Sign of Wealth (Suusao)

As much as Beat is annoyed at the loud slurping made by the older half Saiyan, the boy was not in the Elemi's side about the table manner... THAT is the right way to eat ramen, or at least, so said people in the city. By slurping strongly, you're cooling the noodles down, and drinking the soup til the last drop definitely is what make the chef happy... He would be happy had he's not dealing with this miser of Saiyan tho, who keep pressing him to accept the map. For love of lord, he was so close to unleash his mastered power just for the hell outta it...

...Luckily he was silenced by the Elemi though. Beat just muttered a thank to the other customer while still trying to get his attention focused on the Saiyan. However, as the comment about manly adventure came up... well... THAT triggered something in the older half saiyan. He suddenly asked something about manly adventure. The Saiyan's eyes immediately lit up and grabbed Suusao's hand. "FINALLY, A YOUNGSTER WHO UNDERSTOOD THE TRUE MEANING OF YOUTH! I'M GLAD THAT YOU COPY YOUNG MAN! HERE, HAVE THE TREASURE MAP! IT'S ALL YOURS AND MAKE SURE YOU TEACH YOUR YOUNG FRIEND THE TRUE MEANING OF MAN'S ROMANCE!!"

"But that's supposed to be m--"

"AND THIS GREEN TIGHTSUIT! ALSO THESE LEGS BRACERS WITH ENOUGH WEIGHTS INSIDE OF IT! TAKE IT AS AN EXTRA, I'M SURE YOU'LL FIND IT USEFUL! THE GREEN COLOR OF YOOOOOOUUUTH!! LIKE GREEN LEAVES SPROUTING AFTER WINTER! YES, THIS IS THE SPRINGTIME OF YOOOUTH!!"

"OI, WHY ISN'T ANYONE LISTENING TO MEEEEEEEEEEE----------!?"

Beat was pulled by Suusao. Rather than pulled, it's more correct to say that he's dragged like some kite. The speed was absurd, and honestly, he wondered why the hell he got treated like this!? And who the hell is Beat-chan!? You're getting way too personal! Even so, he can't protest and only could let himself pulled by the force and felt wind blasting on his... come to think of it, it's not the first time this happened, but at least Zeno was gentle... oh right, why he suddenly remembered that the Saiyan from before got thick eyebrows and bowl cut? Honestly, why is that seem to be important? Ah well, nevermind...

...Actually, should he even begin about the carnage that passed? Suusao has broke a fence as he did not bothered to even jump, and then some stalls... For some reason, there are a man who's crying about his cabbage or something. Beat got hit by a several stray objects, and the worst thing is some laundries belonged to a woman--OK, let's not go there. He quickly takes off whatever thing that could make him looks like a criminal. The chaos that left after this was definitely way too much to even count. He hope the man's money is enough to cover all of this... He sure won't fix it, because damn it, he's the victim here!

"WHAT FIRE ON MY BELLY!? ALL I FEEL IS MY BLOOD FREEZING FROM ALL THE DAMAGE TO THE PUBLIC! I'M SO GOING TO REPORT YOU TO ZENO-SAN, OI! THIS IS LIKE A KIDNAPPING! A KIDNAPPING I TOLD YOU! THERE'S NOT EVEN FLAME IN MY STOMACH BUT I FELT MY STOMACH CRAMPING OVER THE THOUGHTS THAT I MIGHT BE ACCUSED OF BEING AN ACCOMPLICE FOR THIS EVENT! I DON'T WANT TO GO TO JAIL DAMMIIIIIITTTTT!!"

...At least they arrived in their destination though. The half saiyan immediately barfed to the nearest water body, swearing several curses in his tribe's language. He seriously considered learning his tribe's Juju simply to give the guy a taste of his medicine now. "...Goddammit... of all thing you done... From stepping on me to dragging me like a kite... If I'm going to jail thanks to you, I'm so going to curse you that you won't get any girls until you're seventy!"

At time like this, he really wish that he have PP candy to fed to this brute. However, with him going  Super Saiyan, that's so gonna be unlikely. For some reason though Beat is the one who got the map, and the guy is the one leading. That's just weird, isn't it?

