606 A Deal

Alex and Nelson sneaked inside the place.

Alex was utterly shocked because the settlement he found wasn't like any other he had seen. In fact, the place itself was already unusual. It was a mine.

They needed to enter from a cave entrance reinforced by wooden logs. Luckily, this place was so peaceful that no one would ever bother to guard it. The mine itself didn't originate from a mountain area. Instead, it came from a huge crater.

By the looks of it, the crater itself was, in fact, the result of the dwarf mining. 

Alex went through the tunnel and slowly descended underground.

"!!!" Alex covered his mouth, activated his Spirit Eyes, and checked his surrounding after smelling a suffocating odor.

There was no trace of poison inside the air, so Alex quickly released his hand and endured the smell. 

After walking for a few minutes, a light appeared at the end of the tunnel. Alex and Nelson sneakily walked toward it.

"Wow…" Alex looked at this in amazement. Inside the mine was a huge underground city with some factories, some smithing places and so on. He looked at the dwarves and found them to be similar to those in the lower world.

However, his attention was taken away by the smog in this place. The air was gray with a yellowish tint as though it was floating dust. Occasionally a pungent, suffocating odor that he smelled earlier, came to his nose.

Alex turned to Nelson, who appeared to be fine with this kind of smell.

"You are fine with this smell? I know this is bearable, but my nose still needs to adjust."

"Don't worry, Young Master. I have seen worse." Nelson shrugged. "Besides, the people here also have grown accustomed to such a place. If I'm not wrong, they are comfortable with this kind of place." 

Alex couldn't comprehend that, but he remembered that this was a dwarf from another world. Just like those Phoenix from the previous world that loved to bath in the volcano, these dwarves might be similar.

"Alright. We can go to this person to discuss the terms." 

"Understood. I shall guide you." Nelson nodded and led him to Zekhram's house without alarming any single dwarf they passed. He knew that Zekhram had an open-minded perspective about someone from the outside, but he wasn't clear with the others.

When Nelson abruptly revealed his presence once again, it was only after he entered Zekhram's house. 

"You have come…" Zekhram, who was busy in his study room reading a few books that contained the information about Sword and Spear, turned to Alex, who was supposed to be a human, and said, "So you are the master… I'm the third generation of the ruler, Zekhram. I heard you want to complete those weapons, correct?"

"You are correct." Alex nodded. "I heard you want to discuss a few things with me…"

"That's right. How about following me upstairs, we can talk more comfortably."

Zekhram rose from his seat and led him to the upstairs, where he usually greeted people. It was a nice room with some chairs and a table. Although the chair was hard like sitting on a stone, Alex sat like nothing. "So, what do you want to discuss with me?"

"First of all, it will be about Sword and Spear. You will need to negotiate with the Undead King, Atlas, by yourself, as you might already know. I don't know what kind of thing he wants you to do, but it shouldn't be ridiculous as I know him myself." 

"Hmm…" Alex furrowed his eyebrows. "I heard that it needs Heavenly Lightning… Are there no other alternatives?"

"Unfortunately not. The Altar brings special lightning, not certainly a Heavenly Lightning, as in your usual Lightning Tribulation. I can't describe it well enough, so you might want to ask Atlas for the lightning."

"It seems I have no other option." Alex sighed.

"I'm sorry." Zekhram apologized before saying. "Anyway, let's talk about your weapons first. The only reason it is incomplete is because of the lack of Elemental Gem, right?"

"Yes. I have a Fire Element, so I wish to fuse the Fire Gem to both of my weapons. I have brought the Fire Gem with me." Alex nodded.

"Fire Element!" Zekhram opened his mouth wide. "If… If you are a Fire Element, I have exactly something that can be used as a replacement. In fact, it will bring a greater effect on the weapons."

"Why do you suddenly get so excited like this?" Alex furrowed his eyebrows. 

"I actually have a request for you in exchange for that item and this fusing process. It's not a big deal, so you can rest assured."

"Let me hear it first." Alex narrowed his eyes. 

"I will talk about the items I have in my possession first. You might have noticed the smell in this place, but let me tell you if you are not. We are right above a volcano… A Natural Volcano that was active for thousands of years." Zerkham paused for a moment. "This volcano condensed a crystal called Magma Crystal. Just like how fire normally couldn't win against magma, this crystal can be used as a more powerful ingredient for your sword. 

"In fact, you might feel double if not triple the power that you will get from a Fire Gem. Unfortunately, this crystal can only be used as a material in forging. If not, many people might want to use it as a cultivation resource." 

"Hm…" Alex narrowed his eyes. "I still need to know your request first before I can agree." 

"I only have one wish. To open the Barrier and return home. We have been stuck in this place for a few thousand years, so we don't really have anything to do anymore other than living in harmony. I am not saying it is bad, but it's making us like a frog in the well."

"Home?" 

