Chapter 1643: You may address me as Epsilon
Both Lackey and his servant stood frozen beneath their masks, their eyes locked onto the appearance of the deep golden mech suit projected through the hologram.
Unlike the armoured suits of the Empire, filled with visible pistons, layered plates, exposed joints, and mechanical seams, this one looked unnaturally seamless.
It resembled a structure forged from a single divine sheet rather than assembled machinery.
The golden surface flowed as liquid metal hardened into perfection, without bolts, gaps, or signs of construction. Even the proportions felt superior, elegant, almost alive.
Compared to it, their Empire’s war machines suddenly looked crude and primitive, like cheap iron puppets pretending to imitate greatness.
The hologram flickered softly before the mechanical figure spoke again.
"I heard from Ms. Amara Rosavere that you wish to learn our technology and provide it to your people during the ongoing wars."
The voice carried no emotion.
Lackey remained stunned for a brief moment before quickly regaining composure. He straightened his posture and lowered his head slightly.
"Yes, Mr..."
"You may address me as Epsilon."
"Yes, Mr. Epsilon." Lackey’s voice grew steadier, though excitement still leaked through it.
"I want to learn your technology... those extraordinary suits, those flying machines... everything. To be honest, I could barely contain myself after witnessing them. I never thought my dreams would become reality... nor did I imagine that someone outside the Empire had already achieved all this."
Even through the mask, the hunger in his eyes became visible.
Obsession!
The deep golden mech suit stared at him silently for several seconds before giving a slow nod.
"Good... Dreams without ambition are merely fantasies. A man should pursue them regardless of war, politics, or the collapse of empires. I appreciate that spirit, Mr. Lackey."
The mechanical voice paused briefly before continuing.
"And you need not concern yourself with betrayal. Ms. Amara Rosavere and I stand under an Oath... an Oath so absolute that even gods would suffer consequences for violating it."
Lackey blinked beneath his mask, his thoughts momentarily disturbed.
Again... an Oath?
The word had surfaced too many times already.
Unable to suppress his curiosity, he slowly turned toward Amara, silently asking for an explanation.
Amara simply smiled.
"Do not worry," she said smoothly. "If you truly trust me, then trust him as well. As long as you do not betray Mr. Epsilon, he cannot harm you in any form.
That is correct, isn’t it, Mr. Epsilon?"
"Indeed." The golden figure answered without hesitation. "I have rarely seen Ms. Amara Rosavere accept such dangerous terms, especially when it involves sacrificing her own shares of profit.
Frankly, I was surprised she chose to place her investment on you."
A faint pause followed.
"You must be quite valuable to her."
Amara laughed softly, the sound elegant yet sharp.
"Haha... Please do not flatter me too much. Merchants survive by taking risks. If we feared danger, none of us would ever rise above mediocrity." Her eyes narrowed slightly, "Just as you chose to step behind your Empire’s laws to make a deal with me."
"Indeed... Those fools believe crowns and armies rule the world. But in the end... it has always been money."
The golden mech slightly tilted its head.
"Power follows wealth.
Ideals follow power.
History simply follows the winner."
For several moments, Amara and Epsilon exchanged amused remarks with terrifying casualness, discussing betrayal, war, profit, and politics as though they were gamblers walking across a razor-thin bridge above destruction.
Hearing them speak so naturally about such dangerous matters only made Lackey more curious about the mysterious Oath binding the two together.
"Anyway..." Epsilon suddenly spoke again, "Within the next two days, this year’s... ahem, this month’s Slave Batch should be prepared for departure, correct, Ms. Amara?"
"Yes." Amara nodded calmly. "The list has already been submitted."
"Hmm..."
The golden mech suit became silent.
Its visor dimmed slightly as if processing countless streams of information simultaneously. Then the figure turned away from the hologram for several seconds, appearing to communicate with someone outside their view. Faint distorted static echoed through the projection before the figure returned.
"Understood."
Epsilon looked directly at Lackey through the hologram.
"You may send him. I will inform some of my people near The Hell’s Gate to make the arrangements."
Amara quietly nodded.
"Also... show me your face. Your body as well."
The mechanical voice turned more serious than before.
Amara immediately frowned, her brows tightening slightly as she looked toward the hologram.
"Mr. Epsilon... what exactly do you mean by that?"
For a brief second, she felt offended by the request. Her voice remained polite, but the subtle sharpness beneath it did not go unnoticed.
However, Epsilon answered calmly.
"Please understand, Ms. Amara. One way or another, he will eventually have to reveal himself the moment he steps into our Empire. I need to see his face beforehand. That is one thing I cannot ignore."
The golden mech stood motionless while speaking.
Amara slowly bit her lower lip before turning toward Lackey with a slightly guilty expression. Clearly, even she had not expected this demand.
For several seconds, silence filled the room.
Then Lackey simply nodded.
"For knowledge..." His voice remained steady. "I am willing to do anything."
Without hesitation, he reached toward his shirt and calmly began undoing the buttons one by one. The faint metallic sound of each button echoed lightly through the chamber before he pulled the shirt off completely.
His upper body was revealed beneath the light.
Penelope instantly averted her eyes the moment she saw his bare torso. Heat rushed toward her cheeks so suddenly that even she became startled by her own reaction.
