Chapter 86: The dagger family

Stretching my limbs as I rise from my bed. I've not got anything planned today, so another day of finding stuff to keep me occupied. Checking my mail while my tired mind comes into focus. Finding a document from the mayor, I ponder on what he's got for me.

Opening the letter with my fumbling hands; finding a very densely filled A4 sheet of paper within. Reading over the professional and intricately written letter, the mayor definitely didn’t write this. Maybe one of his many assistances with an English major, but it doesn’t read as he writes.

None the less I read as if it's his words, as they likely are, transcribed by another or not. It goes into detail about the air travel business were building. Two of each ship have been finished, allowing for alpha tests to begin. A route has been planned between 2 towns, close by but difficult to reach by road; a perfect test route.

He detailed the armaments installed above the warships, including ballasts, cannons, and some kind of electronic powered flamethrower; sounds exciting. He has prepared a detailed route plan avoiding dragon territory, unknown locations, any potential nesting areas of air-born dangers. It makes me glad I chose him for this task, as much as he grumbles about it.

Also detailing the current ships under construction and the estimated time of construction. Each ship takes roughly half a day to prepare when a full crew is working on it. Impressively fast for builders lacking any variety of flight.

He enclosed a blueprint of the completed battleship, guns included. It’s impressive, to say the least, hosting extremely detailed construction details and a layered guide to follow. I see now why he thought my blueprint was shoddy; It truly is when using this as a comparison.

Finally reaching the bottom of the longwinded document, I find a distinct style change for the final paragraph. It seems the mayor opted to write this little tidbit personal. Reading it I see why, having finally managed to contact the Dagger family – excellent. With a location and time today for a meeting, I at least have something to do. 2pm at the estate building hosting the mayor; why would they send someone personally? I’m not that important, am I?

Well, I’ll not be complaining about not having to travel obscene distances. Looking over the clock, 2 hours until the meeting, I've got time. Placing the document into a draw mindlessly before beginning my morning routine. Taking special care while showering, applying some sweet-smelling soap. Finishing with some aftershave, “I smell amazing.”

Taking a light jog to get my blood pumping before checking my island for problems and completing my general maintenance. Finding an abnormally large number of trees around my island, I’ll have to cut them down soon. They grow like weeds, damned Minecraft world, and its high tick rate. Taking a moment to bask in the sunlight; finding it not too bright; not like the summer sky, wincing at the thought. Having gotten my daily vitamin-D I prepare a large breakfast.

I quickly whisk some eggs. Adding salt and cinnamon in equal amounts before adding a teaspoon of sugar. Pouring the viscous mixture onto a plate before grabbing some of my bread.

Dipping the bread on both sides to evenly coat it, making sure not to leave it too long to prevent sogginess. Heating a pan with butter before throwing the bread into it with a wet ‘thwap.’ Hearing the audible ‘sizzle’ as the bread slowly turns a golden brown. Flipping it over and repeating the process before removing the bread and placing it on a plate.

I do this 3 more times to create a stack of eggy bread, French style. I finish it by very lightly drizzling it with honey and adding chopped strawberries. Eating the gloriously calorific eggy bread in record time.

Suddenly accosted by my pets, I’m forced to prepare 2 more portions for the greedy beasts. Truthfully I don’t mind, loving the process of cooking and having someone enjoy said cooking even more. Knowing how Chic lived within a cave I understand her obsession with food because she likely had little of it down there. Admittedly I’m curious what she consumed for sustenance within the cave system but it's likely better I don’t know.

Sling is a little more complex… or rather too simple. From what I can tell, Sling can taste the food… somehow. So did the swamp Sling was born within have bad food? Or do slimes inherently love food? They do need it to reproduce Afterall; splitting in a very similar method to cells.

Well, it's pointless to ask, all that matters is they like my food and I’m happy to supply it. Watching in joy as they savor every bite, “glad you like my cooking guys.”

Walking away to continue my day, heading to my storage room. Stocking up my supply of items and depositing ones I don’t need. Finding my golden bag disorganized once more, “I need a ME system.” Although I don’t think that will fix my poor personal inventory organization skills. Somehow being able to build intricate and careful buildings with perfectly angled blocks yet o struggles to keep the metals with each other. Shaking my own head in disappointment.

Spending a short time to regain a semblance of order within the entropy. I've got to try at least otherwise it will never be in order. Like that whole, you have to take a single step to walk a mile. That’s how that saying goes right? Not like it would be understood here with its alien terms.

I generally just try to ignore the strange terminology they use for some things. Like using the Nether as a swear word with startling regularity; generally, though they swear less than Earth I've found. Still, it's rather funny when you hear a drunk guy saying “You'll go to the nether you asshole.” Asshole still being a universal swearword in all cultures for obvious reasons.

