Rise of the Eromancer

Chapter 246 ...Huh?

"My boy! Welcome back from the dead! I knew prison was not going to hold you down!"

"...Thanks."

Rhys had not even taken 3 steps out of the helicopter before he was met with Joseph's loud and very obnoxious voice. Joseph quickly pulled him away and took to all the reporters who had been waiting for him to land.

And almost immediately, Rhys was once again bombarded with questions — he did not really need to say anything, however, as Joseph answered for him.

"Now, now — the boy just got out of prison. He is very tired, so let's keep the questions to a minimum and let's keep it incredibly civil," Joseph laughed — and the reporters could really only slightly back away from his loud voice and presence—no.

The presence of the two men in front of them right now was huge, perhaps even literally. They all knew how tall Rhys was, perhaps at 6'8" now, but Joseph still physically towered over him. Are they sure these two aren't secretly father and son?

"Then, is it true that—"

"Let the boy rest!"

Unfortunately for the reporters, Joseph did really have any plans for them to actually interview Rhys; he only wanted their pictures of shaking each other's hand taken as a way to cement to the people that he and Rhys are truly partners and friends.

"We will set up an official press conference soon, but for now, I'm letting Rhys rest," Joseph once again started pulling Rhys away.

"Thank you, Sir," Rhys let out a small sigh, as he also truly was not in the mood to answer any questions after being attacked by 4 missiles, "Come, I'll introduce you to the cenleons."

"That's what I've been looking forward to!" Joseph burst out in a fit of laughter for some reason as he followed Rhys back to the helicopter, where the cenleons were stepping out of the aircraft one by one, extremely careful as their eyes scanned everything.

"What… what are those weird towers in the distance!? How are there so many of them!?"

"Why are there no trees or plants!?"

"Did any of you see that large box that was moving as fast as us earlier!?"

The cenleons could not help but just talk to each other without pause as they were overwhelmed by all the new things they were seeing. Even Edissa, who had spent the most time on the Surface, was completely shocked to see that she had absolutely no idea just how massive and different Rhys's world was.

They were already oriented about how things work in the Surface, and they were also taught about the technologies they needed to know — but seeing it right now first hand, Edissa was lost… and to think they haven't even seen anything yet.

She quickly calmed down, however, as soon as she saw Rhys approaching them. She did not hesitate to run toward him and wrap her arms around his arm; almost as if she was afraid that the entire city would swallow her.

Rhys seemed to be saying something, but Edissa couldn't understand him since he was talking to the large man beside him. Soon, however, the other cenleons also approached Rhys — after all, he was their only connection to this weirdly foreign world they found themselves in.

"Prince Abu, Prince Dubhai — Meet Joseph Hayden," Rhys immediately introduced Joseph to the two princes, "He… is the leader of this country."

"He… is large. Is he human!?" Prince Dubhai could not help but just look at Joseph from head to toe, "I thought you were already large for a human, but to think I'll see another one even larger than you."

"Stop being so disgraceful," Prince Abu stopped Dubhai from approaching Joseph, "You are in front of another monarch, at least behave yourself."

Prince Abu then remembered the things Rhys taught him and reached out his hand to Joseph. And upon seeing this, a wide smile crawled on Joseph's face as he shook Abu's hand.

"Sir, that's Prince Abu. And the other one is Prince Dubhai, they're brothers," Rhys pointed at the two princes.

"It is a pleasure to meet our people from the other side," Joseph let out a small chuckle as he also reached for Dubhai's hand and shook it, "To think the day would come that I would see another race in the Surface, truly — a wonderful and momentous event."

Prince Dubhai just nodded his head and smiled — he could not really understand what Joseph said, but judging by the friendly smile on his face, it was probably a good thing.

"Now, I know you and your people are tired, so — Rhys?"

"I was thinking of just letting them stay near Wilder's Harem HQ. My guild has disbanded, but all the people are still there," Rhys nodded.

"Good, it's best they stay close to you," Joseph then looked at one of his people, gesturing them to escort the cenleons, "Let them rest in a nearby hotel first, we can't have them traveling in the air again so soon."

"Hm," Rhys relayed Joseph's words to the two princes, and the two just nodded their heads in response, "You know how to use this already, right?"

"Of course! Of course!" Rhys handed a smartphone to Prince Abu, but Prince Dubhai quickly snatched it away from his hand and just started fidgeting with it.

"If you need anything, just call — my number is already there. Always keep it open," Rhys could really only sigh as he looked at Abu, who also just sighed in response before pulling his brother away and following Joseph's men along with the rest of his people, except for Edissa who remained by Rhys's side.

"Now…" Joseph then placed his arm over Rhys's shoulder as his voice finally became quiet, "...I heard you had a missile problem. Now, care to tell me about that so that we can take care of it?"

"I don't think I will," Rhys smiled in response, "I'll handle it myself."

"...That's exactly why I want to take care of it, so that you won't handle it yourself, Boy," Joseph dragged Rhys away, slightly lifting him up from the ground as he did so, "If you handle it yourself, it will become another big mess."

"I do things quietly, Sir."

"Who tells you to keep believing that shit?" Joseph's breath became loud as he heard Rhys's words, "You're a bomb, Wilder. Everything you do resounds throughout the entire world. But, if that's what you want, then I'm not going to push the matter further — but if you need help, just ask."

"I will," Rhys nodded.

"Now, are you not going to introduce me to this fine lady here?" Joseph let go of Rhys before looking at Edissa, quickly shaking her hand without any warning and almost causing Edissa to lose balance, "My name is Joseph Hayden, I'm the one who took care of this boy."

"R… Rhys!?" Edissa panicked.

"Edissa, Joseph…" Rhys could really only sigh as he introduced Joseph to Edissa, "...He's a bit eccentric, but he's a good man, I think. He took care of my financial problems until just recently."

"Haha! That's right, that's right!" Joseph laughed as his handshake became even more aggressive, "I see you are making your way to other races now, Boy. And by making your way, I mean fucking them. I have to say, I don't know whether to be proud of you or not."

"Let's… not talk about that," Rhys shook his head.

"And Talia Talcott?" Joseph then started looking around, "Where is she?"

"She figured it best not to show herself yet. Your daughter snuck her and the rest of the prisoners from Typhon's away while the reporters were busy with us," Rhys sighed.

"Ho…I think that is for the best too," Joseph nodded several times, "We still need to gauge what sort of reaction the public has on her joining you. But I do believe it is going to go well — I want to talk to her if given the chance."

"You're going to be the president soon, you can just request it."

"Ha! Do not jinx it, Boy," Joseph once again burst out into a fit of laughter before turning around and walking away, "Rest, rest! We have more to discuss soon about the future between the Surface and the Underworld. You and I, Boy…

…we are going to do some good things, maybe some bad — but mostly good!"

And with those words, Joseph returned to the reporters and started entertaining them with some vague political answers.

"You'll get used to him," Rhys could really only shake his head as he held Edissa's hand, "We should go — I don't want to leave their majesties unattended for too long."

"Uh, Rhys…"

Edissa, however, did not move from her spot as she stared at Joseph's back,

"...I don't know if I misheard it. But didn't that large man, just for a few words…" Edissa moved closer to Rhys, almost as if afraid that someone else would hear her words, "Did he…

…just speak our language?"

"...Huh?"