The Innkeeper

In actuality, Lex's mask which contained divinity and was not a technique was called the Invincible Tyrant Mask. The divinity it contained had a lot to do with intimidation and fear, since the divinity was born from the fear and worship the devils he faced felt. Compared to Notorious Anonymity, which just looked devilish and hid his identity, not only was it much stronger, but it also served the additional purpose of spreading fear on those around him - though he might not always want that.

But at this moment, when his Inn was filled with those who were so blatantly planning against it, he wanted exactly that. He knew that this wouldn't end until someone actually attacked the Inn and were made an example of. That was the sad truth of things. But maybe the intimidation tactic could work, who knew?

His target specifically were the locals. Although his guests who were upset at being forced to stay here were not exactly conducive to the environment he was trying to create, ultimately they were stuck here. Sure they had gained many benefits, but they were also paying for it by being forced to stay here.

If he was not able to fix the system in time, who knew if they would ever be able to return. So although they were annoying, he sympathized with them.

Yet when he and Fenrir appeared, everyone looked towards them. Although their auras could not harm anyone, since the system would prevent that, it was rare for someone inside the Inn to have such a threatening and dangerous aura.

The older guests just felt a touch of curiosity. They knew they were safe, not to mention they recognized Fenrir immediately. The newer guests, though, the ones who had accompanied the ambassadors or had come with various envoys, they all felt absolute dread.

They felt like death had become incarnate in front of their eyes, and revealed itself before them. It was the face of all their nightmares, and it had the power that should belong only to deities. It was also right in front of them.

While many, including the workers, recognized Fenrir, very few recognised Lex's mask. Only the few workers who had seen him training in the temple knew that it was actually Lex underneath. Of course, he was using an illusion to make his body seem larger as well. Nobody exactly found babies intimidating, unless it was 3 am and it was the babies parents who suddenly smelled something funny.

Lex observed the countless faces looking at him, and was easily able to pick out the new faces - not only just because they were from many unfamiliar races, but because he knew all the old guests by heart. A strange tension began to build in the air, as no one knew the purpose of his mystery masked man, and his aura did not exactly foretell a friendly visit.

Finally, Lex's vision locked onto a particularly large black bear who was radiating an aura at the Golden core realm. Strangely enough, he looked exactly like a normal bear from earth, if a bit larger. There were no strange fangs or horns or wings, but as an apex predator in its given form, it didn't need them.

As if to prove that exact point, the bear was one of the few who looked at Lex without being intimidated by him.

"Forgive my sudden arrival, I heard news of ambassadors from far off lands and I became excited. I am also an ambassador of sorts. The Midnight Inn usually sends me out to resolve... delicate issues. I look forward to working with you all in the future."

Lex jumped off Fenrir's back. To begin with, he only used Fenrir for dramatic effect. Its newly developed aura was quite powerful, so riding on its back sent a powerful message.

Countless thoughts passed through the guests' minds. Older guests, who had come from the Origin realm, and knew that the Inn had been attacked a few times previously, suddenly imagined an entire force of similarly masked men sent to eliminate the powers that dared offend the Inn. Newer guests could not help but compare the strength of Lex's aura with that of their leaders. How was it that no matter which powerful person they came across in the Inn only seemed to be a worker? How powerful exactly was the Innkeeper?

But at a certain point, people had also begun to question if this was a mere facade being put up by the Inn. After all, faking aura was tough, but not impossible. Were they actually so powerful? Many wanted to find out, but didn't want to be the ones testing it out.

But though Lex had spoken in a jovial tone, no one responded to him. They all kept looking at him in silence. Lex snickered.

"By the way, there wouldn't happen to be any representative from one of the countries on the Western border of Menara, would there? I don't know the name of the place, but I'll be heading to the archipelago on the western side in a bit. I was hoping to learn a bit about the place before I go."

"The Notknit Islands?" a squeaky voice suddenly asked, as a bipedal creature that looked like it was made entirely of dried leaves stepped forward.

"Is that what they're called? I don't know about that, I only know that it has an entrance to a massive, underground continent that exists below the chaotic sea."

"Yes, yes, the Notknit Islands!" the leak-person said, with recognition and alarm in its voice. "May- may I ask, why are you going there? Maybe I can be of help. The islands have not sent any ambassadors, but I was born and raised there, so I know the place well."

"Oh? In that case, come friend, let's talk while we get a drink. My closest friends call me Tyrant, but you can call me Ty. I feel like we're going to get along well."

The more friendly Lex tried to be, the more fearful the squeaky voiced leaf-person became. It couldn't be helped. With the mask, every word he spoke and every gesture he made became completely menacing. That, combined with the thought of someone who was called a tyrant by his friends did not really do well dissuade worry in his heart - or whatever heart equivalent organ it had.

"I- I am Oak, a professor of zoology. What are you going to the island for, Ty, if I might ask. I can probably recommend better places. If you want to enter the underground continent, there is a much closer opening in the salt mines of the Carvador range."

"I'm going for the sights, professor Oak, the sights. I've heard good things. I've also heard you have frequent monsters attacking from the sea itself! I've never seen a living being that can exist in the chaos sea, I'm quite interested."

Before Oak could respond, someone else spoke in.

"The Notknit Islands are very conservative. You're not exactly going to be welcome there. Not everyone is like the Inn, accepting anyone who happens to pass by," said a spider that was about 3 feet large.

Lex frowned, and was very evident of his displeasure at the comment. The spider had just insinuated that the Inn had no standards and would pick up every stray that came along.

The room suddenly seemed to turn darker, though the Inn protected the spider from feeling any kind of threat or danger from Lex's aura.

"No, no, the islands are very friendly, Mr. Tyrant!" Oak suddenly insisted. "They're very friendly indeed! You just- eh, well, I hope you don't mind. I mean, if you want to take in the sights and explore the culture, maybe you could, if you really want, and had the time…"

"It's fine, Professor Oak. You can tell me. I'm a friendly guy. I obey the rules. If the islands have some rules, I will follow them. Isn't that why I'm asking you about them?"

"Well, like you said, there are monsters that come from the seas, and some people have actually tamed those monsters. Eight island leaders, to be exact. If you go and have a friendly fight, a very friendly fight Mr. Tyrant, nobody needs to die, then you can get badges if you win. Once you get all eight badges, all the islands will open to you, and you will be welcomed like a native."

"Really? The monsters have been tamed? How interested," Lex sain, then paused to look at the spider. "I wonder how exactly they were tamed? Did they beat them up till they fainted first?"

He maintained eye contact with all of the spider's eyes while he spoke, and his meaning was quite clear to everyone.

Just as Lex was about to continue, Gerard and Lilith walked into the room, hand in hand, talking to each other, completely oblivious of their surroundings. The carefully orchestrated, high tension mood Lex had created was instantly destroyed by the giggles of a devil as Gerard, a beacon of handsomeness, flirted with her.

Lex sighed.