Back in the tea house, the hostess was about to collect the Faux Mana Caterpillars as the time limit has been up. The ones that were monitoring Adrian and his friends back in Vermillion City are in panic as they left. The hostess chuckled while she took the first three Faux Mana Caterpillars but found out that the last one was missing.

"Where is it?" The hostess muttered as she looked for it in all parts of the room but there was no trace of it.

The Faux Mana Caterpillar that was missing was the one that absorbed Adrian's mana signature. She even looked for it at the rooms next to them but there was no sign as well. She suddenly thought that it might have disintegrated as there was a chance for that to happen.

"Thankfully, I got gold as a compensation or else the breeders will yell at me. It is a good thing that at least three of the four are alive and returned to their usual forms." The hostess stated as she kept them back into the box and left.

The hostess did search every nook and cranny for the Faux Mana Caterpillar that was missing but she did not search above her head. Inside the empty ceiling covers is the Faux Mana Caterpillar that has eaten Adrian's mana. It did not change its form back to its original appearance but kept the form that it took upon eating Adrian's mana.

The Faux Mana Caterpillar did not emit the same mana signature that Adrian has though but it has suddenly got an appetite for it. The Faux Mana Caterpillar that ate Adrian's mana actually changed to a different species as it is no longer a mana caterpillar. It has now resolved itself to find the delicious mana it has tasted and unconsciously created a small portal in front of it.

lghtnvlubm fr th bt nvl rdng rn

If one were to see this then they would have jumped at the opportunity to catch this caterpillar at all costs but no one saw it. The caterpillar crawled towards the small portal it created as it instinctively knew that it will lead it to that delicious mana.

"Greetings to the Princess Shini!" Peridot greeted the palanquin with a light bow.

"Greetings to the Lady of the Ryujin, Peridot. Guards, greet Lady Peridot." A petite voice from the palanquin replied as it opened to reveal a petite girl that is still the age of a teenager.

"The Esteemed Tortoise Guards greets the Lady of the Ryujin!" The guards shouted as they bowed to Peridot to show respect.

"There is no need for too much pleasantry as this place is not ideal for it. Let my companion here help in healing all of you as your guards are heavily injured. He should check on you as well, Princess Shini." Peridot stated.

"Thank you for your assistance." Princess Shini stated.

lghtnvlubm fr th bt nvl rdng rn

"Excuse me then." Levin Cloud stated as he started to heal the injured guards.

Princess Shini and Peridot then started to talk to each other about the circumstances of their strange meetup. Peridot told her that they teleported to the Scarlet Mountains and they were headed to the Imperial City of Hinomoto. On their way, two of her companions sensed a powerful death energy signature and they found the fox masked individuals.

"Do you know who they are or what organization they belong to? It seems that they might also be related to the people that are trying to kill the Ryujin traveling alone. They seem oddly familiar to me as I was attacked like you once." Peridot stated.

"We do not know as well as this is the first time in a long time since someone was brave enough to actually attack me. It seems the eastern continent is becoming unstable and I fear that it might affect the ordinary citizens." Princess Shini stated in a worried tone.

Princess Shini looks like a doll with her porcelain white skin and her vibrant red dress that looks like a modified priestess gown. She is also one of the kind hearted princesses in the imperial city as she always gives a chance to those that commit minor offenses. Still, she knows when to punish those that deserve it as she knows when to be ruthless. The two talked while the guards are healed up and rested since they have to wait for Adrian.

"Welcome, Master Equinox!" The anubises stated as they bowed toward Adrian.

lghtnvlubm fr th bt nvl rdng rn

"We have a problem. I found this on the hands of mortals in the mortal realm." Adrian stated as he showed the sealed undead hand.

"This!" The anubises exclaimed in shock.

"Do you know what this is?" Adrian asked.

"A dreadful artifact that is made by making use of a body part of a depraved individual. The ways to create this cursed artifact should no longer be possible as records of it was burned to ashes. How was it possible for the mortals to create such a thing!?" The anubises stated.

"You can interrogate this soul then. This soul should be under the care of King Yama but we can borrow it for the time being since this being was the one using this artifact." Adrian stated as he presented the soul of the immortal.

"As your will commands! We shall make sure to get answers from this mortal." An Anubis stated as it took the soul of the immortal.

lghtnvlubm fr bttr ur rn

"No! You cannot do this to me! I was promised to live forever in paradise!" The soul of the immortal shouted but a glare from the Anubis made it shut up.

"Can you tell me how this artifact is made or what it is even called?" Adrian asked.

"This cursed artifact is called the Depraved Man's Hand. It is a powerful cursed artifact that can create undead and make them virtually immortal. It even has the ability to fuse the souls of people into one to create an abomination but it comes at the cost of the souls of the people used." The Anubis stated as it started to give Adrian all the information about it.