Book 19, Metamorphosis â Chapter 56, Bebeâs Request
If Woodridge was unhappy with the way Linley looked at him, he was absolutely livid with the disdainful look Bebe had given him and the way Bebe had spoken to him.
âThat straw hat wearing brat!â Woodbridgeâs face sank, and he was about to bark back at him.
âWoodridge, donât be impulsive.â The nearby white-haired elder sent mentally.
âWhat is it?â Woodridge turned to look at the white-haired elder. âItâs one thing for Reisgem to be so arrogant in front of me, but that brat with the straw hat, who the hell does he think he is? Iâve never even heard of him.â For someone to survive in the Planar Battlefield until now was proof of oneâs strength. Woodridge wouldnât so easily allow others to insult him.
If he heard a single displeasing word, he would want to kill the speaker!
âYou didnât go to the other side of the river, so you have no idea who that youngster with the straw hat is.â The white-haired elder said solemnly. âThe reputation of that youngster with the straw hat is known throughout the headquarters of the Divine Light Plane!â
âOh?â Woodridgeâs pupils contracted. âWho is he?â
âThe second Godeater Rat, aside from Beirut!â The white-haired elder said solemnly.
Woodridgeâs face changed. âWhat? Godeater Rat?! How can that be? Isnât Beirut the one and only Godeater Rat? Where did another one come from?â
âI was adventuring on the other side of the river. Of course I know this news. You can ask anyone; any of the commanders who went adventuring on the other side of the river will definitely have heard of this Godeater Rat, a youngster who wore a straw hat. You had best be careful.â The white-haired elder gave him a sideways glance. âIf something goes wrong, donât say no one warned you!â
After speaking, the white-haired elder returned to his own residence.
âGodeater Rat?â Woodridge watched Linleyâs group enter their courtyard, and then, with a low snort, departed.
The manors which the military camp arranged for each commander were all very large, with many rooms.
âNot bad, not bad!â Reisgem stepped into the main hall, glancing around before sighing with satisfaction. âIt as though the members of this military camp bought quite a few decorative items before entering.â The main hall had a number of decorative items; even the tables and chairs were made of wood. At a single glance, one could tell that they werenât made from the materials of the Planar Battlefield.
âLinley, we no longer need to do anything. Just rest. Later, I imagine the commander of this military camp will come pay us a visit. The commanders living nearby will probably come visit as well. All we have to do is accompany them! As for the final battle, thereâs more than a month left before it arrives.â Reisgem immediately headed to a nearby room. âDuring this period of time, Iâll live here.â
Linley and the others all selected their own residences.
Indeed, as Reisgem predicted, soon after they moved in, the commander of this military camp came to pay them a visit. Afterwards, Linleyâs group received visits from the nearby commanders as well. But of course, Reisgem and the others didnât openly publicize Linleyâs strength.
In the blink of an eye, half a month passed.
Within the courtyard. Linley and Bebe were seated, facing each other.
âBebe, why the frown? If thereâs something you want to say, why hold back? Just say it.â Linley could immediately tell that Bebe had something on his mind.
Bebe took a deep breath.
âBoss, actually, I feel quite conflicted.â Bebe looked at Linley.
âEh? About what?â Linley asked.
Bebe lowered his head, resting it against the table, staring at it. In a soft voice, he said, âBoss, actually, there was another reason why I wanted you to come participate in the Planar War. In my heart, Iâve been hesitatingâŚabout whether or not to let my mother and father come back to life as well.â
Linley was stunned. How could he have forgotten?
The ever-carefree appearance Bebe had put on over all these years had caused Linley to not think about certain thingsâŚbut Bebeâs thoughts werenât necessarily the same as Linleyâs.
