Capítulo 3: VIP service(rewrite)
Stepping out from within the cave with gritted teeth, pale countenance, and bruises all over me, one would think I'm a ghost. I still have dried blood and flesh particles on me, coupled with my dull eyes almost lifeless, a zombie would be best to call me.
My countenance had changed the few minutes I used blood charge; my body shrank and emaciated within seconds. It looks like I've aged. "Damn it, this skill is too deadly. I better mind how I used it." I fold the paper, stuffing it inside my messy robe.
The light orb had disappeared from the sphere when I ended the skill. My guess is my Martial spirit can enable master skill to the peak in one go. As long as I have a good amount of eternal qi in me, I can utilize skill that would take others months, years, or even forever to master. What a heaven-defying Martial spirit. Talking about eternal qi, I better rushed back to the Newman estate to get a good cultivation technique to cultivate, and here comes my second problem; I'm somewhere deep within the dark Forest. This state I'm in isn't one I can risk running around the forest with. A simple rank one beast would end my life before it gets to start, and I still can't stay here; a beast might roam down here and kill me too. I deliberate over it for a while, over its pros and cons. Staying or leaving carries the same result of dying, just one is more faster than the other. I have to think. I can't afford to offer my life as a living offering to a beast. Every wild jungle survival skill I knew start rushing into my head.
First, I need to know where I am. Climbing up a tall tree was indeed a big punishment to me at the moment, but I still managed. Getting up there, I scanned left and right, back-front and could see a silhouette of people some distance away not too far. Navigating my way through up there, I drew a vigour map in my head at which I descended and follow it through. Luck was on my side as I didn't encounter any beast getting there. Getting closer, I could hear the voice of laughter and cheer coming from the group. I braced myself acting tough. I walked out from behind the tree I've been watching them from, stepping into the camp.
Everyone stopped to look at me, scanning me head to toe, my messy bloody clothes and pale countenance. It was like they were staring at a ghost, but their reaction wasn't that of scared persons, more of that of a curious person. "Kid, I was wondering when you would step out from behind those trees. I thought you would be a wimp and run away." One of the figures sitting at the center of the group spoke, taking his cup to his mouth as he happily gulped down his wine, the others burst out into laughter. "Yeah, whimps, cry babies." The others making jest of me were doing all sorts of gestures. Scanning the group up close now, I saw a blue butterfly emblem on the figure that had just spoken. From the knowledge of the former owner of this body, I recognized that emblem; it belongs to the twin butterfly guild. These guys are mercenaries here to hunt beasts or gather herbs for a request set on the guild board. Each is a warrior of elementary realm, with the leader being a third stage elementary warrior. Each stage of cultivation is divided into three; first, second, and third, so too is the strength higher than the other.
I didn't chicken out, I have a doctorate degree in strategy and management. I have to put this skill to good use. I walk closer to the leader. "You guys are out for hurting, I guess?" Bending down to pour myself a wine from the wine jar in front of the man.
Everybody kept quiet, wanting to see the reaction of the man. Before he could blurt out or say a word, I took my seat next to him, waving my hands that he should hold on as I gulped down the wine. His eyes were spitting flame; he felt insulted but the boldness I displayed restrained his hands. The wasteland had many powerhouses, hidden and known. He wouldn't want to end up offending any of them by incident. If I had shown any form of hesitation or withdrew when I came close to the camp, he would have sent his men to catch me, drag me back, rob me of any valuables, and definitely kill me. The wasteland is a no-man's land, the strong prey on the weak.
"How about I offer you all a side mission. I will pay awesomely too, plus you don't have to give any commission to the guild since the mission was offered to you directly," I said once I was done with my drink.
He raised his brow at my words but decided to listen on, taking a deep breath to calm down. I breathed out in relief mentally. It seemed like his deductions were right. Bluffing off can sometimes be advantageous. Now, I'll just have to play my cards right.
"What is the mission? It better be worth a good pay, lad, else I wouldn't mind who you are. I will drink my next cup of wine from your skull," he said, leaning over with his weight resting on his hands placed on his lap, tapping his weapon with his other hand as if to sound a warning that he wasn't bluffing.
"How about a few blue crystals? Your mission here shouldn't be worth more than green crystals. You know the worth of blue crystals to green, right?" My smile was mild and businesslike, but my complexion made it look weird.
