The Innkeeper

𝑶𝑽𝐥xt.𝓬𝑜𝓂

A few random thoughts ran through Lex’s head after he sent the Sol bird to the fire temple. Was the energy that it needed to replenish divine energy? In that case, was it a deity? Or did divine energy have more uses?

Come to think of it, he himself had used divine essence to temper his body, and he got that from the crystal realm as well. Maybe in the crystal realm, divine energy had more uses.

He was only musing randomly when his personal holographic assistant informed him he had a new message. It was from Miranda, and she wanted to meet.

Lex frowned. It hadn’t even been 20 minutes since their meeting ended. It was unlikely she had already found information on his sisters, which could only mean one thing. She had encountered an issue.

Lex teleported to her, ensuring to change his appearance to Leo’s. The moment he laid eyes on her, his suspicion was confirmed. Miranda looked much worse off than he had left her only a short while ago, and was nursing a grievous wound on her right arm.

“The situation has taken a turn for the worst,” she said, suppressing her pain.

Lex frowned, though not at what she was telling him.

“Hold on,” he said and teleported out to his office. He sat on his chair and quickly scanned the Inn, finding a specific store in the Guild room.

Chen and Lily, who were running a business through the guild room, had become one of the most successful stores within the guild. That was because, as warriors who had spent their entire lives in conflict, they had a very deep understanding of what other soldiers, adventurers, and warriors needed.

From their store, he bought a number of medicines, including pain suppressors, and teleported back to Miranda, handing her the guild room cards containing the relevant items. The pain killer he didn’t hand to her as a card, but channeled his spirit energy into it to reveal the item directly, and handed it to her.

The entire process took a couple of seconds only. It made it seem like Leo was a very considerate person, but in truth, he didn’t want to risk Miranda messing up or making a mistake because she was too distracted by her pain. Of course, he didn’t need to share that bit of information.

Miranda quickly drank the pain suppressor and visibly relaxed only a few moments later. That did not, however, change the fact that her hand was bleeding and looked like it needed medical attention.

“You were saying,” said Leo, resuming the conversation.

“You may or may not know, but no technology is working on earth right now. I returned planning on finding out where the council’s servers are stored, with plans of having them brought to the Inn. That way, we could access them. Not only would that help the council, but I would easily be able to track down the information on the three people you’re looking for.

“Unfortunately, before I could make any real progress, the aliens attacked. They’re dropping out of their ships anywhere they see people and suppressing them. Anyone who resists is killed immediately. The only reason I’m alive is not because I had any skill, but because I was fast enough in running away to the Inn.”

Lex frowned. This was not good news. According to what he knew, the aliens shouldn’t have been so tough, at least that’s what Marlo had reported. But then again, Marlo’s standards were in a league of his own. More importantly, they had moved pretty quickly. Lex had assumed it would be days if not weeks for them to make their way to England. After all, even without their technology, Europe was not a pushover. There were a considerable number of cultivators there who should have put up a fight.

Before Lex could think of a solution, Miranda proposed one of her own.

“If the Inn can provide its aid, we can stabilize the situation. That way, we can help you out as well.”

Leo scoffed.

“I think you have the wrong idea. Just to be clear, the help I was offering was a way for you to use the Inn’s services to help yourself. The Midnight Inn is a neutral organization, and we do not participate in conflicts as a third party.”

Having said that, Lex felt a grain of doubt in his mind. Should he offer up the help he had promised? The longer he waited, the more people would possibly die. He didn’t want that on his conscience.

Ugh, it was such an unnecessary hassle being a good buy. It would have been so much easier if he had the conscience of a villain or something.

“If I send someone to earth, do you have anything that can guide that person to your severs?”

Miranda paused, but didn’t waste too much time speculating about the insinuations of the information Leo had revealed.

“Strictly speaking, while devices running on electricity are not working, spirit tech, which relies solely on spirit energy, is still operational. The council’s servers are in a secure, hidden facility that is protected by a defensive formation. I should be able to fashion something that can locate the facility.”

“Alright, in that case, you get me that locator, and I’ll send someone to procure those servers. At the same time, once I have the locator, I’ll share the information you need.”

Miranda nodded and quickly hurried out to begin making the locator.

Lex, on the other hand, cursed the fact that Zagan was still stuck in his test. If he had passed, then Lex could have made him a valet and sent him to earth to procure the servers. Now, he would have to do it on his own. Not that he had a problem with doing it himself – he just assumed that it would be much faster if the immortal monster was doing it.

What was taking him so long anyway?

He shook his head. It didn’t matter. He better go prepare some gear for his impending excursion. It would not do if his clothes got disintegrated during a war. He would feel too awkward.