By being so direct, Ragnar took control of the flow of the conversation. The Earthlings had not planned on being so direct, as it was not the way of things. At least, it was not the way of things on Earth. First they had planned on conversing a little, and establishing the basis for a relationship.
Now, with the conversation moving directly to the topics of benefits, they had lesser room to manoeuvre the conversation. This was not mentioning the fact that, if what Slag said was true, there was hardly anything Earth could provide that the empire didn't already have access to.
Unlike when the Morrisons had negotiated with Chen and Lily, who did not have access to unlimited resources and were in great need of support, the empire probably did not need them to provide spirit stones or ores, or even weapons. So then the question came, what exactly could Earth do for such a giant?
Whatever the case may be, the first rule of negotiation was to never let the other know the cards you were holding. Brandon may not have been a good negotiator, but he was definitely shameless enough to lie with a straight face.
"Indeed, I imagine you would want everyone's full cooperation during the Midnight Games to ensure that the nodes are destroyed. I'm sure I can convince everyone to send an elite force to the Games to assure success if the Empire is willing to concede victory of the games to us," Brandon said in a very serious tone, as if he were doing Ragnar a favor..
Fateh, or rather the fat man as Brandon had titled him because he would always pretend to mispronounce the name, suddenly felt a great deal of sympathy for Ragnar. Brandons shamelessness was astronomical. If he were pretending to mispronounce the name he should at least say fatty so that it would at least sound remotely similar to his name. Not that he particularly minded being fat. He was secretly quite pleased with his girth.
Ragnar, though, did not seem phased by Brandon's remark. He pondered for a moment, as if truly considering the proposal, and then said, "The Innkeeper has not stated an upper limit for the number of cultivators per game but I'm sure there is a limit. The Empire will have no problem bringing out and equipping tens of thousands of cultivators at each realm, all armed with the latest spirit tech. Yet with a number limit, only the elitist of the elite will have to be selected. If your forces prove to be stronger or more effective than ours, I do not mind working together. It is true, to the empire successfully destroying the formation is worth more than a prize. If the situation permits, working together is a good option."
"It's a pity then that the Innkeeper has shut down the combat arena during the games otherwise we could have our forces compete to settle the matter before the games. After all, if our forces clash during the games, it would be a shame if too many 'elites' go out of commission before the battle with the zombies even begins."
Brandon completely ignored the not so hidden boast about huge armies with trained elites that were probably better equipped than anyone from Earth, and completely pretended as if Earth were the superior force.
"I'm sure we can hash out the details. Please, have a seat. We have much to discuss, it seems."
They had all still been standing to greet Ragnar when he entered. By telling everyone to be seated, Ragnar once again put himself in a position of power during the meeting. Such subtle nuances, when constantly reinforced, had tremendous ramifications on the subconscious mind. This was a truth even cultivators could not ignore, and was a tactic Marlo often used when purchasing businesses. It was unfortunate, then, that the recipient of Ragnar's mind games put everyone other than his wife beneath him. His shameless antics had somewhat been an inspiration for Marlo's own personality, a small detail no one knew.
"Indeed, with a constant battle against zombies and the added pressure of these Devils, I'm sure there are many areas in which Vegus Minima needs Earth's help." The difference between saying Vegus Minima needs help rather than the empire was a bit of mental manipulation of Brandon's own. It put the planet in a weak position of needing help without directly calling the empire weak.
Ragnar smiled. He did not mind Brandon's aggressive manipulation of the conversation at all. In his eyes, Brandon was a junior nurturing whom would ultimately benefit the empire.
"Vegus Minima has been surviving for hundreds of years even before the empire came to help. It is not in as weak a position as it seems. I'm more curious about Earth. From what I understand, you have just started terraforming the other planets in your solar system. Starting your expansion outwards, you should be careful. Most foreign forces are quite hostile towards others. I'm sure in such a situation, you're in desperate need of information about the universe."
