Chapter 235: Another one!

Chapter 235: Another one!Looking at Lee’s silly smile, Daniel guessed what was on his mind. He said, "That’s what happens when you get crippled. The elemental energies in your body are disrupted and you age as a regular human."

"So Duvant was a bigger retard than I though." Lee said, "To cripple the hand that has been feeding him ..."

"He had no choice." Daniel said, "They would’ve found a reason to cut off your leg in a few years as well. Artificers are too dangerous."

"Right!" Lee remembered, "Your weapon was perfect. I was hit by a bit of backlash, but it’s fine. You should’ve seen his head blow up!"

"Daniel’s weapon?" Simone asked, looking at Lee, then his aged son.

"Mhm." Lee nodded, "I’ve no clue about crafting."

This was heard by everyone in the hall, and the only one who didn’t stare at Lee in shock was Donk. The guy stood at the door, hoping for guards to barge in so he could have some action.

"Alright!" Simone recovered first, "Who are you and what are you doing in Droskar Dominion?"

"It’s so obvious I’m not local?" Lee smiled in return, "Don’t worry, I’m not here to create trouble. I came to look for someone."



"Lee, we’re forever in your debt! Just ask and we’ll help you to find anyone!" Simone said. He did sound honest, though.

"Senior Lamart!" Lee said, and this time got up, "Forever is a long time, don’t you think? Which one of you is the spatial elemental lord? I’d like to ask for a favor."

***

Lee had never heard of such peaceful revolution.

The same afternoon Simone Lamart informed the army forces that he has become the new lord of the castle. The official version was that Lucien Duvant passed away and Simone was his heir. That was it.

No one intended to antagonize an elemental lord. In fact, the regular citizens of the Freeheaven threw a festival in Simone’s honor the moment they heard the first edict of the new lord. Following Lee’s advice, Lamart ordered the guards to patrol streets of the city at night in the official capacity. With one word the anarchy ended and he scored endless amounts of respect from his subjects.

Lee guessed that while they were freeing the artificers, Simone caught and killed Duvant’s underlings – the remaining elemental lords. Now, besides the crippled artificers, there were only two left in the whole dominion – Simone and Gerard.

Compared to the sects and clans of the Celestial Abyss’s world, this was embarrassment. On the other hand, Droskar Dominion was full of resources and under a good leader the people were bound to live in prosperity.

Lee had no clue how competent Simone Lamart would turn out to be, but, if he was honest with himself, he didn’t care. What he cared about was the free services Simone promised.

The elemental lord refused to open rift directly to the overlord’s abode, to the three mountains. He did the next best thing, though, and after meditating for half a day, opened a rift at the edge of a swamp, as close to the mountains as he felt comfortable.

Contrary to Elder Ardent, Simone didn’t prank Lee and the latter stepped on a solid ground, heaving sigh of relief. Probably the only rifts he felt comfortable of using were Elder Wang’s – all other elemental lords seemed too unreliable in comparison.

After a long time Soulcleaver appeared in Lee’s hand and he proceeded towards the three mountains in the distance, performing genocide on the wildlife on the way. Surprisingly, after few days, beasts began to avoid him, and his speed increased.

The problem was that he was on the opposite side of the mountains. Again.

***

Lee was certain that if the Overlord of Whispers didn’t want to be found, he would never reach her little shack again. Thus, when he realized that he had passed the region where the strange flying beasts resided, she had granted him an audience.

Like the last time, he did his best to not impose, and sat next to the quick mountain stream, ready to patiently wait for several days. Surprisingly, Seris didn’t let him wait at all.

After he washed up, the old lady came out, and already from the distance said, "Tell me another one!"

Lee had prepared different scenarios of their meeting in his head, but this was not one of them. He stared back at her, lost and slightly panicked, and said, "Madam Seris, you surely know that jokes come to mind by themselves. If told out of context, they aren’t funny!"

She looked at him, clearly dissatisfied, then said, "Alright, tell me a joke about a stupid man, no, wait ... about a witch ... uhmm, no ..."

"Actually that does remind me of an old joke." Lee interrupted her.

It was baffling an overlord could behave this way, and Lee began to believe she was actually a regular elderly. The overlord probably was somewhere higher up the mountains, if there was one in the first place.

The old lady prickled her ears and sat down, patiently waiting for Lee to begin. He gave a sad smile, realizing he might be in trouble this time, but decided to go though with it nevertheless.

"There was an overlord, an incredible mighty one. One day he decided he could use his knowledge and help people of a lesser developed world. He taught them how to farm, how to read and write. His hard work allowed the civilization to prosper."

The beginning peaked the old lady’s interest, and this time she didn’t even interrupt.



Lee continued, "People had everything they needed, especially women. Overlord had taught the men of that world that they should take care of their ladies, and the men did their best. For some reason though, the women were still lacking something, and weren’t as happy as men."

"Men had their hobbies – fishing and hunting, but most women didn’t enjoy such activities." Lee paused to think how to not make himself sound too sexist, and continued, "To compensate that, the almighty overlord decided to create a five story building, an incredibly large shop where all the women could go and pick whatever they wanted, and for free, but only one item each."

"Free?" The old madam asked, "Then that’s not a shop!"

"Are you telling the story?" Lee said, "So, women began to pour in the first floor, filled with beautiful dresses and robes. The best tailors of the universe had created those. But after looking around, women didn’t pick anything and went up to the second floor."

Surprised she didn’t interrupt him, Lee continued, "There they found the largest variation of accessories – from scarfs and hats, to handbags. Everything a lady could imagine. But women wondered around the second floor, and went up without picking anything again. On the third floor they found all kinds of jewelry and gemstones, every item was priceless! Women walked around with shiny eyes, but kept glancing at the stairs, and soon climbed to the fourth floor."

"On the first floor they were met with another surprise. There were men. Presented as if they were wares, with descriptions, like – the perfect husband, or the perfect lover. All kinds of men for any taste. Women felt their hearts pound and palms sweat, and climbed to the fifth floor lightheaded and expectant, with smiles across their faces. But there was nothing."

"Nothing?" The old madam asked, furrowing her brows.

"Nothing, except for an old man, sitting cross-legged, looking at them in annoyance. Where’s the stuff? Where are the amazing things we were supposed to get? All women got furious and shouted at the old man, but he got up, and said with a sigh: You don’t even know what you want, bitches! I give up on trying to make you happy!"

Lee glanced at the old lady from the corner of his eye, and for a moment was afraid to breathe. The last part probably turned out to be too punchy, but at least she didn’t lash out on him right away.

The madam didn’t say anything, though. She snorted, and went back to her hut, but Lee inwardly cheered noticing the faint grin on her face.