Dahlia was done eating her meal with the others
She started to discuss about the next plan in returning home with Fenry, Hunji, Jeon and Xinhua
"Basically... I need something to offer which has enough amount of mana, to reach the satisfaction of that entity" Dahlia said as she kept her gaze on ground
"So... the main problem is this one...?" Fenry asked
Dahlia only nods
Fenry hummed as he looked on floor along with Hunji, clearly thinking of a way
While Xinhua was playing with a bottle cap lazily and Jeon watching him, they both were also thinking the very same thing
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"Hey... how about we both search what is in our belongings. Maybe we can find something of use?" Fenry recommended
"But will anyone even have anything useful?" Xinhua asked as he tilted his head
"We can't be too sure... if anyone has anything with a slightest bit of use. We can figure them out cause I know for a fact. We might find something outside of this castle but..." Fenry sighed deeply
"Once we are out of here, we will be captured soon enough. So before taking that risk. We must search for more possible options" Fenry pointed out
"I agree with him" Hunji said, nodding his head as he looks at Dahlia
"Well... we can give it a shot..." Jeon also agreed as he too look back at Dahlia
Dahlia pondered for a moment before she stood up
"Let's go and see what everyone has" She said after letting out a exhale
Fenry smiled as he stood up, "Well then, let's ask the others" he said as he dusted off his pants
"I doubt that they will even listen" Xinhua mumbled
Jeon ruffled Xinhua's hair, "Stop being so negative. Be positive and think positive, kiddo" he teased
Xinhua only grunted in annoyance
Hunji stood up too, "I will do the talking first" he declared
Hunji goes to the front
He clapped his hand to draw everyone's attention at him
"Alright alright, everyone listen up. We all have come up with something to escape this place. But we can only achieve it if we have enough support from you all" Hunji began
After he said those words, murmurs began
"What support?"
"What do they need our support with?"
"I don't know"
"You were the closest to the group, did you hear anything at what they said?"
"Not really, they were whispering to one another"
"I don't trust him"
"Yeah and they are doing a bad choice in trusting in... what was that girl's name again?"
"I think it's Dahlia"
"Should we trust them?"
"I don't know, but they seem nice"
"But looks can be deceiving!"
"Yeah, don't forget how we all almost got captured by that girl!"
"But we escaped"
"Still not enough to earn our trust"
That is what they are whispering to one another
"Quiet everyone" Hunji said, making everyone to go silent to listen to him
"I know, not many trust us. Which I am ok with-"
"Just tell us what you want from us instead of dragging this up" One asked, cutting Hunji off in mid sentence
Hunji sighed deeply as he look at Fenry, gesturing him to speak
Fenry noticing his gesture
He stepped forward, "Getting impatient are we now?" he teased
Many grunted hearing him while some let out a long exhale
"Ok, ok~ no need to get so impatient" Fenry winked
Hunji walks back to the others as he sat besides Xinhua
Dahlia leaned forward slightly
"Was it really a good choice to let him speak? What if something goes wrong?" Dahlia asked Hunji
"Nah, he will be fine. He's got skills in making many fall in agreement with him" Hunji shrugged
"Let's hope it works" Jeon crossed his arms over his chest as he watched how the situation plays out with
"Anyways, since you all are so eager to know what we all came out with. Well~ we can't have you waiting can we?" Fenry hummed
"We want you all to cooperate in showing and giving away your stuff, the things you have in your possession" Fenry said, smiling
"What?! Why should we do that?!"
"Yeah, it's our things!"
"You can't just say to us to show you five on what we have!? And giving them way is out of the option!!!"
Many protestors yelled out
"I am not saying that it is out of choice. You can show us, it's entirely your choice. But if you don't" Fenry shrugged as he chuckled
"Sorry but you all are on your own if you wanna be stuck here forever, being eaten way by those ghouls out there. Don't blame us over your unfateful deaths" Fenry finished saying as he went back to the others
"You guys will have to wait a little. But the results will be great, I assure you" Fenry said to the others
"You sure it will work? The way the others were against it" Xinhua asked as he tilted his head slightly
Fenry only laughed it off
"Yeah, there were some. But they will comply soon enough" Fenry said
Xinhua just looked Dahlia while Dahlia and Jeon looked at Hunji. Meanwhile Hunji noticed them staring at him before he turns to look at Fenry
Fenry let out a long sigh as he took notice of their reactions
"Well... let me remind you that trust isn't the most powerful thing to win over anyone. There is another thing more powerful. Do you guys know what it is?" He asked as he looked at each one of them, one by one
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Silence had filled in as no one had any idea of it
They all had the same thought of, "What is there other than trust to win over others?"
