"..."
When Ethan returned to the entrance of the estate, he realized that after making a full round, he'd come back empty-handed.
The only thing he'd gained... was bad news.
What now?
Was he just not going to upgrade the town?
Ethan looked over the town upgrade requirements again. The only thing he was missing now was Rainbow Beast Cores.
The method for making them was right in front of him, and with his current abilities, he could easily do it.
The only problem was the trouble that would come afterward.
But if he just gave up... he really couldn't accept it.
Besides, to get the remaining fifty-eight Rainbow Beast Cores, he'd have to kill over fifty mini-bosses.
That was far too slow, and it wasn't realistic.
Ever since arriving in the Mist World, the number of Rainbow Beast Cores he'd actually obtained himself could be counted on both hands.
And every time he'd encountered one of those boss monsters, it had been an extremely dangerous fight.
Maybe not quite a near-death experience every single time, but it had always been dangerous.
As for the rest of his Rainbow Beast Cores, he'd tricked them out of the Genie.
Unfortunately, the Genie had already been squeezed dry.
Now, if he wanted to get that many Rainbow Beast Cores again... other than illegally fusing them... Ethan really couldn't think of a better way.
"Hm? My Lord?"
Attendant Five, who was on her way to the residential buildings to arrange various matters, saw Ethan pacing back and forth by the estate entrance.
She asked curiously, "Weren't you going to the warehouse, My Lord? Why are you here?"
Ethan sighed, "I was missing some materials, so I went to ask my masters for them."
"Judging by your expression, My Lord, did you fail to get what you needed?", Attendant Five said gently, "Please don't worry. If you don't mind, you can tell me about it. Maybe if we all think together, we'll come up with a solution."
"Attendant Five, do you know of any place where, if I hid there, no one would be able to find where I was?"
Ethan asked a rather strange question.
Attendant Five tilted her head and looked at him in confusion.
"My Lord, are you trying to hide from Mr. White?"
"No," Ethan shook his head, "I'm trying to hide from a very frightening organization. What I want to do might attract their attention. If they discover I exist, it could drag all of you into it."
"My Lord, we are your subjects. It's only right for us to do whatever we can for you. How could that be considered being dragged into it?"
Attendant Five spoke gently.
But she thought about Ethan's question for a long time and still couldn't come up with an answer.
Just then...
Tap! Tap!
Tap! Tap! Tap!
The sound of a wooden stick repeatedly striking the ground came from not far away.
Ethan turned toward it and saw the Scarecrow hopping over.
["Hmph! If it weren't for Sister Attendant Five, I wouldn't even bother talking to you,"] The Scarecrow said coldly, ["You're looking for a place that nobody can locate? That's easy!"]
"You know one?"
Ethan was surprised.
Mainly because the Scarecrow normally wasn't exactly known for being the sharpest tool in the shed. Seeing it suddenly act competent was genuinely surprising.