The Poor Emperor Spriggan

"Old Suo, I want to eat that!"

Following the direction of the other person's small hand, the silver-haired boy shook his head and then slowly walked towards the vendors in the distance.

"One of each of these, one of these, and one of these!"

"Okay!"

After speaking, the vendor quickly wrapped up the items that Old Suo had specified.

"Thank you for your patronage, that'll be two hundred J in total!"

After paying the full amount, Old Suo carried the package to the green Maruko.

"For you!"

"Thanks!"

"Whoosh!"

Just as the Maruko was about to take the food, a figure flashed out from the side, snatched the steaming package, and fled into a side alley.

"You little brat, you even dare to steal from me!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Old Suo was about to chase after him, but he was stopped by the pulling force behind him.

"Brandish, let go! Otherwise, that guy will get far away!"

Hearing Sordil's shout, the Maruko didn't let go. Instead, she looked at him with teary eyes and said, "Don't go! Don't leave me alone!"

Please!

The silver-haired boy stared blankly for a few seconds at the tears welling up in the eyes of the green Maruko.

Just when Maruko thought things were over, the guy across from her suddenly picked her up and rushed into the alley.

Watching the wall bricks recede into the distance, Maruko burst into tears and cried out, "Old Suo, where are you taking me?"

"Of course we're going to chase after that petty thief who stole our things!"

"Hehe! I'm really lucky today, I've actually run into two fat sheep!"

After speaking, the black boy wearing a tattered top hat quietly opened the package and greedily inhaled the aroma emanating from it.

"Hmm~"

"It smells so good!"

Just as the black boy was about to use his index finger, a whooshing sound and a cold shout suddenly came from afar.

"Whoosh!"

"Hey kid, shut your mouth!"

"Um?"

Seeing the rapidly approaching silver figure, the black boy spat out a curse, then hurriedly packed his belongings and resumed his escape.

"Trying to run? Dream on!"

"Buzz!"

Almost at the same time the voice came from afar, a flash of Silver-White Light suddenly appeared in front of the black boy as he fled.

"It's a mage, what bad luck!"

After complaining about his bad luck, the dark-skinned boy twisted his body to the right.

"Splash!"

With the sound of cracking wooden planks, the man's thin figure disappeared into the wall.

"A dog hole???"

"Looks like a repeat offender!"

"However, meeting me means you'll have to change careers!"

After speaking, Old Suo closed his eyes and meditated for a moment. Then, he disappeared from the spot with the Maruko on his body.

"Phew~"

"Finally, we've shaken off that guy!"

Just as the young man was about to sit down and enjoy the fruits of his victory, a faint voice appeared above his head.

"Young man, shouldn't you return the item?"

"Ah!!!"

"You... you... how did you find this place?"

Seeing the shocked young man, the silver-haired boy smiled and said, "It's a professional secret, I'm sorry, I can't tell you!"

"Uh-huh!"

Just as the black boy was about to stand up and continue his escape, he suddenly found himself bound by a force.

"Hehe! You must be tired after running around for so long, let's settle our Contradiction right here!"

What do you want?

"I don't want anything, just give me back what you have!"

"That simple?"

Hearing the question, Old Suo smiled and said, "Normally, I wouldn't let you off so easily, but today is my little princess's birthday, so I'll let you off easy!"

Is it her?

Looking in the direction the other person was pointing, Old Suo nodded subconsciously.

"I thought it was an ornament on your clothes!"

"Um???"

After a three-second moment of self-doubt, Old Suo looked down at his waist, and then a dark shadow loomed over his forehead.

After untying the green Maruko from her waist, Old Suo gently shook her shoulder.

"Brandish, wake up, we've arrived!"

Wake up!

"Wake up!"

"Uh-huh!"

Unable to withstand the turmoil within herself, Maruko slowly opened her eyes.

"Old Suo, what are you doing?"

Looking at the sleepy-eyed Maruko, the silver-haired boy said speechlessly, "We've arrived. Get down!"

Upon hearing this, Maruko straightened her zigzag hairstyle (the so-called zigzag hairstyle is the hairstyle of the second-in-command in A Chinese Odyssey after being taken on a high-speed ride by Chun Shisanniang), and wiped the white solid from the corner of her mouth.

"Huh???"

Where are we?

The silver-haired boy, who was originally preparing to boast to Maruko, froze on the spot after hearing these words, his face turning red instantly.

"That... that's not important. What's important is that we caught that thieving brat!"

Before Maruko could question him again, the frozen black boy protested loudly, "Who's the brat?!"

Upon hearing the sharp, angry shout from ahead, Maruko and the silver-haired boy were instantly dumbfounded.

What just happened?

