"Chant—"
After Riko cried out, a strange sound rang out above Nami Village. A gust of wind swept through, and Zhou Qing, Dugu Bo, and Riko all felt an inexplicable chill run down their spines, as though every cell in their bodies were trembling in fear of the being about to arrive.
The Fallen Ones trembled all over as well, their fur quivering. They stopped making a fuss and stood frozen in place.
Only the plump pink Fallen One began to flee in panic.
But clusters of black mist drifted in with the wind, forming a viscous barrier covered in tiny golden bead-like eyes that wrapped around the pink Fallen One.
"Mahaha! Hamama! Mamaha!"
The Fallen One trapped inside was utterly terrified, tears streaming down its face without end.
The black barrier extended black tendrils that hoisted the Fallen One into the air, continuously pulling valuable items from the folds of fat around its lower body.
A fist-sized piece of Red Iron, a ceramic bowl with patterns on it, a pair of engraved spoons... and a retractable mechanical arm.
Although most of this Fallen One's collection was useless trash, it was far better than the items possessed by the other Fallen Ones. Quite a few of them had practical uses in everyday life.
"What is this?"
Riko had been stunned by the sight before her. Only after the Fallen One's entire stash had been emptied did she come back to her senses and ask the Clockwork Gentleman beside her.
"Because you considered that unfinished White Whistle in your hand priceless, the rules of Equivalent Exchange determined that his actions had damaged the priceless treasure in your heart. So the reckoning began."
The Clockwork Gentleman explained unhurriedly, "Everything of value on him will be stripped away and forcibly transformed into a