Onyx Tavern
"Will you really do anything for the sake of your daughter?"
Within the spacious tavern filled with drunkards in the welcoming evening, while seated on the wooden arc-shaped table facing an ale of dwarven-made beer, Grey's voice resounded at the man's skull who was rejected of access to the Northern Earthenshire, where the home of the Elves was thriving in itself.
"I don't know what you're talking about." The begging man earlier said as casually as possible, thinking that Grey was drunk and just spouting nonsense whatsoever.
"Oriforce Overload, Critical Phase, right?" Grey unhesitantly said.
At that moment, the man beside him instinctively raised his body and grabbed the latter's white collar from the laboratory coat—an out-of-the-place attire in this place full of dwarves and a very few humans.
"I don't know who the fuck you are, but be careful with what your mouth… or else–"
"Or else you won't be able to save your daughter," Grey interjected without an ounce of reluctance in his voice, his purple eyes staring at the abyss; the expression of the troubled man… a father who would do anything for the sake of his daughter.
"Let's not cause any more trouble here," Grey added before standing up from his seat. He then nodded to Rahk inconspicuously having his leisure moments on the sidelines, who then paid for his drinks that were simply recommended by the tavern.
Grey telepathically informed his supposed-to-be guide in this faraway land.
***
In a dark alley some distance away from the Onyx Tavern.
'This man is a monster…' It was Grey's first thought as he properly faced and assessed the emotionally conflicted man alone.
Thanks to the Extraterrestrial System, particularly to the [Alien Archive] with criminal ability, Grey had come to learn of this man's identity based on Krishnaya's initiative and suggestion to help this very person.
"I don't like to beat around the bush… I'll treat your daughter," Grey said.
"I don't know who you are, truly… But as someone wearing a laboratory coat, you are perhaps an alchemist. Maybe a crazy one. Where did you come from?"
"From the Dark Lands." Grey honestly replied, his eyes scanning the man standing some distance away in wariness.
This man possessed a golden-brown short hair like glimmering sands and brown eyes that shimmered with depth and purpose. His body was well-built, and his skin was light brown similar to an untainted scorching desert.
"Dark Lands? I see… So, die!"
At that moment, the man's figure dissolved into shadows and disappeared from Grey's sight. It happened in less than two seconds.
In the next moment, a dual katana emanating a quiet dark aura was closing into Grey's neck.
Boom!
"Even a Mutant blending in society doesn't proudly claim that they are from the Dark Lands. However, your demeanor tells me that you are a newly born Mutant, something that's not hereditary but has been exposed to the extreme amount of Oriforce to the depths of that forsaken land!" The man said, seeing Grey barely dodging the 'unserious' attempt to murder him.
"Borax Doranfell, Guild Master of the Information Guild… or should I say the Shadow Guild that even provides services to the Royal Family of the Holy Empire of Lumenasia behind the curtains?" Grey's sudden reveal of information caught Borax off-guard.
In his silence, Grey continued to speak with authority.
"Since when did you care about someone being a Mutant?
"Are you sure you have the time to spare to judge someone's existence when your own life is crumbling yet you are helpless to do anything about it?
"I may be a peculiar existence, but I mean no harm. And yes, I am not lying when I said that I can cure your dying daughter… but with your permission, of course. If you can find an alternative through your information network that spans all nations, then do what you want. However, ask for 'Grey' in the Onyx Tavern even if I'm the last choice you have." Grey scrutinized the deep yet deafening silence of Borax, whose mind was troubled and filled with millions of questions about the enigmatic existence standing in front of him.
But then, hearing what he had just said, Borax knew that these questions were too trivial compared to what's necessary.
After an unknown amount of time had passed, Borax opened his mouth to speak,
"What do you want?"
"Not yet. I will only say what I want if I manage to provide my promised help. But if there's one thing I can tell you now… It's that whatever I might ask of you will certainly be harmless to you and your family – if that's what you're worried about." Grey responded.
With a deep sigh, he continued, "I will be waiting, Guild Master Borax."
Without any warning, Grey's figure disappeared in a flash, leaving the man in his early forties unattended and alone in the dark alley of cold.
***
Two days later, in the Capital City of the Holy Empire of Lumenasia.
Unconscious yet alive in excruciating pain, the figure of a little girl around seven to eight years old was lying in bed moist with cold sweat.
"M-Master… w-we cannot persuade the Elves using ordinary means… It's impossible to get an Elven Elixir without revealing your identity to a High-Elf." Borax's loyal confidant, who was standing by his daughter's bedroom door, anxiously said.
The Elves were meticulous species, and they possessed the seemingly innate ability to discern the true nature of someone. And by the way that Borax had lived his life up to this point, his existence was known even though his appearance was as elusive as shadows.
The moment he revealed himself, the Elven Queen might ask him something irreversible as someone holding some secrets concerning the security of one's nation.
"D-daddy… I-It is o-okay… Cough!" A small hand, something that was weak and tired, held his grasp.
"H-hey, don't move. You'll get better, my little one…!" With a soft voice, Borax said and smiled.
"D-daddy… I-if I die, y-you will be sad… cough! B-but Mommy I-I will be with M-mommy… cough! S-she won't be alone a-anymore… right…?"
Hearing this, Borax caressed his daughter's hair while resisting himself from emotional outburst; his eyes were becoming cloudy.
His mind was weighing the options he had. Every possible option with every certain backslash considering his identity and position.
Suddenly, the familiar confident voice rang in his head…
"…If there's one thing I can tell you now… It's that whatever I might ask of you will certainly be harmless to you and your family – if that's what you're worried about."
"Rana, contact the Onyx Tavern and ask for someone named Grey. I will stay with my daughter. Now!"