The Innkeeper

"I can feel the anomaly on the left. I will go resolve it. You can go on the right if you wish. Based on my understanding, as soon as the anomaly is resolved, this entire place will be reabsorbed into the Origin realm. At that time, it might not be so simple for you to keep any treasures you find since I'm pretty sure the Henali are also interested in it."

Giselle looked at him oddly. Was he being odd on purpose, or did he not realize he was being odd? His extremely casual attitude in the face of almost uncertain death, focusing on completely trivial things such as mops, as well as the sheer disregard for ancient and powerful treasures that are being searched for by massive organizations were far from normal.

Perhaps a very clear minded and level-headed person could avoid the temptation of such a treasure, but even then he would at least show some reluctance on giving up treasures so that he could avoid getting involved in matters that would end up getting him killed. But he did not seem to care at all.

Giselle was very clear at reading people's intentions, which is why she knew for a fact that he was genuinely telling her to be careful, and that he genuinely wasn't interested. But that confused her even more.

"We've had a pleasant cooperation, which is why I hate to do this," Giselle said, "but I require an oath of secrecy from you to keep my presence here secret."

In truth, she should be just killing him. After all, going after a treasure so powerful and valuable it had to be hidden inside a time bubble meant that she should not be taking any risks. Leaving Lex alive was a huge gamble.

But she trusted her instincts, which were telling her that Lex was trustworthy, as strange as it was. More importantly, given their huge time constraints, and the remarkable abilities he had shown, she did not think she could do anything to him before the time was over. So she had to compromise.

"How do you want me to make an oath?" Lex asked, actually feeling amused.

Giselle held out an oval, seemingly ordinary jade stone and handed it to him.

"Channel your energy into the stone and take an oath keeping my presence here secret, and it will automatically take effect. Even if you want to, you won't be able to break the oath. I'm sorry I have to put you through this, but it's terribly important that no one learns about my presence here."

Lex grabbed the stone and made the oath. He wasn't particularly bothered by it, and he understood her caution considering that they technically didn't know each other. Besides, as the oath took hold inside of his soul… Lex could feel that it was just a simple knot inside his soul, using his soul. Others might find it hard to undo without harming his soul, but it was a simple thing for him. Lex looked at Giselle with schadenfreude. He wondered how she would feel if she found out her oath wasn't that effective at all.

"Can I… can I ask you a question, if you don't mind?" Giselle paused before leaving. She was just too curious.

"Go ahead."

"Are you… really not interested in what's hidden here? Even though you know how valuable it might be?"

"Not really," Lex answered with a shrug.

"Why?"

Lex didn't answer immediately, but looked at her for a moment. How should he phrase this?

"If you had to choose between saving those two kids on Polebitvy, and taking this treasure, what would you choose?" he asked, eventually.

The question stumped her. She had not been expecting that kind of response.

Lex turned away, looking towards where his instincts were guiding him - mostly to hide his expression as it became grim.

"I'm sure that whatever is hidden there, is great. But I also know things like this bring hidden troubles, and right now, I don't want any distractions."

Once again, Giselle could feel the sincerity in his words as he walked away. But more importantly, she was still stunned by the question he had asked.

On Polebitvy, she had been protecting two kids she took under her care. She did not know them personally, but felt like they were too pitiful and wanted to save them. It was not the first time she had done such a thing, nor would it be the last. After all, she spent her whole life helping lost kids.

But how many people… how many people could just ignore a life changing opportunity to save a couple of kids?

She didn't think that the situation Lex was referring to was necessarily exactly the same as back then. His point was that he needed to save someone, and the troubles associated with treasure hunting might prevent him from doing that, so he just didn't want to bother with it.

Even so, it was not an easy thing.

For once, she looked at Lex seriously. Right now, the solemn aura he was radiating was quite pure, and filled with incredible focus and drive. No wonder he got himself a harem. She could see how other girls might find that attractive.

Then Giselle turned away. Even if Lex said he would end the anomaly, she was not in the habit of relying on others. She would get the treasure in time to end the anomaly herself. After all, whether Lex could achieve what he stated was still unknown.

Lex walked into a huge hall in the center of which two figures stood, frozen in time, clashing with one another. Yet Lex could not see them. After all, the two figures were surrounded by time fractures in every corner.

Lex entered the hall, and when he detected the time fractures, he moved aside. But no matter how he went around them, his instincts were always pointing in the middle.

The anomaly hid behind a wall of time fractures that had surrounded it completely.

"This… might be problematic."

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