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“Clan Master Diamant, the plan is proceeding smoothly.”
Diamant’s diamondlike eyes glinted as he turned his head—which surprisingly wasn’t his body. He was in the form of a large, human-shaped boulder, and in front of him, there were piles upon piles of valuable jewels stacked atop mounds of gold. “Go on,” Diamant said and stretched his arm forward. It was thick like a human’s, unlike his usual sticklike arms. He grabbed a fistful of jewels, and they slid out from between his fingers, dropping to the floor of the great vault as if they were droplets of water. “I’m listening.”
The small rock that had greeted Diamant saluted. “Since Clan Master has successfully tamed Ocean Elemental Mistle, Tornado Elemental Zilphy, and Phoenix Flame Sheryl and turned them into your subordinates, no one has been able to stop the footsteps of our Gemstone Merchants Clan. We’ve steadily expanded all over the continent, and Tornado Elemental Zilphy has already reported the last few civilizations left unconnected previously. Ocean Elemental Mistle has also discovered various trade routes we can take to reach new continents. Soon, every piece of gold shall belong to us. The sun shall never set upon the Gemstone Merchants Clan.”
“Excellent,” Diamant said and nodded. “Is there anything urgent that requires my attention?”
“It isn’t urgent,” the small rock said, “but the holy dragons have sent two representatives, and with them, they’ve brought many tributes. Would you like to address them personally?”
“No,” Diamant said and snorted. His diamondlike eyes crinkled. “When a clan is this influential, even dragons aren’t enough to make the clan master personally take action. Send my secretary, Sheryl, to accommodate them instead.”
“I understand,” the small rock said. It hesitated before clearing his throat. “Then, what’s an example of an urgent matter that does require your attention?”
Diamant stroked his chin, and a small furrow appeared on his forehead. A wide grin split his face, and a booming laughter rang out from his body, coming from deep within his stomach. “Nothing,” he said and wiped a small tear from his eyes. “There’s absolutely nothing that is too urgent for someone as great as me. There’s simply nothing that I can’t handle.”
“Yes, that’s what I thought,” the small rock said and bobbed its head, which was its body, up and down. “Clan Master is the greatest. Without you, who knows where our Gemstone Merchants Clan would be? Perhaps we’d still be an unknown group struggling to survive in a desolate corner somewhere in a wasteland.”
“I’m glad you know it,” Diamant said and nodded, crossing his arms over his chest. “Now go. I have to count my money. As it’s always increasing with every passing second, it’s the hardest job because it never ends.”
The small rock straightened its legs and saluted once more. “Yes, Clan Master!” it said and marched out of the vault.
Diamant watched the small rock leave before turning back towards the piles of riches that was growing at a visible rate. The walls and ceiling were generating gems that fell down, adding to the contents of the vault. He chuckled and picked up another fistful of gems, counting them as they fell through his fingers. “To think, a hundred years ago, I was trapped in such an unfair contract. If it wasn’t for that sudden flash of insight, I’d never have tricked him and escaped.” A shiver ran down Diamant’s body, and he shook his head. “Let’s forget the unpleasant thoughts and focus on the present. Now, I’m free, and nothing in the world can inhibit my growth!”
“Deedee.”
Diamant froze, and a deep crack appeared on his forehead. “Forget the unpleasant thoughts. Forget the unpleasant thoughts.”
“Deedee. Deedee! I said wake up, Deedee!”
Diamant’s diamondlike eyes shot open. A line of pebbles dripped out of his open mouth, which was attached to his body, a small boulder. In front of him, a green rock was staring at him with her hands on her hips. “Zilphy? Didn’t I send you on a mission to scout out undiscovered points of interest?”
“You were dreaming, dummy,” Zilphy said and blinked her emerald eyes.
Diamant’s face contorted. “Then, I didn’t escape from Vur?” he asked. “But that’s impossible. According to my calculations, he shouldn’t have been able to discover I was gone until it was too late. He never pays attention to me.”
“He did a headcount before we left, and you didn’t respond,” Zilphy said. She gestured around with her arms. “Besides, if you really did escape, do you think you’d be trapped in here?”
Diamant looked around. The first thing he noticed was the manacle around his leg. It was attached to a chain that led into a wall. “This is … Stella’s dungeon?” he asked and swallowed. “Why did she imprison me down here?” He blinked hard and realized Zilphy was in the interior of the cell as well. “Wait. How come you’re here too?”
“Because of your little stunt, I was punished too!” Zilphy crossed her arms and glared at Deedee. “As your wife, I should’ve been responsible for keeping you in line—at least, that’s what Stella said—and since I didn’t, I was collectively punished because of you.” She pointed a finger at Diamant, poking his forehead.
“You’re blaming me?” Diamant asked. “Why are you blaming me when you should be blaming Stella? I wasn’t the one who forced you into this dungeon.”
Zilphy grumbled while looking away. “If I could deal with Stella, I would. What if we all ganged up on her? Would we be able to beat her? How come we let her walk all over us anyway?” She walked over to the bars of the cell and leaned into them. “Isn’t that right? There’s so many of us imprisoned here, but we let a tiny little fairy boss us around. I say it’s time for an uprising. What do you guys think?”
There was a ringing sound as Breeze slapped his hand on the bars of his cell. “I agree! She’s just one fairy queen.”
“That’s right!” Ralph said.
A golden spirit nodded. “If we work together—”
“What’s with the racket!?” Stella’s voice echoed through the dungeon, cutting Sir Edward off. “Chompy’s trying to sleep!”
Instantly, the dungeon fell silent. Zilphy blinked and looked around. “Really, guys? Really? What happened to your fighting spirit just now?”
“Well, she has Chompy.”
“I’d rather be in a cell than be in Chompy’s stomach.”
“Is Chompy that black dragon-looking thing? If it is, I think I’ll leave the fairy queen alone.”
Zilphy sighed.
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