"...The X is around here," Beat declared. "But where I dunno, now seriously, let me catch my breath before anything... I'm going to formulate some excuses I need to tell to Zeno-san or anyone else... that and I don't know you at all... Seriously, I don't want to be accomplice to this sort of nonsense..."

The boy crawled to a nearby rock in hope to use it for support. "If you want to go treasure hunting go do it yourself goddammit! ALL THIS HYPERNESS DOESN'T WORTH IT! I'M GONNA DIE BEFORE I COULD EVEN GET STRONGER YOU H-- *CLICK* eh...?"

When the click happened, Beat coincidentally sat on the stone to rest his stomach. His entire weight apparently is enough to trigger a switch. A trap door opened behind him.

"...Bya?"

...He, obviously fell after all those flailing.

"GYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA....."

Even so, the trap door remained open. It's seem to be an entrance instead of a regular trap door. Where does it leads? No one knows. If Suusao decided to enter, he'll find the red haired boy laying on similar position to him back when he got shocked. The floor however, is made out of metal, and it's seem to be exactly what they're looking for... The pathway to adventure.

---

WC: 912
TWC: 1847

...Yeah, even Beat were asking the hell did he fed the man, or somehow the electricity brain fried him. However, with all of that being said, the worst offense came for the second time. The older one suddenly used the younger boy as his landing pad.... Of course it made the younger boy swore that some air just knocked out of his lungs. Luckily, this time around, he's not with broken ribs or bruises. The younger boy immediately rose, red aura flared around him as he growled in anger. "THAT'S IT, GODDAMMIT! I'LL INVOKE THAT SACRED MANTRA! ENOUGH WITH THIS CARELESS LANDING! PP!!" the boy repeated the chant several more times in fury. Who cares about him not having place for number two? After done with all the curses, finally the boy himself took the map--ONLY TO BE KNOCKED AGAIN FOR THE SECOND TIME.

"...OMEERAAAAA!!!!!!" in anger, Beat's aura flared even wilder as he fired ki blasts in retaliation to his companions... well, misfortunate companion. He know they could dodge all of it easily, so he didn't hold back at all with his Spread Blast Kai. When he's satisfied, he huffed and cleaned himself up. It was smarting, but at the very least it doesn't feel as hurt as crash landing. Checking to make sure that there is no other guy who gonna crash land on him, Beat found out that the exit is now blocked. He attempted to shoot a ki blast on it, only for the door to not budge at all... no, more like, his ki blast died as if absorbed by something. Once he checked the place where he tossed his ki blasts at while using Spread Blast, he also found out there are no damage there.

"...That's suspicious," he muttered.

...However, it's seem that a strong physical force could dent it, as shown by Suusao who has foolishly kindly made an example... But to think that the wall could easily tank that sort of hyperness... just what is this thing made of? Beat can't help but to touch the wall and then... suddenly, he felt his ki getting siphoned. Quickly, he took off his hand. It was just minuscule, but he made sure to not carelessly touch the wall... how about the floor? When he checked the floor, it does not have the siphoning power of the wall. However, a ki blast aimed at it is still absorbed... but where? Ignoring Tezla a bit, the boy licked is index finger and felt the direction of the wind. Primitive, but it works. The wind blows from where Suusao is going to. If that's the truth then, the exit seem to be that way, or at least, source of air.

".......I wonder if everything will be OK..."

For now, he activated Ki sense if there is anything suspicious... but for now, there are no one in here but three of them.

---

WC: 484
TWC: 2331

No effect on the PP, Beat was annoyed, but more than not, he's more annoyed about how casually they dodged it... Just they wait until he's done with all his training. He'll make sure they'll taste a bit of his wrath. He'll make sure of it. But for now, the comedic duo seem to be up for some more antics that made the young Saiyan wondering what's up. The moment Suusao spoke, he thought that he's going to say that he's afraid of ghosts or something. Being tribal attuned, the boy is familiar with mystical stuff that is not supposed to be in this world. For example, ghosts. He believes in them. Evil spirits especially, was one among his worst fear. However, with nothing in here that not even his ki sense picked up, he wondered if Suusao is afraid of another thing--and he was right. The moment Suusao revealed that he's afraid of the dark, Beat let out a sharp "ha?"

