"I came to see you, and thereâs also something I need your help with."
Nina Jacobs said, getting straight to the point.
"You need my help?
Youâre so powerful you even trounced the top-ranked combatant, and you still need me to help you?"
Sherry Renner was astonished.
She was just an overlooked nobody who occasionally told fortunes and sold water.
"Mm, do you remember Cole Dempsey?"
"Of course I remember!"
Sherry Renner nearly jumped out of her skin when Nina Jacobs mentioned his name.
She had returned with the other Superpower Users who were absorbed into the Superpower User Alliance. After saying goodbye to Nina Jacobs, she hadnât seen Cole Dempsey since.
"I figure you have ways of prying things out of him."
Nina Jacobs explained that Cole Dempsey was refusing to cooperate.
Sherry Rennerâs eyes immediately lit up with glee.
She rubbed her hands together, a sinister grin spreading across her face.
"Leave this to me, youâve come to the right person.
I guarantee Iâll make him tell us everything he should, and even things he shouldnât."
"Letâs just stick to what heâs supposed to say."
Nina Jacobs couldnât help but laugh.
âAs long as Sherry was willing to help, sheâd definitely find a way.â
When she brought Sherry Renner over, Myra Lawson happened to be standing outside the interrogation rooms.
Nina could faintly hear angry shouts and the sound of a table being slammed from inside one of the rooms.
She glanced around and saw there were at least six interrogation rooms.
Myra Lawson looked exhausted.
"Nina, youâre here?
And this is...?"
A smile immediately touched Myra Lawsonâs lips when she saw Nina.
"This is my friend, Sherry Renner.
Sheâs an expert in the field of Mysticism."
Nina replied with a smile.
Sherry Renner stared at Nina Jacobs with wide eyes.
This was the first time in her life she had been called an expert in Mysticism.
âAn expert...â
"Mysticism?"
Myra Lawsonâs eyes lit up.
Sheâd expected Nina to try an unconventional approach.
But she hadnât expected anything this unorthodox.
In the past, sheâd never believed in Mysticism.
But during the time Ian Chandler was missing, the only thing she could cling to was faith in the divine.
Combined with a series of dreams sheâd had, she couldnât help but feel a certain reverence for such matters.
âEven if she didnât believe, there was no harm in trying.â
"There seem to be more and more capable young women these days.
To think someone as young as Sherry would know about such things."
Myra Lawson said admiringly.
Even though she had no idea what Sherry actually knew.
"She once helped Cole Dempseyâs group locate several supply caches through divination."
Nina briefly recounted Sherryâs past ordeal.
"She... she can even divine the location of supply caches?"
Myra Lawson had not expected that at all.
When she looked at Sherry Renner again, her gaze held a new, probing quality.
Sherry Renner suddenly felt the pressure.
âNina didnât tell me a big shot would be here before she dragged me over, did she?â
Nina patted her on the shoulder and said,
"Donât feel too pressured. Just think about what Cole Dempsey did to you."
"Donât worry, maâam,
I will complete the mission!"
Sherry Rennerâs expression instantly turned serious.
"But before I start, Iâll need some vermillion and Talisman Paper. If you canât get that, regular yellow paper will do."
Sherry Renner said, a little sheepishly.
She was dirt poor now; she was lucky just to have food and water. Of all her old tools of the trade, only a chipped Compass remained.
"Thatâs simple. Iâll have Ian bring some over."
Shirley Lucas had also arrived. After overhearing their conversation, she had one of the people with her relay a message.
Just then, a weary-looking Myron Sinclair walked out of one of the interrogation rooms.
"Another one who doesnât know a thing."
Myron Sinclair said to Myra Lawson.
He frowned slightly when he saw Nina, apparently confused as to why she was there.
"I called Nina and her friend here.
Since you canât get anything out of him, letâs see if they can figure something out."
Shirley Lucas sat down next to Nina with a smile.
"If even a freak like you canât get anything out of him,
what good will they be."
Myron Sinclair said.