"Indeed," Brandon replied without skipping a beat. "We Earthlings need to be careful not to offend any other forces and attract unwanted attention. Especially those Devils, they seem especially dangerous, not to mention all those zombies. Perhaps we need to also consider if it's worth antagonizing such forces just to win an award in the games."
Ragnar grinned internally. This Brandon had successfully attracted his attention. If his performance in other areas continued to be stellar, he would definitely mark the man as someone to be nurtured.
Yet before Ragnar could respond Audery reached out and gently helped Brandon's hand, before speaking in the gentlest of voices. "Darling, put your ego away. We're in a meeting, not a cock fight. And General, a little birdie told me that we do not need to be concerned as the Empire would be a friendly force towards us. With that in mind, why don't we inaugurate the first ever meeting between Earth and the empire with a little bit of sincerity instead of politics?"
Once she said her piece, Audery casually leaned back into her chair as if she did not care about the outcome one way or another. She had changed the flow of conversation once again, and in an ingenious way. Bringing up 'sincerity', she made it so that if Ragnar once again tried to elevate his position in the conversation, or threaten Earth with the unknown, he would immediately mar the relationship between the two. That did not mean that they could not work together, but that any future cooperation would be reserved as everyone protected their own interests.
The truth was, Audery's intentions in speaking up weren't so pure. She was just impatient and didn't want to wait around for the 'men' to stroke their egos before getting to the important stuff.
Slag and Anthony frowned, as they did not like the way she spoke to the General, but the man himself let out a visible smile.
"Indeed, helping out one another will build a stronger relationship. Let me then begin by briefly introducing you all to the forces of the universe. Since you have already been introduced to Demons and Devils, let me start from there.
"You all cultivate spiritual energy, as do most beings in the universe. That automatically makes you an enemy of the Demons, whether you want it or not. There is no noble cause there, no greater purpose to eliminate evil in the universe. It is simply a matter of survival. Let me elaborate.
"Demons do not have a specific species or race. Simply put, anyone or anything that cultivates demonic energy is classified as a demon. As for why all demons are your enemies? That's even simpler. Demons grow stronger by feeding on those who cultivate spiritual energy, while those who cultivate spiritual energy grow stronger by feeding on demons. You have already seen the zombies. By absorbing the energy found in the zombies' cores, you can elevate your body cultivation faster than by using most other treasures or medicine you can find. Similarly, as zombies feed on spiritual beings, not only do they grow stronger, they grow smarter as well. The presence of Demons in the universe is not weak, and despite being enemies with almost every other force, their threat is very real.
"Then comes the matter of Devils. Things there are more troublesome. As Devils do not cultivate demonic energy, the universe is not united against them. Yet somehow, Demons treat themselves as the Devil's subordinates. Any demon that encounters a Devil of the same level or higher will unequivocally obey their orders. Because of this, the Devils are able to raise and farm demons in a manner so efficient they are one of the strongest forces in the universe. If the Empire were on its own, there is no doubt at all that it would be eradicated by the Devils." At this point Ragnar paused, his smile vanished, and he looked at the representatives with utter seriousness.
"Unfortunately for you, you once again do not have a say in garnering their hostility. Humans happen to be one of the races the Devils love to use as the demons fodder. Should your planet ever be discovered by a Devil, there is no doubt at all that you will undergo the same fate as Minima Vegus – to be brought to the brink of extinction, yet allowed just enough room so that you can survive for centuries, becoming a renewable source for the demons to feed on."
A heavy silence hung in the room as everyone absorbed what Ragnar had said. Marlo especially recalled the scene where a city was constantly being invaded by endless hordes of zombies. He treated it seriously even when he saw it for the first time, but he imagined that one way or another the zombies would run out, as the rate at which they were being killed was incredible. But when he learnt of the spawning portal, he realized the truth was not so simple. They really were on the brink of extinction.
