Steampunk Era: Mad Abield
Chapter 852: Section 565: Finding Fun at Work (Part 2)_2

Chapter 852: Section 565: Finding Fun at Work (Part 2)_2

"I don’t know whether I should thank him for his dedication to this world, or blame him for neglecting our daughter." As the King, Goethe let out a hearty laugh.

Anna also smiled—she found herself truly fond of this young man.

Her daughter was picky, Anna knew that, but she never imagined her daughter could find someone akin to a Savior—now not only the Dwarves and Half-humans thought there was something off about this kid, even the Frost Giants and those from The Great Forest Land were tight-lipped about Malin’s issues. And what about the Gnomes? These little creatures were practically turning into Malin’s fanboys.

Such an incredible young man was going to be her son-in-law?

The saying "happiness comes out of the blue" pretty much described the situation.

As for neglecting her daughter?

Anna believed that was just a joke from Goethe. In her husband’s eyes, even if their daughter and Malin hadn’t seen each other for some time, if these two young people were given a chance, Anna was certain their sweetness would be killer, almost sorrowfully sweet.

"I don’t think you’d resent Malin." With this thought, Anna spoke with a laugh.

"Of course, I have never really blamed the child. I see his contributions to this world. I’d even take good care of Faye, and if some short-sighted fool thought to take advantage, I’d break his limbs, tie him with a chain to an anchor and send him down to the Storm Sea," Goethe said carelessly, then changed the subject: "Darling, what have you and Lena been so busy with lately? Can you share it with me? After all, I’m worried about you."

Anna turned to look at her husband, who seemed genuinely very concerned about his wife.

And Goethe continued his chatter: "I was so worried when I heard you returning from the Dark Zone in the North of Farole. Look at you both; you have a wound on your face, and even Lena’s arm is broken. Darling, what do you need to keep so secret from me?"

Seeing the concern in the eyes of the man she loved, Anna finally softened and began to share some of the intelligence they had recently discovered.

"Well, I think it’s time I told you. Our mentor had once entered that Dark Zone. There, there was a mechanical factory that had ceased operation and a research lab our mentor set up. It seems he lived there for a while a long time ago... Artificial deity, have you heard of this concept?" Anna asked her husband.

Goethe nodded: "I’ve heard of it, the mentor mentioned it to me. He said the concept of artificial deities was doomed to fail, he seemed very negative during that period... Did you find something? Did the mentor attempt this method?"

"Not exactly, what we found were notes left by the mentor," Anna replied, finishing her last bite of food. "Our mentor re-entered the research lab in his final days, took away all the materials that were there, and since then, he has disappeared from our sight."

"...Did he succeed?" Goethe asked, furrowing his brows.

"It’s unclear, we can’t confirm his whereabouts or whether he truly succeeded." Anna sighed, unsatisfied with recent investigations. The Dark Zone was indeed highly dangerous, and the injuries were sustained when a frenzied Machine Soul discovered them during their retreat; escaping took every bit of cunning: "We plan to recuperate a little. In two months, we will head North. The mentor referenced a coordinate in Oslo in his diary."

Anna hoped to find new clues at that coordinate.

"That’s too dangerous, I will go with you," Goethe said.

"You are a King, not the Prince who used to follow me around on adventures, Goethe." Anna said, reminiscing about the past. She shook her head and then leaned back in her chair: "Leave this matter to us sisters to handle."

"No, I must go with you," Goethe insisted firmly, to Anna’s surprise. He moved next to Anna, obstinately pulling his chair like a child.

"...Why?" Anna asked with a smile, hoping this was just a whim from the aging man.

But... it wasn’t.

Goethe reached out and took Anna’s hand: "Let me go with you, my dear, please. The thought of you being hurt and my not being by your side tears at my heart."

Seeing the earnestness in his eyes, Anna finally nodded: "Alright, but this trip will take quite some time."

"That’s alright, I can call my eldest son back, it’s time for him to get a taste of wielding power," Goethe said joyfully.

Watching her husband filled with childlike joy, Anna suddenly began to look forward to the new adventure that would come in two months.

Bringing this fool along, it will surely be as fun as it used to be.

Rewo looked at the letter Clovis had sent, which mentioned that Malin was planning to head North to deal with the affairs of a child named Nanaqi after his weaning period was over.

For the first time, she felt anxious.

Wasn’t all of this too risky? That place was Oslo, a gigantic city from before the Great Destruction Era, where massive buildings still stand across the strait to this day.

It’s the most terrifying domain of ghosts, spirits, different kind, and frenzied Machine Souls; that dead city holds unheard-of monstrous horrors. Malin’s decision to go there seemed far too dangerous to Rewo... Instinctively, she wanted to stop Malin’s impulsive plan.

But she also understood that she shouldn’t do that; if Malin could go through fire and water for Clovis’ progeny today, he could save her child from hell tomorrow.

Knowing she couldn’t stop Malin’s actions, Rewo knew she had to help him instead.

And now, Rewo was well aware that what she could do was to create the most suitable potions for Malin’s use to help him.

With this in mind, the lady sitting in the floating rocking chair turned her head to glance at the four young female apprentices foisted upon her by the Mage Tower: "My girls, today I am going to make some potions for my beloved, but as you can see, my child is a bit too lively, so I am going to have you help me make the potions."

After finishing, Rewo stroked her belly, housing a child that was quite the little rascal.

Usually, Rewo’s instructive method of potion crafting was a way for an Alchemy master to test if their apprentice was truly fit to inherit their legacy. Rewo normally felt a natural displeasure at the Mage Tower’s imposition of apprentices on her, but this time, in order to help Malin, she didn’t want to dwell too much on such trivial matters.

On hearing Rewo’s words, the four girls looked overjoyed, starting to get the alchemy table ready, while the golden-haired girl shyly asked Rewo what they were going to make.

Rewo paused, right, what indeed?

What kind of potion did Malin need?

Ah, Rewo, you fool, you don’t even know what Malin needs.

With a bit of embarrassment, Rewo decided to ask Malin first, and meanwhile, she softened at the expectant looks from the apprentices waiting on her; the soon-to-be mother Rewo took out four World Tree fruits: "I have no confidence in your skills, so, before making potions for my husband, you’ll first use these fruits to make a bottle of potion, remember, children, this is also a test for you."