’I-It’s so hard...?’
Her thoughts stumbled awkwardly.
’I-Is this really how a man’s body looks?’
The muscles across Lackey’s body were tightly packed and naturally defined, not exaggerated like trained soldiers trying to display strength. His chest looked sturdy enough to withstand direct impact.
It felt... real.
Dangerously real.
Penelope’s heart began beating faster without reason, forcing her to look away completely.
Meanwhile, Epsilon silently observed Lackey’s exposed body through the hologram.
After several moments, the mechanical voice spoke again.
"The competition there is extremely high. If the goods appear truly top-notch, purchasing him will become difficult." His glowing eyes narrowed slightly. "You need to wound your skin, Mr. Lackey. Make it appear dirtier... harsher. If possible, create deep wounds."
Lackey nodded without hesitation.
"I will do that."
The room soon fell silent again.
Everyone waited for the final reveal.
Even Amara, who had only briefly glanced at his body earlier, slowly became curious. Her eyes remained fixed on the rabbit mask covering his face.
Penelope’s heartbeat unconsciously accelerated.
This would be the first time she would truly see him.
Until now, she had only imagined his appearance beneath the mask. Sometimes she imagined a sharp and masculine face capable of making women blush with a single glance. Other times she imagined someone unexpectedly gentle-looking, someone who awakened an urge to protect and pamper him.
But reality shattered every expectation.
The moment Lackey removed the rabbit mask, the atmosphere in the chamber froze.
From the nose downward, his face appeared completely normal.
But above it...
The skin across his upper face looked horrifying.
Blackened cracks spread across the flesh like dried volcanic scars, while patches of rotting skin exposed traces of pus beneath. His eyelids themselves looked damaged, splitting slightly whenever he blinked. Even his eyes were barely visible beneath the dark, ruined flesh surrounding them.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Then, almost naturally, a single thought formed inside everyone’s mind.
Yeah...
He should keep the mask on.
Behind the horrifying appearance, however, Lackey inwardly smiled.
Everything had gone exactly as expected.
The reason Celestia, his current acting servant, had not accompanied him during Penelope’s confession was because he had secretly sent her to Nightfire in order to obtain an illusion capable of covering his real appearance.
After all, there was no logical way a person enough to trick the Terra Empire would allow a masked stranger to enter their Empire unquestioned.
Even he himself would never allow that.
Amara’s expression gradually softened into pity as she quietly shook her head.
’A brilliant mind without beauty...’
Her gaze lingered on the ruined skin across his face.
’Perhaps the gods simply refused to give everything to one man.’
The deep golden mech suit slowly nodded.
"Good... very good." The mechanical voice carried visible satisfaction this time. "Ms. Amara Rosavere, there is no need to worry anymore. He will safely remain within my territory."
"Good." Amara nodded back with equal satisfaction, finally allowing herself to relax slightly.
"Mr. Lackey..." Epsilon continued. "You may wear your mask again and prepare yourself to witness the wonders of your new dream becoming reality."
The moment those words ended, the hologram distorted with layers of static before collapsing inward. The deep golden figure disappeared back into the small square device resting on the table, and with a soft mechanical click, the box sealed itself shut.
Silence returned to the chamber.
Lackey calmly put the rabbit mask back on before buttoning his shirt once more.
Amara stepped forward shortly afterwards, her expression now serious.
"Mr. Lackey, there is no need to be tense," she said while placing a hand on his shoulder. "Everything should proceed smoothly as long as you follow Mr. Epsilon’s instructions carefully."
Her voice softened slightly.
"And if at any point you feel that place is not suitable for you... Inform me immediately. I will do everything within my power to bring you back safely."
For some reason, genuine pity lingered within her heart.
The image of his ruined face still remained fresh in her mind.
It felt unfair.
A man with such intelligence, composure, and ambition, carrying a face that would make most people recoil instinctively.
"And there is no need to lower yourself because of it."
Her expression gradually turned solemn yet strangely gentle, as if an old memory had surfaced within her mind. For a brief moment, the sharp and calculating merchant disappeared, replaced by someone softer... someone touched by a forgotten past.
"Someone once told me something long ago..." she said quietly. "No matter their appearance, a person is always beautiful when they possess a beautiful heart."
Then she looked directly at Lackey.
"And I believe you are a beautiful person."
For several seconds, Lackey simply stared at her silently through the rabbit mask.
Then, instead of responding to her words, he calmly asked:
"Can I take my servants with me as well?"
Amara immediately understood.
The restrained tone in his voice made it obvious he did not wish to continue discussing his appearance any further. Realising that, she did not push the subject.
"Unfortunately, no." She slowly shook her head. "As you already heard, the names have been submitted. Smuggling you inside alone will already be extremely difficult. Honestly, I still do not understand how Mr. Epsilon plans to deceive all the inspections."
Her gaze shifted toward the woman standing beside Lackey.
"Adding your servant as well?" She sighed lightly. "I do not think that will be possible. This time... you must go alone."
Lackey quietly hummed in acknowledgement before glancing toward his servant, as if silently confirming that these words came from Amara herself rather than from him intentionally abandoning her or any of his wives!
Celestia immediately understood the look.
’Sigh... fine.’
She pouted slightly with visible annoyance crossing her face, though she ultimately remained silent.
