Chapter 6: Strange meeting

---Day3: Richard: morning---

Richard woke up early and went to the SkyCloud mountains to catch some non-graded monster and train alone without disturbance from his envious clanmates. While Richard was doing some routine exercise in his secret place, it gave me some time to think.

Honestly, Richard was still surprised by how the whole thing 2 days ago went, and his usually stupid and dull cousin Noreall stood by me and how the whole Xiar plot was thwarted, and Richard was even rewarded. Richard was not used to be rewarded ever in the clan, it gave me strange feelings.

After flexing his muscles Richard sat nearby a small spring which was the reason Richard have chosen this place to be his secret training base. The water was strange very hot. It contained both water and fire Qi. The water Qi was useless for me since honestly, Richard didn't have any talent in it but the fire Qi was very useful.

Even this little bit Qi from the spring gave me hope, to finally beat Xiar at this year's tournament and finally prove his worth to the whole clan. Maybe then Richard will receive some resources for his training and Richard's father will receive some medicine for his illness. I must work hard.

After 4 hours of his Energy Cultivation training, Richard left his secret base (very well hidden cave) and went to hunting. I hoped to hunt at least 2 late/peak non-graded animals. Even I was middle Tier1, it was still a risky business since I had not good equipment and the animals were on their home ground...

---Richard: 5 hours later---

Richard was victorious. He cried aloud with tears of joy from surviving encounters with the early tier1 monster. The hunt went normally for 3 hours, but just when he collected enough peak T0 game, a huge early T1 monster charged at him.

His skills were superb for someone of his age, but his equipment just falls short and he didn't have a repertoire of special martial arts like some young masters from other clans. When he was on verge of defeat, thinking about abandoning all his equipment and just try run for his life, something inside me stirred and his fire roots gave me explosive strength which Richard used and drove his greatsword through the monster. Richard made it, his first T1 monster kill...the monster had even had a sliver of Tier1 earth Qi in its horn.

After taking care of his injures and meditating to calm his mind Richard headed to the back to the Silverfall city. The merchants drove hard bargain. On one side he was a direct descendant of a major clan of the city. On the other side, he was clearly not in favor. So most merchants just took a neutral stance and treated him just like a regular citizen of the Silverfall city.

Richard sold all regular materials from T0 monsters at regular merchants then he headed to the city branch of the Purple Viel consortium, which was a large busies organization backed by Tier 5 Purple Sky noble clan. It maintains a strictly neutral attitude for everyone and gave even the dumbest country bumping a fair price of 75% of market value in a buyout in most cases. It was definitely a good choice to head there if you have good materials and wanted to remain anonymous.

Richard headed to the reception, there was a young attractive lady. "Hello, what can I do for you?". Richard wanted to ask for a Tier1 small business chamber when he noticed his dammed cousin Xiar, who noticed him also.

"Trying to sell you junk here, you should be ashamed, you disgrace of my family," Xair said with a lofty tone, which amused his friends of high scions of other city clans.

Richard clenched his teeth with anger, but he said "I would make some transaction, I witch tier I would like to say in private" said with a gentle tone to the young receptionist making young masters of the clans burst with laughter.

___

Richard specified in private that he wants to trade one T1 resource, a little flash of disappointment flashed on the attendant face. Then after waiting for about 20 minutes, he was let to a small chamber with an old man waiting. He quickly took out the T1 earth beast horn. Examining old man said "Main part of the T1 earth beast, freshly advanced. Slain by T0, that raised value a little bit." Although the freshly advanced main beast part was very lackluster on the Qi content, it contained a sliver of enlightenment which can help with making some obscure rituals or potion for helping advancement. It also helped it was not contained in killing with the same or higher tier energies.

"108 purple credits young man, do you accept? 5% more if you trade most of it in the day in our stores" Said the old man with a warm tone.

"Thank you senior, can I ask senior, if there is a possibility to buy something to help in healing T3 fire expert? Even a little" spoke Richard with a respectful tone. His first thoughts were not in advancements himself but helping his sick father.

The old man grew face grew a little bit ugly: "Young man, 130 credits is enough for lesser T1 resource at most, even if you manage to buy some healing one, which is more expensive, helping someone two Tiers higher would require huge quantities to be effective. I suppose it was you, who slain that young T1 beast, you are not completely talentless, just invest in yourself and maybe in 3-5 years, you will be able to help that T3 expert." the old man said with a heavy tone and left.

Even after risking his life, it was not enough to help his father even a little...Richard felt he need to grow stronger. With sad sight went to the purple veil stores and bought some T0 cultivation resources for fire and body cultivation for about 80 credits then spent the rest of it to upgrade his poor equipment a little.

Richard remembered his appointment with Noreall, his seemingly incapable cousin, but something about him...

---Day3: Richard: evening, Noreall courtyard---

Richard was careful it could be still an elaborate trap. He cautiously entered the courtyard, his eyes piercing darkness around Noreall house, his ears carefully listening for sudden movement, his mind searching for Qi Disturbance.

Nothing...even Noreall was not here! Richard waited for another hour, but Noreall was still not coming. Did something happen? Richard was very nervous, he scanned the Noreall window if something happened...it was open! What cultivator let his window open at night? It was practically an invitation for an assassin! Even Noreall should not have enemies, still...

