Chapter 2535: This can’t be

"I always wondered… what exactly drove you to drop everything and head into a land from where no one has ever… no wait, a land from which no one ever returned before you?" Elizabeth asked.

"Conversations like these," Mary responded without a hint of hesitation as she rolled her eyes. Now that she knew she was facing Elizabeth, she stopped pretending to care at all. She was faced with one of the most notorious and bloodthirty beings alive in the universe.

Being nice wasn’t going to spare her, and being rude wouldn’t bring her any closer to death than she already was. The only thing that determined whether she would live through this conversation or not was whether or not Elizabeth felt like she needed her, or if Mary had some value in her eyes.

Maybe fear and apprehension from the Innkeeper might also stay her hand, but Mary doubted it. This was the daughter of the ruler of the Primals. She did not need to fear anyone or anything, and she did not really need to adhere to common sense.

Thus, with the knowledge that nothing she could do or say could change the outcome, Mary actually relaxed, and Elizabeth immediately noticed.

This was the first time in recent memory that someone had become less pleasant after learning her identity. Most of the time, they would react with fear, apprehension or straight up horror. To be honest, the sheer disinterest Mary was displaying was actually quite refreshing for her.

"If you want to ask me something, then get on with it. I believe I was on my way to a picnic before you diverted me towards this location, and there’s a club sandwich I’m awaiting over there. This feeble body of mine needs regular sustenance to operate."

Elizabeth did not seem offended by the outburst, though she was slightly confused.

"Isn’t this an inn? I’ve heard you guys are great with hospitality. Should you really be treating me like this? I’m a guest here," Elizabeth said, her words making Mary roll her eyes once more.

"Oh please, only those who pay or are invited are guests. Let me ask you – have you paid ever since you’ve been here?"

Elizabeth blinked. In fact, she had not paid. As far as she was concerned, it was the honor of any inn for her to be its guest. Why would she pay to stay there? She had not even conceived the possibility that someone would genuinely make her pay for something she wanted.

As Elizabeth looked at Mary’s smug and knowing face, she realized that Mary was not joking. Instead she was waiting for a response.

"Okay fine, since you want to skip to the matter at hand, then I’ll skip. If the Innkeeper wants to make a play for the Ruins of Ascension, he must join the Primals faction. There is no reality in which he does so otherwise. Moreover, Lex will not set foot in the Primal realm so long as he contains that plague within his soul.

"I will admit, you and the Innkeeper have done a good job in raising his strength so high so naturally. The idea of creating such an inn was unique and it has played out well. But that does not excuse all actions. You may not be old enough to remember what those things resulted in, but there are still many alive who remember. The universe itself bears the scars from their insatiable avarice."

Elizabeth was a whole lot more aggressive when she spoke this time, but Mary wasn’t intimidated by that. Instead, she looked at the Primal with confusion.

"Why are you saying all this to me? All this seems to have nothing to do with me," she said, somewhat confused.

"Oh please. You two may be able to hide it from others, but you cannot hide it from me. Lex is intimately tied to the destiny of this Inn. He was literally one of the first inn employees by my guess, if he was not the first. You and the Innkeeper planned it all out to organically expose him to the universe and create a sense of belonging to a place under your control.

"Only someone with your empire building experience could help the Inn navigate the political currents of the vast and chaotic situation in the universe these days. If I’m guessing correctly, the Innkeeper played a key role in helping you survive the Nether, all for the purpose of running his Inn."

Elizabeth sneered at the dumbfounded expression that Mary made upon hearing all her secrets laid out so openly at her feet.

"Clearly, the relationship between the Innkeeper and you is beyond ordinary. You can go deliver my words to him. Let him know that the terms for joining the Primals can be discussed. We won’t interfere with his plans. But certain contributions are inevitable."

For a second that seemed never ending, Mary did not speak. When she did speak, she didn’t bother denying or confirming any of Elizabeth’s accusations. Instead, she focused on something else entirely.

"Yes but… why are you saying all of this to me? You can say it to the Innkeeper yourself, can’t you?"

There was a genuine hint of confusion in her voice.

Elizabeth looked away before answering.

"Why should I go see or talk to him? If he wanted to talk to me, he could have accepted the chocolates."

Mary opened her mouth, but had no words to speak. How could she even respond to those words?

She looked at Elizabeth sceptically and doubtfully.

"Are you… upset that he didn’t accept the chocolates?" Mary asked cautiously. It couldn’t be, right? This was the mad butcher – one of the most notorious murderers in history. Could someone like that… have a shy side?

Elizabeth turned and looked at Mary with a neutral expression before getting up from the bench.

"I’ve said all I’ve wanted to say. Let the Innkeeper know, without joining sides he has no hope of entering. The longer he delays joining, the steeper the price will ultimately be."