The Innkeeper

Chapter 1136 Papi

It seemed that the main concern of the Henali was ensuring that the World Eater did not return to the Fuegans hands. That meant that, most likely, the ones fighting the Jorlam were also Henali.

That thought made him want to tremble, though he resisted. The Jorlam were ridiculously massive in size. A single pupil on those things was the size of a star. Not even the whole eyeball - just the pupil!

Although Lex had somewhat entered the domain of an Earth Immortals power level, he still could not fathom what kind of power the higher levels held. Fortunately, they did not have any ill intentions towards him.

”You donʼt need to be worried about that. I have no intentions of returning the World Eater. In fact, I am planning on taking him back to the Midnight Inn with me. But to do that, there is a small problem I must resolve first. Since youʼre here, maybe you can guide me.”

Actually, Lex wanted to say that maybe they could help him out, but he did not want to be too direct, especially since their relationship was not too deep. In fact, if it werenʼt for the Midnight Inn behind him, this entire conversation might have gone entirely differently, so it was best not to push his luck.

Without going into the details, he just explained that he needed a way to carry a planet around with him without severing his connection to the world. He was hoping for some kind of spatial treasure that could help him out.

”Oh, this is a simple matter. Canʼt you ask someone from the Inn to help?” asked Fahad, looking genuinely confused.

Lex had fortunately already prepared to face such a question, which is why he was not tripped up by it.

”I can, but the Innkeeper has told me to rely on my own efforts to achieve what I want to achieve. Which is why, for my personal errands, I try my best to avoid using the Innʼs influence.”

A gleam flashed through Fahadʼs eyes.

”It seems that the Innkeeper has great expectations from you. In that case, I can offer you some guidance, but for how to achieve it is something you have to figure out on your own. Finding a spatial treasure that can contain a planet without severing your connection to it is not something that can be randomly found. If that is the direction you wish to search, you will need to have it specially made.

”But there is an easier way you can achieve the same thing. It seems your real purpose is not to carry the planet around, but ensure the connection is maintained constantly. That is much easier to achieve. You can look into the Celestial Planetʼs club if you want more hints.”

Lexʼs eyes gleamed. Yes, they were right. Carrying the planet around was not exactly necessary. As long as he could ensure that their connection would not be severed, and so the planet would count as Moonʼs body and teleport to the Inn with her, he could make do.

”Thank you for your advice. I will look into it.”

”Well, weʼll leave you here. We need to finish our tasks and so canʼt stick around. Good luck with your quest.”

Lex fully expected the two Henali to teleport away once they were done. But instead, they opted for the much more mundane departure of climbing into a snake booth and leaving via public transport.

Lex could not help but feel that the encounter had gone much better than he had hoped when he first noticed someone saw through his identity. After all, the bounty on him was not small.

He would look into this Celestial Planetʼs club, but first he had to focus on the feathers.

Finding the ranch was not complicated, it just took a while since Lex could not move fast. As it turned out, the forest did eventually change as he approached large pastures with much fewer trees filling up the ground. Moreover, large wooden fences grew out from the earth, blocking off large segments of land.

It seemed like multiple ranches must be built here together. But whether it was through the use of formations or something else, within the ranch Lex could see nothing save the trees and grass.

He supposed heʼd find out for himself when he entered. He walked up to the closed wooden gate and knocked politely. A small peephole opened up, and though Lex could not see inside through it, he could hear the sound of many people whispering. It sounded like a bunch of kids.

”Ask him what he wants?”

”Is it the delivery man? I ordered cake…”

”Shhh donʼt let him hear us…”

”Papi always says donʼt talk to strangers…”

”What if itʼs a bad guy? Donʼt say anything…”

”I heard serial killers like to take away children while their papi is gone…”

”Donʼt be an idiot, there arenʼt any killers on Dunya…”

”Guys shut up! Let me talk to the stranger!”

”Hey donʼt be rude, Iʼm older than you. You canʼt tell me to shut up…”

The whispers did not end, as the people on the other side of the door were too busy arguing with one another, leaving Lex stumped. In the end, he could only interrupt them when there was no sign of them ending their arguments.

”Excuse me, Iʼm here to meet the owner of this ranch. I was sent by the Infinity Emporium. I believe he is expecting me.”

The whispers hushed for a moment, before they began arguing once again.

”The stranger is here for papi! The serial killers have come!”

”Iʼd love to kill some cereal right now…”

”Donʼt tell the stranger that papi is gone right now…”

”Worry not. Who do you think I am? I will never mention that Papi has gone to a dating convention…”

”Whatʼs a dating convention?”

”Itʼs obviously a place where they make calendars, silly…”

”Papi said this is a huge secret, so donʼt mention it…”

”Yes, I know I know…

”He even said that if it goes well he might be gone for a few months…”

”He said he might come back with a Mami…”

”Whatʼs a Mami?”

”Itʼs a kind of chocolate I think…”

”I think itʼs a kind of toy…”

Lex coughed, sensing that the conversation was going in an inappropriate direction.

”As it happened, the owner of the ranch told me to meet him at a dating convention so we can make calendars together. Would any of you know what itʼs called or where I can find it?”

”Oh the stranger wants a Mami too…”

”Is the stranger also called Papi?”

”I want to go to the dating convention too! It sounds like fun…”

”Shush! Donʼt say anything! The stranger is a secret agent…”

”Donʼt worry, Iʼll never mention that the convention is called Loverʼs Island…”

”Yes, yes, and I wonʼt mention that itʼs in a place called Universally Admired Studio…”

”I want chocolate…”

Lex sighed, and then stepped away from the date. He had no idea who was at the gate, but if it were a bunch of kids then the rancher was truly irresponsible leaving them alone. But he wasnʼt from Child Protective services, so Lex instead opened up his map and began searching for his new destination.

It was considerably far from him, but fortunately there was public transport that relied on giant pigeons which Lex was able to get on. A few swaps between pigeons, and several hours later, Lex finally arrived at the studio, where he saw a massive line of Druids and other races waiting to enter.

Lex did not need to search blindly since Powell had naturally told him the rancherʼs name and showed Lex his appearance, which is why he was thoroughly disappointed to learn that he was not in the line. Could he have already gone in?

He asked the guard at the entrance of the studio if he could contact his friend inside, but the guards were only there to manage security and could not contact anyone inside.

Lex began to develop a very bad feeling as he continued to think of ways to find the rancher. He used spiritual techniques that would track him based on the aura of the ranch, but it pointed towards the studio. He tried to extend his spirit sense, but it was naturally blocked. In the end, Lex was left with no choice. He silently got in line as well, waiting to enter the studio.

Now that he thought about it, why was a dating convention taking place at a studio? Wasnʼt a dating convention one of those places where people who wanted to date met a large group of others like them and saw if they were compatible with anyone?

Something like that should be happening in an auditorium or hall or something. With these doubts in his mind, Lex eventually entered the studio, unaware of what lay ahead, waiting for him.