26 Puppeteer of Dead

[ I know how guilty I look, would you believe me if I say did not plan all these. ] said Malinda supressing her delight of her recent gains, not to increase her team's new found resentment towards her. but her eyes could not conceal her excitment, after all she was finally able to walk like a normal person.

[ Is this all you got to say for yourself ] asked Leon, but still he did not regret defending her earlier, because he fullied his role as a leader.

[ What do you mean?! ] feeling the resentful atmosphere Malinda was stunned not understand the reason why such resentment was being directed at her, Nether flame heart is her bounty after all she was the one who discovered the core.

[ Are you still playing dumb, when things have become these clear. how could you?, I trusted you accepted you as my comrade and yet... did you even blink twice before doing this. ] said Luca, when James called Malinda a traitor he was the first one to jump to defend her. that's how much he trusted and valued her as a comrade. to think she was not worth his trust and comradeship hurt Luca a lot.

[ What do you mean, I accept its was wrong of me to not inform you guys through M-chat as soon as I have found the core, I am sorry. but since I found the core than the Nether flame heart is mine loot as per the terms we agreed on before. as for what ever shit you are throwing on me, I do not even know what you guys are talking about.] replied Malinda, no longer being polite. she would not shit still as poeple threw there shit on her.

[ You still deny after the proof is right in front of us, clearly It was you who used 'Nether Flame Fiend Bone fragment' prop.] said Justin,The boiling anger in him had reached the eruption point and he woould go beserk anytime igf not for Janet holding him back. He did not like being used as pawn in someone else's scheme, thats the reason why they withdrew from Mellon family ranks and Joined O'Hara mercenary.

[ What?!] exclaimed Malinda, clearly the shit being thrown on her was more stinkier then she thought. but before she could deny the acussation Leon interrupted her.

[ what! do you want us to believe that you did not know where the core was hidden in the first place but coincidentally you found the core right when Flame Fiend was banised and rest of us were busy fighting for our lifes. this is Terror Multiverse not some happy ending fairy tale where things just sort of fall in your favor, here you can only survive using your wits and strength. cleary you had planned all this out and purposefully used 'Nether Flame Fiend Bone fragment' prop for your gains putting all of use in danger. ] shouted Leon angrily, hot air started to pump out of his nostrils.

[ NO! you have to believe me, I had nothing to do with 'Nether Flame Fiend Bone fragment' prop. please belive me. ] Knowing why they were so resentful towards hers, Malinda knew what was happening so she could not allow the misunderstanding to grow any futher. but suddenly James came next to her took hold of her right wrist and gazed in to her eyes asked [ Did have anything to do with the 'Nether Flame Fiend Bone fragment' prop ? ]

[ No, I do not have any to do with 'Nether Flame Fiend Bone fragment' prop. ] said Malinda frimly and intently, as she did no wrong so she had nothing to hide.

[ stop it with the lies, only fool will believe you ] said Leon, glaring at Malinda. Malinda was not intimidated she glared back as she was not at fault, and with her new updated ability she could easily kill Leon.

[ I believe her. ] said James, shocking the rest as he was the one who claimed Malinda has betrayed them and now he says other wise. even Malinda also looked surprised as did not think anyone would believe her.

James belived Malinda cause, Using the files on Crying heaven he copied from Malinda's mind James knew Malinda really did not know where the core was hidden in the beginning and lastly, thanks to his soul organ James is sensitive to souls, he can tell one's souls state by coming in contact the person, so when he grabbed Malinda's wrist he was actually monitering her soul to check if she was telling the truth or not. turns out Malinda really did not have any to do with 'Nether Flame Fiend Bone fragment' prop.

[ James are you messing with us. first you claim Malinda was the one who betrayed us and now you say she is innocent. ] raged Leon, he felt James was playing games with him.

[ No, I am just following the clues, where they lead me is not upto me to decided. ] said James and nodded at surprised a Malinda, giving Malinda some of hope of acquittal.

[ why do you believe her? ] asked Janet, unlike Leon, Luca and Justin who had already labeled Malinda as the culprit, she was still trying get hers facts straight before jumping to any conclusion.

[ simple, think about it, how many poor orphans do you know who walk around with a 'Nether Flame Fiend Bone fragment' prop on them. ] said James nonchalantly, he could not tell the real reasons because it meant revealing his secret. hearing James explaination Luca, Janet, Justin were dumbfounded, Malinda staggered this the first time she did not get angry for someone calling her poor orphan.

