"Ancestor, I surrender! Just stop torturing me, I'll do anything you want!!"
Before Duke could finish his sentence, Tahm Kench interrupted, utterly defeated. If this torment kept up, his pride as a demon of greed would be torn to shreds.
He'd heard the recent rumors spreading through Bilgewater's alleys, whispers about some lunatic streaking through the streets, becoming the city's latest disturbing urban legend. Tahm had even considered tracking down this freak to see what he tasted like.
But now, looking at the "ancestor" before him... and thinking about what he'd just said...
Tahm didn't dare continue that train of thought.
If he ended up in the same situation as that pervert, the infamous River King of Bilgewater, Tahm Kench, would be reduced to a joke.
A cosmic joke.
The kind of joke that killed you with laughter.
No one would fear him anymore. His name wouldn't cause people to tremble. Instead, they'd laugh at the memory of that demon who once ran through Bilgewater naked.
Tahm didn't care much for appearances, but just the image of himself ripping off his coat and parading through the streets...
Yeah. If he ever showed his true form again in public,
"Call me demon, call me king!"
"The river shall drown the names the world has forgotten!"
"You're Tahm Kench?"
"That's right!"
"The same Tahm Kench who went streaking through Bilgewater?"
"Uh…"
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA…"
"Hold on, give me a minute, I need to laugh before you eat me!"
…
Just imagining that scene made Tahm's appetite wither. Even the most desperate souls would burst out laughing at the sight of him.
That kind of humiliation was worse than ruining a perfectly cooked meal by dumping garbage on it.
"You really mean it? You'll do anything I say?" Duke asked.
Tahm nodded miserably. "As long as you stop torturing me like that… anything."
"But didn't you just say you'd rather throw yourself into the darkest abyss, bathe in the purest holy light, or be shattered into dust before obeying me?"
"Er…"
Tahm's whiskers twitched in frustration. He didn't expect his own words to slap him back so quickly.
Still, submitting to this brat? That stung.
"We can… negotiate," he offered.
Duke lazily twirled his finger. Tahm spun in place helplessly, forced into a dizzying circle.
"Do you think you're in a position to negotiate?" Duke asked calmly.
"This is…" Tahm wanted to cry. He really had no leverage here.
"Then watch this, I'll just die in front of you!" he threatened, trying to muster his pride. As an immortal, he could afford to die once or twice.
No big deal. Even if his strength took a hit, all he had to do was outlive this annoying brat.
Humans only lived a century. For a demon like him, that was just a blink.
A smirk crept back onto Tahm's face, until Duke asked:
"You know what lies beneath Icathia, beneath the sands of Shurima?"
Tahm froze. Of course he knew.
If there was one thing in the world that could truly terrify him, it was what lurked in that place.
Because in that forsaken pit beneath Icathia, even his immortality meant nothing. Die there, and you stayed dead.
"If you even think about using your immortality to outlive me again," Duke said, his voice ice-cold, "I'll make you crawl into that pit yourself."
"That's a dimensional rift, you know what dimension I'm talking about."
He leaned in, his voice like death's whisper.
"Void."
"The Void welcomes all, no matter the species…"
"Even demons."
The words echoed in Tahm's ears like a funeral bell. He nearly passed out.
How… How did this brat know his thoughts?
As a demon of greed, Tahm prided himself on knowing the world's deepest secrets. Of course he'd heard of the Void, who hadn't? The horrors of the great Void War still sent shivers through time.
Any sentient being that entered the Void met only one end: annihilation.
Not even his eternal body would survive.
"…Fine. I surrender," Tahm said at last. "You can have anything you want."
He gave in without another struggle. This brat could manipulate him like a dog. Not even dying could get him out of this now.
"Then let's start with your specialties. I'll consider how to use you."
Tahm winced. This had to be the worst day of his entire existence.
"I can manipulate human greed and desire. I can shape river water to create perfect illusions."
