"A doll?"
After Luo Ge saw what the other person had taken out, he immediately breathed a sigh of relief.
He almost thought that his innocence was about to be proven wrong here today.
"Whoa whoa!"
"Look! Doesn't this doll look just like you?" Zanoba carefully held the doll up to Luo Ge, as excited as if he were holding a rare treasure.
Luo Ge glanced down. The clay doll was extremely well-made; the facial features, the curve of the hairstyle, and even the angle of the corners of the mouth were perfectly replicated as a human face.
That face was clearly Luo Ge's own. Not just similar, it was exactly the same.
However, upon closer inspection, the doll is quite different from the current Luo Ge. Compared to the current Rogue, the doll appears more youthful, shorter, and has a rounder face, looking like a miniature cartoon version of Luo Ge.
The guy in front of me could immediately realize that he and the doll were the same person.
To be honest, this guy is definitely a talent.
Zanoba grabbed Luo Ge's arm, his eyes burning with fervor, and shouted excitedly, "Who is the creator of such an outstanding master-level doll?"
"Right!"
"It must be you, right? The person who can create such a masterpiece must be you!"
"Forehead..."
Luo Ge scratched his head. "Sorry, unfortunately I'm not the creator of this puppet."
Zanoba's fervor didn't fade; instead, it intensified. "Then please tell me, Prince, you must know the sculptor who carved this doll, right?"
"Please, please tell me, who is he? Where does he live? Does he have any other works?"
He clung to Luo Ge's arm, his tone almost pleading.
Luo Ge, annoyed by being shaken around, said, "Um... can you let go of me now? To be honest, you're shaking me to pieces."
"I'm so sorry, it was I who was very rude." Zanoba realized his mistake and immediately released his grip, took a step back, straightened his wrinkled robe, and then solemnly gave Luo Ge a standard royal bow.
"I am Zanoba Shirone, the third prince of the Shirone Kingdom."
"Though it is abrupt and offensive, please... you must tell this prince who the master craftsman of that puppet is."
Luo Ge was getting a little exasperated by his repeated questioning. "Before I answer you, may I ask you a question first?"
"Senior, please speak."
"Where did you come from, you doll?"
Zanoba pushed up his glasses, seemingly lost in thought, "About half a year ago, I happened to find traveling merchants selling a batch of dolls in the market."
"When I saw it, I was immediately awestruck and bought the entire stock from that merchant at a high price."
"I have many more of these dolls at home. I take them out every day to admire and examine them repeatedly, and I always feel like I haven't had enough after looking at them."
He looked down at the doll in his hands with a sigh, his tone full of reverence. "The fluidity of the lines, the capture of its spirit, it's simply a masterpiece of craftsmanship, a work of art beyond compare..."
Luo Ge listened to his endless praise, and the corners of his mouth twitched several times.
The truth has been revealed.
There is only one person in the world who can create a doll that looks exactly like him when he was a child, with such perfect details.
Rudeus.
It must be that guy.
Luo Ge remembered clearly that Rudeus had loved playing with clay since he was a child, but he never imagined that the guy would actually use his own puppets to mass-produce and sell for money?
???
Luo Ge's expression swung back and forth between speechlessness and anger several times, and he had already made a silent vow in his heart.
When he sees Rudeus again, he'll definitely teach that guy a lesson.
And beyond that lies the Demon Continent, separated by a vast ocean.
On the desolate Gobi Desert.
A young man in a gray robe was hurrying along, his head down, his cloak billowing in the sandstorm.
He suddenly stopped without warning, sneezd loudly, and sneezed.
Achoo!
The red-haired girl next to him immediately came over and patted his back with concern. " Rudeus, are you alright? Are you sick?"
"It's alright, it's alright."
Rudeus rubbed his nose, glanced up at the gray sky over the Demon Continent, and thought, "Maybe someone's been talking about me behind my back..."
He muttered something, then buried his head and pulled his cloak tighter around himself before continuing on his way.
The wind and sand blew from the edge of the Gobi Desert, making his gray hair flutter backward. He looked at the long road ahead that seemed to have no end and sighed.
I don't know how long it will be before I can return to the Central Continent, or how long it will be before I can see those familiar faces again.
Meanwhile, in an alley in the Shirone Kingdom, Zanoba was still tugging at Luo Ge's sleeve, chattering on and on. "So who exactly is that master puppet maker? This prince is willing to pay a fortune to hire him! We're open to discussing any terms!"
Luo Ge's scalp tingled from being shaken so much. He reached out and pried the man's hand off his sleeve. "That guy is my brother, no! He's my younger brother, you brat!"
"Younger brother?!"
Zanoba's eyes lit up even more. "Where is your younger brother? I will send someone to fetch him right away!"
"Don't rush."
Luo Ge sighed. "He's not in the Central Continent for the time being."
"Not here?"
"Where?"
" Demon Continent "
Zanoba paused for a moment, then adjusted his glasses, his enthusiasm undiminished. " The Demon Continent is fine too! This prince—"
"I know you're in a hurry, but please don't rush, Your Highness. Can you have all your men withdrawn now?" Luo Ge suddenly raised his hand to interrupt him, his tone slightly impolite.
"That's true."
Seemingly sensing Luo Ge's displeasure, Zanoba immediately nodded, then waved his hand at the guards led by Jin Jie, "You may all leave. This is my distinguished guest."
However, as soon as Prince Zanoba gave the order, the guards around him remained completely still.
The atmosphere suddenly became somewhat awkward.
"Hello!"