Just like Tezla, he also looked at Suusao in disbelief. "...Yeah, what he said. Tell me that you're fucking joking," the younger hybrid snapped--only to be debunked by Suusao's childish answer of nodding repeatedly. Beat literally staggered in comedic fashion. The younger saiyan massaged his temple. He swore if this keeps up, he's so going to get early white hairs... While the Elemi beats the older teen, Beat just proceed to generate ki on his own hand to dispel the darkness. While it's like this, it won't be absorbed by the wall thankfully. "...So, tell me," he began "which darkness were you speaking of? I'll tell this to Isabella-san, that her suitor apparently afraid of the dark..." he muttered darkly. Luckily, apparently Tezla's shock managed to slap the guy out of his super saiyan state. No high on sugar Suusao for a while he hope. The boy raised his eyebrow when the elemi said he would lead, but not that he cares all that much. He actually doubted that he could lead effectively...

...The transformation was impressive he have to admit though... but he really had to hold his tongue saying how similar he looked to a light bulb at the moment. Snickering Suusao doesn't help either... Laughter is contagious... How come holding laughter seem to be even more of a herculean task than stopping Suusao? Next five minutes was spent with the boy looking away with his face bright red from holding laughter that threatened to escape.

...When he thought it could not get worse, it actually got worse... for poor Tezla actually. The moment the guy stepped on a stone, it turned on all the torches on the wall... which made all that silly transformation a waste of energy and dignity. Poor guy. Beat had to stifle his laughter, bonking his fist against the wall from how hilarious the situation was. Sure his head lamp gave brighter light than the torches, but he can't help but to feel that head looks like light bulb even more.

"...L-let's go at any rate..." Beat tried to keep his voice even, but the mirth definitely showing. On the end of the corridor was a hangar for starship... it's huge, but at the same time, Beat felt this is not it... like, this is just some prelude of the actual thing. More like this is the hangar for guests instead... Why does he think so? He also have no idea, but at any rate...

"You said this is the treasure room? Nay, more like, this is the greeting hall for challenger. If I were to be the owner of this place, then I'll hide my treasure away from here... in deeper part probably. But at any rate, I disagree with your conjecture that this is the treasure room. THis is more like the entrance..."

...As he's asked what he thought the treasure was, the boy just shrugged. "If you ask me, this place is a bit too elaborate for just some silly childhood days treasure like a you know, time machine capsule, the thing you buries and opened up ten years later in hope it's still similar? There are a lot of that sort of dubious treasure, but whether it's true or not, My feeling said that the guy just want to weasel out of paying by giving me the map, but for some reason or another, we stumbled upon true treasure waiting to be unearthed. Either that, or the owner of this place is a loon who thinks that by spreading joke like map, he would find a successor, someone who's as equally wacky or innocently believed in wonder of treasure. But at any rate..."

Beat goes to nearby wall and pressed it. There's one that looks like a palm shaped scanner. The moment he does that, the place suddenly lit.

"...And looks like my first theory is right."

A monitor on the ceiling suddenly turned on, and there appear face of a grinning pirate with the top of his face obscured by shadow. He looked like some bigshot pirate from ancient time, only very well dressed. His mustache also looked so long, just like the lower portion of an X curved upward on the end.

"Welcome challenger! This is a recorded video. When you saw this video, I might have passed away. My name is Captain Jack Rogers, and I'll only answer to the title 'Captain'. By finding this place, You are qualified to be the successor of my lovely vassal Van Eltia. She is a beaut made from collaborative effort of hundred best scientists from various planet! Of course, before her maiden voyage, I stole her GYAHAHAHAHA!!"

"...Oi this Ossan, is he alright?"