What Marlo did not know was the city he had visited was founded by the Jotun Empire, and it was their presence that garnered such a strong response from the demons. Before their arrival, such a fierce battle had not occurred since the planet first fell.
Even though they all knew that Earth was not as alone as they portrayed, it was good to be reminded that the universe was a cruel place. They could not even completely secure their planet from internal strife, strong external threats could spell their doom.
"Any other enemies that we should know of?" Brandon asked.
"Enemies who target humans specifically? Not so many. But any random force can become your enemy should they see profit in doing so. Even allies of the Empire are only allies of the Empire in a broad sense. That does not prevent them from seizing control of individual planets or solar systems where they can gain benefits. The only way to gain security is to have a strong enough backer.".
"Isn't that always the case?" Brandon remarked offhandedly. It was just a larger example of paying a thug protection money.
"Most notable forces in the universe are based around their species. For example, of the Beasts, some of the strongest clans are the Leviathan clan, the Terror Crow clan and? the Serpent clan. Other notable examples are the Dread clan and, ironically, the Goliath clan."
"Why ironically?" asked Brandon.
"Relatively speaking, the Goliath clan is the newest power in the known universe. Their species started out as a mutation of humans that originated on a single planet. When they were discovered by other humans, they were shunned and even persecuted. But as fate would have it, a Prince of the Jotun Empire ended up befriending a Goliath. Out of friendship, the Prince granted the Goliaths protection, and allowed them room to grow.
"Since no one was paying attention to them, no one noticed how quickly their strength grew. What should have been the beginning of an amazing friendship and partnership soured when that Prince suddenly died. Long story short, the Goliaths broke away from the humans, and quickly surpassed them. Fortunately, they do not hold a grudge against the humans, but they are in no way allies of humans either."
Ragnar paused for a moment, as if thinking about something, but quickly returned back to the topic.
"This does not mean that all forces are based around their species. Most recently, after many millennia of war against one another, Dwarves and Elves have actually formed a coalition. Similarly, many forces are formed from the union of various groups. I cannot even begin to list out all the forces. It would take too long.
"The purpose in me telling you this is to let you know that since you have started expanding outwards, you must also prepare for the threats. It is entirely possible that your planet may not encounter other forces for centuries, or could run into a band of pirates tomorrow."
"And let me guess, you suggest ?we join the Empire?"
Ragnar grinned, watching the children with amusement. To be clear, to the three and a half thousand year old Ragnar, these Nascent cultivators of Earth were indeed children.
"Joining the Empire is not so easy or simple. Your planet cannot join simply because you are human, or because you wish it. At most, talented individuals from your planet can be recruited for now. Before even beginning to consider the requirements of the Empire, the location of your planet will determine whether you are even eligible. If your planet falls under the domain of another force, then unfortunately, you are on your own."
Technically, they weren't on their own even if they were in someone else's domain, but Ragnar could not be bothered to explain the details. The politics of the universe were a lot more complicated and had many more layers than that of Earth. For now, this level of detail was sufficient.
What he did not expect was that instead of feeling pressured, they felt a burden lift off their shoulders, knowing that the Empire was not recruiting them directly. Even as arrogant as Brandon was, he did not want to imagine the consequences of offending such an entity by refusing their offer.
"So if you are not looking to recruit Earth, other than help in the games, what benefits are you actually looking for?" asked the Queen directly.
"It is always in the interest of the Empire to see humans grow and prosper, even if they are not under the banner of the Empire itself. But even with that in mind, nothing in the world is absolutely free.
"There are many ways in which we can benefit one another, but I directly propose what I think is the best deal to you. Earth will send five hundred thousand men and women under the age of thirty to receive training in various fields such as medicine, mechanics, computing, cultivation, crafting and more for five hundred years – during which they will be employed by the empire. Another five hundred thousand will be employed under the same conditions for three hundred years, and another five hundred thousand for one hundred years.
