"Master. Are you alright with that condition? They are trying to squeeze us dry." Dimitri asked while looking at the back as if staring at the lingering Ramuer and Legolaz figures.
"It's fine." Noel nodded.
"But even if we get their cooperation, we haven't got their protection, right? It doesn't change the fact that we're surrounded by the Supreme Devil Organization." Dimitri recalled the information from the past and continued, "If my prediction is correct, that old hag is planning to infiltrate this place soon. She is not the type that will wait for us passively."
"That's why speed is the essence here. How long do you think we have left?"
Dimitri briefly calculated. "Three hours at worst."
"That's enough." Noel immediately brought a few papers with him and wrote down all he wanted to say.
Dimitri asked, "Are you going to send the message to them?"
"Yeah. Tristan and Sandra have to go alone." Noel nodded. The message was simple, but Noel had actually drawn a few runes on the paper, telling Tristan to study it. Dimitri felt something was off when Noel actually told Tristan not to think about him anymore.
However, Noel had made his decision, so he chose to believe it. Although Noel was still young, he had a talent for war as someone whose ancestor was the great general of the Muivell Kingdom. With every win and defeat, Noel grew to become an even better general.
Hence, he thought Noel had another message that he wanted to convey in this letter, and only Tristan could see it.
"How are we planning to escape from the Supreme Devil Organization? Although I hate to admit it, without the True Spirit Body, I can't kill that gorilla in an instant. Even though I'm an assassin, it's impossible unless I can weaken him first. And you will be chased by the other elites, including Qiel."
Noel had thought about it when he was on the bottom floor. He pointed at his body and said, "I have a way."
"The Rune Body?"
"Yeah. If it's necessary, I don't want you to unleash your True Spirit Body. While it's true that we're in a dire situation, it doesn't change the fact that it's still salvageable. I'm not that weak guy anymore."
"Then, where are we supposed to regroup? Since I'm going to focus on that steel guy, we'll be separated, right?"
"Yeah. We will be meeting with Tristan and Sandra in the town northeast of this place called Elk City."
"I understand. But I won't be that far away from you so that I can help you in case something bad happens. I'm ready to use the True Spirit Body anytime."
"I know." Noel examined his writing for a moment. After he was sure that it had conveyed everything he wanted, Noel began writing the secret to learn the rune effectively. Although he knew that Ramuer was taking advantage of the situation to extort him, he didn't plan to break his promise. He was a man of integrity after all.
After one hour, Ramuer and Legolaz returned with thick clothes.
Noel handed him the letter with the location of the inn to Ramuer. "This is the letter."
"Don't worry. I will definitely deliver the letter." Ramuer smiled while adding inwardly, 'Of course, I'm not saying that I won't look at it first.'
Noel then handed a second piece of paper and said, "This is the secret to learning the rune faster. Or at least, this is what I've used to improve myself."
To have the secret from the creator himself was a big achievement. Even if Noel didn't survive, he still won big.
"If you don't mind, I have a little request." Noel raised one finger and continued, "Since I'm going to dispel the cold, it means that your men can get all those frozen people out. This ruin can be investigated fully at a later date, so I hope that you can bring those people out right away since we don't know what will happen to them when the ice melts."
Noel looked like he was concerned about those people's lives as a proper human being. And Ramuer didn't see anything more to it, so he agreed, "Sure. I'm glad that you are a good person."
Legolaz also couldn't see what Noel wanted. He thought Noel was simply too good of a man and this was the reason why they could take advantage of him.
They didn't realize that Noel allowed them to take advantage of him so that they would think of him that way. This was Noel's plan in using them.
After reaching an agreement, Noel said, "Let's go. I'll guide you to the bottom floor. After you've confirmed everything, I'll get the ice element item and you can then send people inside."
Those four started going to the bottom floor. He didn't plan to let them see the tubes of the experiments since it wasn't necessary. And the quicker the Supreme Devil Organization left, the safer their progress would be.
Hence, Ramuer and Legolaz didn't bother to check the other floors, thinking Noel had inspected them.