"Aren't these your people? Why aren't they reacting?!"
Luo Ge began to wonder if this prince might be an imposter.
As a prince?
They don't even have a say?
Zanoba, somewhat embarrassed by the questioning, explained, "These guards used to listen to me, but now they're all that Pax's men."
"But you don't need to worry, senior. Leave everything to me!" he said enthusiastically, patting his chest.
"Jin Jie!"
"Zanoba shouted."
" Your Zanoba Zanaba!"
The fit woman in the group stepped forward and showed Zanoba utmost respect.
"Jin Jie, take your men down there. I will personally give Pax an explanation, understand?"
"Your Highness..."
Although Jin Jie was in a dilemma, she still led her people away. She was the only one here who would listen to Zanoba's orders.
Zanoba then warmly invited Luo Ge to his residence, which Luo Ge accepted.
Before leaving, however, Luo Ge also offered a condition for the exchange. "The third prince of the Shirone Kingdom, Zanoba, right? Considering your piety and sincerity, I might consider introducing you to that master in the future!"
Really?
Zanoba was thrilled.
He had just been thinking of making this request, but he didn't expect Luo Ge to bring it up first.
"However, I have one condition!"
"What are your conditions? Money? A beautiful woman? A title? Or, this prince will grant you all of them."
"None of those."
What is that?
Zanoba pressed for more information, his face full of curiosity.
"You saw Aisha before; her mother was kidnapped by people from the kingdom. I need your help to rescue Aisha's mother."
"Such a small matter shouldn't be a difficult thing for you, a prince of the Shirone Kingdom, right?"
"Yeah!"
"It's really not a difficult task."
Zanoba immediately adopted a very serious expression. "However, for you to apply your only request to someone else, your character is truly noble."
"Leave this matter to me, the prince!"
Seeing that he agreed without hesitation, Luo Ge was relieved to find the guy so easy to talk to.
Then, Luo Ge turned to Nanahoshi and said...
" Nanahoshi, take Aisha back to the hotel and wait for me to return."
"Going like this? Will something happen?" Nanahoshi asked worriedly.
"Hehe?"
"Is something the matter?"
Hearing Nanahoshi's words, Luo Ge's lips curled up slightly. "Don't worry, you should worry about others instead of me."
Luo Ge was very confident in his abilities. Even if the Shirone Kingdom was a trap, a den of dragons and tigers, Luo Ge was fully confident he could brave it.
After telling Nanahoshi to go back to the hotel and wait for his return, Luo Ge didn't forget to promise Aisha, " Aisha, listen to your sister Nanahoshi, I will definitely rescue your mother."
"Okay, Aisha will be good. Big brother, you be careful too." Aisha nodded obediently, showing her little tiger teeth, and waved goodbye.
"Senior, let's go."
Zanoba nearby, was already impatient.
Under his enthusiastic introduction and guidance, Luo Ge followed him into the royal palace of the Shirone Kingdom. Zanoba's residence was somewhat secluded, a separate palace.
Along the way, Luo Ge noticed that many guards would show fear on their faces and instinctively keep their distance whenever they saw the third prince.
Apart from himself, no one in the entire palace dared to approach the third prince.
At first... Luo Ge thought this guy was a particularly brutal individual.
However, as they spent more time together, Luo Ge discovered that apart from his obsessive and fanatical obsession with dolls as works of art, he was otherwise quite normal.
It's really strange... I don't know why, but everyone here seems to be terrified of this third prince.
" Aisha's mother, I've already had someone investigate and found out. She's in that Paris's palace."
"Please wait a moment, senior. I will go and demand the person from that fellow Pax right now!"
"Thank you so much."
"It's nothing, senior. Please don't forget to introduce me to the master puppet maker!"
"Don't worry, a gentleman's word is his bond."
"Very well, then this prince will depart now."
Just as Zanoba was about to leave, a middle-aged butler rushed in to report to him.
After hearing this, Zanoba frowned immediately. "Huh, Father, why do you suddenly want to see me? Has something happened?"
He could only offer a slightly apologetic look to Luo Ge, "I'm so sorry, please be patient with me, senior. I'll go and finish what I'm doing and come right back."
"It's okay."
"Go ahead and do your work, but Your Zanoba, is it alright for me to wander around your palace a bit?"
"Yes, of course, no problem. You are a distinguished guest, so I will take my leave now."
"Oh, right."
"While I am away, you must all take good care of this distinguished guest. This senior is a guest I invited today, and treating him is the same as treating everyone else. Do you all understand?"
He gave instructions to the servants around him.
Soon, Zanoba left, relieved.
Luo Ge watched his departing figure, not worried about what tricks the third prince might play.
Beneath his Transparent World, the world held few secrets for him.
He can clearly perceive the emotional fluctuations in other people's words, and lies are laid bare before his eyes.
Not a single word that Zanoba said was false.
Although the third prince seemed somewhat delusional, Luo Ge sensed no malice from him.
This is also the main reason why Luo Ge did not immediately classify him as an enemy.
This guy seems like someone I can trust.
Luo Ge sat in the reception room of Zanoba, picked up his teacup, took a sip, and looked out the window at the distant, continuous palace rooftops.
Aisha's mother...
Now that Zanoba, the third prince of the Shirone Kingdom, has agreed to help, surely the mother and daughter will be reunited soon?
Luo Ge was also very pleased about this.
Unfortunately, I don't know when I'll be able to find my sister and reunite with my family.
Paul...
Zenith...
Lilia...
Two younger sisters...
Not one can be missing.