The 652 had relocated its main base and moved to a provisory base on the Z2 site, which had previously belonged to the 656. Their clan castle had now moved to within sight and call distance.


    Smiling, Yikesy hid a pink envelope in the provisional kitchen, from which hung a beautifully wrapped baked heart with pink icing. Then she put on her best hat, wrapped the woollen scarf around her shoulders and discreetly disappeared through the back door.


    Mink was the only one to notice her departure, and he was careful not to stop her. Firstly, Yikesy wouldn''t let him tell her anything anyway. And secondly, maybe he was lucky! They were in the middle of enemy territory. Maybe someone would kidnap and imprison Yikesy and never let her out again. Maybe they would demand such a high ransom for Yikesy that he could credibly assure them that he was broke, couldn''t possibly raise the money, and that he regretted it sooo much. After all, he was so attached to his Russian grandmother! As a test, Mink stood in front of the mirror and tried to squeeze out a few tears. He only half succeeded.


    A door banged behind him.


    ''Cry!'' Kodaxx''s voice barked at him. ''There are plenty of reasons for that!''


    King Mink turned round in disgust. This new acquisition from his Pokeball clearly lacked respect for him! ''Why?'' he asked irritably.


    ''Because you should take a shower again, for example? You stink!''


    ''I never shower! Stinking is my trademark! How dare you...''


    ''Cry me a river!''


    ____________________________________


    In the clan castle of the 656 they were busy packing. Little Miss was looking for her sword and was sure she had it yesterday. She suspected either Genny or Lady Evelyne of having hidden it so that she wouldn''t hurt herself. Captain Zaxpool was drunk as ever and looking for the right door. And Impel was hugging her donkey tightly and whispering sweet nothings in his ear.


    Lady Evelyne was busy ironing. She carefully ironed all the aprons to the edge and then stowed them away as neatly as possible in the moving boxes. Genny''s mood had not improved. She stared either out of the window or into the room. Meanwhile, the towers directly in front of the castle were also on fire.


    ''Do you think we''ll make it in time to pack?'' she asked in the direction of the ironing board where Lady Evelyne was standing.


    ''Sure, sure. It just needs to be done properly here. I don''t fancy having to iron everything again after unpacking.''


    ''Will there be any problems?''


    ''At best with Captain Zaxpool. I don''t know if it will be transportable, as full as he is. He''ll end up spilling over on the way, that could be disgusting. Oh, and the donkey. Impel wants to take him with her. But she''s fed him so many carrots that he''s become fat and round. We''ll have to roll him.''


    Loud shouts could be heard outside the castle.


    Lady Evelyne sighed, put the iron aside and opened the window. Outside stood the Thunder Dude accompanied by King Mink and Kodaxx.


    You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.


    ''Could you please attack me?'' the Dude shouted hopefully up to the window, ''That would be so cool! I''m so bored! I only do very little!''


    ''No!'' Lady Evelyne shouted back.


    ''Why not?''


    ''Because I''m a self-confessed sadist! You don''t get what you want from me on principle!''


    ''For God''s sake!''


    ''Cry!'' laughed Kodaxx.


    ''What about me?'' Mink tried his luck, ''Would you please attack me? There are only 200,000 of me in here, and only Josi and Vaiana as reinforcements, you can spy on it! Please, please, please!''


    ''No!''


    ''Why not?''


    ''For the same reasons as your mate!''


    ''For God''s sake!''


    ''Cry!''


    Lady Evelyne slammed the window shut with a crash, causing Genny to shout in horror: ''Careful, the window pane is about to fall out!''


    ''Never mind, we''re moving anyway.''


    ''That''s true again. And they''re going to...''


    ''Burn everything!'' roared from outside.


    ''Who''s that again?'' Genny jumped up towards the window, ''Oh heavens, that''s our own. And all completely drunk. They''re going the wrong way!''


    Genny dropped everything and ran downstairs to turn the fighting party round in time for them to run in the right direction.


    ___________________________


    Meanwhile, in the provisional meeting room of the 652''s temporary clan base, the victory celebration was in full swing. The Thunder brothers were eager to drink and could hardly believe their luck. Everything was going so smoothly! One victory after another! What a success!


    In the midst of the victory hymns that were being shouted at the top of their lungs, Thunder Galal jumped onto the table and puffed himself up like a bullfrog. He drummed his chest wildly with both fists and roared: ''I''m the strongest! I''ve finished them all off!'' He turned round and roared in the direction of the 649: ''You''re all so weak it''s pathetic! Aren''t you too embarrassed and ashamed of yourselves? Mr. Bubble! Losers! Weaklings!''


    Fortunately, he didn''t see the Thunder Dude rolling his eyes behind him, so he continued to shout: ''We''ve destroyed City 649! You are down! You''ll grovel before us, muhahahaha!''


    The Thunder Dude closed his eyes in agony. It was a bitter moment when he realised that his own people were embarrassing in the moment of their victory and the losers came across as much more confident, relaxed and humorous. And he sensed that this moment would be followed by many more.


    __________________________


    With the help of Pieston and MaKeDon, Impel tried to squeeze her donkey through the castle gate. She had indeed fed him too much and the animal had put on a lot of weight. Her cute little donkey had grown into a fat, round, veritable donkey monster.


    All three of them overlooked the elegant figure with the very tasteful hat, who scurried in through a side door of the clan castle in the background and left it the same way about an hour later.


    With a loud ''plop'', they finally managed to heave the donkey through the castle gate.


    ''You''re all gay!'' the donkey complained about the rough treatment.


    ''Muahahahaha!'' rang out from the clan base of the 652.


    ''You too!'' roared the donkey.


    ''Cry!''


    ___________________________


    Genny had returned upstairs to the kitchen and was amazed. It smelled delicious and Lady Evelyne had abandoned the ironing board and was stirring a red soup in a large saucepan.


    ''What''s that?'' asked Genny excitedly, realising how her appetite was growing immeasurably.


    ''Russian borsch. An original recipe from a - friend.'' Lady Evelyne smiled gently. ''I''ve exchanged ironing tips for it.''


    One by one, she scooped up 87 plates full. 87, that''s how many were left.


    Genny grabbed her plate and could hardly wait. Little by little, the kitchen filled up with hungry warriors.


    Lady Evelyne''s last sentence still echoed in her mind, and she couldn''t help but ask. ''Ironing tips?''


    ''Yes. My - friend wants to iron someone''s face if he doesn''t finally take a shower. So that will be - today.''


    The first shrill cries rang out from the provisional clan base next door.


    ''I''ve given her tips on choosing the right temperature and settings. And on smoothing out wrinkles, of course.''


    The screams from the neighbouring building increased immeasurably, and in between there were repeated mocking interjections that sounded like ''Cry!!!''.


    ''And she gave you the original recipe for Russian borsch in return?''


    ''Yes, and not only that. The best thing is: she said it also works with lion meat.''