“First, tell me why this could become a big issue.”
“The fox pearls give great wisdom to the human who takes them,” Killian said. “This guy has been using his super brain to attempt to extract more fox pearls without swallowing them so he can make an immortality elixir with them.”
“What?!” Murdock screeched.
“Yes,” I said. “We saved the Kumiho he abducted for his experiments and sent the others underground.”
“Which others? All the Kumihos or all the Fey?”
I blinked, then looked at Killian.
“All the Kumihos in South Korea,” Killian said. “We couldn't send all the fairies of the region underground. That's too much to ask.”
“Is it?” Murdock demanded. “Are you sure this super-brainiac won't go after other fairies? If he thinks he can extract immortality from a fox pearl, what will stop him from extending that to include fairy hearts or other things.”
“Like sorcerers,” I murmured.
“Precisely,” Murdock said. “Sorcerers use the remnants of magic in fairy body parts to empower their spells. If this villainis so smart, he'll figure out that he doesn't need fox pearls for his experiments.”
“I don't know,” I murmured. “Sorcerers have never been able to extract a fairy's immortality.”
“Sorcerers generally don't have the wisdom of three fox pearls,” Murdock drawled.
“So, what are you suggesting?” Killian asked. “We evacuate Korea?”
“Maybe.” Murdock shrugged. “What do I know? I'm just a grumpy old man.”
“Oh,nowyou're dropping your illustrious title?” I drawled.
Murdock snorted a laugh but then he went serious, “I'll give you an extinguishment order. And the Extinguishers are at your disposal if this escalates and you need some extra help to execute that warrant. But I can't tell you what to do about the Fey. This human is smart, but he's still just a human without any psychic abilities.” He paused. “He doesn't have any psychic abilities, does he?”
“Fuck, I hope not,” Killian muttered.
“Uh, he has gained some elemental magic, though,” I said. “From the fox pearls.”
“Fuck,” Murdock muttered. “Fucking pearls. I hate pearls. They don't even sparkle. Just a bunch of hardened clam crap.”
A surprised burst of laughter came from Sever.
“You don't understand,” Murdock said to him. “You weren't here for that Cintamani chaos.”
“No, but I was aware of it,” Sever said.
Murdock shook his head. “That just pisses me off. How could you featherheads see what was happening and do nothing to help?”
“We were ordered to stand down by Anu.”
Murdock gaped at Sever. “God told you to stand down?God?”
“Yes. One of the many commands I didn't agree with. But he was intent on all of you handling it yourselves.” He looked at me and added, “Believe me, I wish I had disobeyed him. I would have met Seren sooner.”
“But perhaps not at the right time,” Murdock mused. “I refuse to lose faith in God just because he challenged us a bit.”
“A bit?” Sever snorted.
“All right, let's not turn this into a religious debate,” Killian said. “Should we evacuate Korea or not?”
“I told you; that's not my call,” Murdock said. “If you want myopinion, I think it may cause a panic to evacuate the Fey. But you need to speak to the High Fairy Council about it.”