"As a part of their salary, the Empire will provide Earth with some basic knowledge and technology that will boost the growth of your own civilization, while the rest of the salary will be paid to them directly. Once the employment period for these people is over, they are free to return to Earth, at which point their own skills and expertise will be enough to slingshot your planet's growth while also strengthening its own foundations."
The Earthlings did not reply immediately, and only exchanged looks with one another filled with a meaning they all understood very well. Ragnar's offer seemed straightforward, but was layered with both benefits as well as tests. He did not say it, but the offer was a blatant test of their character.
Theoretically speaking, as Nascent leveled cultivators, their life expectancy barely reached five hundred years. This meant that if they accepted the offer, in the future, Earth would be flooded with cultivators at their level, along with the potential to surpass them. This may not affect them directly as they may never break through a higher realm and may not even live to see the day the last recruits return, but it would be clear that the position of their respective families would be threatened very seriously.
This was not even considering the two waves of recruits who would come back first, who would also be brimming with the strength and potential that came with the nurturing of a superior civilization. It was a test to first see if they valued the growth and prosperity of their people over their own desire for power. Second, to see if they had the courage to send their own families as a part of the recruitment, as that would possibly be the only way they could continue to maintain their position of power in the future.
Another layer of the test was that even if they sent their own children or grandchildren, which one of the three waves of recruits would they be a part of? The longer they stayed away, the lesser their attachment to the planet they spent the first few decades of their life on be. So then, would they even be willing to return to the backwards planet to struggle and help it grow?
"We will need some time to discuss this," Brandon finally said.
"Take your time. Watching your people during the games will also give me a chance to see the caliber of the people of Earth. In the future, Anthony will coordinate with you on this, so you can approach him once you've decided on how you want to proceed. He will also coordinate with you on how we can cooperate during the games."
After seeing all that he wanted to see, Ragnar delegated handling the nitty gritty of things to his subordinates. Over all, the trip to the Inn had been very beneficial, but he had to return to focusing on his original task. Since the Innkeeper was no longer around and the Midnight Inn itself wanted to establish itself as a neutral organization, the things that required his personal attention were all taken care of. Now it was time for him to return to Vegus Minima and start preparing for what came next.
Once Ragnar left, Anthony took over the negotiations. Compared to the general, he was a lot more straightforward. He directly set the terms and conditions and if the earthlings found it disagreeable or difficult to meet or wanted to negotiate a bit, he would dismiss it and move on to the next potential point for cooperation.
In the end, they didn't end up agreeing on anything as the Earthlings either wanted time to discuss amongst themselves or were contingent upon their performance in the first round of the combat portion of the games. Still, Anthony was not disappointed or disgruntled and scheduled a time for their next meeting in which they would finalize a lot of their cooperation.
The difference in treatment between how Ragnar and Anthony treated them was like night and day. Ragnar could be willful, but Anthony was strictly professional. It also gave them a clear understanding of how little importance they were to the empire. Perhaps the only reason they received any attention at all in the first place was because they met at the Inn. If the empire had encountered them elsewhere, with their current strength and standing, they may as well have been ignored.
Once the meeting was concluded, they passed any instructions they had to their own subordinates and returned to Earth to once again convene with the woman in the hologram. Brandon, who was the most concerned about the rebels, inquired about any suspicious movement or activities while they were gone. The answer he received was that everything was normal, which worried him more than relieved him..
There was no way the rebels didn't know about the meeting. If they didn't use this opportunity to make any moves, then maybe they would do so during the games. There was also the potential that they would not do anything during the games as well, but he did not think an organization with the guts to try and assassinate his grandson would miss out on such opportunities.
With limited forces on Earth and no new information to act on, he decided to put Mars under martial law. Any and all activity was stopped until further notice and all military forces were put on full alert. Truthfully speaking, Mars was in the least danger, as it was impossible to approach the planet without being spotted, and he had strict control over everything on Mars, unlike on Earth, where the division of power was too great. Still, he did not want to take chances.
