271 THERE ARE MORE OF THOSE DAMNED BOOKS
"Because you did live it," Yun-Yun reminded him, a knowing smile on her face.
Petunia stepped forward, her expression serious. "What's next, Leo? What's the plan now?"
Leo, now armed with his shadow minion's knowledge and memories, didn't hesitate. "We head to Debauchery City," he declared firmly.
"You're sending your shadow minion to Debauchery City? Isn't that risky?" Sujira asked, confused.
Yun-Yun frowned at the suggestion. "I don't think your shadow minion could manage the threats in Debauchery City. If you're serious about going there, we'll need to bring the dungeon with us."
Petunia looked uneasy. "Move the dungeon again? And what about your promise to Rabama? You said you'd keep Hanna here for him."
"The dungeon is a part of me now. Wherever I go, the dungeon goes with me", Leo replied.
-----
Leo met Rabama on the roof of Eoloth for their usual drinks, the warm breeze carrying the scent of distant storms. Leo came prepared to discuss his plans to leave the city soon, but Rabama caught him off guard.
"Friend, I have a problem," Rabama muttered, his gaze distant.
Leo remained seated, his eyes narrowing slightly. "What troubles you?"
Rabama sighed, rubbing a hand over his face. "Sophinia is starting to grow suspicious of my secret visits to the waterfall. If I'm not careful, she'll find out everything."
Leo exhaled slowly, his mind already working. This was the very issue he had come to address.
"If Hanna is the cause of your problem, then you should let her go. Your grudge against her should have ended by now, there is no reason to be obsessed with her," he suggested.
Rabama hesitated, his eyes clouding over with memories. A part of him still clung to the past—to Hanna's betrayal, yes, but also to the warmth of the affection he had once felt for her.
"It's not that simple," Rabama admitted, his voice lower now. "As long as she's here, I can't seem to help myself. I keep returning to her, trying to release my anger, to put an end to us but…"
Leo's expression softened, but only for a moment. "Then send her away," he suggested.
Rabama shook his head immediately, "No. I can't do that." His eyes flared, as if the thought itself pained him. "You know what she did to me. How could I just forget it? She's the reason …"
Leo studied his friend for a moment, weighing the depth of Rabama's emotions. Before he could speak, a servant rushed toward them, her footsteps hurried across the stone.
"My lords, Lord Gubana is back."
------
"I've found it!" Lord Gubana shouted, his voice filled with excitement, completely disregarding Leo's presence as an outsider.
Kabana raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "What have you found?"
"The Giga Codex," Gubana announced, sending shockwaves through the room.
Leo's heart skipped a beat. Did he discover I took it? He felt a knot of unease tighten in his stomach.
"You—" Gubana suddenly pointed directly at Leo, his finger accusatory.
Leo froze, his mind racing for an explanation. But before he could speak, Gubana's next words stopped him cold.
"Why are you here?" Gubana continued, his gaze narrowing. "You're not part of the Eoloth family."
Leo exhaled in a silent sigh of relief. My secret wasn't found out. The weight in his chest lightened.
Rabama, clearly impatient, let out an exasperated grunt. "He already knows about the damn book. It's not a secret anymore."
He turned to Gubana, his voice dripping with annoyance. "Why are you still obsessed with the fucking book?"
Kabana asked, "Where is the Giga Codex now?"
Gubana's eyes flicked warily toward Leo before he spoke, his voice cautious but resolute. "It's in the Temple of Hera. They have several of them there."
"How can that be?"
"After the brides from the Temple of Hera came here to steal my Giga Codex, I used that clue to investigate the temple, what I found was…. They have more than one Giga Codex," he added.
The revelation stunned everyone, Leo included.
His first thought was relief that his theft of the Giga Codex wasn't exposed. But then it hit him—the Temple of Hera had more Giga Codex? That thought sparked a dangerous curiosity inside him.
There was more to be had.
Kabana, clearly skeptical, asked, "How are we supposed to get into the Temple of Hera? And what about the defenses? It sounds like a suicide mission."
Gubana grimaced. "I've found a way into the temple, but the real issue is the defenders. Too many of those bitches guarding it."
"This is a hopeless quest," Rabama muttered, clearly uninterested. He took a swig of his drink, eyes half-lidded.
Leo, who had been quietly listening, finally spoke. "Maybe there's a way to draw the assassins away from the temple."
Everyone turned to him. Gubana's expression was skeptical. "Really? And how do you plan to do that?"
Leo's eyes briefly met Rabama's before he spoke again, not willing to reveal too much just yet. "We can draw them here."
Gubana blinked, confused. "Why would they come here?"
Leo's gaze hardened. He had weighed the risk and decided it was time to be open.
"Because the Giga Codex is still in Eoloth."
"What?" Both Gubana and Kabana asked in unison, their voices filled with shock.
-----
They made their way to the waterfall behind the fortress. Rabama led the group through the cascading water and into the secret chamber hidden behind it. The air was cool, the sound of the waterfall muffling in their footsteps as they entered the shadowy room.
"I didn't know a place like this existed here, not after all these years," Lord Kabana murmured, looking around in surprise.
"I only discovered it recently," Rabama replied, a hint of mystery in his voice.
Gubana, ever impatient, crossed his arms. "There's nothing here but a secret room."
Rabama moved toward a wardrobe in the corner, his fingers brushing over the wood before he opened it. The interior seemed completely ordinary—nothing more than a dark, hollow space.
"Nothing inside," Kabana scoffed, shaking his head. "Do you think this leads to Narnia or something?"
"The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe."