The Innkeeper

Chapter 1817: Lex wasn’t greedy

For once, Lex resisted the urge to raise an eyebrow. He’d already done that so many times during this conversation that if he did anymore, KD might think there was something wrong with him. Instead, Lex gave him a deep stare.

"Do you realize that three out of four of the people you sent are on the verge of death, and the fourth is also barely holding on because he was quick to surrender? The Midnight Inn may be extremely hospitable to its guests, but that does not mean that it is a place anyone can just come in and cause a scene, and we’ll be okay with it."

KD sighed.

"Yes, of course. I understand. I am ready to face the consequences of my actions, whatever they may be. For what it’s worth, none of my actions were ever meant to harm the Inn whatsoever. At most, it was meant to observe the actions of the key members of the mercenaries and the Inn at critical moments during the invasion of the mercenaries home base."

Lex did not rush to criticise KD. Whether what he said was true or not - though he could tell that KD at least thought it was true - the situation was complex, and Lex wanted to understand as much of it as possible.

"Tell me about the ’attention you’ve attracted’ and who it is you’re using the Inn to avoid?" he asked, moving the conversation forward.

"Like I said, there is a growing trend for war in the universe. While the Origin realm is strictly regulated by the Henali, within a certain level, they allow for combat and challenges. In my zeal to improve my level in the groupchat, I undertook many tasks, within the Origin realm and outside as well.

"During such a time, it seems... I accidentally acquired some information that I should not know. To assure the related parties that I do not mean to use that information in any way, I must allow my empire to be dismantled, and thoroughly change the indomitable reputation I have developed in the Origin realm. From now on, if I am to survive, I must do so in a lowkey way. Yet such actions do not really coincide with my method of using public Dance Offs to settle disputes and grow.

"You do not need to fear that I will divert the trouble facing me towards you or the Inn, I cannot. But of everyone I could think of, the Inn was the safest way to dismantle my undefeated legend without also facing severe repercussions."

Lex frowned slightly. It was a good thing if their guests thought of the Inn as a safehaven, but for others to think that the Inn was soft, and that they could cause trouble and get away with a light punishment, was not a good thing. Maybe Lex should bring back the Soul Hearth where he burned the souls of his enemies publicly.

"Alright, tell me about the situation of the war with the Reaving Dread mercenaries," Lex said, not commenting on KD’s previous words.

"Although the Reaving Dread is known to operate in more realms, its base of operations are being attacked in 3 different realms," KD answered. "Owing to the Condottiere’s own strength, this war is destined to be a long one. The mercenaries themselves will prove a strong obstacle, but we’re depending on the fact that mercenaries themselves tend to be loyal to themselves. If the war proves too dangerous, then a large majority of them will leave the organization.

"In truth, that is the only objective of the war: to weaken the organization as much as possible. Unless the Condottiere himself is killed, the Reaving Dread mercenaries won’t disappear completely, and such a thing is much easier said than done.

"Now that the position of the Midnight Inn has been ascertained, you won’t be disturbed anymore by anyone from the groupchat. Although, if you choose to join the groupchat, I’m sure you can become a representative of the Inn in the chat. That way you can gain access to a very old and powerful organization, and I’m sure that would help not only you, but the Inn as well."

Lex smirked. Even if the mysterious man who had visited Lex back then hadn’t warned him not to join the system groupchat, Lex would not have joined it. This groupchat was specifically made to either hunt down systems, or promote system users. That meant Lex would need to either show that he got a system, or the existence of the Midnight Inn as a system might be revealed. No matter what kind of benefits the groupchat offered, they weren’t worth the loss.

Lex decisively rejected the invitation right in front of KD, so that there wouldn’t be any doubt about his interest in the groupchat.

"Alright KD, we have another issue. Even if everything you say is true, what we have to deal with now is what I’m supposed to do with you - as well as your compatriots. I cannot have people thinking that the Inn is a place where anyone can come and do as they please."

This time, KD did not speak. He had already said that he would accept whatever punishment the Inn decided to mete out. This wasn’t a testament to his honorable character, but a natural result of witnessing the Innkeepers dance. In the face of such awesome power, he had no right to protest. He could only honestly accept whatever punishment they decided without struggling - lest the outcome become even worse.

"Tell me in detail about your empire," said Lex, as if he hadn’t been discussing KD’s punishment. "To what extent are you intending on downsizing it... and what will happen to its people and resources?"

Now, Lex wasn’t being greedy or anything. Since everything was destined to be taken from him anyway, would it matter if Lex was the one who took those things instead of someone else? Not at all.