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As for the feldeath that had claimed Karugetti’s workshop, Morgunov classified that one as a Category Hippo. Extremely dangerous. Certainly among the deadliest he’d ever spent time actually trying to fight.

This particular feldath was also one that had garnered a bit of fame for itself and earned a moniker. Kallmakk, they called it here in Ardora.

And it may have been the cause of Karugetti’s death.

Morgunov still did not know that for sure, and he probably never would, but it was a very reasonable explanation for the famed inventor’s sudden disappearance from the world stage during the height of his power and influence. Considering no human person ever tried to take credit for the man’s death, that really only left two possibilities: either Karugetti gave it all up and went into hiding on his own, or he died with no witnesses and no means of ever confirming it.

Being such an admirer of the man’s work from even a very young age, Morgunov had held onto hope for many, many years that Karugetti might still be alive. Heck, a part of him still wanted to think that way now.

But the workshop was pretty damning evidence. And from all accounts he’d ever read about Karugetti’s personality, the man had actually been quite the social butterfly. It was therefore doubly unlikely that he would’ve faked his death to go live in quiet isolation somewhere.

Which was why Morgunov had decided to fight Kallmakk on more than one occasion. Vengeance for his fallen hero. Or, perhaps, a means of discovering some evidence that Karugetti was indeed alive. If such evidence existed, it would’ve made sense for Kallmakk to be in possession of or otherwise guarding it.

But to no avail.

On both counts, Morgunov had failed miserably. Kallmakk was simply too damn powerful. And even after trying to avoid the fight in order to sneak into the workshop and look for clues, he’d still turned up nothing.

Which was not to say that he’d entirely given up on the endeavor.

One day, he aimed to return and give Kallmakk a right thrashing.

And as a matter of fact, today seemed like as good a day as any. He certainly wouldn’t mind if his pursuers managed to bring the stubborn jerk down.

So really, this was a win-win situation for him, regardless of who won.

Unless he himself got killed here, of course. Boy, that’d be a real downer.