The Primal Hunter

Jake was polite and asked both Meira and Vesperia if they wanted to join him on his shopping trip, and he quickly got two declines. Vesperia because she saw it as far too risky to walk around in public as a True Royal, and Meira because she claimed to be busy. The fact that she refused to even open her door and he saw her hiding under a blanket through his sphere made him doubt that explanation, but he let it go and just went by himself.

At least, he planned on doing that until he remembered he did have one person he could ask and at the same time inform about the upcoming big reveal. He was naturally talking about Irin. Meeting up with her would also give him a chance to ask about Scarlett, as Jake had not really heard anything from or about her ever since she went to join the Order. He didn’t even have her contact information as they hadn’t talked since she got her token – assuming she got a token, to begin with.

Taking out his own, he infused energy and reached out to the succubus. Within five seconds, she answered.

”To what do I owe the pleasure, Lord Thayne?” Irin asked.

”Are you busy right now? I evolved to C-grade and need some new equipment, so I will go shopping for it soon, and a good guide would be great,” Jake asked, thinking he could always bring up the Chosen thing if she agreed.

”When would this be?

”Nowish?” Jake said, a bit embarrassed. Yeah, giving some kind of grace period would definitely have been the polite thing to do.

”Give me five minutes, and I will come by your residency, alright?” she asked tentatively.

”Sounds awesome,” Jake naturally responded, glad she agreed. Life without modern GPS to find stores and the ability to just search on the internet was tough, and he questioned why no one had invented magic internet yet. Or maybe someone had; the Order just wasn’t hooked up to it. Either way, for now he would have to rely on an analog guide.

With five minutes to spare, Jake just looked on as Vesperia got busy setting up some magic circle of sorts on the lawn. Analyzing it a bit, he estimated it was made to amplify her own energy absorption speed and potentially even allow her to better focus. It was the kind made to meditate within, and Jake wondered if maybe the circles Villy had Jake train within while upgrading his skills had similar effects.

Minutes rapidly passed, and soon he saw Irin appear within the mansion’s entryway. She seemed to sense the motion outside and exited the door, instantly laying eyes on Jake and Vesperia.

”Hey, Irin,” Jake waved to her the moment she came outside, but before the succubus could answer, her gaze wandered to the giant wasp woman working on his lawn.

She stared for a few seconds before glancing at Jake and then back to Vesperia.

”Oh,” Jake noticed as he smiled and walked over. ”Let me introduce you to Vesperia, a Vespernat Hive Queen.”

Irin seemed to snap out of her spell and nodded slowly. ”I was not aware you had a visitor. Someone from the Endless Empire, no less, based on her aura.”

Vesperia finished up what she was currently doing and turned towards Irin, scanning her up and down. ”A succubus? Unexpected. Your assertion is somewhat incorrect as I do not officially belong to the Endless Empire as of yet, and I would not call myself a visitor as this place is the only thing I have ever known since my birth.”

The succubus got even more confused and glanced at Jake, full of questions.

”It is a bit hard to explain, but through means that I won’t disclose right now, I managed to hatch a Hive Queen quite a bit more impressive than expected from that bee ritual you saw I had going on. That Hive Queen is Vesperia here, and she is… kind of my offspring? The word daughter feels wrong, but it is probably the closest we can get,” Jake tried to explain.

Irin was about to question his preposterous explanation as Vesperia spoke up, adding fuel to the fire.

simply impressive, considering my status as a True Royal of the Vespernat Lineage,” Vesperia said with a big smile before looking at Jake. ”If you wish to refer to

He had purposefully avoided just saying creation or spawn or anything else like that, which

at everything that was being said before just smiling. ”Alright, I think I understand. So, what did you want to go

found himself taken aback. ”No

them will just leave me more lost. Something like a

off in the first era, and I am

want to deal with,” Irin shook her head. ”Rather spend my mental energy on something I can assist with and get to the shopping. The less I know, the easier things will be for me in the long run. Either way, pleased to meet you,

the big announcement the Viper is planning for next month anyway. Oh, yeah, I nearly forgot to add I

Irin on purpose now. He saw her just stare dumbfounded at him for several seconds

seconds, she once more nodded. ”That is… I guess it is about time your identity was revealed to the multiverse

”Shopping,” Jake smiled.

side and shook her head before saying something that

sire. I am certain it is of great assistance to your Path considering your race,” Vesperia said with a genuine smile, with not a hint of teasing or joking

This guy only has eyes for fighting and alchemy, so it is a difficult

right here, right?” Jake said,

Lord Thayne,” Irin just smiled at him.

a deep breath and pointed at the door to the mansion. ”Shopping

grew.

his eyes as Sultan slowly opened his eyes, staring straight into the opposing seats across the long table. He felt presences also appear at his sides, and right across from him,

quickly scanned the room, seeing the nearly five hundred seats rapidly filling up. In truth, none of them were there in person, except for one person. At the head of the table was a dark elf in a golden robe, patiently waiting for all of them

many things about merchants, but calling them tardy and accusing them of missing lucrative appointments

elf regarded them and smiled as he

you could all join me on such short notice, so let us get down to business. This is no social call, now is it?” the dark elf spoke, getting a few polite chuckles out from the people at the table. The dark elf was an S-grade, after all, so none dared

the World Wonder, and we would be foolish to not capitalize on this opportunity.

other merchant from Earth in the room. The other man returned his look and nodded, as they had both discussed this already and were ready. While they were not friends, they were ultimately business partners considering they worked for the same conglomerate. A single planet was simply not big enough to compete internally if

they both joined the Golden Road Emporium a long time ago and rapidly managed to consolidate all the smaller mercantile factions that had popped up since the integration. Something that had gotten far easier after the establishment of the World Council, leaving many merchants wanting to get in their good graces by joining up with Sultan and

me, what kind of goods are expected to have the most demand?” a fish-like

the ninety-third universe,” the dark elf explained. ”Especially rare natural treasures, rewards from system events, new plants and herbs, as well as minerals holding mana signatures showing at least an eleven percent energy-signature deviation from a similar mineral in the dossier. Naturally, if you have any talented crafters

elf with bronze skin wearing a very expensive-looking robe. ”How about slaves? We have a substantial stock of elves with potent metal and earth affinities,

Hence why we are sticking to non-living items for now, and most should have already finished up their means to transport these non-living goods to the warehouse, but slaves would be an entirely

of slaves feasible, perhaps we could discuss an arrangement. I am certain the World Leader of my

Smiling, the bronze-elf nodded.

we shall focus on Nevermore. Now, the first order of business is the assignment of representatives from those present. We shall choose

his eyes opened wide. ”Excuse me, urgent matters suddenly came up.