My Talent's Name Is Generator

Chapter 1180: Proposal

His eyes moved briefly toward the others before returning to me.

”The moment I activate the false result, your twelve hours begin. Before those twelve hours expire, you need to find whatever method you possess for returning to the world of the living and use it.”

Kaelra slowly rose despite her injuries.

”And if he doesn’t?”

Macaco’s cheerful expression disappeared entirely.

”Then the Wardens will come.”

He looked directly at me.

”And if they find Lord Billion before he escapes, this expedition will become the least of his problems.”

The battlefield became silent again.

Twelve hours.

We had spent days crossing the Soul Sea just to reach this place, and the route back to the Ironheart settlement alone was far longer than the time Macaco was offering. Even if Gerald’s vessel moved without interruption, returning by the same route was impossible.

Yet Macaco stood before us smiling once again, waiting patiently for my answer. I looked toward the enormous gate behind him before turning back to the ape.

I studied Macaco for several seconds before answering. Something about his willingness to help us so readily didn’t sit right with me. He had already explained the danger, the Wardens and the twelve-hour window, yet he was now offering to conceal our success from the very beings responsible for maintaining this realm. There had to be a reason.

”Why are you doing this?”

Macaco’s smile remained, but his eyes narrowed slightly with amusement.

”Ah.”

He adjusted his glasses.

”So you noticed.”

”I want to know what you expect in return.”

For several moments, he simply looked at me. Then he laughed softly and placed both hands behind his back.

”A favor.”

I raised an eyebrow.

”A favor?”

”Precisely.” His smile widened. ”I am helping you because I want you to owe me one.”

”What kind of favor?”

”That,” Macaco replied cheerfully, ”I cannot tell you yet. Not all the details.”

I stared at him.

He continued before I could object. ”I will need your assistance someday, Lord Billion. When that day comes, I will find you and ask for your help. Whatever the matter may be, I expect you to honor the favor you owe me.”

I considered his words carefully before asking, ”And what happens if I change my mind when that day comes? What if I decide that I no longer wish to help you?”

Macaco chuckled.

”I don’t think you will.”

”And why are you so certain?”

”Because I am a rather good judge of character.”

He tapped the side of his spectacles with one finger.

”And after watching you throughout these trials, I have formed a rather strong impression of yours. You are many things, Lord Billion, but I do not believe you are the sort of person who gives his word lightly and then abandons it when the time comes to honor it.”

His expression became slightly more serious.

”I wouldn’t be offering you this arrangement if I thought otherwise.”

I remained silent for several moments. There was still one question I needed answered.

”What kind of favor could possibly require my help?”

Macaco’s cheerful smile returned.

”Fighting a Demigod.”

My eyes narrowed.

”A Demigod?”

”In the real world.”

That answer made me pause.

Macaco watched my reaction with obvious amusement, but I didn’t immediately reject the proposition. Instead, I considered what I already knew about my own progression. I had only recently crossed into the middle levels of the Saint Realm, yet my strength had already reached a point where I could contend with existences far above my apparent level. With the resources I had obtained here, the Twelfth Soul Current now contained within my Dawn Core, and the path I had yet to walk, I was confident that reaching the Demigod Realm myself was only a matter of time.

By the time Macaco called upon that favor, I would likely have reached that level. Perhaps even surpassed it.

I looked at him again.

”Fine.”

His eyebrows rose.

”I accept.”

”Excellent. I knew I wouldn’t be mistaken about you.”

He brought his hands together and clapped once.

”Then we have an agreement.”

Before anyone could say anything else, Macaco casually waved his hand.

The devastated battlefield around us immediately blurred.

Space twisted.

In the next instant, the entire group found ourselves standing inside the familiar library once again. The endless shelves stretched into the distance, floating staircases connected the countless levels, and millions of books rested silently within the enormous chamber as though the battle outside had never happened.

Macaco walked toward the enormous entrance and turned to face us.

”Well, everyone, it has been an absolute pleasure.”

He gave us an exaggerated bow, his spectacles slipping slightly down his nose before he pushed them back into place.

”Unfortunately, our little arrangement means we must part ways.”

He gestured toward the exit.

”The moment you step through that doorway, your twelve hours will begin.”

His smile widened.

”So I strongly recommend that you don’t spend eleven of them saying goodbye.”

A few exhausted Saints exchanged glances.

Macaco waved cheerfully.

”Good luck, Lord Billion. I sincerely hope you make it out.”

His eyes gleamed with amusement.

”After all, I would hate for my future favor to die before I get the chance to collect it.”

With that, he stepped aside and allowed the enormous gate to open.

I didn’t waste another moment. I turned toward Macaco and gave him a final nod. ”Farewell, Macaco. I hope you intend to honor your side of the bargain.”

For the first time since we had met him, the ape’s expression became completely serious. He adjusted his glasses and met my gaze without his usual playful smile. ”You have my word, Lord Billion. I will hold the trial’s records as I promised, and I will expect the same honesty from you when the time comes for me to collect my favor.”

I studied his expression for another moment before nodding. Whatever else Macaco might be, I believed he was sincere about the agreement. I turned away from him, and the others followed as we stepped through the enormous gate and returned to the Soul Sea.

The moment we emerged, the atmosphere among the survivors became noticeably tense. Gerald was the first to voice what everyone was thinking.

He looked toward the endless expanse of the Soul Sea and then back at me with a troubled expression. ”It took us several days to reach the trial from the Prime Territory. How are we supposed to make that journey in twelve hours? Even if we push my vessel to its absolute limit, I don’t see how we can possibly make it.”