Chapter 562: Alex’s Deal (2/2)

Zero inspected the tea closely to verify if telling the truth. He was slightly surprised to find that the bark tea was indeed brewed from barks of the Weeping Willow. In addition, it contained special properties such as the ability to increase thinking speed and enhance memory clarity.

Hesitantly, Zero downed the tea in one go. The taste wasn't as horrible as the one Arvin brewed, and Zero nodded in approval. Alex grinned. Of all the barks used, only the Weeping Willow's barks tasted good.

”Why do you keep the Weeping Willow's barks around? Better still, how do you collect them if you never go out to see her?”

The question Zero raised was valid, and Alex grinned. ”Who says I haven't been seeing her? I bet Sharo only took you to see where her manifested body is. That's not all of the Weeping Willow. Her roots spread vastly all over the land of Altear. As her spriggan, I would naturally be most familiar with it. Besides, Sharo that fool built this resort based on my request. In that huge garden in the backyard, a particular bush is planted above the Weeping Willow's root. It was also the first place we met many years ago. I never once forgot about it.”

Zero looked out of the window and saw King Sharo sitting in the garden, looking awkward. Then, he turned to Alex and asked if he was still angry at the Weeping Willow for doing what she did.

Alex sighed heavily and poured himself another cup of bark tea. ”What's done is done. I cannot unwind time to undo all the things we did wrong, and even if I could, I would never be able to convince my past self to change. You want the Moss Giant Orb. It's not difficult to give it to you. However, there's no such thing as a free lunch in this world. If you help me, I'll help you as well.”

Zero understood what Alex wanted and didn't expect anything less.

”What's your price?” Zero asked, and Alex pointed at Sharo.

”Take him to look at the world. Teach him to embrace his weakness and become a wiser king than his father will ever be. Neither the Weeping Willow nor I can handle him. Arvin is also in exile, Sharo doesn't want to see him. Nobody in Altear can stop this foolish child, so please, Great One. Save him from the monster his father tried to create.”

Zero didn't need to be told twice before he accepted the request. A new quest was added to his system and Mii informed him that there were several pending quests.

”Are you sure?” she asked. ”This is going to be trickier than getting Desert Poppy seeds.”

Zero nodded. If Alex wanted this, he would have to fulfil it. Besides, this wouldn't be harder than Sylvia's request. Zero had to create a literal world tree for such a miracle. What's smacking common sense into a king's head compared to that sort of feat? Sometimes Zero wondered if Mii had her head on backwards.

”I accept your request. Please polish the Moss Giant Orb and wait for me. I'll bring king Sharo back as a brand new person to lead Altear into a better era full of peace and stability. No more elven blood shall be spilt when I'm done with him.”

Alex grinned. ”Now that the official business is over let's discuss pleasures. How do you know the exact type of beauty I've been looking for? Was it that dumb lad?”

Zero grinned and flaunted his customised vessel. ”Do you like it? I heard that you're a fan of red hair.”

Thrilled, Alex asked if Zero could change his appearance with magic. The doctor grinned and told the spriggan that he could do more than illusion magic if the spriggan truly wanted. Once Alex heard that nothing was stopping him from demanding to see the beauties from his fictional wonderland using Zero's abilities.

Zero didn't let the opportunity go easily. For every transformation and unique pose, he charged the spriggan heftily. Alex didn't care about the price. King Sharo should have more than enough to pay Zero, and this was exactly what Zero wanted. Alex's signature made King Sharo obliged to pay an exorbitant amount for Alex's entertainment expenses. The only thing left for the elven king to do if he couldn't pay his worth in cinnites was to enter into a trade treaty with Half Moon Trading.

Zero had them hook, line and sinker. Mammon would be proud of him.