Rise of The Demon General

Chapter 363: Chapter 363. Assisting the Old Puppet Maker

Shi Zi was working on his oversized battle puppet, with Ji Zhi helping him, when the students started popping out of the portal one by one. Shi Zi immediately went to them with a hopeful feeling.

”Do you have the power source?” He asked.

His hopeful feeling was doused when he saw the confused expressions of the students.

”Huh? Why are we out?” Wu Di asked.

When everyone shook their heads, Huang San asked Shi Zi, ”Is there a time limit on how long we may spend our time inside that pocket world?”

”No...,” Shi Zi answered while scratching his head. ”The previous team spent a few days inside. That was obviously longer than you people.”

”We are three students short,” Ji Zhi said anxiously.

Everyone looked around and learned that Amon, Yan Long, and Wong Cou were not among them.

”Sadly, Wong Cou didn’t make it,” Sima Fang said. ”I don’t know about Yan Long. As for Lin Mo, he told me he was in sight of the target. He asked for the safety device, and I gave it to him. Maybe...”

Sima Fang didn’t finish his sentence because Amon appeared among them. The portal closed afterward.

”Wong Cou and Yan Long are not returning?” Ji Zhi asked after seeing the portal was gone. ”Student Sima Fang, just now, you mentioned Wong Cou didn’t make it. What do you mean by that?”

Instead of answering, Sima Fang turned to Amon. He was the one who told her about Wong Cou, after all.

”Both Wong Cou and Yan Long died inside the pocket dimension,” Amon replied matter-of-factly.

”They are dead...? How?” Ji Zhi asked.

”We were separated by a maze when we approached the final room with the high-tier runic battle puppet,” Amon informed. ”Wong Cou and I stumbled by luck into the final room. Unfortunately, Wong Cou met his demise from the puppet’s attack. I managed to escape and went back to ask for the safety device from Sima Fang. Yan Long also stumbled upon the exit when I was getting the device. When I returned, I saw him getting killed by the battle puppet. I deactivated the battle puppet, but it was too late to save him.”

”You deactivated the puppet? Does that mean you have the power source?” Shi Zi asked excitedly.

Ji Zhi looked at him reproachfully. Shi Zi stepped back and said, ”All right, I will wait...”

Ji Zhi asked Amon, ”The menace was gone after you deactivated the puppet, right? Did you collect their bodies?”

”The battle puppet used a strange weapon that vaporized their bodies. I’m sorry. There is nothing left to collect,” Amon answered.

”Ah... That’s a pity. It will be difficult to explain this tragedy, especially to the Yan Clan,” Ji Zhi lamented.

Amon took out a large spherical device. This device had cavities, so one could see the hollow compartment inside. Inside, a core with intertwining talismans was seen.

”The power source...!” Shi Zi exclaimed. He couldn’t contain himself any longer. He rushed forward and took the device from Amon’s hand. He went away laughing. ”Haha! Asking the Royal Academy to help is indeed the right move. You have wonderful students, old fart!”

Ji Zhi let out a sigh. ”Well, at least the mission is completed,” he said. ”Take some rest. You all earn it. We will leave tomorrow.”

”Where is Tuang Yin?” Amon asked.

”She is resting in one of the guest rooms,” Ji Zhi informed. ”A worker puppet installed with recovery knowledge is taking care of her. Her wounds aren’t serious. She will return with us tomorrow.”

Amon nodded.

The worker puppets ushered the students to the guest rooms to rest. Ji Zhi led Sima Fang away for a debrief on what had happened inside the pocket dimension.

Shi Zi was busy checking the power source on a table next to the half-built battle puppet. After a while, he realized Amon was there, watching the half-built puppet from close-up.

”Hey, don’t touch that!” Shi Zi warned. He asked, ”Are you not going to rest like the others?”

”I’m not tired,” Amon answered. ”That portal box is useless already now that we get the power source. Do you mind if I take it?”

”Hands off! That box is mine,” Shi Zi exclaimed. ”I am grateful you got this power source, but you will get your reward from the Royal Academy. I’ve already made a deal with them, so I don’t owe you anything.”