Fenry only let out a chuckle again at seeing their expressions
"It is fear" Fenry answered bluntly
"How so?" Jeon asked as he narrowed his eyes
Fenry looked back at Jeon, keeping his smile. "It's quite simple. Fear is the strongest emotion that we all have. Especially if there is unsurety to it" He began
Fenry then looked back at everyone again, "We all have felt great fear when we were being targeted or played by the ghouls. It made us unsure on what to do and not to do. We all started trying different options in escaping it" he pointed out
Xinhua, Jeon, Hunji and Dahlia got flashbacks on how much fear they went through
Including trying to find options to escape somehow (except Dahlia)
"We become too desperate and lose all kinds of hope in trying to make a escape. That even the slightest hope or a way to make a last escape makes us all lose it. Even tho that step is risky but we still do it. Why?" Fenry asked again as he hummed
"Because of fear..." Jeon mumbled out
"Bingo" Fenry clapped his hand
Dahlia, Xinhua, Hunji finally got it as they look back at everyone
Lots of them were pale, trembling or sweating
"Hah... now I know why you chose HIM to talk to the others" Jeon said as he slapped Hunji's shoulder lightly
Hunji grunted as he glared at Jeon tho playfully, "Now you see it?!" he huffed
Dahlia just stared at everyone and soon let out a deep sigh
"... Ok... let's just hope his plan works..." Dahlia thought internally but can't help but still have doubts
Suddenly, Dahlia felt a tug on her sleeve as she looks over
It was Xinhua
"Don't worry too much... everything will go well... just... think positive" Xinhua comforted Dahlia as he gave her a smile
Dahlia can't help but smile back at him, she pats his head gently
"Yeah... I should be positive..."
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After what seemed like hours has passed
Hunji soon gets up and walks forward. He was now in front of everyone
"Ok... so... guess hours have passed..." Hunji began, calmly
He looked around, taking in everyone's expressions
Some were dazed, just looking down the ground
Some were looking ahead with narrowed eyes, yet were sweating
Some just looked at one another as their hands, lips or legs were shaking slightly
Hunji looked over at Fenry, from behind him
Fenry just smiled as he gave a slight nod
Hunji nods back as he turned his head to look back at everyone
"Those who have decided to cooperate with us, please raise your hand" Hunji finally said it
No one was raising their hands
The murmuring soon began
Hunji let out a slight huff
He pinched the bridge of his nose to calm his temper, "We are trying to save these idiots... yet they still hesitate to cooperate..." he mumbled to himself
Dahlia, Jeon, Xinhua and Fenry watched
Fenry seemed unbothered as he was still smiling, but it was more stretched than before
Dahlia and Jeon could guess that he is annoyed too (except Xinhua)
"This is going nowhere..." Jeon let out a exasperated sigh
"I feel really annoyed! Can't they see that we are trying our best to help them!?" Xinhua huffed as he crosses his arms over his chest
Dahlia narrows her eyes as she bites her lower lip
"If only my guardian was here... then... he would've suggested something to help..." Dahlia thoughts as she can't help but look down at her feet
"I... wish I could just put some sense in their head-... wait...!" Suddenly she froze up
Dahlia immediately scoot towards Fenry
Fenry looked over at Dahlia, he tilted his head at seeing her getting closer to him
"You need something?" Fenry asked as he raised an eyebrow
"I have a favor to ask of you" Dahlia said firmly
Fenry blinked, "What...?"
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"I repeat that if anyone of you want to go home safe and sound. We need your cooperation for that to happen so, if you miss your mommys and daddys. Just raise your hands up-" Hunji said with a exasperated tone but stopped in mid sentence when he saw Fenry stepped forward in front of him
"Ok everyone, if those who don't wanna help. You are free to leave this place and be eaten by those ghouls. Going to jails, being tortured blah blah blah sort of thing" Fenry huffed as he crossed his arms over his chest
Everyone's eyes widened
"WAIT! YOU CAN'T DO THAT!!!"
"WHAT KIND OF PERSON ARE YOU THROWING US OFF LIKE THAT?!"
"YOU ARE THE WORSE!"
"YOU SHOULD BE THE ONE TO LEAVE!!!"
"YOUR GONNA DIE ANYWAY!!!"
"YOUR LIFE MIGHT NOT BE PRECIOUS TO YOU, BUT TO US IT IS!!!"
