The Primal Hunter

It may be difficult to believe, but Jake had barely done any proper dating or really gone to any bars throughout his life. On second thought, it probably was entirely believable, considering he was just coasting through life before the system, with little care about anything, just taking it one day at a time.

Even after the system, he hadn’t really done that much with other people that would be considered “normal.” Due to this, Jake felt far from confident as he entered a bar and looked around the place. It was old and medieval-looking and was filled with people in black hoods, demons, and women and men who wore less than they probably should. Jake Identified a shirtless man currently chatting up a cultist and saw the general level.

[Courtesan – lvl 204 - Innocent]

“Gotta admit, I thought Courtesan was reserved for women,” Jake muttered to himself while still at the door.

“Gender-neutral, actually,” Minaga spoke.

“Really?” Jake asked. “Huh, I guess you learn something new every day.”

“Not gonna lie, I am actually unsure if it is gender-neutral, but if it isn’t, then why did your translation skill translate to it? Definitely couldn’t be my mistake, so let’s just go with it being neutral, alright?”

Jake nodded and smirked, not wanting to get into the most useless argument imaginable.

Nobody in the inn reacted despite the echoing voice of Minaga and Jake standing right there in the doorway. It was as if he was invisible before he made his presence known by speaking to anyone or making too big of an action. Looking at the person the male Courtesan was talking to, he saw a hooded man at quite a lot higher level.

[High-ranking Demonic Cultist – lvl 256 - Undetermined]

It was Jake’s first time running into the Undetermined tag. He would likely have to learn information about the person before he would know if they were a valid kill target or not, but he didn’t really need to. Instead, he chose to just go to the bar and order something to drink. Before he had entered, Jake had taken a break in an alley and dolled himself up a little.

And when he said he “dolled himself up,” he meant that he had used Shroud of the Primordial to change what he Identified as.

Without any idea if it would work or not, Jake had made himself appear as a level 240 Prodigious Demonic Cultist. He had considered adding another tag, like saying he was high-ranking, but had settled on Prodigious instead, as the system already used that word quite a lot for very talented people. He hoped that if these people – or NPCs – could use Identify, then they would find him worth approaching simply due to his tag, while at the same time not expecting him to actually know stuff as he was a prodigy, not some official. It was a gamble, for sure.

Lo and behold, the moment the bartender turned to him, he called Jake “young master,” and within a minute, three Courtesans had taken the seats around him. Jake channeled his inner arrogant and disinterested young master as the two women and one man spoke to him, and he responded with one-word answers.

The attention was a bit annoying, but Jake wanted to make himself known to catch a bigger fish. Thus he sat at the bar for around half an hour while having people buy drinks for him – something he had never tried before. So that was kind of fun, at least. Finally, after this half an hour, a new courtesan came up to him and handed him a small piece of paper while giving a wink.

Jake quickly checked the note and saw it had an address and a name on it. Jake called it an address and a name… but…

The Ninth Mistress would like to meet you, Prodigious Demonic Cultist, at her home, Residency Nine.

through the Ninth Gate. The Mistresses all had their own separate rooms with hallways leading into them, and Jake had discussed with the others through their telepathic link why

In fact, he saw through his sphere that the moment he left the

the different gates. Did it make sense that there would be street signs specifically pointing toward the homes of

Jake didn’t even have to say or do anything as the guard bowed. “We were informed you

gate opened and let him through, making Jake take a mental note that he then promptly

gate to another room, you can sneak through with them, and with the mist,

“Ree,” Sylphie informed him.

then,”Jake said. The hawk had already snuck inside a residence of a Misstress, it seemed, and was currently making friends with the

match when it

entered after a very short hallway was just one large residence, which consisted of a large main building in the middle and four smaller houses off to the side. One of them was a guardhouse, one had other employees, and the last two looked to be guest houses that had Courtesans living there. From a quick Pulse, it

room, the same Courtesan that had handed him the note met him. How she had gotten there so fast, considering Jake had headed straight there and not noticed her on the way, was a mystery. One he didn’t bother to question as she escorted him to

inside, he went straight for her chambers as the Courtesan waited outside. Walking to the door, it opened by itself, and

– lvl

meant she was a person they were free to kill. If they wanted to

veil hanging from the ceiling hid her form, only allowing Jake to see an outline while still somehow allowing Identify. Of course, with his sphere, he could see her clearly and noted she was a beastkin of some kind, which did surprise Jake a bit as he

several seconds had passed without him answering, so he quickly collected himself and spoke. “I

Jake want to reach through space and

Jake nodded, keeping his cool. “May I

than fish for information, have her

are new to this city, correct? From what I was told, you do not belong to any faction yet, and I hoped to recruit you to mine,” the

am currently unaware of the political landscape as I just arrived in the city today,” Jake

First Mistress has four others with her, meaning they have two more Mistresses than us, while we, of course, have the Prime Consort. The one remaining Mistress remains neutral, and we hope to turn her to our side in the upcoming power struggle,” the Ninth Mistress explained, once more gladly spreading all the information

In that case, I would be honored to join you. However, how would my

intimidate the other side. If you assist us in securing that the Prime Consort remains in her position, I am certain she will even allow you an audience with the Demon Lord himself so you can swear your fealty. Only the Prime Consort can open the Demon Lord’s castle

exit after all. Something Jake had technically already done, as it was just past a sealed gate

any ways I can assist you and earn the trust of the Prime Consort?” Jake asked. He

them support us, it would also be of massive assistance. Finally, if you can turn any of the Mistresses to our side, it would be most helpful. If not, then see if it is possible to perhaps eliminate some of them, either through killing them or making them lose their positions to Courtesans allied with

a chance. “I have also heard rumors of the Mistresses guarding Secret

called Secret Scrolls for a reason,”

Aight, worth a shot.

just that I heard some unsavory individuals were looking

They are