"How about this… You can go to the Undead Race first and seek the Undead King. If you get his cooperation, you might as well ask him about us in general. I believe he also has the same wish as me. He is the Undead King… No, he is more well known as Undying King. Out of the three races, only he was the first generation of rulers. That's why if you want to know anything, it will be from him." Zerkham said.

"This is starting to be suspicious. What are you hiding?" Alex narrowed his eyes. Although the man in front of him was a 7-Star Martial Saint, Alex wasn't his goofer to do everything according to his wish. Besides, he didn't know whether it would be a good choice to open the barrier and let these people roam the world. After all, they have been sealed in this place for a few thousand years."

"I know what you are thinking. However, you may need to ask about it from the Undying King as he holds every answer to your question. Just like how your subordinate hides his presence, I'm sure you can escape unscathed if something goes wrong." 

"I'm not the person who likes the unknown…" Alex uttered his careful side. After all, he had gotten used to knowing everything before doing something. If he had no information about Black Devil Sect, he might halt his plan in eliminating them.

"Of course, if you don't feel it's enough. I can give you more." Zerkham persuaded Alex with more weapons. "I build many things in my life, and many of them are Rank 8 weapons. Whether you want a sword, spear, bow, I have all of them and good quality as well."

"I'm sorry, but I am not a person who will be swayed by greed." Alex shook his head, declining his offer again.

"Ugh…" Zekhram had no way to convince Alex. Even if he wanted to explain it to him, only Atlas could tell the whole point without any misunderstanding. That was why he asked Alex to go to him first. "I really can't persuade you in that case. Even so, I still ask you to seek the Undying King for information. If you still hold such a belief, I will still finish your weapons with Fire Gems."

Alex looked at his serious expression and furrowed his eyebrows. He glanced at Nelson, asking whether Zekhram was telling the truth or not. 

Nelson thought for a moment before suddenly sending a thought transmission to Zekhram. 

A trace of surprise appeared on Zekhram's face before he nodded profusely. He clenched his fists tightly and communicated with Nelson secretly.

After getting his answer, Nelson looked at Alex with a nod. He also sent a thought transmission to him. "I believe we can try it first, Young Master."

Alex narrowed his eyes. 'Why are you suddenly so supportive about it?'

'I have some knowledge about them, but I can't say anything to you at the moment. If you want to know the reason, you can ask about it from the Undying King or whatsoever. There is only a benefit for us in this deal. I promise you.' Nelson assured him and bowed to him.

Alex wanted to reject it, but seeing how Nelson actually asked him like this, he hesitated. 'I have several questions about it, but I want to clarify first, is this related to my past life?' 

Nelson thought for a moment and shook his head. 'No. I believe you have no contact with them.'

'Then, the second question… Can I believe you in this?'

This second question took a deep blow in Nelson's heart. Even so, he still had a reason to continue. He nodded with great difficulty. 'Yes. If something is wrong in this decision, I will bear full responsibility.' 

Nelson didn't say anything more to Alex. Instead, he looked at Zekhram. 'There are two things I want you to promise with your Great Mother of Earth. First, you shall assist us in something before you can go. Second, you will give anything that my Master wants.' 

'I promise in the name of the Great Mother of Earth, Gaia.' Zekhram sore without hesitation.

'Good. Then, I shall promise you in the name of Eulja.' 

Nelson nodded.

The dwarf needed to change the topic out of this depressing topic. "If the Undying King has agreed with you, please notify me immediately because I will also show you something… In fact, the Undying King will also ask you to see it."

Alex thought for a while and said. "Alright. I will get the cooperation of the Undying King."

The dwarf took out a hammer. The hammer had this red-colored metal with the golden aura surrounding it. Its size alone was similar to the hammer for forging.

"This is my grandfather's Absolute Hammer. He and Atlas have exchanged vow that whoever brings this hammer, one shall treat them as equal. Atlas has a similar item, but that's not important." Zekhram shook his head. "Bring this Hammer to Atlas, and he will listen to what you want to talk. As for whether you can have him lend the altar, it will be up to you."

Alex furrowed his eyebrows, walked toward Zekhram, and took the red hammer with him.

"I apologize. I want to talk with Atlas to ask for the altar, but I'm bound with a contract. It's said that only those who possess that weapon should be the one to go." Zekhram said helplessly.

"Contract? If I may ask, is it coming from your Grandfather?"

"Yes and no."

"What do you mean?"

"It was indeed coming from my grandfather, but this was not the rule or contract that my grandfather made. Instead, it came from the one that asked for these weapons." 

"Teodross?" Alex was astonished upon hearing it, thinking he should punch that guy in the face once for all this trouble. "I understand. I will go toward the Undead Race right now."

"Many thanks." The Dwarf acted like it wasn't the discussion between 7-Star Martial Saint and 10-Star Martial Emperor. It might be because of his personality or another thing. Nonetheless, it was a peaceful talk for Alex. 

After promising him, Alex looked at Nelson and left the room.