The Primal Hunter

Jake, in the end, decided to just be normal and enter as everyone else would. Besides, it wasn’t like that much border control was going on, as the entire gate was more than ten meters wide and without any real defenses while open.

When he got closer, he saw a simple-looking registration booth with a sign advertising how to get citizenship, with another slightly larger office for the merchants to go and register. There wasn’t really any visitor center or control of who entered or exited, but he did feel like he passed a barrier when he entered the city as well as a few pairs of eyes on him.

He kept walking a bit further into the city, seeing a mull of people even though it was in the middle of the night. People didn’t really need to sleep much anymore, if at all, making the nightlife as buzzing as the daytime most often.

It did vary, as many professions needed to prepare things, and it just came most naturally to fall into old customs. For example, if a blacksmith needed to craft, they would spend most of the night smithing away and then sell during the day. Of course, it could be the other way around, but most others just copied and did the same if the majority began doing something.

Besides, it gave rise to other kinds of businesses, as Jake saw a bar district quite close to the entrance. It appeared that most commercial activities were centered around the entrance area of the city, with the residential part further in towards the mountainside.

Sadly, Jake was not in the mood to check out the local cuisine or watering holes but instead went into a small alley between two bars where he stopped and waited. He looked to the side, straight into a wall, as he felt the person peer at him through it, making it clear he was aware of them.

While waiting, he took out the compass and saw it pointed to a building nearby. He planned to go check it out in a bit, but first, he would deal with the police force or whoever was keeping an eye on him.

Ten or so seconds later, three people landed in front of him. The person in the front was a woman at D-grade and regarded him for a moment before she bowed.

“Lord Thayne,” she said respectfully. “We were not aware you would visit this soon. May we know your order of business?”

So much for stealth being an option…

“I am here to visit my brother and deliver some things from the resident space mage of Haven,” Jake answered.

“This…” the woman looked a bit unsure as she hesitated. “Would you mind following us to the city hall so we can discuss? I think that will be easier, and we can avoid unwanted attention.”

Jake considered her words, and with his suspicion of the area already not being what it seemed… he would mind.

“Here is just fine,” Jake answered as he activated Pride of the Malefic Viper as well as summoned an arcane barrier sealed off the entire alley. “Now no one can listen in. Tell me, where is my brother?”

The woman looked hesitant still but finally relented. “This is against protocol… but… sir, the Judge is not in this city.”

Jake frowned. “Isn’t this Skyggen?”

“Yes and no,” she answered. “As a defensive measure, there exist two cities named Skyggen. This one is the publicly known version, and the other one is hidden and holds the true headquarter of the Court of Shadows.”

“That is… actually pretty smart?” Jake said as he thought about it. It was a bit like how the Fort acted as a buffer to Haven, then this place also worked as a front of sorts for the Court. Maybe the larger factions did know, but it sure as hell had him fooled, and he was certain Miranda would have mentioned it if she knew.

It also made sense to place a public teleportation circle here.

“It is standard protocol to always set up a second Pylon city if possible to mask the headquarter,” the woman explained. “The Court also still needs to operate somewhat publicly to procure resources and recruit, as well as allow us to expand our presence, so it serves several purposes.”

Jake nodded along as he asked: “So, where is the true city?”

a small device and handed it to Jake. “This is a locator showing the direction, I have already unlocked it, but it requires a solid

said nonchalantly. The device clicked as a small mark appeared on it. Having unlocked it, Jake also knew it was pointing him towards the real Skyggen, even though the mark didn’t look like an arrow, but more an odd

bit as she just nodded. “Very well.

as he fished out the cube Neil had given him. “I’m sure they

we had an intruder

and soared upwards and out of the city, following the locator. He was only a tiny bit

picture on the wall as he occasionally glanced down at the report in front of him. It was transcribed based on direct communication with the Augur, Jacob,

Holy Church had no idea who or what was behind William’s trip to Nevermore.

process the odd encounter again, it knocked

intruder,” his aide said, though with far

up in a

appears to be your brother,” the

“Oh.”

to lightning this time. Mainly because he wanted

You see, when he came to the valley with the hidden Skyggen in it, he encountered a barrier meant to camouflage it. Of

and lo-and-behold, he could. All it took was his arcane barrier being used to hide as he used One Step Mile to quickly phase through - Pride of the Malefic Viper active all the meanwhile to stabilize the mana around

in. He made it to the wall and over it, using his sphere and overpowered eyesight to keep track of the movement of guards, like he was playing a

and dandy for a while until he suddenly felt a gaze upon him, and he knew the jig was up. He looked up at a tower and saw a woman he recognized from the World Congress look

he had passed on the way. By now, it was early in the morning, and if he was visiting his parents, it would only be polite to

take him long to find some cake and other pastries, and the woman at the counter didn’t even question him wearing a mask or anything. So he just paid and left, finding himself on the main street outside. Looking about with his sphere,

that’s a city of assassins for ya, Jake thought as he found a bench and took a seat as

smaller than the other one, but the overall power level was far different. Just sitting there, Jake had already detected more D-grades than he had seen in the other city, and the overall presence of the place

mana in the environment was prevalent. If Jake had to guess, then the barrier erected around it helped transform the mana, or maybe it even had

upon him threw him out of his thoughts as he turned his head and saw Caleb walk towards him. The observers seemed

my client, I have come to serve you a lawsuit for false by having

Court of Shadows, I vehemently deny all such accusations as the teleportation coordinates were placed in Skyggen as per the terms of the contract. Having two cities with the same name is just a loophole and not

bothering to continue with the half-joke, half-jab. Okay, he could continue a little. “Smart trick with the two cities, even had me fooled for a moment. You got two

essentially make it one city, at least when it comes to bonuses and such. It also serves as a nice shield and

said as he pulled back a bit and frowned. “Now, what’s the

“Huh?” Caleb exclaimed, confused.

you’re as shit at hiding it now as when you

gazes disappear off him. “Let’s go to my office first, then we

bags of pastries. “Can’t be too

enchanted, so they won’t,” Caleb answered, shaking his head. “This is pretty standard for all shops, even in other cities…

way

Caleb’s office, finding the place overly fancy and very domineering. But then again, he was titled the Judge, so maybe it was good

Caleb had also taken