"That's exactly what I wanted to tell you," Golden Snidget said, his eyes shining with a mysterious intensity.
"I know where Horned Basilisk is hiding the formula. As long as we take him out, we can share the formula between us. Then we won't have to live under his control anymore."
After hearing Golden Snidget's proposal, Thunderbird seemed somewhat moved.
He paused for a moment, lowering his head in thought, then asked, "Are you really sure we can take him down? You know how strong Horned Basilisk is.
Can just the two of us win?"
"It's tough to face him head-on, but what if I strike from the shadows? Once we spot Horned Basilisk, you can negotiate with him to distract him, and then I'll take care of the rest. We'll play it by ear, but the chances of success are pretty good," Golden Snidget replied quietly.
Thunderbird wasn't convinced.
"That still doesn't guarantee anything. If we fail, not only do we risk completely falling out with Horned Basilisk, but if he escapes, won't we be cutting off our own path?"
His anger gave way to a rare calmness.
Golden Snidget shrugged.
"If we don't try, we'll never move forward. The club's at a dead end. Unless we fully control the elixir's formula, are you just going to keep being his puppet?"
He teased, "Honestly, you're scared, aren't you? Even Phoenix, who's usually quiet, is the first to consider betraying him.
And you, the fierce warrior, are acting cowardly now."
Thunderbird sneered.
"Fine. If you succeed, I'm with you. But if you fail, I guess I'll have to join Horned Basilisk in killing you to prove my loyalty."
Golden Snidget shook his head with a smirk.
"Never thought you'd be so afraid of dying at a critical moment. Just promise me you'll follow through if I win."
Thunderbird's voice hardened with determination and a hint of menace.
"If you succeed, I won't hesitate for a second. But tell me, do you have any insider info on Horned Basilisk? Like what kind of spells he's best at?"
"It's not like you don't know how cautious he is," Golden Snidget said, shaking his head helplessly. "Even though I've been loyal to him for so many years, he's never fully trusted me. If I had known where the formula was in his collection, I wouldn't be risking something this dangerous right now."
"I hope you're not lying to me. If this turns out to be a waste of time, I swear I'll burn you and the entire headquarters to ashes. I've lived long enough anyway," Thunderbird snorted coldly.
Hearing Thunderbird's ruthless threat, Golden Snidget couldn't help but smile bitterly inside.
'Isn't that the same man who acted so cowardly before? Everyone can talk tough when they think no one's watching.'
Without another word, he turned away and started fiddling with the stone basin in front of him.
The process was very similar to what Claremont had done.
After a while, thick red bubbles began to boil in the basin, signaling that they had received a response from the Horned Basilisk.
"He agreed to meet us. Let's go," Golden Snidget said, lifting the velvet cloth covering the tall black mirror and stepping through it, as if entering a deep tunnel.
Thunderbird followed closely behind, but Alex noticed a flicker of doubt and curiosity in his eyes.
The journey through the black mirror wasn't exactly short, but not too long either.
After nearly five minutes, they emerged on the other side in front of another similar floor-to-ceiling mirror.
This place looked like a sealed room with rocky walls and floor.
It was spacious but empty, save for the black mirror standing alone in the center.
The only light came from a few ancient Brai fairy fire torches flickering on the walls.
The cramped, damp air made Alex suspect they were underground.
Snidget didn't stop after stepping out of the mirror.
He led the way, with Thunderbird following, until they reached the side of the stone room.
There, Snidget cast a spell, opening another door built into the stone wall.
Beyond it lay a deep, bottomless tunnel.
After walking through the tunnel for some time and passing through a hidden magical door, Golden Snidget led Thunderbird into a wide, open valley surrounded by beautiful scenery.
The entrance to the tunnel that leads to the black mirror was set inside a rocky mountain behind Thunderbird.
By now, the portal on the stone wall had vanished again, making it seem like no one lived here at all.
"Wait here. Without the Horned Basilisk's permission, you won't be able to see his home," Golden Snidget said with a shrug.
After all that wandering around, they had only just reached the outskirts of the Horned Basilisk's residence.
Alex glanced back at the stone wall behind him.
'This guy is really reckless.'
During the journey, Alex had started to get a sense of the Horned Basilisk's personality and was now carefully scanning the surroundings.
His hands, hidden beneath his robe, fiddled with a locator to check their position.
After a moment, he noticed something that caught his attention, and he shot a quick, curious glance at Golden Snidget, who was facing away from him.
At that moment, a small paper crane suddenly appeared in the sky above the valley, flapping its wings as it flew toward them.
Thunderbird opened his palm, and the paper crane landed perfectly in his hand.
As Thunderbird unfolded the crane, he saw the words "Snake Den" written clearly on it.
Then, the note ignited and vanished instantly.
The scenery around them shifted dramatically.
Suddenly, a lavishly decorated manor appeared in the empty valley, and many magical creatures roamed freely on the grass in front of the house, like a peaceful paradise.
'Could this really be the Horned Basilisk's home?'
The path to get here was complicated, and the house was protected by a powerful "Curse of Loyalty."
Yet, the place itself was surprisingly beautiful inside.
It seemed the Horned Basilisk valued his own safety above all else.
"Let's go. Since the Horned Basilisk has shared his address with you, it means he's willing to let you inside," Golden Snidget said softly before stepping into the manor.
Alex, hidden behind Thunderbird's mask, smiled coldly and followed quickly after him.
As they stepped into the manor, the magical creatures nearby glanced at the two visitors with curiosity before resuming their playful antics, as if nothing unusual had happened.
The manor gates swung open the moment they approached.
Inside, the house was filled with beautifully carved beams and painted walls, showcasing historical treasures everywhere, exquisite oil paintings, cabinets brimming with silverware, and elegant carpets covering the floors.
It was hard to tell whether this place was a quiet home or a grand palace.