Chapter 851 (2/2)

And just some of the people who were marked by his images had agreed to accompany him to Earth and failed the test. That was all there was to it. Inwardly, Randidly was split; part of him wanted to know the number but the other part didn’t wish to know. Because these were lives that were thrust into this situation by his hand.

Their deaths weighed heavily up his shoulders and crown. So, very quietly, Randidly asked for the number and spent several seconds with his eyes pressed closed as he computed what that number meant. Then he opened his eyes, released a breath, and moved on.

Since Rejt was out exploring with some soldiers, Randidly then proceeded to visit another of the denizens: the Monster Prince.

“Go away,” The skinny Monster shouted out from behind his scarred bodyguard. Randidly felt kind of bad for how their previous meeting had ended after he saw how badly he was trembling. Mental backlash was never fun. “I’ve done your bidding for the last time, you sadistic deity. I will not leave my tent in your company for any reason. You speak with the tongue of the devil and I will not listen to it!”

This little bit of drama had Randidly rolling his eyes. For all that the Monster Prince was an arrogant fop, he wasn’t a fool; this was all noise so the Monster Prince would be rewarded more richly for his “suffering”. Luckily for this idiot, that was exactly why Randidly had come. Otherwise, if he was acting so purposefully piteous…

“Well, perhaps you are right,” Randidly said. “Perhaps it’s time I do you a favor.”

The Monster Prince’s trembling instantly stopped.

“Is there anything in particular that you can think for me to do for you?” Randidly asked.

Instantly, the Monster Prince’s eyes brightened. Randidly felt almost bad; the Monster Prince was as transparent as glass. Although this man was manipulative, he was also extremely predictable in the ways he worked. Which was why Randidly had asked Alicca beforehand how the Monster Prince had spent his time recently.

It turned out that the Monster Prince had been studiously observing Lucretia’s every move. Which was why he was about to walk into a trap that would solve another of Randidly’s problems without Randidly having to lift a finger.

Don’t take it too personally, Randidly thought with a smirk. This is just the way the world works. Blame my… deific viewpoint.

“Well… I suppose if you twist my arm…” The Monster Prince walked out from around his bodyguard and considered Randidly with a wounded look. At the moment, he had an absolutely disturbing resemblance to a mistreated puppy. “There has been one thing that I have realized recently. My… strengths with controlling metal aren’t necessarily best used on the front lines. In fact… a support role, a producer behind the scenes, seems most appropriate…”

The Monster Prince looked at Randidly hopefully. Randidly raised his arm to fold it, realized that he could no longer do this, and turned the gesture into an awkward scratch on the chin. If you want something, you need to ask for it. I’m not gonna try and read that mind of yours.

Eventually, the Monster Prince apparently decided to say fuck it and asked. “Perhaps you could speak to Creta? Her… engraving intrigues me. And I believe that my talents would be uniquely suited to the engraving. With my control of metal, I would have a fidelity of control that dwarfs that of the other artisans.”

Randidly gave himself several seconds to think about it. He frowned and looked up at the blue sky. Not only does this mean you’ve appointed yourself de facto babysitter for Annon, but this will also soften the blow of me giving Annon to Lucretia; she’s gonna raise a much larger fuss about you than him.

There was a small chance that Annon might be corrupted by this layabout, but Randidly honestly expected the overly serious boy to whip the Monster Prince into shape. There was something about the furor of the people of Tellus that was almost irresistible.

After all, Randidly would be exactly nowhere if not for Shal shaping his own work ethic.

Sighing as though he had come to a very hard decision, Randidly looked at the Monster Prince. “Then he nodded slowly.”

The fucker’s glee oozed out of his merry eyes. “Excellent, how wise-”

“There is a catch,” Randidly said softly.

Instantly, the other man froze. As a swindler, he was instantly suspicious of Randidly’s sudden request. “I would love to assist you, but as I’m sure you understand, so much of my time will be taken up by my studies that I will be unable-”

“Peace, it’s not something like that.” Randidly waved a hand. “I was just thinking… you are astute for suggesting the expansion of engraving. I know a few talented youths that might also benefit from learning such a skill. I would just ask that you look after them, as they will be your brothers in craft.”

Once more, that gooey satisfaction returned to the Monster Prince’s eyes. “Of course. For the betterment of our world, I will sacrifice almost anything.”

Don’t be too smug yet, Randidly thought with amusement. You’re still going to be under the tutelage of Lucretia. She will not make it an easy process. I would know. I struggled with her looking over my shoulder for almost a year.