”I never said you did,” Amon said. ”I simply pointed out that the box has no more value anymore, so perhaps you don’t mind me taking it off your hand.”

”I do mind. That box was left behind by a master puppet maker. Even if it doesn’t contain any treasure left, it is still a valuable memento. Furthermore, artifacts made by someone of that puppet maker’s caliber may still hold hidden treasures. I plan to hire more Transformation Stage mercenaries to explore the pocket world inside.”

”Such a pity,” Amon said.

”Hm? Did you say something?” Shi Zi asked.

”Never mind. I won’t ask about the box anymore. However, I am studying puppet-making at the Royal Academy. I am very interested in seeing a master like you work. Is it okay for me to stay here and watch?”

”Hm... I suppose there is no harm to it,” Shi Zi replied. He was happy getting praised as a master. He knew Amon didn’t mean it as the puppet maker’s grade, but it still felt good. He might still be an expert-level puppet maker, but once his masterpiece battle puppet was completed, the road to becoming the first master-level puppet maker of this era was no longer a pipe dream.

Amon was as if reading his mind. He said, ”Once this battle puppet is completed, the puppet makers in the palace will have no choice but to admit your brilliance.”

”You are damn right! I can’t wait to see their faces, haha!” Shi Zi laughed. ”You are not half-bad, young man. You can stay and watch as long as you like. Just don’t touch anything.”

”Thank you, master Shi Zi. I will be careful,” Amon said with a respectful bow.

Amon stood for hours watching Shi Zi work. He was rather surprised to see the old man’s devotion to the craft. Shi Zi was completely absorbed. It was like he was in a different world. He muttered something from time to time, but he was not talking to anyone but himself. Amon remained silent throughout.

Shi Zi stopped working on the power source. He moved to his half-built battle puppet and started working on it. He replaced some parts and readjusted its inner components. No doubt to make it compatible with the power source. He was completely absorbed in his task until he heard Amon’s remark.

”This puppet’s control input. It is the checkbox input type,” Amon remarked.

Shi Zi turned to him. His normal response when someone made a noise while he was working was to scold the shit out of the person. This time, however, he showed a surprised and pleasant expression.

”I see that you do mean it when you said you studied puppet-making,” Shi Zi said. ”I thought you were just those young masters who pretend to be interested but lose interest as soon as they learn how difficult and tedious puppet-making is.”

”Your words are too flattering. I do only know a little bit of the basics,” Amon faked a humble expression.

”Maybe, but knowing the different types of control inputs and correctly identifying one proves that you don’t take this subject lightly. I respect people who respect puppet-making. Therefore, you are all right in my book. If you have anything you want to ask about puppet making, ask away!”

”In that case, I won’t hold back,” Amon said. ”I’m most interested in a puppet’s control input. Do you mind if I apply a few stimulations to the input? Just to see how it works?”

”Well, it isn’t operational yet. As long as you only stimulate and not make any changes, it is fine,” Shi Zi said.

Amon took a chair and climbed onto it. The control input was close to the neck, which was out of reach for his height. He touched the spots with the control input and channeled his aether. The part was half-open, so he could see the inside. The inside lit up differently based on the spot he touched.

Shi Zi secretly watched Amon. He wanted to ensure Amon respected his wish. He saw that Amon didn’t do anything suspicious, so he went back to his work. Even if Amon made some changes, he would find out later when he checked.

Amon asked questions while studying the control input. Shi Zi answered them while he continued working. He wasn’t distracted. He also didn’t mind as long as those questions were related to puppet-making.

From studying the control input, Amon proceeded to befriend the old puppet maker further. When the day changed to night, he was helping Shi Zi work on the battle puppet. He might not have the expertise, but all he did was follow Shi Zi’s instructions.

Shi Zi even found Amon’s assistance much more helpful than the worker puppets he usually utilized. Those puppets might be more obedient, but Amon’s assistance was supplemented with insight and initiative. This ended up accelerating his work.

Amon’s assistance also made it less boring. His questions kept Shi Zi engaged. The two ended up working past midnight without feeling tired.