Chapter 158 – The White Tower and the Hostage

Nielan Town, White Tower Hall.

Punk stood at the center of the hall carefully inspecting the operation of all magic arrays, while in the foul and filthy corner, an energy cage rested quietly.

The “guests” inside the cage were naturally Lotalan and Bilan.

The two young women had been brought here for some time, but trapped in the gloomy White Tower, they couldn’t gauge the passage of time at all.

After learning that Dichiduo had survived, Bilan’s hope was rekindled. She knew Dichiduo would definitely seek Kangkai’s help, and she sincerely anticipated the rescue from the kind ranger.

Meanwhile, Lotalan sat quietly with her knees hugged to her chest, not uttering a word. Her golden hair was disheveled, and no one could tell what was on her mind.

Bilan gently stroked the energy cage with her hand, but the only conclusion she could draw was—this cage was indestructible.

As time passed bit by bit, the White Tower remained as dark and lightless as ever.

Yet the fear in Bilan’s heart grew increasingly intense. What she feared was the figure standing motionless at the center of the hall. Just a few weeks ago, she had witnessed Punk drag a slave out of a cage, restrain them on the experiment table, and dismember them. Now, in the blink of an eye, she too was in a cage, awaiting her unknown fate.

“Dichiduo, I miss you so much… Where are you…”

Bilan murmured tearfully, her mind in complete disarray. She both hoped for Dichiduo’s heroic rescue and feared seeing him come here only to meet his demise.

“Dichiduo will definitely come, but if he does, he will surely die here.”

A voice in Bilan’s heart persistently declared this, firm and resolute, as if stating an insignificant fact.

“No, it won’t happen. Lord Kangkai will defeat Punk, defeat the evil mage. Isn’t that how all stories go? Dichiduo will be fine, everyone can be saved, Bilan, don’t let your imagination run wild!”

Bilan’s self-comforting words nearly turned into sobs, and tears once again filled the young woman’s eyes.

Even if she said it a thousand times, she couldn’t deceive herself. That intuition stood firm in her heart, like iron driven into her bones, impossible to ignore.

Just as Bilan was about to burst into tears again, the White Tower’s door was slammed open. Sunlight poured into the dark space, illuminating the young woman’s pupils.

“Bilan, where are you?”

“It’s Dichiduo’s voice!”

Bilan immediately stood up, gripping the bars of the cage tightly with both hands. She called out in a choked voice:

“Dichiduo, you fool! Why didn’t you run? Why did you have to come here? Don’t you have any brains? You… you really…”

At this moment, Bilan began to cry, her emotions a mix of joy and worry, unsure how to express such feelings.

“Bilan, I’m coming to save you!”

Hearing Bilan’s sobs, Dichiduo immediately tried to charge into the White Tower, but a strong hand gently rested on his shoulder—Kangkai stopped him.

“Even for the sake of rescue, we must not lose our composure.”

“But…”

Forced to halt at the White Tower’s entrance, Dichiduo anxiously turned to look at Kangkai.

All he saw was Kangkai’s reassuring smile.”Believe me, I will rescue Bilan, I will rescue Lotalan, and no one will come to harm.”

But such passionate determination was destined to be short-lived.

“Facing death yet remaining unaware, boasting shamelessly without realizing it—Kangkai, your caliber is merely this.”

Abruptly, a chilling voice interrupted the conversation between Kangkai and Dichiduo. Clearly, Punk had seen enough of this drama and was growing impatient.

Hearing Punk’s words, Kangkai glared furiously toward the shadowy White Tower and shouted:

“Punk, I never imagined you could be so despicable—kidnapping innocent girls. Do you feel no remorse at all?”

“None whatsoever. In fact, I find it quite amusing. Don’t you think this demonstrates cleverness?”

Punk replied to Kangkai with detached calm.

“Beyond redemption! You will inevitably face righteous judgment…”

“Then let’s test that theory. Why not step inside? You’re the fearless champion of justice—surely you won’t hesitate before evil like me?”

Punk spoke to Kangkai with a mocking half-smile.

“It seems you possess some intelligence, knowing better than to casually enter a mage’s domain. Very well—I’ll spare these three insects and won’t seek retribution later. In exchange, you enter the White Tower to face me, preventing harm to those ‘innocent girls’ you mentioned. How about it?”

Punk slowly laid out his terms, presenting an offer Kangkai couldn’t refuse.

If they fought recklessly here, regardless of who won between Kangkai and Punk, Dichiduo and the others would undoubtedly be obliterated in the crossfire—an outcome Kangkai could never accept.

“I never fear battling evil, regardless of time or place. But how can I trust your promise? Unless you swear by a deity as witness, I’d rather take Dichiduo and leave than have all three of them die here. In the great teachings of the Church of Oubai, salvation takes precedence over eliminating evil. Moreover… your true objective is that wooden box, isn’t it? I suspect you’re more impatient than I am.”

Kangkai suppressed his rage and spoke in a low voice.

A believer’s oath in a deity’s name cannot be broken—otherwise the deity reserves the right to deliver divine punishment directly. Kangkai believed Punk wouldn’t dare violate such an oath.

Puck secretly sneered inwardly. Bilan was crucial as a soul candidate for his Flesh Golem—how could he simply give her up? But outwardly, he maintained a solemn expression and declared loudly:

“I, Punk-Cyan, swear by the witness of the Goddess of Magic Mystra that I shall never seek any retaliation against these three afterward!”

Having spoken, Punk dissolved the energy cages imprisoning Lotalan and Bilan, allowing both girls to run behind Kangkai.

Seeing the three “hostages” safely outside the White Tower, Kangkai snorted coldly and strode into the sinister structure.

Though he sensed the fluctuations of magical traps, he remained confident in his hidden trump card—Obad-Hai’s Necklace. Its “Ethereal” ability had already claimed countless enemies.

Simultaneously, Kangkai felt some resignation. As a follower of Oubai, retreating before evil was absolutely forbidden—even when fully aware it was a trap!Just after Kangkai entered the White Tower, a summoned steel gate suddenly blocked the tower’s only exit. Now, the White Tower would become the battlefield for both Punk and Kangkai.

“I don’t know whether you’re fearless out of ignorance or truly overconfident, but you should never underestimate a prepared mage—especially when this mage knows you very well”!

Kangkai had just entered the White Tower and was about to use his Combat Skill—Saw Wheel to slash at Punk. But in the next instant, he horrifyingly discovered that his body couldn’t move. Most terrifying of all, his most relied-upon power—the Necklace’s intangibility—had no effect!

Please add to collections, subscribe, and vote… Mwah!

Everyone, please give more votes~ Let my recommendation votes reach ten thousand—don’t let it look too pitiful, meow~

(End of Chapter)