Dagger, Agate, and Pickelhaube appeared near a castle. It was tall, dark, and imposing. It was far older than any in Yoyleland or on Goiky Island. But that was overshadowed by a new issue.

"Where are CD Case and Pickelhaube?" Agate asked.

"Oh, no. Not another setback."

"We'll get past it. Pickelhaube and CD Case might be a bit of a pickle, but we can get ourselves out of this. What's the next step of the plan?"

"Well...go into the castle and ask the king for assistance."

"All right."

They walked over and Agate knocked on the castle door. After requesting to see the King, they were escorted to see him. King Ice Pick was busy doing some math equations. Apparently he was trying to solve something. He took the appearance of a wooden handled ice pick with a bionic arm and eye. Replacement for what must have been a military engagement.

When Agate and Dagger entered, he arose and looked at them.

"Who are you two, and why do you seek audience with me?"

"We're friends of Soshi, and recently the mages on of the smaller islands began holding him captive, Your Majesty." Agate said. Ice Pick looked at them like they were crazy.

"Soshi? Who is that?"

"He told us about your encounter with him when he went on a journey in the Aether to find the mother of some lost living plush squid thing."

Ice Pick milled his mind for a moment until it clicked. He did remember.

"The last time I saw him, he wasn't doing all that well in the head. Was he getting any better before this?"

"Yes. He was actually in tip top shape for the time, but then an incident that almost killed his family drove him over the edge. He turned on us in the most power hungry craze ever. He almost destroyed the universe. He had that sort of power."

"...A force of nature. Truly a tragic sort of power."

"We need your help bringing him in. We think he's held wherever the mages have their stronghold."

"That's vague. Knowing Regnon, that could be anywhere."

"Crowny never seemed that friendly with mages."

"He's been hiring them like crazy. They're the last remaining semi rich people there, and rich people tend to be the best to hand power to. He fought a civil war against the current regime and actually won. Even with those he did pardon, he didn't have enough to rebuild the government. And because of that, mages have been fleeing my kingdom for his. Theft from the public there will skyrocket...Did you just call him Crowny? Why?"

"Soshi said Regnon was exiled to Earth from age 6 to 18 and Soshi was the one who found him and said he raised him along side his children. Soshi even taught him what he learned from military school about history, strategy and tactics. Crowny was the nickname he gave him.
Soshi grew to become a major military figure at home and when he was sent to govern an island protectorate where I happen to live, he took Regnon with him. The two were a duo. But when Adversity showed up there out of ambition to conquer it, he was confronted by Regnon and fled. Regnon pursued him to the Aether, and the rest is history you already know."

"..." Ice Pick was now deep in thought. The possibility this opened up was tempting. He still had questions though.

"And who is the man with you?"

"Dr. Dagger. He brought us here with a machine of ours. He's one of the smartest people in that world."

"Uh huh. Tell me, sir. You're smart. How could you get rid of that nutjob in Exisilium?"

"You've been directing the conversation away from helping us, Your Majesty. It's been minutes since any help of any sort has come out of your mouth."

"...I very well have the right to directly refuse to help you. I was trying to be polite about it. I can send you off to Regnon. Maybe he will help you. But he most likely won't. I certainly have no reason to help you."

"The world is ending and you helping us is the least you can do to save it."

"Doctor, that new bright ball in the sky was an unwelcome surprise, but it would take weeks for me to get your friend rescued. I don't have weeks to waste. I need to be prepared for Regnon's attempts to over throw my government with his damned conspiring mage thugs."

"...Then we have nothing to continue speaking about. Have a nice day."

"You too."