"But at any rate, She is a beauty vassal. Aye, just by looking on her, you'll definitely know that you're not regretting your choice to participate in this treasure hunt. At any rate! I'm getting a bit too emotional! Hunters! I have prepared clothes for you to change into! Think of the clothes as a key to open various path of this ruins! I will not accept anyone who did not wear the clothes I already prepared! If you take it off, the doors won't open until you wear it back! With that, I wish you the best of luck!"

At that moment, a treasure chest appeared in front of Beat with a puff of smoke. With no choice, the boy opened the treasure chest. Inside there are various clothes of various sizes. However for some reason, it's seem that the clothes that appears is fitted toward the challenger. His for instance, looks like a captain's clothes, minus the hat. Beat wore it quickly, ending up with a mix of coat and hoodie that isn't meant to be buttoned up, thus revealing his bare torso, a black headband, long trousers with some rips on it and some rings. If he can be honest, he looked gaudy...

...but at any rate, he found out that the next two choices was... left at either first mate clothes... or a monkey themed costume. Imagining who would wear it made him burst out laughing.

"Hey guys, decide among yourselves who will wear this... pfft... kuhu... huhu... monkey... pff---HAHAHAHA!"

---

WC: 1200
TWC: 3531

"Tenacity you said, just some stubbornness of not willing to lose some zeni I said," Beat commented back at Tezla's comment about his tenacity. "I used to live poor, you know. Or actually, still is. I think it's running gag at this point, my poverty that is. So I'm used to being called miser, and even acts like one. Even one zeni could be used to buy something useful, up to how you invest on it. Time should be used productively, whether it's training or work, that is my opinion. So I might be wasting time, but all in all this thing pulled my interest enough so it has turned into some form of profit. Yeah, to me, personal satisfaction is profit too. But let's see whether I'm satisfied with the treasure or not. This Van Eltia... sounds like it worth my time considering I need a ship to get back home."

At first he thought that Suusao would pick the first mate costume, leaving poor Tezla with the monkey suit... But to think that he's wearing the monkey suit himself... The captain of the entourage had to hold back his laughter so much that his face turned really red from the effort. Holding on the railing for support to keep himself from bursting out in laughter. Indeed, monkeying around all the time eventually led to this sort of karma, and he don't mind that the slightest. Justice is served, and he found it really fitting. The moment that Suusao dramatically said that it was meant to be, however, that did not seem like downplaying at all. Beat laughed out loud. Suusao sure got way with words even when he's being insane like this. Honestly though, Tesla need to stop zapping him though.

...And looks like not only him really annoyed by the saiyan's insane self as Tezla hurled a rock at the monkey suited Suusao, only for him to dodge it. Now with the responsibility to lead fell to him, the boy nodded. "Ah, but before we go to the next room, how about... let's see... there's a camera for commemorative photo in here---holy hell just how well prepared is this guy? He seem want us to take a picture just in case! Well, I'm not going to reject it... sounds like the guy got a lot of sense of humor himself..."

After posing for the photo, the room to the next area opened. There... it looked like some jungle. How on earth could there be a jungle in here? Well, Beat himself already ran out of tsukkomi to give. The boy scratched his head and awaited for the rest to came in. When they do, the door slammed shut automatically with a mechanical sound. At the same time, the monitor like before lowered for the second time.

"Welcome to the jungle, your first hurdle! By the way when you entered this room you'll feel that your power and your ki has been lowered to level of a normal earthling! Do you know what species they are? They're not that strong, By the saiyan's standard, a farmer earthling with a weapon is only at 5 PL! Now that you can't fly, use ki and all that stuff, it's time for you to hone your stealth skills! Inside this jungle there are a lot of ferocious beasts! So you got to not touch them or they'll give you shocks! Oh right, I also made the shock to be very effective to lightning Elemi, so don't try to think you will get away with it easily!"

"...Thunder beasts?" Beat muttered.

"These beasts have certain pattern set to them! Ah right, your goal is a big fat X somewhere in this jungle! But be careful! There are three Xs, two are duds and will spray you with specific scent that will attract the beasts to you! In order for you to not mix between the fake one and the real one, I'll give a certain clue! And that clue is... dun dun duunnnn..."