Gasps rang out from the others. The man before me was doing his best not to show his expression, but I couldn't miss the subtle surprise and delight he had in his eyes. "What is the mission and how much is the price?" he asked, now sitting upright and discussing business while still trying to remain professional.
"Three blue crystals to escort me safely back to my estate."
"Twenty. Take it or leave it. I'm not carrying some rich, spoiled brat all the way from Dark Forest to town just for three blue crystals," he said, wanting to use this opportunity to extort me. He could tell from my appearance already that I might have run into some complications that left me in this state. That also explained why he couldn't feel any qi in me. Maybe I had ruptured some of my meridians in a tough fight. Either way, that wasn't his business at the moment. Money is all that's important right now. He could tell with this amount of wealth I'm willing to throw away three blue crystals just like that and get a good alchemist to fix me back up. It would only take a couple of months or years to get back on my feet.
"Five, no less, no more," I stood up and was ready to leave. "If you don't like my offer, I will wait for the next mercenaries coming through to offer my deal. I think I saw some up ahead while I was scouting from up the trees," I glanced around all of them as I took my leave.
"And why do you think we would allow you to leave right now without killing you and taking the crystals for ourselves without the work? Fair deal to me, I must say," the man relaxed himself, resting his back against the tree behind him, shooting me a mischievous grin.
I halted my steps but didn't turn back. "What made you feel you can stop me if I decided to leave? I might not be able to go against all of you now, but I'm certain you won't be able to stop me if I really want to leave, and that is something I'm absolutely sure of," I cocked my head sideways, flashing him a mocking smile.
"Good, good, good, I like you, you don't back down," the leader smiled as he stood up, walking over to me. He isn't ready to push his luck when he isn't fully aware and in control of things.
"I would take the deal, but remember, it's a cheap deal, so don't expect any VIP treatment. You can add more if you want that option."
"This option would be just fine," I opted out of his scheme to extort more from me. He crossed his hands over my shoulder, shaking his head helplessly, seeing his failed attempt to milk more from me.
"By the way, which of the estates are we escorting you to?" he asked after we got seated once again where we once sat. The others had gone back to their drinking and merrymaking, discussing all sorts of nonsense that felt appealing to me, though.
"Newman," I answered, with my attention on one of the group talking about women and how he b*nged them real good the last time he visited a brothel.
The moment those words left my mouth, only the wind could be heard whistling through. All eyes fell on me, silence embracing the night.
Only then did I know I'd made a slip-up, and why again, because of the women topic. I really should get my head around women issues.
"Damn, I totally forgot about it. Newman family is amongst the big seven of the wasteland. I should have thought about that."
Still, I didn't show any reactions to the sudden quietness and gazes on me. Instead, I used it to my advantage, acting all big and high.
"Brother, did you just say the Newman estate?" I nodded, causing him to frown his brow, turning his head around, checking to see if they were surrounded. The way he addressed me also took a huge turn.
"Oh, you don't need to bother about my servants. I came into the dark forest alone to temper myself and strengthen my battle experience," I lied shamelessly.
Though I said there were no warriors around, they still felt unease, especially the fellow that had threatened me. Who doesn't know the Newman family is one of an iron fist, especially with their Martial spirit, which aided them in growing to the top so quickly.
Now he had threatened one of them shamelessly. Thanks to his stars, he didn't rashly take any action of attacking me when he sensed my presence from behind those trees.
He wasn't the only one having such thoughts, as the same thoughts were going through the heads of the others too.
"Brother, you should have said so earlier. Sorry for our rudeness. You can pay the three blue crystals you intended at first to us for a VIP service. Take the other two as a peace offering from me and my group," the others nodding like some dummies along with his words.
Me, on the other hand, I don't know what this guy's family had done to make people respond with fear for them like this. But I'm beginning to like this feeling. The original owner of this body rarely interacted with the family business or showed himself on public occasions. So he didn't know much of the family dealings. All he did was explore from one rumored ruin to another with the guards assigned to him by his grandfather, a special treatment for his father and himself. Being the son-in-law of the Newman and the reason for their success, they pampered him so much even when he didn't have a Martial spirit or dive into the cultivation world.
Status de energia semanal
-- Ranking de
Poder 
-- Pedra de
Poder