Arcane: Begging for Help in a Parallel Universe!

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Knock, knock, knock...

The sudden knocking pulled Link out of his thoughts and back to reality. He glanced at the window, then at his pocket watch.

"How did so much time pass?"

It had been three or four hours since he'd started negotiating with Project Irelia. One side knew how poor the other was, while the other had no idea how rich Link's world was.

Moreover, Link was deeply intrigued by the Matter Decomposition Processing Core, which had caused him to lose track of time.

"Ugh, I got sucked in again," Link muttered, rubbing his face. "Come in!"

"Link!!"

Neeko burst through the door. Fizz wasn't with her—after dropping them off last night, he'd gone off to play with his shark companion. He'd probably show up again in the evening to hang out and mooch some food.

"Neeko's so bored!"

Neeko grabbed Link's arm and shook it, her big eyes pleading. "Neeko wants to play aerial chess! Play with me!"

"No way. If we keep playing, you'll turn into a chess piece."

Link firmly rejected Neeko's request. Ever since he'd introduced her to aerial chess, she'd been obsessed, practically wanting to sleep with the board.

If he actually got her a gaming console—

Neeko and Fizz, being supernatural beings, would probably spend eternity glued to it.

"Then Neeko wants to go out! You take Neeko, okay?"

"I..."

Link glanced at the plans and blueprints on his desk, then at Neeko's adorable, expectant face.

"Fine. I've been sitting here too long anyway. A change of scenery might do me good."

He patted Neeko's head and told her to wait outside while he organized his notes. Seeing the Matter Decomposition Processing Core had solidified his design for the second Sin.

Now, he needed to perform extensive calculations and simulations to finalize the design.

Once he got a supercomputer from Project Irelia, he could significantly shorten the time needed.

The second Sin, unlike Pride, would be built using technology and artifacts from the Project universe.

In theory, once Link's calculations and verifications were complete, this Sin would possess the devouring capabilities befitting Gluttony.

But that was just theory. The actual results would only be known after creation.

"Let's go for a walk," Link said, ruffling Neeko's hair as they left the suite.

But as soon as they opened the door, they found Miss Fortune standing outside.

"Boss—"

Miss Fortune looked desperate. "I need your help!"

"What's wrong now?"

Link frowned. Miss Fortune explained, "The Butcher's Board in the market has been causing a lot of trouble. I'm swamped and can't deal with it. I need your help."

"The Butcher's Board in the Slaughter Docks?"

Link raised an eyebrow. Employees asking the boss to do their work? Not ideal.

But—

Ensuring stability before the Harrowing was part of his plan.

Miss Fortune, along with Vander and Jinx, was busy managing Bilgewater. Link decided to handle this himself.

"Fine, I'll take care of it. Also, prepare some oak barrels for me tonight. I'll need them."

"Got it. I'll have Raven take care of it."

After relaying his needs, Link took Neeko to the Slaughter Docks, hoping she wouldn't be overwhelmed by the stench.

Slaughter Docks.

A ship towing a massive sea beast had just docked. The crew, exhausted from days at sea, collapsed on the deck at the sight of the blood-soaked docks.

The sea beast, dragged behind the ship, was a colossal creature resembling an oversized worm covered in wheel-sized scales. Its gaping maw was lined with razor-sharp teeth, capable of swallowing a carriage whole.

If anyone could see inside the beast, they'd find a burly figure holding a torch, struggling through its innards.

Olaf, wearing a horned steel helmet, his orange hair and beard indistinguishable, trudged through the beast's entrails. His frost-forged armor, splattered with blood and gore, bore witness to his valor.

Carrying a one-handed axe in one hand and a torch in the other, Olaf grumbled as he moved.

"Survived again. This big guy's all show, no real danger."

"Thought I'd finally die gloriously, but here I am, still alive."

"What a headache."

Olaf and his crew had chased this sea leviathan from the Freljord for over a month, finally killing it in a storm off Bilgewater's coast.

When the ship capsized, tossing Olaf into the beast's maw, he thought the prophecy of him dying peacefully in bed would finally be proven wrong.

But he'd won.

He was one step closer to that damned prophecy.

After what felt like an eternity, Olaf reached the beast's throat. The ridged walls and obsidian-like teeth were perfect for his needs.

"Heh, these'll make great hearthstones for the Windrunners and Bone Scholars."

Olaf jammed the torch into the beast's mouth and got to work.

After much effort, he pried out a tooth, slung his axe onto his belt, and hoisted the massive fang onto his shoulder.

The weight made him grunt.

"Feels like I'm hauling ice for a frost troll's den."

Olaf waded through knee-deep blood and digestive fluids until he emerged from a gaping wound in the beast's side.

The sight of the blood-soaked docks and crimson waves made him grimace.

Taking a deep breath to ease the tightness in his chest from the lack of air inside the beast, Olaf frowned at the stench.

"Let's finish this and get back north as fast as possible."

He spat, cursing the foul air of Bilgewater, so unlike the crisp, invigorating air of the Freljord.

"What a dump."

Olaf scanned the docks, his eyes landing on a young man in a strange mask and a white lab coat, standing out starkly against the grime.

The man held the hand of a little girl with blue-purple hair, her bright eyes curious as she stared at Olaf.

Olaf grinned, his hearty laugh making the girl giggle.

"Link, look! That big guy's smile is so silly!"

"Anyone who's been inside a beast like that would look the same," Link said, patting Neeko's head while keeping his eyes on Olaf.

The orange hair and beard, the frost-forged armor still gleaming despite the blood—it was unmistakably Olaf.

And the True Ice axe at his waist made Link's eyebrows rise. True Ice weapons could only be wielded by those with iceborn blood.

Pride's cooling system used a sliver of True Ice, and it had been incredibly stable.

"Wasn't Olaf supposed to arrive in Bilgewater just before the Harrowing?"

"Why is he here so early?"

Link was puzzled. Olaf's arrival was far earlier than in the lore.

And Lucian had been the same. If not for luck, Link wouldn't have found him either.

"Hey!!"

Olaf's shout drew Link's attention. The burly man waved, the massive fang still on his shoulder.

"Need a fresh, hot-off-the-press sea beast fang?"

While catching the leviathan was exciting, Olaf needed to sell it to fund his crew's return home.

"Come over here, and we'll talk!"

Link used a megaphone to call back, confusing Olaf with the strange device.

"Alright!"

Seeing a potential buyer, Olaf stopped overthinking and made his way over.

"This guy's chasing death, even charging into Sejuani's tribe alone."

"Letting a reckless warrior like him go would be a waste. I need to keep him here for the Harrowing."

Note: So far this story is published up to chapter 156 on my patreon, go check it out and remember that if we reach the goal of 140 power stones I will publish the next chapter.