"What did you just say? Who do you think I am exactly?" Ricky asked as he eyed Audrey with suspicion.
"You possess many mutant powers, which isn't very common in this time and place. However, I recently heard about a genius called Ricky Nan, who became famous for his strength, and he has several mutants like you. It's not hard to see the connection, right?" Audrey explained with a sly, knowing look in her eyes.
When he heard her words, Ricky's eyes immediately lost their shine. It was evident that she had figured out his identity.
'How did she make such a connection? I made sure to disguise myself well except for my white hair. But I bet there are a lot of warriors out there with white hair, ' he wondered in utter confusion.
"It looks like we underestimated the Sense Mutant's power. Unexpectedly, it is good enough to detect your real identity," the Dragon Intent Grass grudgingly admitted.
'I guess this is the real power of her mutant. Without it, she would not have seen through my tricks, ' Ricky thought.
"Well, I guess there is no use hiding it. I am, indeed, Ricky Nan!" he finally admitted, knowing that denying it would not help much.
Of course, Audrey didn't look surprised at all. In fact, she looked like her birthday had come early, as she was looking at him triumphantly. "I knew it! That means you are the one who got Paul's inheritance," she loudly declared as she gazed at Ricky with delight.
"How long have you known about this?" Ricky curiously asked, a little impressed.
"From the moment I saw you, my Sense Mutant perceived that you have several mutant powers. That's how I became certain that you are indeed Ricky. But you know what? I already had known you before you reached the Middle Land,"
admitted Audrey, but her vague statement confused Ricky instead.
"What do you mean? Have we met before?" he asked, looking and sounding utterly perplexed.
"Well... You have traveled to our ancestral land before, haven't you?" she asked matter-of-factly as she stared right into his eyes.
"How did you know that? Were you there a year ago as well?" Ricky asked in surprise, not bothering to deny anything.
"Unfortunately, I wasn't qualified to enter our ancestral land at that time. But we, human devils, all know you. After all, you defeated the most powerful and talented genius among our enemies and stopped them from taking the grand humanoid evil tree. We all hold you in high esteem,"
Audrey lengthily explained.
"Really? I can't believe it! I had no idea I was that popular among you guys," Ricky blurted out mirthfully.
"Believe me, most of us see you as a hero. Queenie thinks highly of you as well, and she has often praised you in my presence. That is how I got to know you," Audrey rambled on.
"Oh, you know Queenie too! How is she?" At the mention of Queenie, Ricky immediately asked.
"She is fine. Actually, she couldn't have been better. After all, she now has the grand humanoid evil tree in her grasp, and she has been recognized as the most powerful genius in our tribe. And she mentioned that she misses you so much,"
Audrey honestly answered.
Her words, however, made Ricky slightly embarrassed. He didn't know what to say, so he let out an uneasy laugh. "Ha-ha! Does she?" he remarked, awkwardly looking away from Audrey.
"You and Queenie must be very good friends," she added further as if she didn't notice his self-conscious reaction.
"Yes. We get along quite well," Ricky replied, nodding his head.
"So, does this mean we are friends now?" Audrey added.
Ricky paused for a moment as a thought pooped up in his mind. "Ha-ha! I see what you're doing, girly. You still want this token, don't you?" he asked, chuckling slightly. Of course, he wasn't stupid. It was quite obvious that she was doing this because she was up to something.
Audrey flushed in embarrassment when she realized that Ricky had seen through her. But he was right, so she could not deny anything.
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: The legendary warrior