The Great Thief

Lu Li brought his sister with him as they left Jiangnan, but not many people saw them off.

Water Fairy was going to come. She was Lu Li’s only friend in this city, but she couldn’t make it in the end. Something had probably gotten in her way.

Square Root 3 drove himself to pick up the siblings; he had always been a valuable man. After he had become the guild master of Ruling Sword, not only did he have a share in the guild, but Lu Li treated him well too.

The car he drove was brand new and was also one of the safest models.

"Do you want it? You can have this one; I have a lot of cars," Square Root 3 offered.

"Three, are you showing off? I didn’t know you were so rich," Lu Li said as he shook his head.

"Hehe, speaking of rich, no one can beat her right," Square Root 3 laughed. "What I mean is that next time you come to Jinling, you should have your own car. You’re a public figure now."

"How much is this car?" Lu Li asked. He was a little tempted, but then quickly waved his hand and said, "Never mind – I don’t have a license!"

Square Root 3 felt slightly sympathetic towards his new boss.

There were no players in the game right now, but all the storylines proceeded as normal.

"My friend, you should come out. Did you learn to play coy from the elemental princess?" the Gnome Thief finally spoke as he stared at the marble.

"Does time hold any value to you?" Zaetar asked as he appeared on the chair opposite to the Gnome, choosing to come out of the marble.

If Lu Li saw this, he would be very surprised because he thought that Zaetar would never have entered the marble. People with real power never let themselves fall under anyone else’s control.

"My friend, why have you ignored my call?" the Gnome asked.

"Thermaplugg, are you still dreaming about your kingdom? Is authority really so attractive to you?"

Zaetar’s golden eyes were filled with spite. Although he was just in spirit form, he had no fear for the Gnome.

Thermaplugg, Mekgineer Sicco Thermaplugg!

Many people would know this name, especially Gnome players, and even those who weren’t interested in history. After all, he was greatest traitor of the Gnome race.

Mekgineer Thermaplugg was once The Great Tinkerer, highly skilled and filled with wisdom.

He wasn’t just any Tinkerer – in the eyes of Gnomes, this title was symbolic of an authority, an authority which placed him as greater than all other Gnomes, except one. Besides The High Tinkerer, all Gnomes paid him great respect.

For hundreds of years, the Gnome race never had a king or a queen. They preferred to choose their own prime minister to make and enforce their laws. The prime minister of Gnomeregan was The High Tinkerer, Gelbin Mekkatorque. The Great Tinkerer was his political and skill advisor, his right and left arm.

Thermaplugg was a weak Gnome, even when he was younger, but he was talented and was destined to become The Great Tinkerer. He would eventually become friends with Mekkatorque and lead the rise of the Gnomes together.

He pictured a vast kingdom outside of Gnomeregan, one that would split the entire west Dun Morogh. He even formed an alliance with the Dwarves nearby. It seemed like nothing could stop him.

However, it was at the same time when an ancient and savage Rockjaw appeared from underground and invaded Gnomeregan.

This was during the time when the Burning Legion had invaded. The Gnomes realized that their ally needed to focus on the Burning Legion, so they decided to use their own strength to battle the current threat.

According to the legends, Thermaplugg used a radioactive poison that spread across the entire city. This stopped the invader, but it also killed even more Gnomes. The Great Tinkerer himself also stayed in Gnomeregan and was apparently afflicted with Leprosy.

Whether it was true or not didn’t matter – history was always written by the victor.

"Don’t spread your rage onto me, Zaetar. I’m an Engineer and a Thief," the Gnome said slowly after a moment of silence.

"But you’re still full of rage yourself," Zaetar laughed. "How does it feel to be betrayed by your friend?"

"I wasn’t betrayed, Zaetar. You’re like a child who can’t get his toy, a shame to your identity as the son of a Demigod. Remulos is truly stronger than you," Thermaplugg shot back.

"Not betrayed? Haha, Thermaplugg, everyone says that you set the bomb off. So many Gnomes died – the old and the young..." Zaetar rambled on, laughing in a crazed manner.

"I did set off the bomb, and not only did I set off the bomb, but I was also the one who invented it. Did I not receive a portion of Ivy’s inheritance? I saw with my own eyes, the children falling before me one by one. They all died because of me," Thermaplugg spoke through clenched teeth, his eyes beginning to glow blood-red.

"And Mekkatorque became a hero – the greatest leader of the Gnomes. You’re just a lowly rat to him," Zaetar continued.

"I won’t kill you, Zaetar," Thermaplugg’s said as his red eyes returned to normal. "We’re friends, aren’t we?"

"Yes, we’re friends," Zaetar affirmed as he formed his body, which looked nothing different from a normal Keepers of the Grove. At the very least, no one would think that he was only just a spirit.

"Is it really worth it to kill yourself just to bait out your father?" Thermaplugg sighed as he pushed forward a cup of yellow looking liquid.

"Apparently, it’s not enough to kill just one," Zaetar said as he pulled up the corner of his lips. He had perfectly inherited the appearance and composure of a Demigod; even a simple expression of his looked enchanting.

"So you asked me to assassinate your brother, but unfortunately, he’s too strong."

Thermaplugg pulled off his mask, revealing a deep injury that still remained on his face. The power of nature constantly eroded his skin; he couldn’t recover, no matter what he did.

"Was this the reason why you’ve come to me?" Zaetar asked as he reached out his hand, pulling over a green glow from a far-away distance.

It wasn’t that he was stronger than Thermaplugg, but that this power was the same as his. With the slightest thought, it left Thermaplugg, like a creek that eventually returned to the sea.