âIâve never met my parents. I donât know what they are like. My mind is very chaotic right now. I have no clear image of them in my mind. I donât really think about them that much. I became accustomed long ago to not having parents, butâŚI still feel regret over it.â
Bebe mumbled softly to himself, âI didnât think too much about it, but Boss, for the sake of saving your family and friends, you came to the Planar Battlefield. That moved me. Should I find my parents as well? But I know that itâs really hard for you to collect commander badges, Boss. I donât want to add to your burden. And so, Iâve been hesitating about whether or not I should search for my parents, which is why I didnât plan on saying anything.â
âBut, Boss, now you are so powerful. It shouldnât be too hard for you to collect two more commander badges. Thatâs why I am starting to think about this again.â
Bebe lifted his head up to look towards Linley.
âBebe. Iâm sorry.â Linley said apologetically.
He truly felt ashamed. He and Bebe were lifelong brothers, and Bebe had risked his life to battle with him here in the Planar Battlefield. But he himself had actually forgotten Bebeâs parents!
âBoss, donât say that.â Bebe shook his head. âActually, Iâm still a bit hesitant over whether or not I should look for my parents. After all, Iâve never met themâŚand I have no idea if the undead my parents were transformed into are dead or alive. If I were to be able to meet my parents, what should I say to them? They probably wouldnât even recognize me if they saw me!â
Bebeâs mother didnât get to see Bebe grow up and transform into human form. Even if she regained her memories, she wouldnât recognize Bebe on sight.
âTo meet again without recognizing each otherâŚâ Bebe had very complicated, mixed emotions in his heart.
Bebe had planned on just saying âforget itâ; his parents had their own fate, and there was no point trying to force things. And, originally, it was indeed hard for Linley to collect enough commander badges. But now, things were different.
âDonât worry about it. Let me handle this. Iâll get two more commander badges!â Linley promised.
âRight.â Bebe nodded.
âWhew!â Bebe sat up straight, letting out a breath. âDamn, forget it! They are my parents. Iâll meet them! Heh heh, I imagine that if they knew that they had a Godeater Rat for a son, they would be very proud.â Bebe seemed to have shrugged off his annoyances, becoming carefree once more.
Linley chuckled. In his heart, he had already made up his mind that during the final battle, he would acquire two more commander badges.
Linley and Bebe had travelled together their entire lives. Bebe was willing to sacrifice his life for Linley, and the opposite was true as well. In addition, given Linleyâs current level, it would actually be quite hard to make him die.
âKnock!â âKnock!â Suddenly, a knocking sound.
Linley waved his hand, and a surge of divine power swept forward, pushing the courtyard door open. In walked a person, a black-haired youth with black-colored, gold-edged robes. âLinley. Bebe. Are Reisgem and Reihom here?â This was the commander of this military camp, âWalnutâ [Woânuoâte]. The commanders who came to the Planar Battlefield included both solitary commanders as well as commanders responsible for military camps.
âHey, what is it?â A voice rang out from the main hall, then Reisgem flew out.
Linley and Bebe looked towards Walnut as well.
âHereâs the situation. Before the final battle begins, the commanders of the military camps and the roving commanders will all gather together once to discuss our strategy for the final battle. At the same time, everyone can get familiar with each other.â Walnut said with a laugh.
âWhen is it?â Reisgem asked.
Linley knew about this as well. A meeting before the final battle was a custom.
âToday!â Walnut nodded and laughed. âThere are already commanders waiting outside. Reisgem, the four of you can go out as well. Iâll go inform each of the other commanders, and then weâll head out together.â
âFine.â Reisgem nodded, and Linley and the others all walked outside as well.
There were indeed three people outside already. When the three saw Linleyâs group of four, then laughed and greeted him. âReisgem, Bebe, Reihom, Linley!â They all walked over. Linleyâs group of four welcomed them. As others saw it, Linleyâs four-man squad should have been formed around Reisgem and Bebe as the core.
As for Reihom and Linley, they were somewhat ignored. After all, Reisgemâs reputation and Bebeâs reputation as a âGodeater Ratâ were simply too great.
Soon, the commanders of this military camp had all gathered here.
Including Walnut, there were a total of ten commanders.
âAlright, everyone, letâs head out.â Walnut said with a laugh.
