Chapter 197

【This time, no matter what, I can't let you pass... Please turn back, or I'll have to get down on my knees and beg you!!】

The Hound member spoke the softest words in the toughest tone.

【Eh?】

【Stelle, what on earth did you do that's so heinous.....】

Seeing this Hound member reduced to such a pitiful state,

March 7th's gaze toward Stelle grew a little strange.

【Wait a moment, Mr.....】

【We have documents granted by the family, and we'll assist you all with your investigation. Could you do us a favor and let us meet that Mr. Gallagher?】

At this moment, Himeko took out the proof given by the family and showed it to this Hound member.

【Just who is this Gallagher you keep talking about?】

【Several people have already mentioned that name to me. That grey-haired one mentioned it last time too.】

Upon hearing the name Gallagher,

this member of the Hound family lineage

wore a face full of confusion.

【Huh?】

【Wasn't it he who sent you here?】

March 7th scratched her head. She was a bit confused now.

【It was the magistrate my lord who sent us. I can't say anything more than that.】

The Hound member offered one line of explanation.

【Well, that's perfect then — the one we're looking for is exactly him!】

March 7th said it as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

【It really won't do.】

【The boss said it concerns the family's honor — no one can be let through.】

【Please turn back, everyone. There's really no need for us to make things hard for each other, right?】

The Hound member's tone was so meek he was nearly moved to tears by the difficulty of his position.

【I'm very sorry for the trouble.】

【Let's go, Stelle, little March. We'll think of another way.】

Himeko felt too embarrassed to keep making things hard for this person,

so she wanted to take the two of them and leave, to find another way out.

【Another way..... Right!】

【Didn't Stelle say that last time it was thanks to that..... clock trick that she made this big brother change his mind?】

【Can you perform it again, Stelle?】

【You know — that amazing magic trick of Clock Boy's!】

The moment another way was mentioned,

March 7th immediately recalled the clock trick Stelle had bragged to her about before.

She wanted her to rely on this method once more to deal with the Hound member before them.

【Just waiting for you to say that!】

With March 7th egging her on,

Stelle instantly felt the psychological burden lift.

【Hey, I'm counting on you, Stelle!】

March 7th gave Stelle a cheeky grin.

Then, Stelle began to pull the same old trick on this Hound family lineage member, using the clock trick.

This time, she once again adjusted this Hound member's mood into one of simmering resentment.

And so....

【You grey-hair..... why won't you listen to a word I say?!】

【The magistrate's orders are absolute — let me tell you, not even the wind can enter this plot of land ahead, not the rain, and not even the Dreammaster if he came!】

Under the influence of the clock trick,

this Hound family lineage member transformed directly into a hot-tempered old brother,

jabbing a finger at Stelle's nose and beginning to berate her loudly.

【Even if the Dreammaster really came, he still can't enter?】

Hearing his words spoken with such bravado,

Stelle couldn't help but fire back with a question.

【Obviously! Even the Dreammaster can't—....】

【.... Er, we'll talk about it when the Dreammaster actually comes!】

【Besides, that was just a metaphor, a metaphor! Get it?!】

【I'm warning you — if you keep pestering me like this, I'm going to show you my real strength!】

The Hound family lineage member's attitude was extremely overbearing; he even began to threaten Stelle.

【Um, Stelle, he seems kind of angry now. Maybe we should just......】

March 7th watched the Hound member flying into a rage,

tugged at Stelle's sleeve, wanting to slip away.

"Hah, would you dare defy me, the one who wields a baseball bat?"

Stelle paid it no mind and pulled out her own big stick.

"Sigh, humans truly can never understand one another..."

Stelle's attitude left this member of the Hound family deeply disappointed.

"... Tch, even if Qlipoth came now, Preservation couldn't save him."

March 7th felt that, with things said to this extent,

fighting was clearly the only option left.

"Resistance will only mean a pointless death—why can't you understand—Go, Troupe of Sweet Dreams!"

"Teach them a Henhendi Sect lesson!"

The Hound family member could stand no more and began to act.

But a moment later...

"Must we repeat this same outcome again..."

"It seems you and I are both trapped in this hopeless cycle."

Beaten black and blue once more,

this Hound family member began to sigh with inexplicable emotion.

"Uh... what is he saying?"

March 7th hadn't caught it.

"But this time, I will sever these tragic chains—you shall not pass no matter what, unless you step over my corpse!"

The Hound member's expression suddenly turned resolute.

"This guy's mental state is way too heavy... right?"

March 7th truly didn't know what to say.

"Tch, looks like he still has no intention of Songkou..."

This person had been beaten, and reason had been laid out,

yet he remained unmoved,

and Stelle immediately felt things were getting tricky.

But when she saw this Hound member's heavy expression,

she figured that maybe cheering him up a bit might turn things around, perhaps...

So she once again performed her clock trick,

changing this person's emotions to joy.

Who would have thought the effect was actually immediate!