The Innkeeper

When Lex woke up, the first thing he did was open the academy console, a computer connected to the academy's database provided on Lex's study desk, and checked his designation.

Lex had been designated as a combat zone strategic consultant. At first, he was highly suspicious that Vernan had somehow influenced his designation. But when he started reading the kinds of classes he would be enrolled in, he realized that this job was perfect.

He would have to learn both the history and geography of the Crystal realm, which could help him locate more areas like that volcano that provided him with energy. He would have to learn the political relations between the nations, which kind of sucked, but he could tolerate it.

Other than that, he would have to study cultivation, as well as its many forms used in this realm. Basic combat was a class all designations had to take, but then Lex would later be entered into more specialized combat classes. His last mandatory class was the basics of strategic planning.

After that, he had the option of taking two elective classes. He selected studying arrays and left the second elective open for now. He had a few days free, since all the classes started anew each month, which is when he would begin.

After changing into his uniform, which had been provided to him along with the dorm, Lex left towards the mess hall to get some food. Since he had some time, Lex was finally able to turn his attention to how the Inn had been doing.

He shared some of the things he was planning with Mary and asked her if this was acceptable with the level of energy he had accumulated, since it involved using his higher authority. She told him how much energy it would use up and, after a long internal struggle, Lex decided to go ahead with it anyway.

After all, he had no idea how long he would be stuck here, and 0.5% was not a lot. It would be safer to use it up now to prevent issues with the Inn in the long run. The first thing he did was raise the level of the greenhouse to level 5, basically one level above his allowed limit. This would put a strain on the Inns energy usage, but it was important since it could speed up the development of the Vine.

The upgrade cost him 250,000 MP! Since the last time he checked, he had only made a profit of 40,000 MP so this was another strain on his wallet, leaving him only 4,202,000 MP.

His second he did was lower the frequency of the golden door appearing on random worlds to a minimum. While this would affect his income and the growth of his Inn, right now it was better to focus on maintaining the status quo.

The third thing he did was use his increased authority to produce two of the strictest and most binding versions of the platinum keys - which brought his energy reserves down to 0.1%. This was necessary if he wanted to hire the husband and wife duo, since they were too strong!

This would not enslave them or anything of the sort, it would just ensure that they were unable to harm the Inn or its interests directly or indirectly. He passed the keys to Mary and told her to give them to the husband and wife.

He also told her to let them know the restrictions they would be under, as he did not want to trick anyone, especially if they were going to be working for him.

Next he…

"What are you doing?" a loud and forceful voice woke Lex up from his focus on the Inn. Startled, Lex looked around to see he had sat down at a table with 5 other fairly beautiful girls.

While he was working at the Inn and giving Mary commands, he had also arrived at the mess hall. He took some food, none of which he truly recognized, and sat down in the first empty seat he saw without paying too much attention to his surroundings.

It appeared he had… imposed upon a group of friends.

"Uhh, sorry, I was distracted," Lex said as he got up, perfectly hiding his embarrassment. But the girl's loud voice had already carried across the hall, and the moment Lex got up to move away, he noticed the entire mess hall was staring at him. Some with hostile eyes, some with curious ones, while others were just observing, but all eyes were trained at him.

But how could he, Lex Williams, the Innkeeper, easily expose his awkwardness? He simply nodded to the girls and walked away, as if he did not care at all, before finding an empty table and sitting down.

As he stared at his food and tried to figure out how one was supposed to eat it, a single thought crossed his mind. Was it time for the 'harassed for attracting the academy belle's attention' trope to trigger?

*****

Midnight Inn, Cabin on Midnight Mountain

Qawain, the sentient sword that had assumed the shape of a human, looked fondly at his wife, Anita, the lich who hid her features not because she was an ugly pile of bones, but because she had attained an everlasting beauty that would always attract unnecessary troubles.

"Do not worry my dear, I'm sure things will turn out for the best," Qawain said.

"I hope so," his wife replied, her voice so angelic it could stir the hearts of deadmen. Literally. Like, she literally used her voice to raise the dead. It was one of her abilities as a lich.

"From the moment I entered this place, I felt the ties of destiny disappear. This is the only place we can deliver our child safely. We have to stay here!"

"And we are staying here," Qawain reassured. "From the moment that golden light brought us here from Vegus Prime, I have had no thoughts of returning. To top it all off, this place is an Inn. We can stay as long as we want, even forever, as long as we can pay."

"But it's not enough. If we can work for this mysterious Innkeeper, we can ensure our safety. After all, if he can even interfere with destiny, who knows how powerful he is."

Just as Qawain was about to answer, there was a knock on their door. Mary had appeared with the platinum keys.