Duke glanced at the table piled with gold coins. Illusions crafted from river water? That was impressive.
Used wisely, Tahm was basically a walking, sentient 3D printer.
"My stomach connects to all the waters of the world. I can travel through any river, anywhere."
Duke raised an eyebrow. That sounded a lot like Tahm's ultimate ability, Abyssal Voyage, but far beyond the game's limitations.
"I can swallow any being, so long as it can fit in my mouth."
"That's enough."
Duke curled his fingers into a fist. Tahm stopped spinning and collapsed to the floor, dizzy and gasping.
"Whew… I thought I was gonna die…"
He wiped nonexistent sweat from his brow, sneaking a glance at Duke. The boy stood with arms crossed, smiling faintly.
"To show my generosity, I'll only summon you when I need you."
"Thank you, mighty, "
"But if you don't show up in three seconds, you'll be streaking down the busiest streets in every major city."
"…Understood."
"Now, finish your meal. Didn't you reserve that last Slaughterhouse Gang member?"
"Clean it up."
Duke left the slaughterhouse calmly. Not only had he completed Miss Fortune's mission, he'd picked up a demon pet.
Granted, this "pet" was old, ugly, and fat… but still, with Tahm, he now had a personal recall button, any time, anywhere.
Like Dr. Mundo once said:
"I go where I please!"
Inside the warehouse, Neeko, now disguised as Pride, was locked in a staring contest with the real one. It had been going on for a while.
She never got tired of this game.
"Let's go, Neeko. Time to head back."
"Coming!"
Neeko reverted to her true form, while Pride transformed into a motorcycle. The three sped off toward the Highland Hotel.
Half an hour later, in the hotel's top suite,
Bang!
Miss Fortune burst through the door in full battle armor. Fizz and Neeko were playing a co-op game, this time using a console made by the Red Queen.
"What's so urgent?" she demanded, flipping her crimson hair. "Don't tell me you want me to help write reports again!"
"I'm leaving Bilgewater. Three to five days," Duke said.
"What?!"
Her scream nearly cracked the ceiling. Fizz and Neeko glanced over. Duke waved them off.
"I'll be back before Soul Harvest Night."
"Where are you going?" she asked, calming herself.
Duke laid a blueprint on the table. "Back to Piltover. My workshop. I need to make weapons for the big night."
"But the fastest ship takes three days! Soul Harvest is in seven, you'll barely make it!"
"I was just about to mention that…"
Duke clapped twice. The carpet surged with water. A whirlpool opened, and a fat catfish emerged, Tahm, hat in hand, a half-swallowed leg dangling from his mouth.
Sluuurp! He slurped it down, then bowed to Duke, still chewing.
"Master, next time can you call me after I finish eating?"
"Shut it."
Tahm shrugged, then noticed Fizz and Neeko. He knew Fizz, a notorious prankster from Bandle City. But that device he was holding…
Was that… a game console?
Tahm had lived a long time. He'd never seen anything so sleek.
"…Is that really Tahm Kench?" Miss Fortune drew her Hextech pistols and aimed.
"Oh, what a lovely lady! I'm flattered you know my name," Tahm said with a cheeky grin.
Miss Fortune turned to Duke. "You plan to use him to get to Piltover?"
"Exactly. Tahm can travel between rivers. He'll be my ride."
"Seconds to Piltover. I'll use my lab there to make a batch of custom weapons."
"Honestly, your current gear is outdated, cheap, even. If you're going to prove you can control this city on Soul Harvest Night, you need overwhelming firepower."
"And besides… Tahm has other uses."
"Other… uses?" she asked, curious.
"Secret."
Duke shrugged and lit a square-headed cigar. "That's all for now. Any other questions?"
"How do I contact you?"
"Jayce has communicators, you know the kind. I'll build a pair, and Tahm will deliver one to you. Use it to stay in touch."
"Your job is to stabilize Bilgewater while I'm gone. When I return, I expect to find a city at peace."
End of chapter...
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