They reconvened the meeting with the lady, and instead of giving the report themselves, Adrian was the one who made the report. Once she heard the report, she ruminated for a bit before saying, "You are free to send anyone you want to the Jotun Empire for training, but only if you can send your recruits through the Inn itself. You cannot, under any circumstance, accept any deal that would need you to reveal the location of Earth. Furthermore, keep in mind that while it is okay to send people away from Earth, those sent away cannot come back – ever!
"As for matters of running into outside forces, you need not concern yourself with it. If you should ever encounter such a threat, we will take care of it. Not to mention, the space near and around your solar system is under our supervision. Should another advanced civilization have existed, we would have already known of it. The chances of space pirates are even lower, so you need not concern yourself."
The discussion went on for a while longer, but the gist of it was that the lady in the hologram did not care what they did as long as they did not expose the location of Earth and followed her orders regarding her 'guests' that she had sent to Earth.
The relative freedom and general assurances provided by the woman relieved the Earthlings a lot. All they had to consider now was what to do about Ragnar's offer? Sending people away was not a problem, but if they ultimately could never return, then what even was the point of sending them in the first place? Maybe they could send out people they hoped could create a better life for themselves amongst the uncertainty of the universe.
Little did they know, they weren't the only ones deliberating over this deal. Far, far in the universe on the planet Vegus Minima, Ragnar was looking solemnly at a report. More specifically, he was looking at the words 'Earth: classified'.
Once he returned from Vegus Minima he needed to report the situation, but the gains were drastically more than expected. As a result, instead of providing a report in the usual way, he had to initiate a platinum level confidential transmission.
As a result of his transmission, it wasn't only the army that was notified, but also the aristocracy of the empire. A nobleman and a commanding general appeared as holograms before him, staring at him with a dignified look. Unfortunately, when a transmission over a certain rank occurred, usually it was bad news. Such was the volatility of the universe.
Ragnar began his report by first stating his assessment of the Midnight Inn as a neutral organization with a SS rank danger potential. To emphasize this point, he informed them that a Celestial seemed to be a subordinate of the Innkeeper. The key word here was 'seemed' as they did not know the details, but putting up such an appearance in itself was impressive.
Then he reported about Earth and Nibiru. Finally, he reported on the Demons and Devils.
When he told them that he had managed to capture their aura signatures using the device in his eye, they were over the moon!
Even Ragnar did not know why Loretta was so high up on the wanted list, but the fact that he had obtained her aura was of the utmost importance to the empire. Of course, it was more than likely that the aura she exuded was fake, and had undergone some concealing or transformation technique. The Empire would still have ways to make use of it. This was a game of subterfuge they had been playing with the Devils for hundreds of thousands of years.
Once the transmission was concluded, Ragnar was undertaking preparation for the days to come when he got a report. He had searched for the names Nibiru and Earth, just in case, to see if there was anything about them in the empire's database. As expected, there was no information on Nibiru, so he made an entry and associated it with the Fiery Mammoths. Unexpectedly, though, there was an entry on Earth. However, it was classified. If, even with his level, he was unable to view the details, then matters relating to Earth were not so simple.
After a moment, he simply put the report aside. He could not be bothered to delve into the details regarding Earth. His only focus ever was the demons. If Earth could aid him then he would make use of them, otherwise he would forget about them by the next day.
On Nibiru, the response was completely different. Most beasts were not interested at all. Being suppressed made them feel uncomfortable, and they had no interest in returning. The few that were interested put everything aside and began preparations. During this time, the letter that Tiffany and Lex had put much effort into having delivered to the Lord Protector of Red Nation arrived at the protector's shrine. Yet Igishima, the Lord Protector, was still in the Midnight Inn, completely unaware that it was being plotted against.