Once they reached the bottom floor, Noel warned, "Please stand back. It's going to be extremely cold."
Both of them could feel the cold leaking from the door, so they immediately covered their bodies with Spiritual Energy while maintaining a proper distance.
When Noel opened the door, the ice cold breeze hit them. If they weren't wearing thick clothes, they would have experienced frostbite. Normal people would have been frozen to death, they thought.
"I see. So, this is the ice item." Ramuer narrowed his eyes. "It's no wonder that it can freeze them for so long."
Ramuer and Legolaz could take a glimpse of those frozen humans inside like Noel when he first came. Ramuer, who was also knowledgeable in preservation, confirmed that if those people were alive before getting frozen, they could still be resurrected.
With a nod from Ramuer, Legolaz smirked, wondering how much contribution he would make if he managed to bring back the extraordinary people from the past civilization.
After their bodies adjusted to the temperature, they entered the room and found the ice jade floating in the air.
Noel said, "As per the agreement, I will be taking this. Once it's been absorbed the ice energy will dissipate and the temperature of the room will increase. You'll immediately bring these people back to the surface for treatment."
'We don't have anyone important in our ranks that uses ice elements. Looking at this ice jade, it's clear that it won't form an oasis. So, we've got a good deal since we can get the secret of runes for it.' Ramuer thought. He nodded with a smile, saying, "Yes. We'll fulfill our side of the agreement."
Noel then moved toward the ice element, telling Heisk inwardly, 'Get ready.'
Once he stood in front of the ice element, Noel took out the Ocean Pearl Necklace he got from the Third Prince. As the mission described, the Ocean Pearl Necklace resonated with the ice jade.
The necklace began to emit Spiritual Energy and dimly shone. The ice jade also released a burst of Spiritual Energy, followed by flowing Spiritual Energy that seemed to be moving toward the necklace.
'Ardagan. What is this ice jade and necklace?'
[The Ocean Pearl Necklace is created from a pearl that resides at the bottom of the ocean. Not only was the pressure huge, but the temperature was also cold. However, no matter how cold it was, it didn't reach the freezing point. And this ice jade is the trigger to fully activate its ability.]
'The Third Prince said that the Ocean Pearl Necklace is good for an ice element user, but it turns out to be incomplete. It needs to be activated by a powerful ice element to show its true might?'
[Yes. And Heisk will feed on it. You'll understand the rest in the reward.]
As Ardagan said those words, the Ocean Pearl Necklace continued absorbing the energy from the ice jade.
Ramuer and Legolaz could feel the temperature increase rapidly as more and more energy was absorbed.
The one controlling the Ocean Pearl Necklace was Heisk. Since Noel wanted to suck everything, she maintained the fastest speed and warned Noel, "I'll be done in three minutes and seal the energy."
'Go on,' Noel replied. Heisk's Spirit Link and Spirit Seal were flickering as Noel poured more and more energy so that Heisk could maintain this pace.
After three minutes, Noel could barely feel any Spiritual Energy left from the ice jade. The light from it also began to flicker and the temperature had increased to a bit below freezing. While it was still cold, there was no doubt that the ice would disappear sooner or later.
After a few more seconds, the energy was finally sucked completely. And Noel poured the energy into his necklace, allowing Heisk to completely trap the energy inside the necklace.
It was at this time Ardagan showed the mission.
[Mission: Heisk's Evolution.]
[Description: There is a mystical ice crystal underneath Ricoral City. The crystal will resonate with the Ocean Pearl Necklace and be extremely beneficial for Heisk's Evolution.]
[Reward: Ocean Pearl Necklace]
[Mission: Heisk's Evolution II.]
[Description: Heisk will proceed to absorb the energy that has been stored inside the necklace (3 days).]
[Reward: ???]
'I guess Ardagan doesn't plan to tell me everything. Well, I hope that you are satisfied with this for now, Heisk.' Noel turned around and said to Legolaz and Ramuer, "I'm done."
