"We encountered a swarm of them not too long ago. It was made of ten thousand rippers. Maybe the thief was a part of it."
Hearing his words, Ganesha lit up. Finally, they have found a lead. Mister Bat also became more optimistic about finding the thief and reclaiming the fruit.
"Where are they now?" Ganesha questioned.
Arlo answered, "In hell."
Mister Bat's eyes widened to the size of saucers at his words.
'He single-handedly took down that massive horde? T-This bastard has aged like fine wine. He has become old and even lost his hair, but his strength hasn't decreased. Instead of decreasing, it has only increased.'
Meanwhile, Arlo was questioned by Ganesha.
"You dealt with those bastards from the Wetlands?"
"No, it wasn't me that took them out." Arlo pointed at Roy and the teens and said, "It was them."
The right minister and Mister Bat gaped, their protruding eyes threatening to pop out of their sockets.
"W-what did you say?!"
"How is it possible for kids like these to annihilate them?!"
They found it impossible to take him for his words. And it wasn't just them. No one believed that two kids and four youngsters were able to take down a swarm of ten thousand monsters. Even they, mighty aura beasts, didn't think they could perform a similar feat.
"That's what really happened. Whether you believe it or not, nothing is going to change that." Arlo said.
Ganesha turned to Roy and looked at him gratefully, "You have my thanks."
They had been talking in a language foreign to him, so he hadn't been able to understand them so far, but he understood this sentence uttered by Ganesha.
"He is thanking me? It might be because of that!!" Roy's eyes brightened.
Just then, the aura beast surrounding him lowered their heads and roared mightily.
"Why do I feel like they are bowing to me?" Roy wondered.
"That's exactly what they are doing." Arlo explained, "It's a gesture of peace. React in a friendly manner, and you will establish a friendship with them."
Roy was shocked. With so many beasts bowing to him, he felt like an Emperor who was being paid homage to. He quickly snapped back to his senses. He didn't dare keep them bowing for too long.
"Please rise."
After speaking, Roy, thinking they might not understand him, gestured for them to help themselves up.
The beasts raised their heads and, looking heavenward, roared again.
『Ganesha and his night parade have acknowledged that you have defeated the Sorrowless tribe and done them a favor.』
『They have considered you as a friend.』
『Ding! Congratulation. You have gained a friendly reputation in the icy, cold realm』
『You have benefited from this in the following ways』
-It has become a crime for monsters to attack you in the icy, cold realm.
-Aura monsters wouldn't attack you or your companions unless you provoke them first.
-You can trade with them.
-You can hire them to work for you.
-You can get beasts to escort you in this realm if you're willing to fork out an appropriate payment.
-You can step inside the innermost area of this realm.
-You can increase your reputation by accepting quests from the wise inhabitants of this realm and completing them.
'That's some nice benefits. The best part is that traveling through this realm has become easier for my companions and me.' Roy thought.
Ganesha and his parade of a thousand aura beasts were still blocking their way.
Arlo stared at him and said, "What else do you want to ask me?"
"Where did you fight them?" Ganesha questioned.
Arlo raised his hand and pointed south, saying, "Just go 200 meters in that direction, and you'll find the place where the battle took place."
Ganesh nodded and turned to his advisor.
"Bat, go check it out."
"I am on it."
Mister Bat took flight.
The twins and Julian traced his figure with their eyes.
He quickly disappeared from their sight.
Moments later, he appeared overhead an area filled with the disgusting stench of blood. The offensive smell of burned corpses could also be sniffed. Looking down, he noticed bone fragments and ashes scattered on the ground. He scrutinized the area, only to feel his skin tingle when he looked at a certain pile of ashes. The tracking mark that was left on the shape-shifting fruit was reacting and shooting out signals as he was close by.
'I can feel it. It's definitely buried beneath that pile.'
There was an inter-spatial ring inside that pile of ashes. It wasn't giving off mana fluctuations. That's why Roy missed picking it up when he collected the beast cores and runic stones. He was able to pinpoint their location because they were giving off mana fluctuations. But he wasn't able to notice its existence as it gave off no energy fluctuations.
Mister Bat picked up the ring using its feet and rushed back to Ganesha.
The ring was given to him.
He scanned it, and his eyes lit up in joy when he saw the fruit still safe and sound inside it.
Ganesha threw the ring back to Mister Bat, saying, "Bat, plant it back in the garden, and use as many resources as you may need to make it ripe by tonight."
"Alright, I will."
A moment later, Mister Bat could be seen flying towards the innermost part of this realm.
"If you have nothing else to say, do excuse us," Arlo said and walked ahead.
Just as he was about to move past him, Ganesha placed his trunk in his way.
"Wait, I actually have a favor to ask of you," Ganesha said, stopping Arlo.
"What favor?" Arlo questioned in a slightly irritated voice.
"Tribes of monsters from the wetlands are migrating to different realms and wilderness. Initially, I kept my doors open to them, but now after experiencing their shameless behavior, I have changed my mind. The favor I have to ask you has something to do with that." Ganesha said.
