The Primal Hunter

Jake wondered what all the nobles he had been working with were thinking when they saw Jake walk down the stairs. He had just failed all of their Side Jobs, though they clearly didn’t know this. These jobs had all been about exposing other factions than themselves and had been mutually exclusive, as each required him to betray everyone else… of course, Jake didn’t view anything he had done as a betrayal as he never held any loyalty in the first place.

The Duke of Flames had wanted Jake to expose another dukedom for working with PETE and even another country, as PETE was based there. This other dukedom, whom the daughter of the Duke of Flames worked with, wanted Jake to expose the Duke of Flames’ illegal activities and the damage caused by his incessant desire to consume more elementals. At the same time, they would also expose PETE to make themselves look like they would never have worked with such an organization in the first place.

Lastly, PETE wanted Jake to also expose the Duke of Flames, but also this other dukedom for working with the Duke of Flames’ daughter, as they had heard she would join this dukedom and thus continue the Lineage of the Duke of Flames. They didn’t want to see that happen but wanted them utterly eliminated.

The person they all wanted Jake to do his exposing to was the king of the Human Kingdom. He had the backing of the third dukedom fully, the Lord Protector, and the entire royal army behind him, making him the most influential and powerful person in the kingdom… which shouldn’t come as a surprise considering he was the king.

From what Jake had gathered, he guessed the king already had a good idea about some of the stuff going on and kind of just wanted everything to be swept under the rug to avoid any open internal conflicts in the Human Kingdom. Any dukedom falling would be bad for the Human Kingdom as their overall power would fall, and with enemy countries on all sides, civil war wasn’t recommended.

However, even if the king wanted things to be resolved behind closed doors, the second things were brought forth to the public, he would have to act openly and decisively or risk losing influence and looking like he could be walked all over. This is what all the factions who wanted Jake to expose shit banked on anyway.

Based on the words of the Founder he sent to Jake as they walked down the stairs, he was willing to give the king a chance to right the wrongs in his own kingdom, primarily on account of the Lord Protector. The royal family had never abused the Guild, and what jobs they had commissioned had all been above board. Perhaps because the royal family still held respect for what the Guild stood for… or because the Lord Protector had been one of the people fighting alongside the Founder back in the war against the dragon tribe and knew that risking making the Founder an enemy was a horrible idea.

As he and the Founder walked down to the main floor, they naturally attracted some attention. Jake had many friendly gazes land on him from the many factions as they each prepared for him to carry out their wish. Probably because he was the only one who publicly worked with Jake, the Duke of Flames stepped forward without any surprise from the other factions.

”Ah, it’s great of you to finally join us,” the Duke of Flames said, entirely ignoring the Founder beside Jake, who was presenting as an early-tier B-grade.

”Of course. I am here hired to carry out a job, after all,” Jake responded a bit curtly but still keeping it professional.

”Indeed you are,” the Duke smiled as he turned to address the king and queen sitting on their throne, along with everyone else present. ”Allow me to introduce someone. This is a Courier I have been working with recently, and that I am certain many of you have also come to know of in recent times. A true rising star of the Guild and a man with an impeccable record.”

Jake remained quiet, not saying no to flattery when offered.

”I originally hired him with the intent of sniffing out those who have been targetting me recently. You have all heard of them… the terrorist organization that has been wreaking havoc in my dukedom and threatened the stability of this very kingdom with their actions,” the Duke of Flames continued with a very holier-than-thou tone. ”This hiring was made with little hope… but I had underestimated the expertise and abilities of this Courier, and in less than a year, he managed to uncover those behind the plot targeting our blessed country.”

Muttering filled the room as all attention was now on Jake. Many scanned him using different means, with the Founder continually getting ignored despite standing right next to him. Jake especially felt the gazes of a few people present, one of whom walked forward to speak with a magnanimous smile.

”The Duke of Flames speaks the truth. Those who have taken actions to hurt this kingdom and its reputation must be punished, no matter who they are!” said the man. He was the Duke who opposed the Duke of Flames and another person who believed Jake was actually there as his ally.

