The Primal Hunter

Miranda sorted through some lists Sultan had handed to her, as well as the formal contract he had written up mere moments after their return from the Treasure Hunt. She skimmed the contract over, already aware of what it was about, primarily looking for any word traps or phrasing she didn’t quite agree with.

The contract was for him to act as a broker and sell items for Haven and Jake during the Auction a week later. The lists he had handed her included items he already possessed as well as people he had already made agreements with during the Hunt.

Reading over the contract, it became clear the man was giving extremely favorable terms to them, seeking to only take a flat fee for high-value items and a small percentage on lower-priced goods, though he did emphasize his belief that nothing below epic-rarity would be sold at the Auction simply due to the volume of items gained from the Treasure Hunt.

As for why Sultan was so interested in a deal… well, besides him being a businessman, that is, was that apparently, the Auction held some special implications and opportunities for merchants. If the World Congress was the arena of the politically minded and social classes, the Treasure Hunt the arena of the fighters, then the Auction was the event with the most opportunities for merchants.

Sultan had received a quest that was more or less just about selling a lot of things, and he would be competing against others. Miranda did not believe they could beat out the larger factions simply due to the sheer quantity of items to sell a city like Sanctdomo had, but if Jake agreed to use Sultan for some of his higher-rarity items, she did believe Sultan could do well. Of course, she would have to get some more benefits from the man if they helped him succeed in a quest, but Miranda suspected he already knew that.

“Lillian, is the report in from those who wish to sell through Haven?” Miranda asked the other woman in the room. While it was clear primarily items from the Treasure Hunt would be sold, some held valuables not from there. Even from some who did not participate in the Hunt at all, Phillip being one such example.

“Most of them,” Lillian answered as she brought over another stack of papers. “Neil and his party will sell through Haven, and a lot of the unaffiliated D-grades have also chosen to do so. Additionally, we have received thirteen requests to gain permanent residence from participants in the Hunt… which is all of those who returned but two.”

“Hm, thoughts?”

“I do not believe there are many downsides to additional D-grades within the city, and if we wish to increase the average power level of Haven, it would be highly beneficial. The more we have, the more will also come by as there will be more skilled crafters and more opportunities to find hunting parties and ways to sell and procure materials for everyone,” Lillian answered.

“You’re right,” Miranda agreed. “Just have some basic tests done; maybe ask Silas to help.”

Miranda didn’t really have much more to do right away as she had spent the last few days before the Hunt hectically planning for her own absence. They were told the Treasure Hunt would last ten days, and while many had suspected there would be some kind of time-dilation going on due to the length of it and the constant threat of beasts, no one had known. Hence she had been on the safe side.

“Additionally, the sculp-“

Lillian was interrupted by a knock on the door. Miranda was surprised as they hadn’t planned on anyone coming but equally as much that they heard it at all due to the enchantments meant to obscure sound.

She sighed as she waved her hand, and the door opened as Jake stood there, being the only one she would suspect of for some reason sneaking into the main office of Haven. Well, that or an assassin, but it would be an odd strategy to knock first if it was an assassin.

“Hey Miranda, Lillian, anything interesting happened I need to be aware of, or can I leave for a while?” he promptly asked.

“Only some minor things related to the Auction,” Miranda answered just as promptly, knowing not to mince words or ask unnecessary questions.

She gave him a quick rundown, and Jake agreed without much hesitation to allow Sultan to sell some stuff for him. He didn’t specify what, but Miranda was sure she would find out in due time. There were also a few additional minor points, and she asked him his opinion on giving what was effectively citizenship to the D-grades who had applied.

said with a shrug. “Just kick them out if they get

noted,” Miranda said with a smile.

had any idea where it is, and also… would you happen to

be a good idea as he has been working on the long-range teleportation circles, and as for a bow, maybe check in with Sultan as he

reckon we'll meet next in

going to Skyggen to visit family?” Miranda asked, failing to hold her

me to go, and it is about time to visit,

contact you if anything comes up, so I will make sure to keep

said their goodbyes as Jake left the room, his

seemed down when you visited him just a few hours ago?”

told her, and she felt like

about the

back,” Lillian answered. “They seem to be working on some kind of odd monument, and I am truthfully not certain what it is about, but according to the young man named Chris, it should be related to the Malefic One,

they were doing. She seriously doubted it could be anything that wouldn’t give her massive annoyances

worse than his old bow, but it was made solely with resilience in mind without any fancy effects. He did also have an

of it. He wasn’t even sure that the woman named Maria who had made it could fix the bow. Sultan instead recommended Jake dismantle it and reuse some of the materials, such as the two gems. It was a bit disappointing, but Jake took his words to heart and saved the broken pieces for later use. Now, he would just hope that a good bow would

of inferiority from her, and she had seemed a bit sad at how little she had been able to help against the Monarch of Blood. There really wasn’t any need for

to get in her way. Her parents were also not in Haven – likely out hunting too – so that probably only added to her sense of competitiveness. So, before Jake had even made it to Miranda’s office, she had taken off towards the forest

lie if he said he hadn’t hoped to take her with him, but he wasn’t going to tell her what to do. Well, at least he could now look forward to hearing about her progress during the Auction. Ah, who was he kidding, they still had their connection that allowed some communication, and he had barely

enough to have one connect Haven and the Fort, which meant it only took a few seconds on a teleportation circle and some mana to travel the distance. Not that it would have taken him long without, but there

either, as he was working on an even larger circle in his own house of sorts, which was more like a large warehouse or gymnasium. Jake had to respect his grit as the space mage had only been out of the Treasure Hunt for

before, and the guy seemed terrified upon seeing Jake stand there as he just froze. He stood there for a solid second before collecting himself, invited Jake inside, and directed him towards Neil. Probably an assistant

of half-made magic circles

up as he detected Jake and promptly greeted him.

a half-hearted wave as he was

asked as he stopped doing

the Sword Saint couldn’t be said to have won either, Jake had sure as

turning the situation

for some way to know the direction of Skyggen as I am going there, and Miranda

as he waved his hand and took out a small metal disc that looked like

Skyggen during the World Congress. Just infuse a bit of mana, and it will display an arrow,” Neil said, as he also took out a small metal cube. “Also, if you are going, can you bring this with you? It is a small storage cube containing some research and improved coordinates and directions to syncing our teleportation circles. With hope,