The Smiling Death-Chapter 307: Exchanging some Information

Amon walked through the dense dark forest with a corpse-like being on his back, carrying him like some childhood friend. He decided to move in the direction told to him by Vetaal.

"Vetaal... How did you get stuck here? You said you have been here for more than a thousand years." Amon tried to start a conversation.

’Damn! I really am doing something very crazy. To think I took a suspicious undead with me, who might not even be human. He might use me. But I still made such a stupid decision.’

Amon didn’t have much trust in this Vetaal guy. But he also didn’t want to travel alone.

Vetaal hummed slightly, trying to remember something that happened a long time ago. "I was just trying to fight someone... too strong. I made an enemy out of her. And because of that, I was trapped here by her."

Vetaal told him in short, not too descriptively like old men when they tell their life stories. Though Amon wanted it to be the latter. He wanted to hear some old-time story while continuing their journey. It could be a good pastime.

"Oh come on, Vetaal! You can tell me in a little more detail. Like who was she? Why did you fight? What was the time? Year? How did you two become enemies? I am pretty bored. It would be good if you could tell me in more detail."

After hearing Amon’s words, the undead chuckled. "Young man, why should I tell you my story? We didn’t have any deal about that. I am not obliged to tell you my past."

Amon suddenly felt irritated. "Tch!" He clicked his tongue and focused on the road ahead.

"Hahaha! Got annoyed? Well, Amon, all I can say is it’s better if you know as little as possible about me," he told Amon in a heavy tone.

Amon flinched at his words. Fear crawled all over his body. ’What does he mean? Is he some kind of big shot in the past?’

Amon thought about many possibilities and decided to stop asking about his past.

"Okay, no need to tell." Amon remained silent for a while.

But then Vetaal asked him, "Tell me about yourself, Amon. About the current world outside."

Amon snorted softly and kept walking.

"Hah... you didn’t tell me about your life but want to know about me and the current world? No chance."

He adjusted Vetaal slightly on his back and continued forward, pushing aside low branches as he followed the direction the undead had given him.

The forest here was darker than before. The trees stood tall and tightly packed. Sunlight barely reached the ground. Only thin rays slipped through cracks in the canopy.

Vetaal remained quiet for a few seconds. Then, "Hehe..."

A strange, sheepish chuckle escaped from his dry lips.

"Young man, don’t be so cold," Vetaal said in a lighter tone than before. "I was only asking out of curiosity. After all, I have been here for... a very long time."

Amon didn’t respond.

"I might have been asleep for centuries," Vetaal continued. "The world must have changed a lot."

Still no answer. Amon kept walking.

Step

Step

Inside, he was thinking carefully.

’This guy is dangerous. I should not tell him too much. What if he was some villain in the past? What if he has enemies? What if telling him about kingdoms and powers gives him ideas?’

He didn’t trust Vetaal fully. But he also knew one thing. He needed him.

Without Vetaal’s guidance, he might truly be trapped in this strange region forever. Vetaal’s bony fingers tightened slightly around Amon’s shoulder.

"Amon," he said softly, almost gently. "You misunderstand me."

Amon raised a brow. "Oh?"

"If you tell me about the current world... about kingdoms, powers, strong individuals... in return, I can tell you things that might be very confidential."

That made Amon slow down.

"What things?" he asked cautiously.

Vetaal smiled.

"Information. About the past, about what happened in my time. I won’t tell you about myself or how I came here, but I can tell you some amazing things."

Silence stretched for a moment.

"Also, you know...," Vetaal continued. "This place is not just a forest. It is... sealed. A sealed part of the island."

Amon’s eyes narrowed.

"Sealed?"

"Yes. There are boundaries you cannot see. Creatures you cannot sense. And paths that lead nowhere unless you know the trick."

Amon swallowed.

"You think you can just walk toward the coastline?" Vetaal chuckled. "Without guidance, you might walk in circles for months. That’s why I will help you, and in that way, I will also get out of here. You have to help me though. There are some things only you can do."

Amon clenched his jaw. That... sounded possible. This place already felt wrong. Vetaal leaned his chin lightly on Amon’s shoulder.

"If you share information with me," he whispered, "I will share more than directions. I will tell you about the hidden things that are here. About what hunts at night. About what you must never look at."

Amon’s heart skipped slightly.

’Never look at?’

Vetaal continued smoothly, almost like a merchant now.

"Wait! We already made a deal about you helping me out! So these things are something you had to tell me. Now you also want to take current world information from me while giving me something that was already in our deal."

Amon hit the mark.

"Haha, you caught on... but I didn’t lie about everything... I will tell you about the past world."

That really sounded interesting to Amon. Amon’s steps slowed further.

’Information is power. And if it’s about a thousand years old... also from a man who is from that time, then it would be very valuable. Most historical information these days is wrong or changed. We can never say that everything written in history is true,’ he thought.

He had survived this long because he adapted. Vetaal spoke again, softer now.

"Come now, young Amon. I am not asking for your secrets. Just tell me about the current era. The major kingdoms. The power system. Who rules the lands now."

Amon stayed silent. His thoughts raced.

He thought about the pros and cons.

Any risks here. What benefits he could get from this.

He didn’t have many options anyway. Finally, he exhaled slowly.

"...Fine," he said.

Vetaal’s lips curved upward.

"But," Amon added sharply, "you answer properly too. No half answers. Also no hiding important things about this island."

Vetaal chuckled in amusement. "Deal."