Several sentences appeared on the screen. It reads: If you make a mountain out of a molehill, you won't find me! If you tried to look at me from tall place, you won't find me also! When you find me, you'll scream "AAAAH" if you don't look below!

"...What does that means? Oh well... at any rate, should we split or should we cling together, matey?"

WC: 737
TWC: 4268

To think they're doing a totem pole pose... That sounds... funny, especially usually because usually you'd see eagle on the top, or so he imagine, but now it's monkey on the top, which just... made it funny. Two humans with monkey on the top? Ah well, nevermind. The boy had to be reminded of the totem pole back home. But then again that one is different than the one he think he saw in the anthropology book about the tribe under Korin's Tower. At any rate, on the next place, Beat already wondered what to make out of the clue. The jungle was humid and hot, almost like a real one in summer. Imagining how it must be like this back home around the summer, he could at least tolerate the stupidly gross temperature. But if he can be honest, this make him really want to get under some waterfall to take a bath or something. He's really a nature kid to the end huh.

...When he thought he was the one who's probably thinking too much about it, Suusao seem had it worse. Is he that bad with riddles? it looked ridiculous even with all the steam coming out from his head like some old overheating steam engine... Or maybe more to like a kettle? At any rate, Beat looked at Tesla in hope that he might know what happened to their oldest companion. Unfortunately, even with the shake, the guy still haven't woke up at all. At least this time around they won't deal with a hyper Suusao which is good. Tezla soon after immediately supplied his thoughts about the matter. Yes, Beat agreed. Making mountain of molehill would means that you're overthinking something, and just making a problem bigger than it's supposed to be. By not overthinking and analyzing it calmly, one could deduct where the treasure is located. Now, second thing... If you look at it you're stripped from your ability to fly. The moment you're stripped from that natural power you're used to have, you'll want to get to higher place, ether to save yourself, or to check the X. This is normally the most logical thing to do. However, at the same time... by doing that if the foliage is covering the X, you wouldn't see anything.

....Hmmm... what about the other? That you'll scream AAAH? At any rate, Tezla was the one that leads this time around. Beat made sure to drag Suusao in case he's too unconscious to even walk properly, but to his surprise, the older teen somehow managed to walk normally. Tezla also gave insight that apparently being electrically attuned, the male could sense electric current... Looks like that was an oversight by the creator of this place. Even so... It brings some question. If this place wasn't found by people since long, considering the dusts around the place... Beat wondered how on hell would the place could keep a dangerous beast? When Tezla ordered them to stop, Beat literally frozen on spot, almost like a statue. The reason was revealed. The beast looked really menacing, and it's definitely not something that you encounter in most place--or at least, it was supposed to be so.

The moment Suusao somehow explained Tezla's ability in more layman term though shocked Beat. He honestly almost given up that the older male would turn sane, but looks like he was wrong. He's getting back to his saner self. Maybe... oh god, stupidity could make you immune to PP!? If that's the case, stupidity might be the strongest weapon there is! Thinking something so rude while looking at Suusao, Beat kept his silence. When the other seem to be relieved, Beat was completely unfazed.

"...Iya iya, what are you talking about? That's clearly hologram you know?" the boy answered. "Think it carefully. There are no source of food in here... even if they're fed by some means, that would means there are feeding time for them... we haven't encountered any fruits or animal here, which means... if it was kept alive in tamed way, there should be a food processing facility here. However, could it last more than 1000 years without maintenance? I doubt so... If raider of this ruins were to be its food, then why the person only stopped at "it will shock you" instead of saying "it will eat you"? As much as a food processing facility is good for saiyans like us, I doubt that's the case either. Also..." Beat touched one of the leaves there. "...While the leaves are natural, if you look at it carefully, the path that the beast traversed does not looks as if a beast that heavy passed through it... but most of all thing..."

Because his much shorter height, Beat could see its true nature after pointing at its feet, where a harmless looking, cartoonish, doll version of it instead what was moving it along. "...Tricky, but as expected, that's what I expect out of a guy who never really want to seriously put us in danger."

