The Innkeeper

Chapter 2114: Smelled like...

One by one all the guests left until only the Innkeeper, Nulli, Ventura, Little Crusty and Eclipse were left. Oh, the tavern staff was also still there. Little Crusty had no intention of leaving the garden at all, and he just directly walked out of the tavern without so much as batting an eye. He mentioned something about mushrooms as he left, but he was mumbling and no one could make out what he was truly saying.

That left only the few of them. Since the Innkeeper had not been the one to invite Nulli or Ventura, he was not really concerned about whether they left or not. Instead, he turned his attention to Eclipse.

"This has been quite an enjoyable experience," the Innkeeper said warmly. "I sincerely thank you for allowing me to host the tea party in your garden. No matter where else I hosted the party, it would not have been the same."

Eclipse smirked, finally feeling like she was getting the respect she deserved. At that point, she couldn’t help but feel like teasing the Innkeeper a bit.

"What? Just a thank you and no gift?" she asked, feigning heartbreak. "Didn’t you see how the others showered me with treasures?"

The Innkeeper laughed upon hearing the question, as if he found it amusing.

"For you, I only have one gift," said the Innkeeper before spinning his hand to reveal a golden key. "I look forward to the day you can visit my Inn in earnest."

In truth, what did Lex have that he could give Eclipse? Nothing. Even if he handed her his entire realm, it wouldn’t be anything too special for her, in which case a sentimental gift was a better option. Since she had been trapped in here for who knows how long, an invitation to the Inn was a nice gift.

Eclipse’s smug smirk actually froze as she looked at the key, before transferring her gaze towards the Innkeeper.

Ventura, meanwhile, made a mental note to share his memory of this moment with Voidmaw because that was one smooth pickup line. Perhaps only Lex himself hadn’t realized how his words sounded because he was too focused on being proud for coming up with such a cheap yet effective gift!

"What about me?" Nulli asked, looking at the Innkeeper longingly. Why did the Innkeeper flirt only with Eclipse when she was right there?

If it were up to Lex, he would have left that area exactly at that moment. He could not imagine what would happen to him if this beautiful lady turned pink again. Unfortunately, he had an image to maintain.

"Of course, you are always welcome as well. It would be even more special, however, if you waited to accompany Eclipse on her first visit. I’m sure it won’t feel too long for you," the Innkeeper answered, wearing a charming smile. But Nulli wasn’t satisfied. It was clear that the Innkeeper wasn’t interested in her.

"Innkeeper, I hope you will remember the words I said to you," said Ventura, while giving him a nod. Obviously, he was referring to the conversation he had while in the hot tub with Voidmaw.

The Innkeeper only smiled, not responding to his words. He had neither accepted nor rejected the quest, though it seemed to Ventura and Voidmaw that he had already accepted it. Why else would he drop that invite to his place for Eclipse? He was, indeed, a bold man.

With his farewells said, the Innkeeper finally left the garden, taking his tavern with him, leaving the three of them.

Eclipse glanced at Ventura, then turned away taking Nulli with her. Ventura only shook his head before leaving as well.

Yet the two ladies did not talk - not yet. Instead, they walked slowly through the garden, hand in hand, until Eclipse brought Nulli to the very core of the real - her actual Seat of Power.

Eclipse’s welcoming smile and soft expressions dropped as she sat, her gaze falling onto Nulli with weight that would have defeated even other Dao Lords.

"What exactly do you need to share that requires the safety of my seat?" Eclipse asked, her words filled with the kind of tremendous power one would expect from her.

"Your new friend - the Innkeeper," Nulli said casually. "He is not as he seems."

Eclipse raised an eyebrow. Since most of her abilities were sealed, it only made sense that she did not pick up on his secrets, but even then, she knew more than Nulli. Between Nuwa and her support, it was obvious that the Innkeeper was far from simple.

"How so?" she asked.

Nulli thought back to the moment she saw the Innkeeper - the moment she met him. Many thought her act of sniffing him was unusual, but only she knew what she was really doing.

"I can smell the Timekeeper on him. His scent is masked by the musk of lost time - and a lot of it - but it can’t be hidden from me. They have met, and recently."

Eclipse frowned, finding that hard to believe.

"The Timekeeper is supposed to be dead," she said, though Nulli obviously already knew that.

"And yet, he isn’t. Or maybe he just sent a projection of himself into the future - who can say? His mastery over time is even beyond me," answered Nulli.

The two ladies were left without a clear answer, but Nulli found such mystery highly enticing. With her tremendous power, there were few things that could remain secret even from her. So when she did encounter such a thing, she would always feel incredibly excited. It was not without reason that she had been so attracted to the Innkeeper. Oh, and his assistant too.

"By the way, the assistant smells like the Nether," she said, an unusual gleam flashing through her eyes.

The Innkeeper and his assistant - both so powerful and so mysterious. Nulli could barely control her excitement.

"Forget the Timekeeper, and forget the Nether. Our focus should be on the Nexus event," said Eclipse, her thoughts, her plans known only to herself.