The Primal Hunter

The World Congress had only lasted about 10 hours total but had without a doubt been a defining moment for the enlightened races of Earth. Most of the powerhouses of the planet met, and alliances, truces, trade agreements, defensive pacts, or just generally friendly relations were established between many factions.

To distinguish a ”winner,” if one may, would be difficult. While Jake and Haven had gotten all the voting results, they wanted and managed to secure both Herbs and the Treasure Hunt event, that didn’t mean they had somehow won out over everyone else. They were far from the only ones, as it wasn’t like the Treasure Hunt was unpopular, and Ores and Metals was the first option voted in, along with the foodstuff one.

The only way to truly say there had been a winner was if a World Leader was selected, but such an option was far off. Perhaps it would happen in a year, or perhaps later than that. Many theorized ways the system would one day enforce that one had to be selected, but that day hadn’t arrived yet.

In the end, it can be said that all of humanity won out. No wars or conflicts were started, as the World Congress had in general been a pleasant event that only led to a stronger bond between the enlightened races, and everyone came out on top – even the undead who had feared for the worst.

Jake, Lillian, Miranda, and Neil appeared back at the good old lodge inside Jake’s valley. They had only been gone for 10 hours, but all of them – besides Neil, who actually seemed quite energetic – were exhausted.

It took a lot out of you to always be on your toes, and even if Jake hadn’t been under as much pressure as Lillian and Miranda when it came to discussions, he was still tired. Jake tended to find social interactions, even those he enjoyed, exhausting in the long run. But the most exhausting thing had been the talk with that Kim Eunseo woman – or Kimmie as she told him just to call her.

She had told him quite a bit about what she and William had been up to, and while Jake had let her talk and he listened, he honestly didn’t care very much about that metal mage anymore. Jake didn’t truly know him as he had only spent a few moments with the guy. He only knew the metal mage more as an idea or a concept than a person.

To Jake, he was a representation of Jake’s own failures during the tutorial, nothing less and nothing more. He had been a living reminder that Jake had fucked up and not even tried to help people he honestly did care about – no matter how much he sucked at showing it. In that sense, Jake wouldn’t say he hated William; he hated what he represented. The only real feeling he felt towards him was apathy.

This ultimately leads to the question: would Jake kill him the next time they met? He couldn’t answer that. He did feel a strange mix of puzzlement, doubt, and even humor in how William had apparently been traumatized by Jake smashing him into the ground. But if he would kill him… time will tell.

If Jake were honest, he would prefer just never to meet the guy again. The psychiatrist talked about him how he was ”improving” and to start moving towards forgiveness if that was at all possible, but Jake really didn’t feel like he had anything to forgive him for. If anyone truly had a bone to pick with William, it wasn’t Jake either… it was Casper, and even more so than that, his girlfriend. William had either been the direct or indirect cause of her death. Jake wasn’t sure which, and he hadn’t been insensitive enough to ask for details.

And one thing was for sure… if Casper decided that little shit needed to be squashed, Jake sure as hell wouldn’t interfere.

”So… what’s the plan now?” Jake asked, shaking his head to get some of those annoying thoughts out of his head.

What was important now was preparing for the Treasure Hunt and nothing else.

Both Miranda and Lillian, who stood there like they were in a daze, just looked at him weirdly as Miranda asked. ”Check out the System Store?”

”Oh, shit,” Jake exclaimed as he swiftly opened it, and instantly a store opened up before him:

Limited System store

Categories:

Ore & Metal

Herbs

the Herbs category and instantly felt a bit… disappointed. He had

Credits available: 133.972.000

done. He was also fully aware that he had overpaid for pretty much everything,

and wanted to instantly buy out all the best stuff. Yet

checked what the store

Store only accepts

Store restocks

up for sale must have a list price and can be bought by anyone with

will appear in your immediate surroundings (if you have spatial storage, it will appear

appraised, and you will be paid immediately based on their estimated worth (determined dynamically,

the important ones. Especially the restock-thing was a relief to Jake due

cost of 250 Credits, with the inferior-rarity version costing 25. Jake left the inferior-rarity versions alone, as quite frankly, he didn’t need it. However, he did see

this into account, and there was a near-infinite supply of

within his spatial storage, neatly packed in bundles. 10/10 delivery service. He also quickly bought some Evergreen grass to go with the Lavender, immediately now having enough materials for several thousands

more stuff, such as all the Bluebright Mushrooms, which was about 70 total only, and more than half of the uncommon-rarity toxins available. That

and willed the system to offer

sell [Health Potion (Common)]

was quite potent for sure… but damn, that was some good value. One has to remember that every brewing

only limitation was his own time and boredom. Of course, he had a strong feeling the price would decrease the more he sold - a feeling he tested

his hand. He quickly did the same two more times and

like to sell [Health Potion

last one he would get around 80 less

cities could buy it. He decided to start high and put it

[Health Potion (Common)]

potion restoring nearly your entire health pool is close to a second life. Jake sure as hell wouldn’t

shitload of potions?” Jake asked Miranda, who also stood

answered, as Jake saw a weird nugget of metal appear beside her. “It’s your Credits.” Another weird piece of

prepared for the fight against the Prima as well as most of his

issue… bottles… Jake was nearly

the bottles. Hundreds, no, thousands of small potion and poison bottles appeared on the ground just beside Lillian, who stood

a deal to have a supply of bottles sold right after returning at a reduced price, and I was waiting to snipe the postings,” she explained, a small smile creeping onto her lips.

a goddamn hero!” Jake