Nina could tell that Myron Sinclair clearly didnât welcome them.
"Myron, I think youâre just tired.
Why donât you go rest for a bit."
Myra Lawson interrupted their conversation.
Just then, Ian Chandler arrived, carrying a stack of yellow paper and a container of vermillion, among other things.
"Iâm not tired. I want to see how this âMartial Sorcererâ runs her scams."
Myron Sinclair said.
"I may be a Martial Sorcerer,
but Iâm no scam artist."
Sherry Renner was used to being doubted.
But this time, Nina had brought her here. She could lose her own face, but she couldnât disgrace Nina.
So, she earnestly picked up a brush, dipped it in the vermillion ink, and began to draw on the paper.
"Nina, what is she drawing? I canât make heads or tails of it."
Ian Chandler said, looking curiously at the complex patterns and intricate characters on the paper.
It was the first time in his life he had ever seen anything like it.
"Drakonia has a millennia-long cultural heritage. There are many things weâve never seen, which just means they exist outside our own fields of experience.
So itâs fine if you donât understand. Thatâs perfectly normal."
Nina replied, watching Sherryâs focused expression.
âIn her previous life, she had asked Sherry what wishes she had yet to fulfill.â
Sherryâs answer had been: to save the world.
"âThough I lack the wings of a phoenix to hold up the heavens, I would be the flame that lights the watchtower.â
It sounds ridiculous, doesnât it? But thatâs what my master taught me since I was a child.
I think he might have brainwashed me..."
Sherry had worn a look of disgust as she said it, but Nina knew at least seventy percent of it was what she truly believed.
âIf Sherryâs abilities could finally be recognized, perhaps it wouldnât be a bad thing for her.â
"Finished!"
Sherry Renner announced, cradling the Talisman Paper like a treasure and blowing on the still-wet ink.
"Then be my guest."
Myron Sinclair settled in, ready for the show.
"That Myron Sinclair is really close to Liam Grant,
and you beat Liam up so badly. Thatâs why heâs got a problem with you."
Shirley Lucas took the opportunity to whisper in Ninaâs ear.
Nina Jacobs nodded slightly.
âSo thatâs why.â
"Thanks. Your little grapevine is as reliable as ever."
"Iâll take that as a compliment."
Shirley Lucas said with a laugh.
Nina Jacobs and Sherry Renner entered the place where Cole Dempsey was being held.
"You two?!"
Cole Dempsey became instantly agitated the moment he saw them.
But he was restrained and couldnât move.
"Long time no see, Dempsey."
Nina greeted him with a smile.
"Even if they brought you in, I still donât know what I donât know."
Cole Dempsey quickly put two and two together.
âThese two must be the shelterâs reinforcements.â
His face hardened, and he refused to say another word.
"Iâll give you one more chance. Who is Hughes?"
Nina Jacobs asked.
A flash of astonishment flickered in Cole Dempseyâs eyes.
"So you do know.
Youâre just deliberately keeping quiet."
Nina could see that this Cole Dempsey was a loyal subordinate.
âShe wanted to ask what his relationship was with Liam Grant and Renee Strong, but she knew Myra Lawson and the others were watching from outside.â
âSheâd just have to investigate that slowly.â
"Donât worry. If he wonât talk,
I have my ways of making him talk. Hehehe."
Sherry Renner strode up to Cole Dempsey, a malicious grin on her face.
With a sharp CRACK, she slapped him across the face, leaving Cole Dempsey completely stunned.
"Still just resorting to torture. Hmph."
Nina heard Myron Sinclair mutter from outside the door.
However, before Cole Dempsey could react, a piece of Talisman Paper ignited between Sherry Rennerâs fingertips.
Cole Dempsey had just opened his mouth to curse when the burning Talisman Paper was stuffed into it.
"Swallow it!"
Another fist slammed into Cole Dempseyâs back, and he actually swallowed the half-incinerated Talisman Paper in one gulp.
"..."
Ninaâs expression was complicated.
âAre Sherryâs methods always this brutal...?â