Aster hesitated for quite a while, causing the maid to get visibly annoyed. "What''s wrong? Scared?" she taunted with a smirk.
If he dyed any longer, his earlier arrogance would be pointless. With no choice, he stepped toward the portal, letting his hand enter first.
"...!"
Suddenly, someone yanked his hand with surprising strength, pulling him through the portal in an instant. Aster prepared to draw his de from his Fanny Pack but soon realized the person pulling him was familiar.
"Wait, Vanessa?" he asked. "Why are you here?"
The one who pulled him was Vanessa Ross, the Vampire Researcher!
"You need anti-brainwashing, right?" She grinned. "That''s my specialty, you know?"
The prickly maid also entered after Aster, positioning herself diagonally behind Magnus, who was sitting at his desk. "What a disaster, huh?" Magnus smiled, his gaze enigmatic as he looked at Aster.
"Yes, it is." Aster sighed, sitting down after Vanessa released his hand. "The world was peaceful when I went to sleep, but turned upside down as soon as I woke up."
He shrugged and pointed at the maid, Elizabeth, behind Magnus. "Anyway, won''t it be dangerous if she falls under the enemy''s control?"
Her ability to create portals in spaces that block spatial movement was too valuable. If Lory or anyone of her race captured her, they''d have nowhere to hide.
"I know. That''s why Eli''s teleportation coordinates are restricted to locations protected by a barrier."
By only moving to pre-secured areas, her safety was ensured, thanks to Kali''s timely report, which allowed them to set up protective barriers early at several key points in the city.
"Anyway, enough about that," Magnus sighed, waving a hand at Vanessa. "Start the procedure."
"Yes, Mayor."
Vanessa sat down next to Aster, close enough that their bodies touched. "I''ll begin." She warned, taking his hands and pressing her forehead to his.
A warm sensation flowed from her into him, circting around his head and spreading through his body. It was so rxing that he felt he could fall asleep if he let down his guard.
"Focus, don''t let your thoughts wander..."
Vanessa whispered softly.
"Oh? This girl is... that Lori, right? I warned you about her, and it looks like you didn''t listen." She pouted, grumbling lightly.
Aster suddenly felt something fade from his mind, leaving him with a profound sense of loneliness and loss. Though he wanted to stop Vanessa, his hands were held fast, and he couldn''t move.
"Hmm... This is bad. The brainwashing was weak, but the subconscious suggestions were strong. This will take a while to clear."
Minutes passed. Gradually, the sense of loss faded, reced by a serene, clear mind.
"It''s done," Vanessa said with a smile. "I''ve removed all traces of brainwashing, autosuggestions, and other memory tampering she did to you. It''s just as horrible as that orange rabbit''s, given you were her main target."
The tampering was severe but gradual. Lori had spent days slowly increasing her control over Aster with weak suggestions and brainwashing.
"If her eyes'' ability weren''t limited, you''d already be under her control." Vanessa shrugged and moved back to her spot across from Aster.
"I guess that''s true." Aster agreed.
Feeling how different his mind was now, he realized the extent of Lori''s tampering. If not for her own ns, Aster would''ve already fallen into the other city''s Mayor''s hands.
"So, what should I do now?" Aster asked Magnus. "You''re not just sending me back to the hotel, right?"
Before leaving, Aster had noticed the Twister Hotel staff weren''t just "hotel employees." He hadn''t realized it earlier, but they were likely part of Elizabeth''s toon.
"You''re right." Magnus smiled. "I want you to head to the dungeon. We''re stretched thin protecting the city''s citizens, so we can''t spare anyone to watch over you aboveground."
"... So in the dungeon, I can rely on those on the same floor?"
That made sense to Aster. Plus, his level was much higher than the current floor''s average, which increased his safety. However, there was one issue.
''Lory knows my strength and level. If she ns to grab Cassy, she''ll definitely weave some sort of strategy.''
The easiest way to break the deadlock would be to have an insider or insiders working for her.
''So the first thing I need to worry about is if anyone in the three top ns is already under Lory''s control.''
While he was lost in thought, Magnus continued. "I also heard you have a pet dog. Where is it?"
"Ah, Argus?" Aster looked up, smiling thinly. "Right, he''s..." But he trailed off.
Looking around, Argus was nowhere to be found. Aster nearly panicked, trying to remember where he hadst seen the puppy.
"Cassy!"
He recalled the girls hugging Argus when they exited the portal earlier. So Argus should be with them... "Should" being the key word.
Aster was worried, as the messages only mentioned the girls and Lori, not Argus.
"Sorry, Magnus! Can you send me to the portal now?!" Aster begged. "I need to make sure he''s with the girls. I''ll show him to youter when things calm down!"
Magnus sighed. "Alright, no rush." He muttered, then snapped his fingers. "Eli, please send Aster to the dungeon''s entrance."
"As you wish, Mayor Magnus."
Without hesitation, Elizabeth walked over and opened another portal with a wave of her hand. Aster didn''t hesitate, trusting her, and stepped through.
"Oh, right. Just to let you know, my wife is now expecting. It feels...plicated for me." Magnus added as Aster entered the portal, his gaze conflicted. "Don''t forget the content of our deal, alright?"
"I know. That''s your son, don''t worry." Aster blinked. "Anyway, I''ve gotta go!"
Aster''s casual tone both irked and reassured Magnus, prompting a sigh.
After stepping through the portal, Aster arrived at the dungeon''s entrance, surrounded by the same protective barrier used at Twister Hotel and Gravenne Tower. For the first time, the Oni Uncle wasn''t present beside the entrance.
"It feels odd not seeing him here..." Astermented before jumping in.
His destination: the first camp on the 14th Floor!