Dear grimoire,

Hageshiiomo is making good progress in his quest. The diplomatic seal I gave him, the badge, allows me to follow his progress. So I know he is at least in Charon's care. At least, if this ogre manages to hold his tongue, otherwise the Ferryman risks pushing him overboard.

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The desolate, mortuary landscape was a pale reflection of the world of the living. However, there was no lack of entertainment : lost souls who could not find the right path, reapers lying in wait, threatening shadows or even local fauna which, surprisingly, had adapted to this place. The two guard dogs were not too much when it was necessary to set up camp. The soul stone given by the Owlverlord was also helpful, calming the oni's urges when he felt the Corruption taking over him. But what in the world could he have killed who are already dead ?

After several days of walking, they finally arrived at the landing stage indicated on the map. However, there was no water in the river bed.
-Okay… Uh… And what do we do if the Styx is a dry river, eh ?
One of the Cerberus barked. She pointed to the nose at a bell from which the rope could be pulled to ring.
-Oh. If you just have to ask.

So the oni used it. Despite the size of the bell which would suggest that it would ring like a tiny bell, it was the sound of a heavy and powerful toll that echoed in the valley. The sound continued and even seemed to come from the ogre's back, as if someone was ringing a second bell.
A stream of souls slowly poured into the riverbed as a skeletal figure approached. Charon, on his boat, docked at the landing stage.

-You who wish to go to the Underworld, know that the crossing has a cost. Pay your dues and I will take you there safely. Seek to deceive me and you will wander these lands forever, rejected by all the infernal circles.
The ogre did not need to be asked and took out three of the four pieces that had given him the masked shadow. Charon took them and put them in his own ribcage.
-Embark with the Cerberus, Hageshiiomo, leader of the Whistling Steel clan.
-What ? How do you know that…
-It is not every day that an envoy from the Child of the Void accompanied by two hounds rings to make a delivery to my master.
-Oh… Seen like that. Come on, doggos, in the boat! But otherwise, if you waited for us, there was no way to, for example, avoid the travel tax ? Nah because it really is…
-We don't break with traditions.
-But you said it, it’s not every day that you get a delivery to hell, you could…
Charon raised his oar, revealing a long scythe.
-... What a magnificent landscape! This boat is truly sublime, finally, you are sublime, have you been a ferryman for a long time? It is…
The undead figure brought the scythe to the ogre's face.
-Silence.
As pale as a sheet, Hageshiiomo didn't say a word the entire crossing.