Chapter 117
Clayton spun around in a panic, his eyes locking onto the source of the explosion. Shock swept across his face as he realized what had happened: several houses had collapsed due to the violent storm. All around him, people were waking up and rushing out of their homes in confusion.
Some stood stunned at first, but quickly sprang into action, helping the injured and searching for survivors. Seeing this, Clayton didn’t hesitate. His house was brightly lit—he had turned on the lights earlier—so he quickly changed clothes and ran outside to join the rescue efforts.
He threw himself into the chaos, doing everything he could to be visible. This was the perfect opportunity to erase any lingering suspicions—especially if any of the gambling boss’s subordinates ever came looking for answers.
As time passed, the situation began to stabilize. The rubble from the collapsed houses was being cleared. Thankfully, most residents in the area were mages, so there were no fatalities—though many had sustained serious injuries.
The farming district homes were poorly built, made from cheap wood and stone. But with the aid of basic magic, most people had managed to protect themselves from being crushed.
Once Clayton was certain the situation was under control—and that his "helpful citizen" act had been convincing—he returned home. On the way, he felt a wave of relief. The storm damage had conveniently provided him with a solid alibi for why his own house looked like it had been through a battle.
What he didn’t know was that, from the moment he stepped outside to the moment he returned, he had been watched—by Equus, whose growing paranoia kept him glued to Clayton’s every move. Fortunately for both of them, the night was dark and chaotic enough that no one noticed Equus’s strange behavior.
Back at home, Clayton didn’t go to bed right away. He released all his pets from the storage dimension, then summoned his mini skeletons. He ordered them to clean up the mess inside. Only after everything was in motion did he finally lie down to rest, letting the skeletons continue the work.
...
The next morning, Clayton was awakened by the sound of construction. Groggily opening his eyes, he saw the skeletons still hard at work repairing his home. The events of the previous night rushed back into his mind.
He sat up and smiled at their efficiency. Most of the mess had already been handled. After a few brief instructions, he told the skeletons to stop and leave the house. He closed his eyes again for a short nap before finally rising for the day.