this and as he heard the boy, he remembered the face of the big muscular guy who had tried to pick a fight with Hecathe on the first day itself. 

"Ah, your dog?" Hecathe scoffed as he teasingly questioned and Marvin let out a small dry chuckle as he heard this. 

"That's right, he's my dog. Rather, he was my dog until they bribed him away." 

When Hecathe had first met Marvin in Ocasia, there had been another guy with him, and not only had that guy pushed Hecathe forward, rudely telling him to move, but had also tried to hit Hecathe. At that time, Hecathe was truly mad and decided to fight that annoying dude, but he was stopped by Marvin who sent the man away and apologized in his stead to Hecathe. 

However, Marvin had referred to that man as a dog and this in itself had created a bad image of the boy in Hecathe's mind so when they met again, Hecathe really didn't find himself being able to get along well with this boy.

If Marvin had never revealed his identity then perhaps Hecathe would have never been able to consider the option of working together with 'Raven' like this. 

"So did you ditch your dog?" Hecathe asked as he side glanced at the man. 

Marvin shook his head as he replied, "I simply made him sleep. A sleeping dog is much better." 

Hecathe's eyes widened slightly as he heard this and he wondered if 'sleeping' was a code for killing, but the man decided not to ask such a question. 

"He'll wake up after a few weeks," Marvin shrugged his shoulders as he stated and Hecathe almost sighed in relief as he heard this, "And then I'll make him sleep once again." 

"..." 

"You're raising a dog?" LeiLei asked as she tilted her head and joined the conversation that she hardly understood. 

Marvin couldn't help but chuckle as he heard her question and nodded his head as he patted her head and responded, "It's a dog that I don't want to raise. Do you want to adopt him instead?" 

"I better not," LeiLei refused without even needing to think about it.