1604: Slap

Slap

Date- ???0

Time- ??? 

Location- Reverse Dungeon, Yellow Plain Planet, Freedom Fighter's Base, Plague Palace

"What do you mean impossible? It is just a golden grimoire, how hard can it be? I have seen you break into diamond grimoires in under a minute," Ned asked the demigod trying to break into Wyatt's grimoire. 

"Well, what can I say? I tried everything I usually use and think of on the spot but I failed to break into it repeatedly. I don't think that it is a regular golden grimoire. Since the boy is capable of creating something like VR-Universe, I would not be surprised if he has modified his grimoire," The demigod explained, he seemed to be very impressed by whatever modification Wyatt had down to his golden grimoire. 

"So, you are giving up already?" Ned asked in shock. This incident told more about Wyatt's capability than the demigod's failure. 

"No, I have collected the data. Give me some time I will figure something out," the demigod was not embarrassed unable to break into Wyatt's grimoire instead he seemed to be motivated. 

"Time, unfortunately, we do not have that," Ned uttered as he was really counting on Wyatt's wealth to meet the Freedom Fighters' immediate financial needs but this failure put a hold on all his plans. 

Ned then looked around the basement and realized this was not the conversation he was supposed to be having in the presence of the regular members of the Freedom Fighters. However, he underestimated them, these guys did not join the Freedom Fighters for money or riches, they joined it because they believed in its cause. Every day they got up from bed hoping to get a step closer to achieving their cause. 

"Commander Ned," A card king who was having his lower torso rebuilt by Joy's microorganisms spoke up, gaining the attention of every soul in the basement. 

"I have some money saved up for my daughter's marriage, It is not a lot but I hope you would put it to good use," the card king said. But then looking at the complicated looks on his commander's face he smiled and said, "Sir, she prefers a small wedding. So please do not feel burdened to use this money." 

Immediately after the card king, another member getting his left half of chest and shoulder treated spoke up, "Sir, my son is dumb I don't think he can ever pass middle school. I will be happy if he ever manages to graduate high school. So, please put his college funds to good use."

Soon one by one the members of the Freedom Fighters began to offer the money they had set aside for their family to help with the financial crisis. Each one of these guys was capable of leading a life that many dreamed of and struggled their whole life to achieve but they earned enough to settle their families and set some aside as a safety net. Then jumped on the opportunity to achieve something they felt was greater than them. The reason and motivation behind their choice was different but they all believed in the one cause. And for that, they did not hesitate to make further sacrifices. As they truly believed what they were fighting for was greater than them. 

The demigods, who had used their entire net worth to keep the Freedom Fighters running so far could not help but feel useless. The reason they went through all the trouble to shoulder the burden of keeping the Freedom Fighters running was because they not only wanted to protect the cause they stood for but also the people who believed in their cause. However, now they could not help but feel they were failing both their cause and the people who believed their cause. 

Regardless of their thoughts, the Demigods were happy feeling that their sacrifice until now in the name of the cause was all worth it. Even though they had yet to achieve their cause, seeing the members step up in their time of need showed that though they were far from achieving their cause they had made undeniable progress. 

"I heard there is no honor among thieves but you guys give it a new meaning. To think the Freedom Fighters would stoop low to steal money for their members' families in the name of a cause that is supposedly greater than all of them. Shame on you," A stern voice echoed in the basement of the plague palace breaking the emotional moment the members and the figureheads of the Freedom Fighters were having. 

This statement instantly brought a wave of dissatisfaction among the members of the Freedom Fighters, especially the demigods as it targeted them. The enraged crowd searched for the source of the statement, found that it originated from the center of the basement. As their gaze converged on the clear water pool, they saw Wyatt hover out of the pool and glance over them arrogantly until his gaze finally stopped on Joy and he said, "You have some interesting skills, it is a pity that you are a part of this band of thieves." 

The crowd was dumb-stricken to find that Wyatt continued to be arrogant under their intimidating glare. Before they could react, Luna exclaimed, "Wyatt, you are awake!" 

Luna dashed at Wyatt in excitement. Unlike her reserved self in the Sky Blossom City, she directly threw herself in Wyatt's embrace but to her dismay, Wyatt stepped aside. Then raising his left hand high, he slapped her defenseless soft cheek with all his might. Luna crashed into the clear water pool below as the thunderous sound of the slap echoed in the basement. 

"Consider yourself lucky. If not for Anna and the Southern royal family I would have killed you for stealing from me," Wyatt said not sparing a glance at Luna who crashed into the pool below but he continued to stare down the intimidating glares that had converged at him. These people had stolen from him, he should not be afraid of them but they should be afraid of him. 

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