Chapter 61: Taking Advantage of Chaos

"Commander, there's something strange about its lantern!"

As Corona spoke, the lantern held by the Pumpkin King suddenly emitted a vivid, conspicuous red light before everyone's eyes. Corona's Mental Perception could render any designated target strikingly visible—a remarkably convenient ability in moments like this.

"Chris, Eluka, cover me!"

At Ferren's command, Chris and Eluka sprang into action. Eluka raised her laser rifle and pulled the trigger hard. Under the effect of Ferocious Firepower, the rifle unleashed a wild barrage; countless laser beams shot out, pouring toward the Pumpkin King like a torrential downpour.

"Wa-ha-ha!"

Faced with the storm of gunfire, the Pumpkin King shrieked and hastily raised its lantern. Blue flames swirled from within, flowing out to form a barrier before it. Meanwhile, Chris dashed forward, quickly pulling two flashbangs from her belt. Seizing the enemy's distraction, she hurled them ahead with all her might. Drawing her handgun, Chris widened her eyes, tracking the spinning flashbangs as they arced through the air, then squeezed the trigger.

Bang! Bang!

Two shots rang out in quick succession. Under the effect of Absolute Lock-On, the bullets struck the whirling flashbangs with pinpoint accuracy. The impact sent the grenades, which had been tumbling downward, bouncing upwards before they erupted.

A blinding flash exploded across the battlefield. Caught off guard, the Pumpkin King screamed, throwing up its hands to shield itself. When it finally lowered its arms, it was startled to find Ferren looming out of the white glare like a specter, his scalpel gleaming with a strange, ruinous darkness as he sliced toward the Pumpkin King's lantern-holding right hand.

Sensing the danger, the Pumpkin King tried to retreat, but before it could react, a black cat leaped from behind Ferren with a piercing yowl. Instantly, icy cold swept through the air, causing the Pumpkin King's massive body to falter just as it tried to withdraw.

At that precise moment, Ferren's scalpel was already pressed to its fingers.

The blade, shimmering with dark radiance, sliced effortlessly through the ornate handle of the lantern, severing the fingers grasping it. The Pumpkin King could endure no more; it collapsed to the ground with a howl. Ferren, landing lightly, seized the lantern—almost as tall as he was—and swiftly retreated.

Yet the Pumpkin King made no move to pursue. Clutching its severed hand, it rolled about, shrieking. As it writhed, the wall of fire that had encircled the group quickly receded, vanishing in moments.

"Is it... over?" Eluka and Chris exchanged glances, watching the Pumpkin King—now blubbering and thrashing like a spoiled child—while keeping a wary eye on their foe. The creature, however, seemed oblivious to their presence; it merely clung to its injured hand and wailed. After a while, the giant pumpkin head realized it had a bigger problem than its lost fingers. Sullenly, it turned to Ferren and extended both hands—one hardly needed to understand a familiar's language to grasp its meaning.

"All right, it's done," Ferren said with a satisfied smile. Striding forward, he squatted beside the dispirited Pumpkin King. Upon seeing the lantern in Ferren's hand, the Pumpkin King's jack-o'-lantern face grew anxious, gesturing frantically as if pleading for something. Ferren's smile only softened.

"Oh? You want this? If you want it, you have to say so! How would I know otherwise? If you want it back, you'll have to show some sincerity... Do you understand?"

The Pumpkin King pondered for a moment, then reached into its bosom and produced what looked like a handful of coins, placing them before Ferren. Eluka and her sisters gasped in astonishment—these were energy chips.

As ability users, the three sisters knew how precious energy chips were. Ferren had previously given them thirty, enough to purchase a well-equipped mechanized squad. Yet here, the Pumpkin King offered a similar number as if they were mere snacks!

"Is this all?"

Unlike his companions, Ferren showed no excitement. He rapped the lantern beside him and looked expectantly at the Pumpkin King. With a furious cry, the creature glared, but eventually hung its head in defeat. Reaching into its chest again, it produced two more handfuls—but this time, instead of chips, it held out a crystal. Trapped within the crystal, a tiny figure could be seen.

Ferren blinked in surprise, and Delin's voice sounded in his mind.

(Master... is that a Summoning Crystal?)

"Indeed, who would have thought... this thing would have something like that..."

After a silent exchange with Delin, Ferren shook his head and smiled, pocketing both the crystal and the energy chips. He rapped the lantern once more.

"Is that really all you have?"

"Wa-ha-ha!"

Incensed, the Pumpkin King let out a piercing laugh, twin flames blazing in its cavernous eye sockets. The blue fire that had vanished before now reappeared, roaring forth in an attempt to engulf Ferren and his companions. Eluka and the others instinctively retreated, but Ferren stood his ground, smiling serenely as he patted the lantern. The Pumpkin King's bravado lasted barely a minute before it fizzled out like a punctured balloon. Head drooping, it rummaged inside its pumpkin body for some time. Finally, with the air of a condemned soul, it presented Ferren with a rag doll.

A rag doll—just like those little girls clasp to their hearts in childhood—a teddy bear, perhaps?

"Excellent. I'm quite satisfied," Ferren replied, his expression unchanged. The three sisters, however, regarded the toy with bemusement, at a loss for words. How could such a seemingly ordinary plaything be so precious to this familiar?

Yet, before they could dwell on it, a more pressing question perplexed them—wasn't this, in essence, a robbery?