Chapter 206 Kidnapped?
That middle-aged man noticed Jack's gaze and smiled. "Let me guess, you were wanting to see this?"
"I mean, who wouldn't," joked Jack, glancing back at the peak-tier spellbook.
"I'm about to purchase it, but I don't mind if you check it out. In fact, you can have it, but I'd like to chat with you in private first," said the man.
Jack gave him a strange look. "Are you serious?"
"Completely. But your wives and the others can't know about this, Jack."
With a serious face, Jack stared at the man. He knew that this mysterious man would only recognize him if he had been informed by someone.
"Who told you?"
"I'll tell you when we're alone. Come," the man replied, turning toward the front desk to purchase the spell for almost thirty thousand gold. "What are you waiting for? If you don't hurry, they'll notice."
Then, the man left the shop without giving Jack another look.
Torn about what to do next, Jack took a moment to think before he quietly left the shop.
Thinking about it, Jack knew that it could either have been Sterfen or the champion of the association that had sent this man. And since it was most likely Sterfen, there was a chance of it being that person.
The moment Jack exited the store, a hand grabbed him from behind and pulled him into an alley.
"Shhh…"
Slowly, the hand uncovered Jack's mouth, but Jack said nothing. It was the man he had just spoken to.
The man quickly wrapped Jack up in heavy-duty rope and pulled him into a run-down shop at the end of the alley. Once inside, the man waved his hand and red energy filled the space. He had cast silence.
"So, Jack, got any ideas on who I am?"
"Are you Kori?"
"Bingo!"
Suddenly, the man's appearance changed. His average looks became sharper and more defined. Now his physique was lean yet powerful. The smile on his face felt intoxicating as if it had some sort of bestial charm.
"I'm glad you could figure it, but please don't break free, not yet."
Confused by everything, Jack nodded and kept listening.
"Now, please bring out that fox companion of yours. There's something I need to know," stated Kori, still showing his bewitching smile.
The next moment Bowzer was summoned from the ring and saw Jack tied up. Without hesitation, Bowzer leaped forward to break the ropes. But suddenly, Bowzer found himself unable to get closer to Jack.
Looking back, Bowzer saw the handsome man who was holding tight to his tail. "Who are you and what are you doing to Jack?"
"Trust me, I have a reason for this."
That's all he said before he suddenly vanished. Before Bowzer could do anything, Kori was behind him and had already wrapped that same rope around Bowzer's legs and tail, rendering Bowzer immobile.
"Now that the hard part is over, I can finally get down to business."
"What do you want!" roared Bowzer.
"By any chance, little fox, did you ever consider why I can understand you even though you can't yet speak with telepathy?" Kori sat down in front of his "hostages" and propped his head on his fist.
"I…" confused, Bowzer stammered.
"I'm Kori, otherwise known as the Fox God," Kori introduced himself to the now silent Bowzer. "And you, little fox, have been very hard to find."
"But, honestly, that's actually a good thing," added Kori.
"Were you the one hunting me down?! Were you the one who caused my mother's death?!" Furious, Bowzer snarled and bared his fangs at Kori, despite knowing that he was too weak to threaten the god.
"I'm definitely a part of that mess, but I never would've wished that fate on your mother… In fact, I wish I could've found you sooner. If I had, then maybe she would still be here with us," replied Kori, whose smile was now self-mocking.
"W-what do you mean?" asked Bowzer.
"I don't have much time, so I'll be brief," stated Kori. "Little fox, I'm sorry that I, your father, was unable to protect both my wife and my son when they needed me most. I'm a failure as a father and I won't bother begging for forgiveness. All I can offer is this."
While both Jack and Bowzer were frozen in disbelief, Kori stood up and snuck a ring into the ropes holding Jack bound.
"That's a special ring that will stay with beasts, even after they take their human transformations."
"But how can--"
"Like I said, I don't have much time," Kori cut Bowzer off and shook his head. "Since I've said my piece and have passed that to you, I should get going. Take care, little fox. And boy, take care of my son."
Kori then placed his hand on Bowzer. At the same time, golden light filled the closed-off room and was absorbed into Bowzer.
Jack's system instantly recognized what was happening. Kori had just made Bowzer into a demigod like Sterfen had done to him.
"But you said you were--"
Suddenly, more ropes were wrapped around Bowzer's mouth, keeping him from saying more.
"Someday, you'll understand why I did this."
Just then, a pounding was heard at the door. When there was no answer, the door was destroyed, revealing the five girls from Jack's party.
They looked inside to see the same middle-aged man they had seen inside the magic shop. Also, they were livid to see Jack and Bowzer tied up.
Kori nodded and dashed through a window, shattering the boards that had covered it up.
As he vanished, a whisper reached both Jack's and Bowzer's ears. "Don't tell anyone, or you'll regret it."
The girls hurried to untie Jack and Bowzer, struggling with the ridiculously strong ropes. Surprisingly, none of them could break them. Eventually, the ropes were untied and Jack and Bowzer were free.
Eliza recognized that the ropes were used for hunting high-level beasts, meaning that man should've been stronger than everyone, yet had run away all the same. It was baffling.
"Jack, what happened?!" Maura was the first to pull Jack up and latch onto one of his arms.
"We're fine, don't worry about us," answered Jack, quickly storing the ring that Kori and passed him. "Really, he didn't do anything but tie us up. We don't even know why he did that."
"You get kidnapped and you tell us not to worry?!" Eliza grabbed his other arm. "You might have been forced to marry me, but that doesn't mean I don't care about you, Jack! Stop acting like you don't know us, even after we've been traveling together for months now. That's even longer than you knew Slivia."
"Eliza, that's--"
Interrupting Maura, Eliza continued, "But am I wrong? You've already married us and I'm pretty sure you're already used to being around us. So stop acting so distant!"
Her breathing was heavy and she clutched her hands against her chest. "Jack, all my life I've been dreaming about being with the man of my dreams like every other girl. Sure, I didn't know you, but you were still him! And now that I know you even more, I know how great of a person you are, I was lucky to marry you, and then you disappear and get kidnapped right in front of my eyes."
"You may not think so, but I was scared to death when I saw you tied up, about to be taken away from me…"
"...Eliza…" Jack mumbled, even more perplexed now than he was earlier getting fake kidnapped.
"Jack, don't act stupid now," added Keela. "Sure, we make act desperate at times, but we all do care about you. It only lasted for a second, but I think we were all terrified to see you like that."
"..."
Unsure of what was the best thing to say, Jack said nothing. Kori warned them to not mention the truth to anyone, but even the truth wouldn't help him out now.
"Jack… we really were worried about you. And that's going to happen whether you like it or not…" Maura averted her gaze, trying to hide her teary eyes and her red face.
"I'm sorry, okay."
"Don't just say that!" shouted Eliza, still trying to get over her rampant emotions. "If you're sorry, then treat us like any other man would his wives."
"... I guess I can do that much," stated Jack. "I would pat your heads or hug you, but you're not really letting me."
Instantly, the girls released him and helped him up.
He did exactly what he had said and gave each of them a tender hug, thanking them for coming to find him.
Jack returned Bowzer to his ring and left with the girls. For the whole afternoon, he let them shop for a few more outfits and items.
After that, the ladies were all feeling better, including Lina, who only understood what had happened after they explained it while shopping and she had burst into tears of the thought of losing her big brother.