"That looks on your face tells me that my gift pleased you, hehehe"

Zaarae cheekily laughed as she looked at the dumb and surprised look plastered on Arthur's face. He stood motionless for a solid five minutes before he lifted his head and looked at the Empress, who blew another kiss in his direction.

"Was 'that' even necessary?"

He looked angry but his tone indicated otherwise.

"Emm…" She giggled and replied, "It's a give and take. I gift you a useful thing and you give me a 'kiss'."

"You…"

She signaled for him to stop talking as she put her finger on her lips.

"One more word and I'll take you to my room and eat you."

Arthur glared at her but he didn't dare speak another word. He let out a helpless long sigh and sat, wanting to read more about the new skills and ambiguous titles. Buo Buo's Telekinesis was already strong but the one Zaarae just gifted him seemed overpowered, to say the least.

"With that, you don't need to fear anyone with Purple Stars or any Exalted God but do be careful of those who mastered their techniques, they're the most dangerous."

Just as Zaarae finished speaking, her expression abruptly changed. She appeared in front of Arthur and unleashed a domineering aura which made the calm black waters became turbulent. Ten seconds or so passed before a red light pierced through the grey clouds and stopped dozens of meters above the black ship.

The Empress' face seemed unusually serious as she glared at the mysterious individual who was looking down at all the crew and passengers.

"What a pleasant surprise!"

The man was wearing a funny costume that had a mix of red and purple, cards danced around him as he heartily laughed while looking at Arthur then at Zaarae, who recognized him. She never met the Joker but definitely knew of his existence, moreover, she felt inferior now that he's before her.

Her figure blurred and by the next second, she was in front of the Joker, punching his chest. Unfortunately, her fist stopped inches away from his body, a small card absorbed the force behind her attack, shocking the woman.

"There's no need for violence, I'm just passing by."

He waved his hand before vanishing and appearing in front of Arthur. Zaarae's face twisted as she was about to attack again only for Arthur to stop her with his hand,

"It's fine, I know him."

She fully trusted the parasite but didn't dare drop her guard. Her figure stood next to Arthur and her aura was still unleashed, causing most of the passengers to faint, with the exception of her companions, of course.

"Oh! You're a clone! Nice!"

The Joker patted Arthur's shoulder while smiling, appearing very happy. The parasite also smiled back at his brother and responded, "What brought you here?"

"The octopus is safeguarding something for me. I've come back to retrieve it."

"Octopus? You mean the Black Kraken?"

"Yeah yeah whatever, it's the same thing."

The Joker curiously looked at the nearby Shen Shen, who was also looking at him. He then shifted his attention to Fariya, whose face was incredibly pale.

"Bro, I get that Zaarae is with you but a succubus will surely anger sister-in-law. Just make sure to hide her well."

Arthur chuckled and retorted.

"There's nothing to hide, she's a slave but I'm not planning to bring her back."

"Good good!" The Joker snapped his fingers, causing a wide golden table and big leather chairs to appear around him. He sat on one of them and motioned for Arthur and the rest to sit too.

"I happen to have some good whiskey with me… how about a few glasses? Like the good old days."

"Sure."

Arthur immediately agreed as he laughed and sat opposite of his brother. Zaarae, still stone-faced, sat at Arthur's right while Shen Shen sat on the left, her blue eyes glued on the Joker, who acted strangely and comically.

Glasses filled with whiskey were pushed toward Arthur, Zaarae, and Fariya, while Shen Shen had a cup of hot milk.

The little girl glanced at milk then creased her brows, she didn't want to be treated like a little kid, despite the fact that she is.

"I want that too."

She pointed at the glass of whiskey but the Joker laughed and stated, "Brat, just drink your milk, 'kay?"

"I'm not a brat!" Protested Shen Shen but the man ignored her and emptied his glass, which was automatically and immediately filled again.

"Shen Shen, you're a bit young for this. Next time, okay?"

Only when Arthur spoke did the blue-haired girl calm down and obediently drink the hot milk, although reluctantly. However, her expression betrayed her, she licked her lips and looked at the empty cup with a disappointed look as soon as she emptied it.

"You see? You're a brat!"

The Joker mocked her and pointed his finger at the empty cup, filling it with chocolate hot milk this time.

"So, what brought my lil brother here?"

"Little brother?" Zaarae frowned and looked at Arthur, who just shrugged his shoulders.

"Got a little errand to do in the Land of Golden Sand."

"Is that so?" He swept secondary glances at the succubus, the Empress, and Shen Shen, then added, "Lively company you have here, especially the rude brat… she falls a little short in comparison to Saly."

…

The Joker and Arthur talked for several hours before the former bid farewell as his matter was a bit urgent.

"I didn't know you were brothers." Zaarae was very interested in Arthur's relationship with The Joker and she didn't hold back her questions but the answers she got were nothing but silence.

*****

"Hey! Wake up!"

The Joker kicked the gigantic head of the black Kraken, which violently shook before it opened its red eyes and looked at the man.

"Move your fat ass so I can enter."

The Kraken obediently and slowly moved its body to the side, revealing some sort of a whirlpool blacker than the mythical being itself. It was half of the Kraken's size and resembled a wormhole, though it emanated no light or energy.

The Joker was about to enter but, at the very last second, he turned to look at the black Kraken and said,

"Oh, lay a finger on that black ship and I'll cut, roast, and eat your useless tentacles."

He snorted and dived into the wormhole, disappearing the moment he got too close. The trip through this strange portal lasted three seconds and when the Joker appeared on the other side, he was standing on a moon-like planet, the sky was a vast black starry space.

"Time to fix the line conjunction… what a mess." He sighed and looked at an entity shrouded in a crimson fog.

"Wassup man!"

He energetically waved his hand at the man enveloped by that fog. He had the same appearance as his brother but the Joker knew better than to act recklessly and get close.

"Geez… vampires here are so scary."

54 cards appeared from his hand and spun around his body like a tornado, each emitting either a red, grey, or black light.

"I don't think you'll let me do my business quietly, right?"

A crimson beast soaked in blood leapt at the Joker, causing him to jump back and throw three cards, which were ripped by the blood droplets spat by the ferocious beast.

"Yeah… of course you won't."

*******

"Lemme see…"

Edward Ortberg held the piece in paper and read it for the tenth time, feeling lost.

"'The past kingdom now within reach, for the golden sand will rise, its glow full of praise.

The tomb raider now here, and the thief's identity is clear.

Since time immemorial the leaf is unshaken, it's time for it to be taken.'

I mean, isn't this a bit cheesy and out of place? What am I supposed to speculate from this?"

He looked at the awfully quiet forest then took out a brown apple and took a large bite, fully savoring the taste.

"What golden sand and past kingdom? I'm bored and stuck here… what the hell woman, can't you explain a bit before throwing me here?"

He chuckled, finishing the apple in three more bites before leaving the area, heading towards a random direction, which seemed to be the safest.