Beat merely shrugged when Suusao said it looks nice. "Probably would look nicer when I got taller than this," he commented. "These clothes felt a bit too baggy, and the muscles I lack to use it made it even more apparent that this was meant to be worn by more muscular kid."

But that's when suddenly Beat did not watch where he gone and screamed "AAAHHHHHHH" exactly like the clue said. Luckily the fall wasn't that bad, but man, talk about hurt. He never felt this much pain ever since he fell from a tree back in Earth. Tesla and Suusao is apparently in better sort of situation though. Not only that they seem to smoothly found the treasure chest spot, but also the treasure chest in itself. Beat let the honor to go to Tezla who helped them in this little adventure... Now, with that being said, he was half expected confetti to shoot out or something of that effect, but..

"Eh...?"

Beat foolishly wondered what's up when he got sucked inside the chest. The loud bleeching sound and the "TASTY" caught him off guard. A mimic!? But they didn't say anything about Mimic! Upon thinking that he want to protest, suddenly he noticed something was off.. mainly, they.. seem to slides down to something. By the end, three of the boys were separated by three way slides. Beat going on the center, Tezla and Suusao on each of the other side. The moment they reached the end, however, now they're in different place, a place that honestly made Beat completely sheet white. He don't like ghosts in general, but... to think that they'll appear in GRAVEYARD of all thing, out of coffins too! Luckily, the three boys found that they just pop out from three different coffins that located just right beside each other.

"...Say, where's the treasure?" Beat muttered. Their inquiry is answered when for some reason on Tezla, there is a bright cylinder made out of gold gleaming bright.

"Looks like you managed to get your first key piece!" from a well, a monitor appeared, showing the pirate guy's recording again. "This time it's time to make merry! Here is replica of an island called Dumdum Barks! In this place, only the dead may enter, but you three aren't dead aren't you!? Even so, because I've took some liberty in coating you with special dust, the Honehai, your ki signature is completely gone, so these undead will think that you're also  dead like them! So what does this mean? YOU CAN PARTY WITH THEM! That's right, the people on Dumdum Barks are undeads that love to dance and party hard! Get rested, dance, and impress the undeads here! Once you get at least a hundred approval from a hundred and five undeads here, you can pass to the next stage! Show off the spirit of the living among the dead, yohohohoho!"

"...Looks like our next mission is much more clearer," Beat commented. "And by the gist of it, I can guess that the next target is meant to be around that," he pointed at the biggest source of light. The source might be... as expected, the bonfire, huh. It's the biggest bonfire around here. Beat clenched and unclenched his hand. "...Our ki is back, but that old man is right. I can't even sense your ki at all. It's like you're completely vanished... But... that Honehai thing..."

...Rather than calling it a dust, it's more like ectoplasma... or better said, slobber form the mimic...

"...I'm so going to take a bath after this," Beat muttered.

---

WC: 1441
TWC: 5709

Someone grown tiresome of their adventure? Beat just stared at Suusao with eyes filled with disbelief and judgmental disappointment. To think that the culprit is the one who gave up the first? Unbelievable. Just when he's starting to enjoy a bit of this too... by the way, did the pirate guy did not tell what happened if they're somehow busted? He guessed they'll probably tossed back to the entrance, which is... a really annoying thing to happen. That mean they have to find the Mimic Treasure again, get eaten again, and avoiding the walking plushie again. The red haired boy decided that irregardless, they're too far to the middle of the treasure hunting to pull back now. With one of the key piece... or he feel, it's a key piece... they just need two more and then they'll have a ship! A ship for him to go home!

...If only the two didn't look at him pitifully like some beaten up dogs.

"...Well, I... I can try dancing. Breakdancing was quite my specialty back in earth. It shouldn't be all that hard to do nowadays, especially since I'm growing as martial artist and not just merely bumming... I should've been more flexible, not stiff. Well, at any rate, just leave it to me, OK? And... just enjoy the food. They did said that the food is prepared for us after all."