âThere are dozens of military camps. Each camp actually has ten or so commanders. Then the dozens of military camps combinedâŚhow many commanders is that!â Bebe said with a sigh.
âNot that many.â Walnut said with a calm laugh. âThatâs because most of the military camps are centered around the ends of the two corridors connecting each side of the Stellar River. ThusâŚitâs always the outermost military camps which welcome commanders back! The military camps located deeper inside donât receive any commanders.â
Bebe now understood.
âThus, our Divine Darkness Planeâs side has a total of at most fifty or so surviving commander-level experts, all combined.â Walnut gave an estimated figure.
Over a thousand years, quite a few commanders had died.
The surviving commanders werenât that numerous, but of course, amongst those who went roving about, the survivors werenât necessarily all commanders; just commander-level experts. For example, although Bebe and Reihom were very powerful, they entered with the status of ordinary soldiers, and followed by the side of Linley and Reisgem, which is why they were allowed to rove about.
The military camp was divided into two wings, and Linleyâs group was currently moving alongside the banks of the Stellar River, towards the direction of the Stellar Riverâs âportâ.
The gathering place for this meeting was close to one of the corridors.
This was an estate that was slightly larger than the one in which Linleyâs group was living in. The courtyard had multiple chairs and tables situated within it, and there were around twenty or thirty people located within the courtyard.
âWalnut, you came!â As Walnutâs group moved forward, quite a few people immediately noticed them.
âHaha, Ouville [Wuâweiâer], arenât you the lucky one. Still alive, eh?â
âBarnsley [Baâenâsiâli], you came to the Planar Battlefield this time? HahaâŚâ
âReisgem!â
Immediately, the group of commander-level experts began to call each otherâs names out, chatting and laughing with each other. These supreme experts of their respective planes were fairly familiar with each other, and many were even friends.
Linley, Bebe, and Reihom knew very few people. And so, they moved to a corner of the courtyard, found three seats, and sat down. Taking out some cups and some wine, they began to drink.
A while later, after Reisgem was done socializing with some old friends, he returned as well.
âHow festive.â Bebe said with a laugh.
Reisgem said with a smirk, âFestive? Some are happy, others are mocking. Those who are friends with you hope you will live; those who donât like you hope you will die. You know very few people. In a bit, I imagine some people will come chat with you, and youâll quickly become familiar with them.â
Linley smiled calmly, lifting his cup and taking a light sip.
âWoodbridge, you came with them as well. Who are the three next to Reisgem?â Commander-level experts also needed to know information about each other; the more details they knew about other commanders, the better.
Before Woodbridge had a chance to speak, a big bald fellow nearby said in a whisper, âI donât know the other two, but that one wearing the straw hatâŚhis name is widespread on the other side of the river, in the camps of the Divine Light Planeâs side. Thatâs the second Godeater Rat, aside from Beirut!â
âGodeater Rat?â Quite a few people were stunned.
Too few of them had soul-protecting Sovereign artifacts. Without one, anyone who met Bebe would die. After all, Paragons were extremely, extremely rare.
These people looked towards Reisgem and Bebe in surprise. âAnd which two incredible figures are currently seated next to Reisgem and the Godeater Rat?â
Woodbridge laughed. âThose two are quite ordinary. That icy-looking fellow is Reihom, an Emissary of the Redbud Sovereign. The brown-haired kid next to him is fairly famous in the Azure Dragon clan; his name is Linley!â
âLinley?â Indeed, there were some, especially in the Infernal Realm, who had heard of Linley. However, in the eyes of these commanders, Linleyâs performance in the scryer recordings showed that he was only a powerful Seven Star Fiend, not yet at the level of commanders. They didnât care about him.
As time flowed onwards, more and more commander-level experts entered, quite a few of whom knew the others present and began to chat with them. Very few people, however, came to chat with Linley; after all, Linleyâs status as a âLord of Tartarusâ was only gained after the Planar War had already begun. Linley himself couldnât be bothered to chat up these people; he actually preferred the peace and quiet.