Chapter 200: The palace

The vision for Tyr is different, while everyone else experiences the primal world. He receives a message from 'god' this god claim to be the original sun god. Unlike before with Nogu, this feels real the images is from an old Cantos game Pre-alpha stuff. Titan wraith was a game where people become gods. It only lasted a year before a single player killed everyone else. 

Tyr has one specific memory of him spending countless hours in a simulation where he had to reply to the old Cantos games. He won't be doing that this time. The ancient quest is not something that he can rush, but he sure as hell can strengthen his friends. 

The god from his vision didn't feel like anything he has experienced before and that unsettles him. His gut twisting as if it can sense something coming over the horizon. 

Ori grabs Tyr off the ground to him. Tyr ate a rock, floated in the air for a few seconds, glowing like a Christmas tree, then dropped like a sack of hot shit. "Boss, Hey!!" Salome, who is now in Booner from licking the side of Tyr's face. 

The biggest changes to Tyr happen in the real world. Inside the game, the biggest change is to his base stat. which has increased from 11 to 111. This single has boosted every active stat by one hundred. Another change is the subtle change to his eye, which glows yellow like wolves. This is a direct effect of the primal Sun 

The implant interface module inside Tyr's head grows. Billions of nano machines get to work removing gene errors and repairing functions and otherwise making his body flawless. This is not uncommon, it use to happen more in the past. Nowadays, Soong Industries is the only company that still creates augment bio platforms. 

Tyr allows the system to continue its work as it is necessary to help the mind keep up with he the difficulty of the higher levels of the game. 

Tyr is also typing furiously. He knows where the moonstone and the star stone are located. Sending the information to SKY Ocean Hunter and Styx, respectively. If he knew who the last person was he would send it to them even if they are an enemy. Tyr is more confident now than ever before. The rewards from the ancient missions rewards will not be small. Little does he know his appearance is starting a chain of events involving every major power in the solar system. 

"I'm fine. Where is that damn box? We need to get rid of this as soon as possible." Tyr places the signet in the box that held the sunstone. With a few bursts of magic, the box looks as good as old. The simple thing to do would be to hand it to Salome, who will get killed with it. There are many missions to revive a pet and most are easy.

"What now?" Ori can hear the madness spreading outside. Tyr wants nothing to be traceable to him. The sunstone is the prize. The other two treasure boxes are just bonuses. Tyr thinks if they can't leave yet it will suspicious if they leave in the middle of an emergency. Lucky for him, the item hasn't been open, so there is no magic mark. Though the physical evidence still exists. Getting rid of the two wooden chests is simple enough. The items that are nothing to write home about still are valuable to trade. 

"We go to the palace." Ori smiles. He thought they might make a mad dash for the door and try their way out. Somehow, the idea of going deeper into the lion's dens excites him more. Ori opens the door to the backroom. 

The cook is cuddling himself behind some brooms, trying to be as thin as possible. His sobs give him away, other than Ori might have had to put a little effort into finding him. Pulling him up by his collars, he refuses to follow even the simplest command. 

"Relax, goodman with the four of us here, there is no one who will be brave enough to assail your person." Tyr wears his merchant mask. Voice smooth as silk. The cook looks around, furrowing his brow, giving the room a scrutinising gander. There are only two people here with him.

Ori points at the panther-like baboon-faced pets sitting in the doorway. The cook only now realises they are not horses. He wasn't paying any attention to them earlier in his mind. A beast of burden is the same as a horse or cow. Especially since his signature dish is Braised Griffin shank in a Honey badger mushroom sauce served with Icarus wine. He can smell the thought of his favourite dish. 

"Hey, focus..." Ori is about to give the cook a good whack. Tyr shakes his head. They want the cook to feel secure with them as if they are doing him a favour. 

"My man will follow your direction while we take my humble steeds forward." Tyr leads the cook to the booners, of course. Leaper gives the cook a stink eye and growl. The cook leaps back only for Ori to push him forward. After another round of assurances from both Tyr and Ori, the cook, with a deathly smile, gets onto leaper and directs Ori. 

They ride quickly, turning often to avoid the guards on patrol given that they are moving towards the palace. Most guards think they are returning nobles or servants. Lady Pembroke, though, is quick and stops them just before the palace. 

The stone edifice of the building, as cold as is lady Pembroke, "Where are you all going?" She eyeballs all of them with her hand on her sword. A suspicious woman if there ever was one. Ori looks at Tyr, who looks at the cook, who looks back at Tyr.

"Goodman, I believe she asking for your credentials as your humble carriage service. We carry no note besides the king's protection. For the beautiful lady to let us in, she needs to confirm at one of us is, of course, a servant of the crown." Tyr says lady Pembroke is beautiful because she is. If you like a woman with big trapezius. She doesn't seem to mind being Tyr's gaze. 

"Oh, so sorry, I mean here. This is my identification and note of employment. I am a cook, you see in fact one of the..." Lady Pembroke seizes the documents from the cook, Tyr handing over his and Oris' too. 

"These are acceptable, still I want an answer." She hands them back, their documents having memorised the faces and specifics of their identification. 

"I beg your pardon?" The cook's shoulders shrug as his face turns ugly. Being close to the palace with a full legion of guards makes him brave. 

"Where are you going?" Lady Pembroke, with a matter a fact tone, cuts his bravery to shreds before the man can utter something that will get imprisoned. She is use to saving the low echelons of society from their own hubris. Being around their betters often makes them believe they are their betters. A lesson she delivers with ruthless efficiency.

The cook can only muster a weak, "to the kitchen, my lady." 

"And them, they are no cooks." She can already they are supreme beings and while now is not the time to investigate them, she can at least appease her heart and scrutinize them. Supreme Beings often cause or put themselves in matters so they could be part of the assault and theft. Still, in her heart of hearts, she wants it to be Selierra. It would be a massive blow to their aspiration if she can implicate one of them in the theft. Stealing, especially by noble families, is never overlooked. 

"They are the bringing fresh produce. When the mess began, they offered to bring me back to the palace. These are good, loyal servants of the crown. Even the quartermaster left me in their care." The cook wants to make sure at least his saviour's get in. If only to stick it to the arrogant lady. 

"I hope you stock of his high quality. Booner meat is beyond me at this point." Both Leaper and Salome smile at that. As a booner goes, that is as good as saying 'Fuck around and find out.' Tyr rubbing Salome's neck. 

"The lady should join the lunch today. I'm sure she will find our products a rare feast." Tyr follows the cook inside as the Lady Pembroke is confident in her abilities to track them. 

The cooks takes them through the tunnel meant for servants, and produce. There are also numerous carriages and guards, most of whom are not showing any stress about the mess going on outside.

This puts the cook at ease. The reminder of the power of the kingdom, that even during a crisis, the palace is at peace. He stands up straight, confident in his station as a royal cook. They walk towards the main kitchen, "The head cook will want to meet and sample some of your goods."

"And so will Themba," Tyrs' smile says more than his words. 

"What?"

"Nothing goodman lead on." Ori left outside with the two booners.