116 GIVING THE DUNGEON TO GRANGYA
"One more thing," Leo added, his voice dropping to a more somber tone. "If I don't return from the ruins, promise me you'll continue looking after my father."
"Hey, why do you sound like you are making your will?" Kasshyek asked.
"We never know what happens in this world", Leo said.
Kasshyek's eyes brimmed with tears as he replied, "I swear it—on my life."
"Thank you, my friend," Leo said softly, placing a hand on his shoulder.
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Later, Yun-Yun cornered Leo, her eyes narrowed with curiosity. "So, what's your plan regarding Grangya's little secret?"
Leo took a moment before answering. "I've thought it over... and I've decided to take a risk."
"What kind of risk?" she pressed.
"If Grangya truly has ulterior motives, ask yourself: what would she or the Assassin Temple be after?" Leo asked, testing Yun-Yun's instincts.
She considered it carefully. "Your secret abilities? But they don't know enough about that. Your wealth? But you've already got Kasshyek to handle all finances. What about your dungeon?"
"Exactly. The only thing that might interest Grangya if she wanted something from me is the Dungeon of Lust," Leo replied. "Most players would do anything to claim a dungeon like that."
"But Grangya doesn't strike me as someone driven by ambition, even after her awakening," Yun-Yun said, furrowing her brow.
Leo gave a wry smile. "Appearances can be deceiving. I've decided... I'm going to give the dungeon to her."
Yun-Yun's eyes widened in shock. "Are you serious? That dungeon was your hard-earned reward for taking down Lusifar and the Rose Demon."
Leo's gaze softened as he looked at her. "My greatest reward isn't a dungeon—it's meeting you. Rather than having to be defensive all the time about what Grangya might do to take my dungeon, just give it to her. If she's not entirely our enemy, she might actually keep it well."
Yun-Yun's expression shifted from disbelief to understanding. "I understand."
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"Why are you transferring the guild ownership to me?" Grangya asked, her eyes narrowing as she studied Leo.
Leo shrugged nonchalantly. "I don't care for that damn guild anyway. You can have it."
Grangya blinked in disbelief. "What the hell am I supposed to do with it?"
Leo's expression turned serious. "Your entire Amara clan is living there now, You'll need to protect them. You can't use the magic of the Dungeon of Lust and Court la Mood without ownership, and I may not be around always to do so."
Grangya sighed, rubbing her temples. "I suppose that's true," she muttered reluctantly.
"Just make sure you keep my guild contributions banked in for me now and then," Leo said with a smirk. "In case that gift exchange feature with guild points shows up for me."
"What your handler haven't activated the marketplace feature for you? Everyone I know got their marketplace right at the start," she asked.
"She's a fucking stingy bitch."
Grangya rolled her eyes. "Yeah, right, leecher. You can keep all the guild points to yourself, for all I fucking care. I don't use them anyway."
"I'm heading into the ruins," Leo said, his tone casual but with an undercurrent of finality. "I won't be back for a while."
She gave him a skeptical look. "You sound like you're going to die in there. It's not that deadly in there. Most who go on expeditions come the fuck back."
Leo's lips curved into a wry smile. "Maybe. But with my talent for fucking powerful enemies, who knows? Could be my last trip."
Grangya folded her arms, a hint of concern creeping into her voice. "Honestly, you need to stop flaunting your abilities in public. It draws unnecessary attention."
"Who's going to come after me?" Leo asked, raising an eyebrow.
Grangya shook her head. "Plenty of people. The Assassin Temple, for one—they still think you're some kind of demon or unborn god."
"They're still fucking hung up on that?" Leo chuckled dismissively. "Idiots. But hey, you've got my back, right? Just write a favorable report to the Assassin Workshop. Keep them off my fucking tail."
Leo's intention was to test her response. Grangya rolled her eyes with a playful scoff. "Yeah, yeah... don't fucking count on it."
Leo grinned, but there was a hint of something deeper in his eyes—something Grangya couldn't quite place. And with that, they each turned their separate ways, uncertain of when, or if, they'd meet again.
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"You bought all this stuff... Are you sure your magic space can hold it all? Why did you buy a large boat?" Yun-Yun asked, raising an eyebrow.
Leo grinned. "You never know what we might need in the ruins of Sodom. It's better to be prepared. Not everyone has a magic storage space like mine."
Yun-Yun studied him for a moment, her tone softer. "It's like you've arranged everything before your trip to Sodom City as if you're not planning to come back."
Leo's expression grew thoughtful. "I don't know. After this expedition, maybe I won't come back. Maybe I'll go east... with you, to your home."
Yun-Yun's eyes widened, a mix of surprise and hope in her voice. "You'd leave everything behind... for me?"
Leo looked her in the eyes, his smile genuine but tinged with something deeper. "Why not? This isn't really my home anyway. Lilleo Gullee was already dead a long time ago."
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[Somewhere in the ruins of Sodom]
Trumpets and horns blared a macabre yet oddly festive melody, reverberating through streets lined with the rubble of fallen shops and shattered homes. The desolation stood in stark contrast to the bizarre celebration unfolding.
Inhabitants long buried under layers of mud and ruin clawed their way out of the earth, their decayed hands reaching hungrily toward the cacophony. The sky wept light crimson droplets, like tears of blood falling from a wounded heaven.
Driving this surreal festivity was no ordinary carnival but a rare and twisted demonic parade.
Towering figures led the procession, wearing grotesque animal masks carved in the likeness of rams, horses, and other creatures. Their movements were hauntingly deliberate, a dance both ceremonial and otherworldly, as they spiraled closer to the heart of the ruined city.