...The journey to the center of the meeting place wasn't all that eventful, only the smell of very delicious meal waiting them made Beat's stomach growled. He... is really a half saiyan after all. The boy imagined a lot of food that is waiting and the allure of it all when it comes to matter of stomach. This one doesn't smell rotten, no... plus, he's 100% sure that most of the people here are just robots or something else, just like the one on the previous room. That being said... The moment they arrived at the clearing, the huge bonfire was amazing. The ghouls are laughing while drinking shots, the skeletons are dancing, the mummies are eating, and many more. It's practically a halloween town. He was surprised that none of them stinks. He guessed that degree of realism would repulsed most people to enter again anyway, so it was toned down and limited to visual ones. Visual... still as scary as ever though. Honestly, he was about to bolt away if it's not for the fact he's in knee depth in this adventure...

and because of food.

Suusao seem to be very spirited in getting it down. Instead of eating any of the food, he immediately gone to the open air bar and ordered a shot. Beat noticed that everything ordered in here is free. When he asked it to a.. actually, he had no idea whether the skeleton is male or female, but from the "voice" that came out from it, it's seem to be female. Whatever the case was, he was welcomed by the skeleton and asked if he was hungry. Of course he is. Ignoring Suusao at the moment, and poor Tezla who is on the corner, Beat gone to the feast table. He saw so many delicious things here... To think that there are food... real food... Of course, Beat did not go on and immediately eat like a wild beast. That would be too suspicious. Instead, he gathered with some of the eating people and made small talks. Upon noticing his small body, lot of them seem to sympathize that he have to die young. He was offered some food, to which he ate gratefully.

While he made small jokes and cheerful talk to the elderies looking ghouls, he noticed that they wanted people to hear their story. They're lonely, and very eager to tell tales of their adventure. Sure there are lot of ghouls here, but he noticed that the pattern with some adventurer is that they want to impress new people because it felt good to be praised. Of course, when it come to innocence of a kid, they ate all those innocent praises like nectar. Beat however, not all that innocent. He also would tease these ghouls in friendly manner regarding whatever they said. In turn, they also would give even more outrageous claim that he would praise.

...Quite the black hearted guy now that he think of it, to use his innocence for this sort of thing. However, at the same time, he can't say he's having fun. There are fun in hearing these old ghouls talking about their past accomplishment... well "past accomplishment" rather than real one. He feel that they're probably programmed, but at any rate.... even fake stories could be very entertaining. However, he then noticed similarities to the tale of each one of the undeads here... Sure they have different background and shape, but...

His concentration were broken when he saw what Suusao is doing. Honestly, he... he never thought that the guy would be that bold doing something like that. I...Is that the rumored pole dance? Or is that the rumored dances that done at the club? To protect his eyes purity, he looked at other direction in a way that says "I really don't know that guy at all."

"By the way, kiddo... do you want to try some beer?" suddenly a skeleton offered.

"EH!? I-I'm underage!?"

"But it's fine, just a sip. You're dead already, right? Drink! Even if it's just for a little!"

He didn't see a way to escape. Beat stared at the golden liquid. His stomach already near full from the food... his throat perched, but they don't have water. At most they got cola. Plus, no one really want to stock water in a party at any rate... they would stock beer, these crazy animatronics... And thus, with no choice, Beat gulped it. The bitter taste made him cough, not expecting such a taste, but eventually he managed to drink all of it...

"...Uiii..."

...and his head felt strange. His alcohol tolerance must be very low. Even so, the kid managed to shake off enough of his tipsiness to see dancing Suusao.

"...Ha, what's that... I'll show you how the real dance should look!"

And Beat, in his daze started to breakdance. The drunk breakdancing ended up being a hit due to how ridiculous it looked. Had Beat not in such intoxicated state, he would probably do far better... but let's just say it's almost like a fish out of water. Even so it was very popular with the undeads. Soon, the door to the next stage is opened, but...

"...urgh..."

Beat is knocked out cold! At least from the undead they managed to get the head of the key. Now they just need the teeth of the key to complete the set. However, should they really press forward with their captain knocked out cold and looked like he could vomit at any time...? They're lucky that the connector to next part is apparently a long corridor, long enough for them to take a breather. Still, the next one would be probably a ride that they won't forget...

---

WC: 1191
TWC: 6900