Chương 37: Ch. 34 - The Deal

My eyes closed on their own. I was expecting shimmering. Or a tingling sensation. But all that happened was that I blinked and I was somewhere else. The water was lighter. Warmer. I knew I was there the moment my arms felt no resistance to move. The portal at my feet was dulled upon my appearance. I really did travel floors. Granted, it was without my mech, but it was something no one had been able to do before. At least as far as I knew. I willed myself forward, pulling myself on the magic water.

The portal wasn't far from the reefs of Lakaris. Small Mur, presumably children, dashed out of the way and into cover. Caddie was already translating for their speech but it was indescribable amongst all the voices. Skrythia was what I approximated to be the equivalent of a sprint. She had a low trill with each rush of water that entered the various parts of her body. It was barely discernible, the tiny pumps of water that entered into her arms, neck, legs.

I hadn't noticed before, but that was because I hadn't seen someone "out of breath" here.

"I came-" started Skrythia. They were panting.

"I arrived. Quick as. I could."

"Its alright," I said.

"I wasn't able to get the shipment" The gaze from his four eyes did little to hide the disappointment.

"But, I did find sulfur."

"I must ask that you start with that," said Skrythia.

"I was ready to lance you." I laughed.

"What are you doing?"

"Laughing? I thought you were joking?"

"I am unfamiliar with the sounds you are making from your human orifice. But a joke? I am not the court jester. I had full intentions of seeing your innards."

"Oh. That is less funny." I took a figurative step back.

"Do not fear. You have the contents for the excellency. You have proven your species well." Skrythia turned and headed through the reef openings, with more haste than the first time Luna and I were escorted. The King was waiting on the throne, tapping to the beat of what could only be Mur music. It was stringy and whiny. It was also, thankfully, mostly out of audible range, with Caddie only picking up the occasional note. The King put a hand up and stopped all sound. His eyes bored into me with expectation.

"I have it," I said. Banging erupted. Anyone with arms banged against a solid surface. They hit and slapped and each sound carried through the water.

"What is going on?"

"From what I can gather," said Caddie.

"They are clapping."

"Clapping? By beating the crap out of the architecture?"

"They also breathe with their bodies, Stefano. Isn't it fascinating!?" The King held up his hand again and everyone followed the same sound as the musicians.

"Then present the alms," said Skrythia.

"The thing is, it might not be how you expected it."

"It matters not. Present the alms." I reached into Caddie and pulled the block of super condensed Sulfur. The yellow particulates danced in the water like dust. I swung it over, letting it float through to the waiting hands of The King. He checked it, feeling the weight and hue.

"There is so much," he said.

"How did you obtain such a quantity?"

"I have more," I said, reaching into Caddie and grabbing the three other blocks. The King's focused at each block. He let out a shrill of excitement and dashed towards them. He hugged them all and pushed back to throne. Then he kept going, leaving all decorum at the throne. Skrythia cleared their throat and motioned me to follow. We returned to the same closed room as the previous time. My HUD popped open to a new message. Luna: Everything going alright? Stefano: Yeah, Why? Luna: You've just been gone a while.

Jeromy: I heard your sleeping with the fishes! Why didn't you tell me that was an option! Stefano: What? Caddie: A small clarification. He is not and has not entered a REM cycle. Jeromy: You're no fun. But yeah, seriously. Its been hours. Stefano: I'm stuck in the room. Luna knows the one. I've been waiting for the King to do whatever he needs with the Sulfur. I'm still trying to figure out how it helps. How's Et'ium? Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road.

Support the author by reading it there. Jeromy: Oh a King! Excuse me Mr. Big Shot. Luna: Et'ium is fine. We've had a lull in the fighting. The goblinoids are regrouping we think. Are you going to key us in on the plan? Jeromy: Key us in on the concepts of a plan. Stefano: Better in person. Too much to type. Jeromy: Lazy bum. Stefano: I'm glad you're feeling better. Jeromy: I'm not! I'm a sensitive man. But then Luna told me how you lost your collective marbles when you saw her choice of Frame.

That made me feel better. Luna: I told him how upset you were when he saw you were stabbed. Caddie: Oh yes. He was distraught. His vitals didn't improve until we arrived with the mana-ionized Water. Only to then return to what I am now referring as his baseline. At this rate, I predict Stefano has 3 Solars before his heart experiences a lethal rhythm. Jeromy: You hear that Stefo. It hasn't been this bad for you since the Academy Final Exam. Stefano: You know why I was stressed!

Jeromy: Are you ever going to stop comparing yourself. I'm starting to think you're in love with her. I closed the chat. The messages kept coming, but I was eager to ignore him. Ania, for lack of a better word, was my rival. What the top of the mountain looked like. It was so frustrating that when I thought I was close, the chasm would grow larger. Another thought crept into my mind. Of my Dad, or at least the stories I had heard about him. That he was the top pilot of his generation.