Back at the Inn, things were progressing smoothly even without Lex's presence. Which was fortunate because he only woke up some eight hours later, still feeling somewhat fatigued. Without leaving his bed, he ordered a ridiculous amount of food as he slowly watched replays of everything that had happened while he was asleep.
Lex would not describe himself as a spy, stalker or voyeur, but anyone else who saw him so frequently listening in on his guests definitely would. Still, it was important to know what was happening. When he caught up, he decided to stay put for a while. In the few hours he'd been asleep, he'd made 20,000MP from guests purchasing various products and using his services, bringing his total to 95356 MP. Which was nice, because he decided that before the games start, he will undergo the third procedure to upgrade his cultivation which would affect his soul.
It was not a small expense, but he did not want to wait either. The stronger he was, the easier it would be for him. Lex paid, and the next moment found himself in the white room. He did not even get enough time to finish his sigh before he was once again knocked unconscious, and the process to evolve his soul began. Compared to the previous two, this one was a lot harder and would take a longer time. But fortunately he would be done before the event actually started.
There were four days between the meeting of the three worlds and the Midnight Games. A lot happened during those four days, not only on the three planets and the Midnight Inn, but amongst the various forces inhabiting the world.
Starting at the lowest level, the atmosphere on Earth became very lively all of a sudden. Rumor had it that various companies, families and organizations received a mysterious invitation. Only the heads of those organizations got the invitation, but when considering that the invitations were sent worldwide, the number easily reached thousands. A lesser known fact was that the elite troops and cultivators for each power and organization were quickly recalled.
An even lesser known fact, and one that scared the few who even heard it, was that the five ruling families released a statement inviting the head of the 'rebels' to a meeting. What happened as a result of that, and if the meeting was ever held was unknown.
A secret that was spread only in the Morrison family was that Alexander left his family's security bunker and relocated to one that he had had built himself. Even his father or grandfather were not privy to the details of this bunker, as Alexander has used his own power and forces nurtured by himself since youth to have it made. It must be remembered that since Alexander reached the Foundation realm, his family could no longer tell him what to do. His intention to participate in the games was clear. What the rest could only do was pray.
Something that wasn't a secret, and was the source of much speculation and gossip, was Marlo's brief return to New York. His visit was swift, as he was still not healed. He did not meet his mother, who had returned from the hospital, nor did he greet his students or address his many businesses. He went directly to his wife..
Their confrontation was extremely violent and caused the immediate deployment of Blue Bird special forces. Even though higher leveled cultivators were given many allowances, it was only up until a certain point. Some lines could not be crossed.
An arrest warrant for both husband and wife was issued, but both of them disappeared just as spontaneously as Marlo appeared. What was the conclusion of the fight? Why did it happen? What was the fallout? All of these were questions that currently remained unanswered.
Another interesting rumor also spread on the online cultivator portals. The Brown family, the family led by Sam Brown, one of the five Nascants, revealed a secret regiment so powerful and technologically advanced, it outshone the strongest Morrison force.
Such rumors were flying rampantly on the web, and everyone was waiting in anticipation for something to happen. The common masses were unaware what caused all this commotion, but they were awaiting the outcome.
On Nibiru there were fewer movements, but that did not mean there were none. Blood Fang gathered all its subordinates, not only in its own territory, but in the surrounding territories as well.
Some other beasts were also preparing their forces, though whether it was for the games or other purposes, no one knew. Yet Nibiru was not connected via the web like Earth, so more or less there was no change for the masses.
On Vegus Minima, however, the tension was palpable. All forces were put on reserve. Full forces were deployed in each city. All travel off the planet was stopped. All volunteers were called for deployment and all civilians were put under house arrest.
Ragnar did not know how the Innkeeper would prevent external interference during the attack on nodes, but he would not take any risks. All his soldiers were deployed with location trackers. As soon as they reentered the planet during the games, their locations would be revealed. Regardless of how the games went, Ragnar would have the location of the nodes and would attack in full force – once the games were over, of course. There was no point in provoking the Innkeeper. Not to mention, how could the Innkeeper make such a low level mistake? He was sure that there would be some precautions to prevent external interference.