Looking at the dazed-looking Old Suo, the green-haired Maruko sorted through her memories and then stammered, "He... she... seems to be a girl!"

"What do you mean ' This Lady like'? I am a woman!"

Although he received confirmation from Maruko and the Black Boy, Sordil still harbored some doubts (no wonder, His Majesty the Emperor had already experienced the power of cross-dressing masters in his previous life, so... hehe!). So he waved his hand, summoning a Clear Wind that knocked off the Black Boy's hat, and then conjured up a puddle of water to wash the boy's face.

"Holy crap! It really is a girl!" (PS: Old Suo didn't finish his sentence: Damn it! How did we run into Mary?!)

Feeling the push from one side, Old Suo stared blankly at Maruko.

"W-what's wrong?"

"Old Suo, what should we do next?"

"Hehe! I also want to know what to do, but no one can tell me!"

After finishing his off-screen commentary, Old Suo rubbed his hair and then shrugged at Maruko.

Just when the two libertarians were at their wits' end, the frozen statue shouted, "Hey, what are you two dawdling about? If you're going to kill or torture me, hurry up and do it!"

"Kill? Heh! Just because of your status as Battle Princess, I can't do anything to you, otherwise who knows what this world would become! (Old Suo's inner thoughts)"

"This older sister is really fierce! I wonder what Old Suo will do!" (Maruko's inner thoughts)

The air hung heavy for a moment His Majesty the Emperor spoke, "What's your name? Why did you steal?" (Well, at least this idiot remembered to verify his information!)

Seeing that the other party had been holding back for so long, and all he could come up with was this sentence, "Black boy... ptooey!" Little Battle Princess replied speechlessly, "My name is Mary Yesta, and I'm an orphan. As for why I steal... hehe! If you think a seven or eight-year-old orphan can make a living in other ways, then please tell me right now!"

Upon hearing this, Old Suo was instantly speechless.

"Splash!"

"Splash!"

Hearing the rustling of fabric beside him, Old Suo turned his head to look at Maruko in front of him.

"Old Suo, this lady is quite pitiful, let's give her the food!"

Looking into Maruko's round eyes, Old Suo's heart softened.

"Sigh! Oh well, they're destined to be together anyway, so why should I play the villain?"

After finishing his internal monologue, the silver-haired boy removed the restraints from Battle Princess's body.

"Mary, if we're willing to take you in, would you like to come with us?"

Upon hearing this, Maruko and the Blonde Battle Princess froze on the spot.

"Old Suo, are you serious?"

"Uh-huh!"

Looking at the silver-haired boy who kept nodding, Maruko and Battle Princess exchanged a glance, then both stood there dumbfounded with their mouths agape.

"Why...?" (Mary)

"My Maruko is a bit lonely and needs a companion. Besides, you stole my things, so you should at least make some compensation, right?"

Although the silver-haired boy had a sly smile on his face, Maruko and Battle Princess felt a warm feeling in their hearts.

"So? Do you want to come with us?"

With the help of Maruko's propulsion, Battle Princess hurriedly nodded vigorously.

"Alright! In that case, let's go!"

The moment the words left his mouth, the Old Fairy Sordil conjured a silver storm and swept the two Little Cutie away. (Alas! Poor His Emperor Spriggan, he hadn't even met the Shields of the Holy King before his strongest four were stolen away. It's true what they say, it's easier to take advantage of someone you know!)

Ishgar, a village on the western border of the Kingdom of Fiore.

"Da da"

"Da da"

Hearing footsteps behind him, the white-bearded old man kneeling on the ground asked without turning his head, "How is the situation?"

"Reporting to the bishop, the victim has been transported back, and the family has been comforted."

"Uh-huh!"

After nodding, the old man asked again, "Did you find it?"

"We have mobilized all our followers to search, but... we still haven't found anything!"

"Hmph~~"

Hearing the sigh from ahead, the young man at the door said worriedly, "Bishop, although we didn't..."

"Get out, let me have some peace and quiet!"

Although reluctant, the young man bowed and left the room.

When he was alone in the room, the old man raised his hands together in prayer, closed his eyes, and murmured, "God, please show your wisdom and help the lost sheep out of their confusion!"

"Buzz!"

Just as the old man prostrated himself on the ground, the white statue above suddenly trembled, and then a cloud of light rolled out from it. However, the color of the light was not the pure white of the statue, but rather as black and deep as the night outside the room.

"Sniff"

Upon smelling the strange odor in the air, the old man suddenly opened his eyes.

"Ah... this is!"

Upon discovering the anomaly, the old man prepared to shout for help, but the mysterious Black Mist blocked his mouth at the speed of light and dragged him into the statue.