He also got a telepathic message from the leader of PETE. ”Now is the time to strike… topple both of these monsters from their high peaks and be the arbiter of justice. Be the harbinger of a new age where elementals can live free from the Dukedom of Flames and all those who dared allow their vile existence.”

Jake would lie if he said he felt comfortable as he considered his next words carefully. He briefly threw a glance at the Founder, who nodded before Jake turned to the king and bowed slightly. ”Your majesty, I have indeed made some discoveries during my work as a Courier I believe are pertinent to share with the court.”

”Before you proceed, I need to clarify something… who are you here working for? Where do your loyalties lie?” the king asked, and from the queen sitting at his side, Jake detected a truth-telling skill. Those skills were really pretty damn common in this world, huh?

indeed did know some internal conflict

none but the loyalty I hold toward myself and my dignity. As a Courier, loyalty as a concept isn’t something I see the need to consider. I am merely here to carry out a Special Courier Job, nothing less, nothing more,” Jake responded. Usually, giving long answers with details and absolutes when faced with a lie-detector skill wasn’t recommended… unless you were capable of fully telling the truth when doing

the king who looked genuinely surprised

bit off to the side, asked as

answered truthfully. ”However, I was also given a Special Courier Job by the

tell the truth while knowing you had an S-grade at your side, willing to defend should anything bad happen? Because damn, was something bad about to happen as Jake began

gazes on him filled with hidden bloodlust. All of them A-grades, with the Duke of Flames the most powerful of them. It was warnings… no threats, to carry out what they wanted him to do and not

the king. ”And what did these three people

be aware that it

Flames lighten slightly… only for

telepathic messages began rolling in as Jake ignored all of them and

hell are

”Shut your mouth, or-”

”Why would you-”

Lord Protector narrowed as he gave the king a look. Seemingly suppressing a sigh, the king’s face turned a lot more serious. ”These are very heavy accusations… are you sure you can handle what may come from you making

Courier Job representing the Guild,”

as he motioned with his hand. ”Then proceed… let

for these different factions. How he had worked for all of them at once, effectively infiltrating them while doing all his Courier Jobs. He even sprinkled in some of the physical evidence he had swiped during his many interactions with them, everything he

with another dukedom to take him down and even supported PETE. Jake felt pretty sure a good portion of the room would already have made

had in his big revelation was saving the identity of the leader of PETE for last, as he felt pretty damn sure she would make a move the moment he did. Once revealed, her chances of escaping unscathed were nil, so to at the very least

turned out to be entirely accurate… as the moment Jake turned and pointed out the leader of PETE, without any warning, her aura exploded as she flew straight for Jake. The Founder stood between Jake and the woman, but

movement, the old man appeared right above the A-grade woman. She didn’t even manage to scream as her entire body imploded while Jake felt powerful ripples of space mana from the old man as he squished her entire body into a small red ball of flesh no larger than a golf ball faster than Jake could even react to her movements. The entire debacle barely even affected the throne room due to the magic used by the Lord Protector being so limited in scope, but it

it as Jake saw the enchantments begin to break apart, and after a second or two, the old man

terrorist organization to sabotage the Duke of Flames… and the crystals are those uniquely found in the Dukedom of Blades,”

PETE in crystals only found in their territory? Jake questioned, though he kept his mouth shut, as things were going his way already, and there was no reason to ruin it. Wait… maybe the PETE leader has these on purpose? So if she did die, she would

also from the Phoenix Wing Empire,” the Lord Protector continued as he glared at the

the accusations as he shook his head. ”I truthfully do not… for I have never worked

saying the accusations of this Courier are false, despite his testimony

the person speaking believes they are telling the truth, not what the actual truth is. I fear that the Courier may have been fooled into believing we were working with this

not?”

I believe this may all be a plot by the Duke of Flames to undermine my

are you talking about!?” the Duke of Flames’ daughter had an outburst. ”You promised