It made it all the more frustrating that I wasn't. Skrythia had never left the room, waiting for the door to open just like me. So when the door slid open, we both jumped in surprise. Skrythia turned to The King and bowed. The King put a hand on them and nodded. Skrythia let out a cheer and composed themselves quickly.

"My brood partner is fairing better," said The King turning to me.

"You have kept your part of the arraignment, and thus I shall as well."

"Actually," I said.

"There is one more thing I'd like to ask."

"You dare!" yelled Skrythia, but was met with a hand from The King.

"It is fine," said The King.

"I will do what I can. Speak your request."

"Great," I said. I asked for the impossible. Caddie told me it was improbable. It felt like the same odds to me. But this was still plan A. Plan B was more desperate. The King heard it all the same. There was silence for a moment as the words weighed heavy in the air.

"We can do both," said The King.

"Inform this leader you are in contact with."

"But Excellency!" cried Skrythia.

"No, Skrythia. We have kept our borders closed for too long. I recognize your caution, but if we are in a position to aid that is mutually beneficial, I believe it is worth the measured risk."

"So both?" I asked.

"How are you going to do the second part?"

"I am not. I will give you the tools to do it yourself. Skrythia, ensure our honored guest gets everything he needs. After that, ensure he knows what he is sacrificing for this," said The King, leaving the room.

"You are aware that one cannot be done without the other," said Skrythia.

"Caddie told me the specifics. I'm aware," I said.

"But if its possible, then why not."

"Very well," said Skrythia.

"I will return momentarily with the items you need." I gave a nod and was alone in the room. I opened the chat again. Jeromy: Hello? Luna: I think you made him upset… Caddie: He is negotiating. He will return to the chat momentarily. Jeromy: Thats good. I thought I put my foot in my mouth again. Luna: You did though… Jeromy: But not all the way. Luna: But why does he get weird about Ania. Jeromy: Long story. I'll tell you later. Too much to type. Stefano: Lazy bum. Jeromy: Ah! A Ghost! Luna: How did it go?

Stefano: Got what we need. I feel bad about it, but its them or the Elvians. Luna: You still haven't told us what is going on. Are you committing a war crime? Jeromy: I don't think that applies in here. Stefano: Something like that… Jeromy: Yay! More trauma! Skrythia returned with a shopkeeper tablet, handing it over for me to peruse.

"You will find everything that you had asked for," said Skrythia.

"But, if you accept it all, you know you are losing your privilege of returning here. The gem you were gifted will be used as a catalyst. It will require three."

"I know," I said.

"Don't get me wrong, this place would've been awesome. But if this hailmary works, then the Elvians live and they don't have to worry about mana ever again. Plus, I might even get a chance to buy some stuff if I request it." Skrythia nodded before speaking.

"Yes," said Skrythia.

"I suppose it would mean that you would still be able to buy certain Murean wares and goods. After thinking this over, this can be mutually beneficial. You have my respect." I gave a slight smile, accepting everything in the shop, one by one. Each item was filling my inventory.

[60] [Water Taps] [200] [Water Filters] [30] [Barrels of Mana-Ionized Water] [1] [Kraken Bait] [1] [Traversal Gem - Coordinate Lock] [1] [Duplicable Traversal Subroutine - Coordinate Lock] [1] [Tinkerer Augmentation] [You do not meet the requirements] [1] [Trade Contract][Note: Non-Participant Creature Only Item]"I have confirmed the purchases," said Caddie.

"With everything tallying up, you are currently at 4, 232 credits."

"Yeah, I see it," I said. I didn't feel much closer to paying off the debt that awaited me. But hopefully, the amount I was bringing back more than made up for the gold suit tax. Some more credits would let me keep my stuff. That was too much right now. One thing at a time. Skrythia cleared their throat and slid open the door for the final time, leading me back to the portal. I extended my hand and got a wary look back.

"What are you doing?"

"We shake hands when we make a deal," I said.

"I'm trying to shake yours." Skrythia took my hand and limp wrist it.

"Good enough!" I gave a slight smile and floated over to the portal. I had to make actual contact with the portal, so I floated down and touched the ground. A blue light shimmered and blinded me. I closed my eyes on instinct. But when I opened them, the familiar rope was still dangling in the water. I opened the chat and returned to the message tab. Stefano: I'm here, can you pull me up? Jeromy: Begone Demon! You are not of this realm! Stefano: Please… Jeromy: That's all you had to say mate.

I hugged the rope as it was pulled up. The ride was steady. Jeromy took a wide pass to make sure I wasn't turned into squashed bio-paste. Luna was the first to meet me by the hangar door leading into Et'ium.

"Well? What's the plan?" she asked.

"Two steps. First, we're turning Et'ium, exclusive," I said. Luna raised an eyebrow in confusion. Jeromy met up midway through.

"Second, we are taking the Goblinoids out."

"You could've totally typed that," said Jeromy, crossing his arms.

"Lazy bum," said Luna with a half grin.

"God, we're going to need therapy."