The Systems Challenge-Chapter 468: Conversing With Frank

Jonas felt a little bad that he couldn't explain what was going on to Elmo. Just as he was glad that Kim was quick on the uptake about his ideas. Though, he fully understood her need to finish reading certain parts of the book she had. As it wasn't like she could just photocopy it in this world.

Though, if she could do that, Jonas couldn't help but wonder if the words would just return to the regular language of this world. Which would defeat the purpose of it, if so. A problem that he was at least thankful they didn't have to endure.

Although, as he thought about it while talking about random stuff with Frank, as he did his best to stall for time, he wondered if that might be a way to learn the language of this world. It might be relatively ineffective compared to getting a tutor, but at the very least, it would ensure that they'd be able to work at deciphering the language.

"So, what have you been up to since the library?" Frank asked, though Jonas could tell he was merely probing for information that he likely could use against him.

"Not a whole lot," Jonas replied as if he didn't sense the undertones of the question. "We sold the flower teeth we found to a friend we made in the capital when we were there last, plus, we were able to restock our food supply there."

While Jonas would rather not tell Frank anything, he figured that those pieces of information wouldn't hurt them any. Especially given the fact that Frank hadn't any clue as to what he meant by 'flower teeth.'

"Wait, 'flower teeth?'" Frank's expected question came right when Jonas expected it.

"Yeah, before we entered the library, we encountered a bunch of flowers that tried eating us. Afterwards, we noticed the teeth in their center, which had a kind of paralytic effect. Though, we're not sure how effective that would be when fighting someone. We think it was meant to make it easier for the flowers to eat their prey after they'd securely caught it."

Frank stared at Jonas for a minute. Jonas wasn't sure what the next question would be, but he was sure that he'd gotten him hooked. Though, he really did wish that he was making the whole thing up. As just remembering the fight made him still feel a little ill.

"What are you talking about?" Frank demanded softly. "When we entered the library there wasn't anything but miles of empty coastline. Essentially a desert aside from the ocean, or sea, or whatever it was."

Jonas would have allowed himself to be amused at how flustered Frank had gotten over deciding if it was a sea or an ocean, but Jonas had a feeling that Stanley's group had already tested the water to make sure it wasn't fresh water.

Although, as he thought about it, it was possible that it was a lake as well. As some lakes were rather large and had salt water too. He just wasn't really sure what the difference between a salt water lake and a sea would be.

Not that it mattered really.

"Well, that confirms a theory we had about the library," Jonas commented. "When we'd first learned about the library, we heard that it's supposed to move or something, but we wondered if maybe it had multiple entrances to it and that's why it seemed to move or whatever."

Frank looked like he was about to continue with his complaint, but stopped as Jonas' words sunk in. It was clear that he hadn't considered the possibility, but as he did, he sighed.

"Yeah, that sounds more like something this world would do."

Jonas nodded. While he didn't think that it was the world that did it itself, he wasn't going to argue. Not only would it be a waste of his time to try and explain it, but he was also pretty sure that Frank might demand the book right then and cut off the agreement that they'd made.

"So, what were you doing in that desert in the first place?" Jonas asked, feeling like there was probably a story there.

Frank merely shrugged. "Not sure. Thomas' pet cat takes us around randomly. I mean, it's not like we knew where to go in the first place, but if we got separated and something happened to that damned cat, I doubt we'd be able to find out way back here very quickly."

Jonas arched an eyebrow. Frank's tirade was more illuminating than he was sure Frank meant to be. "I thought it was a Blynx," Jonas asked, careful to avoid some of the other material Frank had mentioned.

"Yeah, that's what it's called, but it's still a cat, no matter what else and cats are evil creatures that will do their best to kill you if you give them a chance." freewēbnoveℓ.com

Jonas blinked. One thing he could be certain of with a statement like that from Frank was that Frank wasn't a cat person. That he had his own issues with cats, possibly by a family member or something. Although, he didn't plan on asking about that issue, since he didn't want to know the finer details about it. Especially since Frank was a tax on his patience in general already.

"Well, when we all encountered each other, was that a random teleport as well?" Jonas asked.

Frank scoffed as he rolled his eyes. Jonas couldn't help but wonder if he'd said something wrong. "We already told you then, that we were trying to get closer to the stellar bear and that the stupid cat didn't want to get too close to it, so it kept teleporting us close to it, if you consider how far away we were as 'close.'"

Jonas nodded, now remembering that part. The question had been asked them as well, just in a different context, but he wasn't sure when he'd forgotten about it. Not that he could think of any part of the fight with the bear where he himself was useful past being a support role rather than a main one. Like how Kim had been.

"Yeah, I guess you did," Jonas replied quietly, disliking the need to actually admit it. "Guess I just forgot."

"No problem," Frank said, and Jonas felt a little surprise at the fact that it sounded like he actually was serious about that part. That he wasn't worried about it.

If anything, Jonas had expected that Frank would have been upset about anything in relation to him to have been forgotten or remembered incorrectly.

While Jonas couldn't say that he'd misread Frank as a result, he knew he still hadn't misjudged Frank with his egotistical and arrogant attitude he usually employed.

Which was an itch that he just couldn't scratch. Not with how Frank was right then.

He wasn't sure, but it felt like something was off that he just couldn't identify. Though, he had already listened to any noises that he could hear from outside the inn to see if Frank had someone outside waiting, but he hadn't been able to identify anyone. No matter how often or how random he timed it.

Which only meant that if there was someone who had accompanied Frank here, that just meant they weren't waiting close to the inn. As far as Jonas knew, whoever it was could just be waiting outside the village or something. Unless he knew who it was, he couldn't be sure which it might be.

While he knew he could be wrong and Frank could just be putting on an act to cover up his own embarrassment from earlier when he'd tried using Jonas as a hostage, he doubted that Frank would go this route to cover up any embarrassment. He suspected that Frank would become rather belligerent to cover that up instead.

As soon as Jonas thought that, he suddenly realized who it was with Frank: Harold. Harold would be the one who seemed likely to be fooled by any act of being nice and Jonas had a suspicion that he was benefitting from Frank having to pretend to be nice in order to keep Harold on task.

Though, he also recalled how Stanley and Frank didn't like Harold, so while it might not be a problem, he did suspect that Harold might be there to try and make sure that they didn't try to recover the book from Stanley's team.

While he hoped that it wouldn't come to a fight, he suspected that that's exactly what Stanley intended to do after they got their hands on the book.

Although, he also couldn't help but wonder if maybe, just maybe, Harold wouldn't be interested in fighting, regardless of what his directions had been. It was unlikely considering how loyal Harold had appeared to be to Stanley, it was still a distinct possibility.

Jonas just wished that Kim would finish up reading what she needed to about that book. He didn't know how long she still had to go, but he could feel that the afternoon sun was continuing to move on, regardless of the fact that he was getting bored merely talking with Frank.

He wasn't sure what he'd do if he ran out of things to talk with him about.