Mr. Death in the Steam World

Following the lingering warmth of the flames in the air, Moen quickly found Phils.

"Ignis! Ignis! Ignis!"

He initially thought that something was wrong with Phils that caused such a commotion, but judging from the situation, the problem is quite serious.

However, the problem lies with the Mad Hatter.

The Mad Hatter looked far more disheveled than he had been in the rose garden.

Phils's fire arrows clung to him like a leech. He barely managed to dodge one by throwing his hat, but in the blink of an eye, two more fire arrows flew toward him.

Looking at Phils, who was firing at full power and practically using fire arrows like a Gatling gun, Moen wondered if he had mistaken her for someone else.

He remembered that when he first entered Wonderland, Phils had a hard time even killing two Nightmare cards.

How long has it been? How come she's chasing after the Mad Hatter now?!

"Hmph, isn't it all thanks to my efforts?"

The white rabbit peeked out from under Moen's feet, and the Cheshire Cat came to Moen's side as well.

He pointed arrogantly to Phils's pocket, and Moen looked closely and saw a bulging bag inside.

"Do you remember when we first met, I asked you to send some tea? I haven't given out that bag of tea yet!"

"Hasn't some fool betrayed us? In that case, he's not fit to enjoy these teas—oh no, he deserves to enjoy them."

The white rabbit revealed a sinister smile.

As it says, Phils's problem wasn't a lack of firepower; her biggest problem was actually insufficient mana supply.

Now connected with a magic reservoir, Phils perfectly demonstrated the charm of the "firepower suppression theory".

The Cheshire Cat also laughed:

"Marcus, there's a famous saying in the magic world, I don't know if you've heard it."

"There's nothing in this world that ten flaming arrows can't solve; if there is, then fire a hundred more!"

With the help of the White Rabbit and the Cheshire Cat, the Mad Hatter's movements are restricted, and he is hit by flaming arrows more and more often.

Finally, after being struck directly in the face by a huge flaming arrow, he collapsed to the ground.

Moen approached and examined the Mad Hatter closely. After confirming that the Mad Hatter was unconscious, he was about to turn around and praise Phils when he saw a pleased expression on her face.

The flame in her hand flickered continuously, originally a pure crimson, but now tinged with a hint of orange.

"What is she doing...?"

Moen tried to get closer, but White Rabbit grabbed his trouser leg.

"Hey kid, don't bother her yet, that girl..."

The Cheshire Cat picked up the conversation, staring intently at Phils:

"...It's time to advance to the next level."

Just as Phils's flames turned completely orange, the flames shot into the sky and faintly formed a crown above her head, with a precious jewel embedded in it.

A magic array appeared beneath her feet, and four runes shot into the sky, tracing mysterious paths in the air before transforming into a second precious pearl, positioned to the right of the first.

Suddenly, the flames blazed brightly, and the White Rabbit and the Cheshire Cat both squinted.

"This girl's destiny is the Crown..."

"What was her last name again? Oh, Ignis? No wonder, that makes sense, that makes sense."

Under everyone's watchful eyes, the crown gradually dissipated, and Phils slowly opened her eyes, a flash of fire in them.

She looked at her hands, somewhat incredulous.

"I...I'm a second-tier magician? I'm a second-tier magician!"

The orange flames danced in her hands, reflecting her inner excitement.

If being a first-tier magician is merely a glimpse into the basics, then being a second-tier magician means that she has already taken a solid step on this path.

"My tea leaves!!!"

White Rabbit quickly stepped forward and felt a pang of heartache seeing the tea bag in her pocket, which had become quite shrunken.

This outburst wiped out most of his collection accumulated over the past fifty years.

"Hmm..."

Not far away, the Mad Hatter groggily got up from the ground, and Moen prepared to pull the trigger without saying a word.

"Hey, hey, hold on—I'll slap you to death, you traitor!"

The White Rabbit rushed over from Fils's side, knocked Moen's gun aside, slapped the Mad Hatter several times, and knocked him unconscious.

"Do you like fire arrows? Don't you like backstabs? Throw me a hat too, let's see! Go to sleep!"

Moen silently looked at the gun in his hand, knowing that the White Rabbit was pretending to scold and beat the Mad Hatter, but actually stopping him from finishing him off.

The Cheshire Cat also looked at Moen, its eyes filled with a silent plea.

Moen sighed and finally put down his gun.

Killing the Mad Hatter would inevitably strain his relationship with the White Rabbit and the Cheshire Cat to the point of no return, which is not worth it.

He looked up at the pocket watch in the air; the ticking was becoming more and more rapid. There was only half an hour left before they were expelled.

Since the Queen of Hearts did not pursue them, she must have prepared an ambush in the castle, but their current military strength is obviously stronger.

"We don't have much time, Cheshire Cat. I can spare his life, but at least make sure he doesn't get in our way. Do you have a plan?"

The Cheshire Cat thought for a moment, then summoned a dark mist to cover the Mad Hatter's mouth and nose.

"This mist was my signature skill when I was still a magician. Unless I break the spell myself, he'll never wake up in this lifetime."

"In that case, let's go."

So the group quickened their pace and returned to Red Heart Castle, but things did not go as Moen had expected.

Not only was the first floor deserted, but even the castle gates were not closed again, remaining as they were when he rushed out.

They carefully inspected the road ahead and found no traps.

They made no trouble at all until they reached the entrance to the throne room; they didn't even see a single playing card soldier.

Facing the gate, both Moen and Fils were momentarily dazed.

Once he pushes open this door, regardless of the outcome, his 48-hour journey to this wonderland will come to an end.

The hall was brightly lit.

The toys Lily had been playing with were scattered haphazardly on the floor, but Lily was nowhere to be found.

The Queen of Hearts sat high on her throne, calmly watching the uninvited guests intrude.

She clapped:

"Well done, outsiders. In just two days, you have managed to come before me. This ability is commendable."

"Enough with the nonsense, hand over that girl, you old woman!"

The white rabbit took a step forward, its face fierce.

The Queen of Hearts has always been very sensitive about the topic of age, but she did not get angry when she heard this.

"White Rabbit, you've been with me for so many years, and you're still so impatient."

"I am not yours—" the white rabbit tried to retort, but was stopped by the Cheshire Cat with its tail.

No matter how much the White Rabbits deny it, they are still the Queen's "subjects," and even if they try, they cannot harm the Queen.

The Queen of Hearts ignored him and turned to look at Moen.

"Outsiders, I know what you want." Her fingers tapped lightly on the armrest of the throne.

Moen frowned slightly: "You're willing to release them?"

"I don't want to," the Queen of Hearts answered decisively, "but I can't keep her, can I?"

She stood up and slowly walked down the steps.

With each step, a black and white stripe illuminates on the floor tiles of the throne room, as if some kind of ritual is being initiated.

"I've lost everything except Lily. If you really want to take her away..."

Beneath the throne, streaks of black and white lines shot out, instantly covering the entire throne room.

"...Then step over my dead body first."