Watching as Vera busily plucked the tiny leaves but still couldn't keep up with the numbers growing out, Charlie shrugged. "Come on—just let them sprout for now. There are still eight portals at the plaza pagoda of the subterranean city, and I myself had yet to check them all out. Why don't you join me?"

"Oh, sure!" Vera smiled and nodded cheerfully. "The kombuc tree is positively blooming here, so there's no hurry trying to pluck all of them. I'll come back later to trim its branches, which yo