But then Leon shaked his head in disappointment and said [ but, she is not a poor orphan, Is she the first daughter of the current patriarch of Baylord Family know for their gruesomeness and cruelty. for someone with her status it would not be hard to get her hands on 'Nether Flame Fiend Bone fragment' prop. ]

This time James was shocked, his ability only allowed to copy knowledged and skills not memories of the target, so he did not know Malinda was the first daughter of the current patriarch of Baylord Family.

Luca was thunderstruck, one of the reason he trusted and valued MAlida as a comrade was because he thought they both were the same, orphans. turns out she lied about this, she really played him for a fool, thought Luca as blamed himself for being to naive and gullible.

Janet and Justin staggered knowing that the weak wheel chaired bound girl who looked like a next door neighbor was actually a Local Tyrant in disguise.

Malinda was more shocked than others, she thought she had left her past behind and created a Identity of her own in the society but it seems she was really naive to think that her past will be hidden and never catch up to her. she looked at Leon and meekly asked [ How did know ? ]

[ My family does background check on every one of my Teams members, even though you tried very hard to hide your past but it was nothing in front my families intellegence network. After knowing you belong to Baylord family my family warned me repeatedly not to add you in the team but I did not listen to them cause I valued your skill and trusted you as a comrade but alsa my family was right one cannot trust anyone from Baylord family. ] explaine Leon, as he sighed. then he turned to James and asked [ do you still belive she is Inoccent. ]

James did not hesitate and replied [ yes! I believe her, she was not the one who sued the scenario prop. ]

Hearing James still defend her even after knowing her past, Malinda was grateful. the frimness and intent with which James said that he belived her, malinda was touched by it and was thankful to have such a person as her Comrade.

Seeing James still side with Malinda, the rest were little upset but before they could say some thing, James continuded [ guys even if she is the culprit what can you do about, complain to the city government for that you have survive and clear the scenario. Now you decide what is your priority blaming each other or clearing the scenario. ]

[ James is right, there is no point in blaming each other it will only lead to unrest in ourselves and waste of time. what's important right now for us is to clear the scenario. we can have the city government investigate about the scenario prop once we are return. ] decided Janet, she did not want to continue this point less arguement. then she looked at Malinda and said [ congrat, I am genuinely happy that you you are health and able to walk again. ]

[ Congrats, Malinda. ] congratulated James, as he appreciated the Malinda's beautiful body.

Leon, Luca and Justin did not know to say they just stared at eachor awakwardly. soon they were all startled by a sudden voice " how do you guys doing that? " it was Sukehime and Masako they appeared next to the wagon unnoticed by tne team.

....................

After destroying Hive Mothers soul, Sukehime lifted the vegetative Hive Mother's body and said " lets camp here till that Kid breaks out of the cocoon, since the Moon Dew Horent has escaped, they should already know that the assassination has failed and lied another ambush at both rear and the front, their is to many of us so I can't fly you across the wandering forest. either whay we will walk into a trap so there is no point in hurrying. lets make use of this time and train our new recriuts and what they have got. Janet lets start with you, follow me. "

With the escape of the Moon Dew Hornet, the enemy forces should know the current position of the princess Masako and Sukehime. so they should have laid trap at both front and rear, no matter what Sukehime choose thete will be a ambush aiting for them. if it was just Sukehime and Masako then Sukehime would have just choosen to fly across the Wandering forest of the Misty peak avoiding the ambush but now with Hito and the team that route was out of option. since they knew that a ambush was lying in wait for them, they did not mind having them wait longer.

Janet did not dare to delay and directly followed Sukehime in to the wagon and then walked into Sukehime's room.

Sukehime walked in to her room and threw the vegetative body of Hive Mother to a conner and sat on the wooden floor in seiza [1] position, looking at Janet who walked into the room and said " sit "

Janet nodded and sat on the wooden floor in Seiza position with ease all thanks to compulsory cultural equities class she had to take in school.

Sukehime was impressed by Janets kiza[2] and said, " Tell me more about your ability and your other skills and achievements, based on it I can choose a suitable Technique and Practice for you. " then she started to brew tea. her tea brewing art was really artistic was what Janet thought as a coffee addict. if the old foggies of the 'Crying Heavens' were to hear Janets thoughts they would vomit liters of blood, to be lucky enough to witness lady Sukehime's Tea Arts and be able to drinik the Tea that the lady herself brewed was on the first 3 position of their bucket list

Janet began with explaining how M-chat works and its various funcitions. then she started to narrate her skills and achivements, in a way that it would be easier for a edo period scholar to understand.

" Um ... really interesting ability not only does it allow telepathic commnication between mortals who have not awakened their spirituality but also allows to share five sense, and location. it also has full immunity from the spiritual act of those connected to your ability, amazing ! this skill really goes against the heavens. I know just the perfect Technique for you, Puppeteer of Dead.