Looking at the clock, need to get to the meeting otherwise I’ll be late. Using my dislocator to skip the town and arrive in front of the building. Unconcerned of someone being where I teleported; I tested it. Having teleported inside a block, inside a mob, and into the sky. It teleports you to the side of your intended target if you would be inside a living creature. A nice quality of life improvement, saving poor souls by the dozen I've found. Given I've teleported into someone at least 3 times. This resulted in a startled scream from all 3 men I've nearly given a heart attack to.

Thankfully in this case no one was where I teleported to. Simple resulting in a few odd looks by passerby's; finding the second looks rather amusing. Some start wondering if they're going blind or mad, which is funny.

Stepping into the brick building with confident strides, coming before the familiar wooden counter. A warm breeze emanating from a vent to my side, they have air conditioning? Pushing the thought aside I address the clerk. A young blond woman with a large ring earing in one ear, hair cut short with tight-fitting black cloths. Soulless eyes mar her pretty face, a shame.

“I’m here for…” quickly interrupted.

“A meeting?” The clerk replies bored, I miss the usual clerk

“Erm… yes?” Frustrated at my unintentional stutter.

“Please follow me.” She says in her monotonous voice before taking me through the winding corridors.

Coming towards a room I've never entered before, a short walk from the familiar office I'm accustomed to. Focusing my eyes and mind on the door and who lies behind it. The clerk steps to the side motioning for me to enter. To which I do so with confidence… before running into the door with a loud bang.

Right, right a pull door, should have noticed. Fumbling with the handle before pulling it open with none of my previous confidence. Noting the mayor and an unfamiliar androgynous-looking person. Neck long black hair with piercing brown eyes a slight squint and a sharp nose speaks volumes. The slightest wrinkle on the eyes shows the bearest hint of aging on the otherwise youthful face.

Finding a seat to the side of the mayor, I sit down. Rubbing my hands mindlessly under the table as the person opposite me scrutinizes me. Looking to my side I see the mayor looking at me, moving his eyes from me to the guest and then back to me. What does he want? The awkward silence within the small room is suffocating. Finding my foot tapping lightly onto the carpeted floor.

Eventually, the mayor and the guest look at each other before laughing. Looking between the two lost, “What… is so funny.” My voice a barely audible whisper.

The mayor just facepalms, “Remove your helmet, you don’t plan on having a meeting with it on do you?”

Silently berating myself for my stupidity, embarrassment mars my otherwise pale cheeks as I remove the pink helmet. The quest, with a slightly softer face, looks over me without comment. The mayor finally speaks up, “This person here is Mr. Flor Dagger.”

They reach over for a handshake, to which with the slightest of delay I return the handshake. Find their grip normal and polite, not weak nor strong and overwhelming.

In a rather light and calm voice, they speak, “Hello, Aeternum? That is your name, correct?”

Nodding in agreement to their statement.

“It's nice to meet you Aeternum, I've heard… interesting things about you.” He says with an almost sly voice.

“All good things I hope.” Unable to resist saying it.

He looks over to the mayor before a reptilian smile covers his face. “Of course, all good things.” While making eye contact towards the mayor. Who is sweating up a storm for some reason?

Stress-reducing ever so slightly at the reply, as long as it's all good things.

Flor turns to me before continuing. Keeping a level gaze with me, “So… why do you need access to the end portal. Actually, first, tell me how you're aware of its existence.”

“Not sure I want to comment on how I know. But I want to enter it.” Watching as his face goes from curious to taken aback.

“You want to enter that death trap? We have guarded it for generations to stop fools like you.” His politeness chipping like a thin lacquer.

“Yes, now what do I have to do for you to let me?”

“Were not letting you or anyone near it, we have hidden it for a reason. This is a waste of time, the mayor said you were a person of importance but all I see is a stupid fool.”

Trying to ignore the insults, foot-tapping away a notch faster than before. “It's not dangerous for me, I can leave whenever I wish.”

“That’s what the many people who have entered said.” He replies quick as a whip.

Feeling at a loss of what to say, I say my final trump card. “I know what's inside.”

He goes to reply but pauses before looking at me in the eye. “What's inside then?” Obviously expecting me not to have a good reply.

“The end dimension holds the ender dragon and is the primary dimension enderman congregate. The place the portal leads to is a large island of endstone, a green-tinted white rock that floats above a large void. Above the island is obsidian towers holding end crystals, the source of the dragon's power.”

He looks at me with an indescribable expression. Hesistation obvious by his opening and closing mouth. “How… how do you know that? Do you have access to our files? Are you a spy? We only managed 2 successful probes, there is no way you could know that.” Finding amusement as his stereotypical reply.

“Because…” Allowing a dramatic silence for theatrics, “I've been to the End before.”