The Devils, likewise, made their own preparations, though their preparations were very different. They simply recalled the five strongest zombies on the planet and sent them back to Garvitz. It was a pity that they could not be nurtured longer, but it was simply a matter of sending them to a different farm. The loss of a farm as small as Vegus Minima mattered little to them.
Not to mention, it was not as if the upcoming battle would leave them without benefits. Using formations already in place, they would automatically harvest all the zombie cores for all the zombies that died in the upcoming battle. The realm was a little low, but even Devils had low leveled youths that needed resources so they would not go to waste.
In fact, this was the greatest tragedy that the Jotun Empire had to face. They utilized all their resources and forces at great personal cost to fight the demons, but the loss of demons would never make the Devils weaker. It would only enhance their personal strength.
Somewhere else in Garvitz, the upper echelon passed an order regarding the Midnight Inn. As to what the order was, no one could know. Similarly, the details of the Midnight Inn were presented in front of the highest authorities of the Empire, besides the royal family itself.
In fact, even the William family was presented with information that it was suspected that the treasure Lex originally received may have had something to do with the Inn. But since he had given the treasure up already, they did not pay it any more attention. Each and everyone of them had many matters to deal with.
The changes in the Inn were the most drastic. More and more people and Beasts entered the Inn, and started renting rooms and preparing for the Games. Disappointing many, the Innkeeper did not appear again during this time. Yet there were a few members of the Inn who became extremely well known.
It went without saying that Little Blue was declared the unofficial mascot of the Inn. It was still very young and easily startled, so only a few people were allowed by the Galactic Sovereign turtle to approach it at one time.
The second prominent member, unexpectedly, was Gerard. You could often see him leading a fleet of golf carts across the Inn premises. Initially, he just enjoyed the ride. However, with experience, his handling of the cart improved, and with that, his driving style changed. The old man could now be seen taking guests around as if he were drag racing, often drifting the cart in ways that should not have been possible – literally. The speed and momentum of his golf cart did not make sense or obey the laws of physics. Many wondered what secrets he had, but no one had the courage to make him reveal them.
The third most popular, to his great dismay, was Z. It was unknown when exactly, but a group of women that was sent to the Midnight Inn to prepare for the culture show discovered him, instantly activating their motherly instincts. The 'poor', 'frail' and 'overworked' child was constantly smothered by the group. His popularity was due to the fact that he could often be seen walking around the Inn, surrounded by a protective entourage of mothers. He kept telling them that he didn't need to be outdoors and had already 'touched grass' but when has a mother ever felt her instincts were wrong.
John was also fairly popular, but very few people actually saw him because he had not taken a single moment's break and was constantly making techniques. Since he could only see one customer at a time, in four days he had only met around seventy customers.
Harry had seen even fewer guests, as he was very careful about whose hair he cut now. His previous incident left him with a migraine that he would not soon forget. Still, everyone who had the privilege of experiencing his craft was a complete fan.
Finally, early on the fourth day, the Innkeeper reappeared. He announced the opening ceremony would take place at 1 pm, so there were a few hours left. He instructed all participants to start getting ready.
The stage in the coliseum seemed to expand, and the more people that entered it the bigger it became. Yet from the outside, the size of the coliseum remained the same.
Lex observed the crowds with a smile on his face. He did not expect to feel so happy seeing so many guests in his Inn, but he was. There were just a few minor additions that he needed to make before he could begin the ceremony. Fortunately, over the past 4 days, he'd earned another 64,000 MP – mostly from people buying the Midnight Game commemorative coin and the rest from his services.
Even after spending 20,000 MP on his third procedure, he had 139,400 MP! There was just enough for him to spend. After all, since the first portion of the games was about sharing one's culture, how could he not share capitalism with the universe?