The people on the shore watched in silence.
The rumor was just a scam... or perhaps a test disguised as a wish.
But this Unrestrained Oddity that toyed with hope so freely really was...
"Oddities really are damned..." Annan muttered.
"Warden, some of us are good," Candle Head said humbly, professing his loyalty.
The Skeleton King asked Annan, "Does it meet your requirements?"
"It seems to."
The Oddities said nothing. That meant the Lake Monster was at least on par with the Warden.
"Now that we've found our target... which of us will go?"
The Skeleton King and the Oddities all looked at Annan.
The Oddities couldn't do it, and the Skeleton King was Undying... Annan seemed to be the only suitable choice.
Annan could have brought prisoners from Free City and made them take the risk. But the more people an Oddity killed, the stronger it became.
"I can't go in myself, but I can save you if you're in danger," the Skeleton King said.
"That's enough."
Before taking the risk, though, Annan had the Skeleton King send out another Skeleton Soldier to test it.
The Small Boat carrying the Skeleton Soldier slid into the thick fog. Before long, it encountered the treasure boat.
The Oddity seemed unable to tell what was edible and what wasn't. Once the Skeleton Soldier stepped aboard, the treasure boat opened a pitch-black mouth and swallowed him, then spat out his bones one by one.
"Hahaha, idiot—"
Laughter erupted along the shore.
"Take this."
The Skeleton King handed Annan a Magic Scroll. "I've been working on this these past few days. It can forcibly cast a Cantrip near an Oddity."
It didn't look very useful... but perhaps it would be.
"Remember the Oddity's ritual... as long as you don't trigger it, it can't kill