1190 I expect you to return the favor.
"I am also looking forward to talking with a woman as beautiful as you... alone."
Nux spoke with a playful smile on his face.
By now, Lyriana was already used to Nux's antics, after all, it was not her first time meeting him. She waved her hands, dismissing the subordinates who were keeping an eye on them.
"Alright, they are gone."
She spoke.
Nux's smile widened as his body turned into white particles and slowly disappeared into nothingness.
Then, Nux's true body appeared in place of his clone and a smile appeared on Lyriana's face,
"It is good to finally meet you. You are quite hard to reach these days."
"I am playing hide and seek with a few people these days and I am quite a good player of that game."
"I can see that." Lyriana chuckled.
Then, her expression turned serious, and,
"Are you alright?" She questioned.
"What do you mean?" Nux tilted his head in confusion.
"Your Clones... I can sense that your energy is more... unstable when you use your Clones."
Lyriana spoke with a worried look on her face and a frown appeared on Nux's face.
"Unstable?"
"I do not think that is quite the right word... But, that energy you use instead of Mana, whenever you use your Incubus Powers, its flow becomes... erratic."
Lyriana didn't know if she was able to explain this correctly or not, Nux, however, understood what she was talking about.
To protect his weakened Human Bloodline from being completely devoured by his Incubus Blood, he is now forced to overuse his Essence. So naturally, the 'flow' of his Essence had changed a little.
But to be able to point that out...
Nux once again realized that Lyriana's sensitivity to Mana was much higher than any other being he had met, even Vyriana.
"Ah, well, it is happening because I am experimenting with my powers, it is not a big deal." Nux shrugged.
He had no reason to show any form of weakness in front of her.
"Are you sure...?"
Lyriana, however, was much more inquisitive than normal.
"Yes, Lady Lyriana, there is nothing wrong with me. I am completely fine."
Nux replied.
"I heard that you went to Aurelian asking her to open the Human Trials."
Lyriana brought out another topic, from her tone, however, it felt like she was trying to link this fact to the change in Nux's 'energy flow'.
"How did you know?" Nux narrowed his eyes.
"I have my sources." Lyriana smiled.
"Lady Lyriana, you seem oddly interested in me.
Are you perhaps... romantically interested in me?
Because if you are, then I will have you know, it is a yes from my side."
What sane man would reject the Elven Queen?
Nux never would!
Lyriana, on the other hand, just shook her head,
"Don't be delusional. Even my daughter is older than you, boy."
"I don't mind, older women have their own charms, especially a mother."
"You really are shameless huh..."
Lyriana commented. She couldn't believe that this was the same man who slaughtered an entire clan just a while ago.
"I am simply an honest man who does not hide what he wants." Nux smiled.
"..."
Lyriana turned silent.
"Anyways, if you are not romantically interested in me, then what do you want? Why did you call me?"
Nux questioned.
"The Human Trials, I can help you take them."
Lyriana spoke and this time, Nux's expression changed.
This was not a joking matter to him and seeing how Lyriana was offering a solution to his problem...
"What do you want in return?"
He questioned directly.
"The Human Trials are different from other Trials, since there is only one Trial Tower for all the humans, and considering their huge population, the Human Trial Towers were built to be able to take in the greatest number of candidates compared to all other Trial Towers, Therefore, the resources required to open the Human Trials are the highest as well.
And of course, since you have no relation with any of the three Human Emperors, they would never use their reserves to open the Tower solely for your sake.
So the only option you have is to use the authority the Ancestral Order gave to the people of Yrniel, collect the same amount of resources required to open the Trial Tower, and force the Human Emperors to open up the Human Trial."
"Wait wait wait, same amount of resources?"
"Hmm? Of course."
"Aurelian told me that I needed 1.5 times the required resources."
"She was lying."
Lyriana shrugged.
"The Ancestral Order already knows the absurd amount of resources required to open a Trial Tower, why would they increase the required amount for a single person when it is already hard enough to gather the required amount?"
"That lying bitch..." Nux cursed out loud.
Seeing that, Lyriana chuckled,
"You can't blame her for lying, Nux.
That is simply how the world works, if you get swindled by others, then it is not the swindler's fault, but yours for being a gullible fool.
Aurelian simply has no reason to help you out, especially right now, when almost no one would want to associate themselves with you since that might put them in Arcturus's bad books.
Maybe she wanted extra resources so she could benefit from the situation. I can see myself doing the same as well."
"You would cheat someone who came to you for help?"
Nux raised his eyebrow.
"As I mentioned before, the world does not resemble a fairytale.
You, more than anyone else, should be well aware of this.
Also, Aurelian's statement seems unlikely to have been made with the expectation that you could assemble the necessary resources. It was perhaps more of a jest or a means to intimidate you."
Lyriana shrugged.
Nux, however, was able to read in between the lines and,
"Are you saying..."
"I plan to give you the required resources so you can take the Human Trial."
Lyriana nodded.
"Why would you do that?"
Nux questioned and Lyriana finally brought up the real reason she called Nux.
"Since I am doing you a favor, I expect you to do the same in return."