Many yelled at Fenry while he remained calm and collected, even tho he was hearing many things
A vein popped on Hunji's forehead
"What did you all just say-" he was about to punch those that dared saying all that but Dahlia grabbed his hand to stop him
"What- Dahlia-" He looked over, but froze up when Dahlia shook her head to him
Hunji grits his teeth as he looked away
He stared at her dead in the eyes as more veins popped up
But seeing the determined look in her eyes made him let out a long sigh
He pulled his hand away from her grip
"Whatever you are planning... if that doesn't go well... I won't hesitate to punch you... even if you are a girl..." Hunji warned Dahlia
Dahlia was unfazed as she soon looks over at everyone
"Why should I leave, huh?" Fenry raised an eyebrow at them
"CAUSE YOU'RE TELLING US TO LEAVE WHEN THERE IS CLEAR DANGER OUTSIDE!!!" One of them yelled at him
"Really now? Do you think I don't know any better of this matter? I have witnessed them just like you all have" Fenry retorts
"THEN WHY ARE YOU TELLING US TO LEAVE JUST LIKE THAT!?" Another one asked him, their voice raised in tone
"That is cause, we are trying everything to help you all to return back home. And in order to do that, we are just asking for a little cooperation from you. But you're refusing" Fenry replied back
He shrugged his shoulders, "Since your refusing to do everything we say, then you might as well be stuck here forever. We don't need people like you so, leave this place 'kindly'"
Some paled at his words but others faces became red
"WHAT ARE YOU SAYING!!! WE DON'T WANNA BE HERE!!!" Another one yelled out at Fenry, pointing their finger at him
"Then why are you refusing to do everything to whatever we say?" Fenry asked
One was about to reply but Dahlia cuts them off as she stood besides Fenry
"And don't say anything about "not trusting us". We aren't here to force you against your wishes. We respect everyone's wishes and choices here" Dahlia said firmly
She crosses her arms over her chest, "Besides, if you have better ideas in returning back then go on. We won't force you here. It's either cooperate or leave. Your choice"
Jeon and Hunji caught on what the two were doing so they also stepped forward besides the two
"Yeah, we aren't gonna be the only ones that work ways to escape here while you guys sit around and cry" Hunji spat out his words
"It's either you cooperate with us and stay. Or be entirely useless and leave this place" Jeon said firmly as his face turn into a scowl
Xinhua only watched, "What is going on? What are they planning?" he thought internally
Many soon became silent after hearing what the four said
Many looked at one another before one of them raised their hand, "I don't wanna stay here... so... I will show cooperate" he said
Hunji huffed, "Finally someone that has some sense unlike some idiots"
Many flinched hearing Hunji's words
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Moments passed
Before another one raised their hand
And another
Slowly but surely, everyone raised their hands even those that hated Dahlia a lot (Still thinking that she intentionally put them all in danger)
"That is more like it" Hunji smirked
"Ok then, let's gather around the center and we will check everyone's belongings" Fenry ordered
Xinhua soon goes towards Dahlia
"Lady Dahlia... what did you and the others were planning? And by the way, what did you whispered to Fenry brother?" Xinhua asked
Dahlia looked at Xinhua and smiled, "Well... basically I whispered to him to give them a little bit more scare than before... like... make them realize the situation more now..."
Xinhua tilted his head
Dahlia let out a sigh seeing his reaction
"Well, basically everyone was scared by what Fenry brother said... but it was still not enough. We needed to make them more scared and desperate. So we just give them a small little scare by mentioning to kicking them out" Dahlia pointed out
Xinhua blinked, "Oh! That worked out well!" he smiled
"Yeah-" "Dahlia and Xinhua, come here and help us with the checking" Hunji called out, cutting Dahlia off in the mid
The two jumped slightly hearing him calling them out
Before running towards where everyone is
"Sorry, sorry... let's check now... and- oh!" Dahlia immediately took out everything she brought here
"Hmm... we don't have much things that seems to be off use..." Fenry commented
A few broken hammer without handles... small shards from broken glasses... tattered dirty clothing... small pieces of wood... some worn out ropes and rusty chains
There were also rusty knives... small broken pots (They found inside the castle)
That's what everyone has in store
Meanwhile, Dahlia has stored water in bottles... breads and some blankets... matches... woods... and a headpiece (Her brother gifted her on her birthday)
"A headpiece? Really? Bringing this even when you are in danger?" Hunji chuckled as he saw the headpiece she has
"Oh! You brought the artifact! You already have a mana source, Lady Dahlia!" Xinhua exclaimed
"Wait- what?!" Both Dahlia, Hunji, Fenry and Jeon exclaimed in unison