Richard quickly climbed a tree near the window to noreall bedroom and saw the fat Noreall happily sleeping, even snoring a little!

Richard was angry. He was waiting over an hour in the darkness worried if something bad happened, and that lazy pig happily sleeping in his luxurious bedroom! I want an explanation! tough Richard and started to throw rocks on the window.

After several minutes, Noreall head poked from the window "Uh sorry, I overslept! I will be behind my house in 5 minutes!" said Noreall hurried voice.

"Finally, I will discover what is this all about "though Richard. After 5 minutes Noreall in his sleeping robe, which was just enough to cover his big body, arrived, carried several bags, wich surprisingly emitted some spirituality.

Noreal started speaking "First of all, I have to tell you, I think you are the most talented member of our family, and its a shame that our clan is not giving you more resources that way."

What is with this pointless flattery? tough Richard.

Noreall continued: "So I decided to ..umm..redirect some resources your way, don't ask how." said Noreall and started with the first bag.

"9x T1 fire spirit stones and 9x T1 spirit neutral stones. That should be enough to get you going" Noreall revealed spirit stones with a broad smile, that made big two dimples in his face.

Is this for real? Did he rob our clan blind? Richard was shocked.

"Also I know you have a lot of enemies, or you definitely will have, so I prepared a stack of 20x T2 defensive talismans and 20x T2 speed talismans for you.

I will have even more enemies, what? Why?

"And finally, I know you also trying body cultivation, so you need proper nutrition" Noraell made an evil grin for some strange reason. "Here two big jars of fire salamander livers, that should keep you healthy." He showed Richard two big jars each contained several tens of fire salamander liver.

Was there several fire salamander nests nearby, this doesn't make any sense! Richard just blinked.

"Just please use them yourself, don't try to sell them, that would make unnecessary waves" Noreall blinked and Richard.

"Also visit me next month, maybe I will have even more stuff for you. Good night" Said Noreall warmly and left.

What just happened? I m rich? Richard stared at bags with amazement. For this amount of resources and talismans, he would need to hunt more than 400x of that earth beast, probably even 600 would be enough...

Just how rich is really Firestone clan? Was I receiving even less share for the young generation resources than I tough? I need to go and cultivate, wait I can even share some livers with my father! Let's just accept it and think about it later...still from where so many fire salamander livers come from? Richard grabbed his "loot" and headed into his hideout...

---Me:---

Ok, that went very well, he should have no idea, that something is fishy with the resources. Having a headache from duping so much at the last moment suck. Too bad, I could not give him more stones due to the danger of spirit fluctuation...Chmm I forgot to add some gold coins...nevermind he is an MC, he will manage...I finished my line of toughs and went back to sleep.

---day 4-Me:---

The next morning I woke up a little bit sour from all that exercise but full of energy. Even before ordering breakfast, I manage to convince myself to go to my cultivation chambers, doing some light exercises, and quickly dupe-and-use t1 spirit stones. Yeah, life is good.

I asked Horác to accompanied me and headed for the Firestone clan exit. Finally lets exit the city. It would so nice, to be able 100% trust Horác, to use extensive resources to turn him into my personal meatshield. My line if though was interrupted by 2 guards at the clan territory entrance staring at me. Horác stared back and they let us trough. Strange...

Finally, I was out of the clan territory. So many opportunities, let's go shopping! With my DUPE ability, I had practically infinite money for his own use. It would be a little bit stretch to support for example his whole clan with it as it was now a little bit...?broken? but for his own uses...Yeah, life is good, lets buy some great delicacies! Why I m thinking about food again? Chmm, maybe some food good for nutrition and cultivation then...I decided to compromise.

Maybe, It would be a good idea to try feasting a little bit to train my willpower, but right now my body needs proper nutrition...Yeah, ALOT of nutrition. I originally wanted to head straight to the Purple Veil consortium and try/Dupe many things there...but well, I need to maintain the fat young master facade.

We arrived at the Blue Heavens restaurant. Since I was wearing my Firestone clan robe, the direct line on top of that, I was immediately led into the second floor, which was more spaced and offered some private booths. I seated myself comfortably even with my big fat body and began browsing the menu.

My bodyguard Horác was standing respectfully behind me. Oh, this could be a good opportunity to soften him up. "Come sit and eat with me Horác" I cheerfully pointed at an empty chair before me. Horác was a little bit surprised but he sits down. I ordered two big meals for earth-based cultivators, which were just a little bit on the expensive side. Not the time to go on the crazy spending spree now...having the same meal with the Horác should make him feel closer to me.

From the time we entered the Blue Heavens restaurant I had a feeling I m forgetting something...restaurants...restaurants and the medieval Xantia settings...Oh no! There will be another young master asking for my seat! Then after defeating him, his father will come, then his grandfather then the ancestor of his clan...

Usually when a Hero arrives and the restaurant, there will be like only one chair left or only one table for a hero and his harem and best buddy. Then after the hero took that place, the arrogant young master comes in and demands on usually weak-looking-hero his place between his young maidens he bought there with him. This results in conflicts eradicating the whole clans or cities...

Cold sweat arose from my whole fat body. I nervously looked around the restaurant, there were empty spaces all around on the second floor...should be ok... I guess?

The whole meal arrived and it was delicious, but I just couldn't bring myself to enjoy the meal. The whole time I was thinking if I should trow some spirit stones on arriving arrogant young master or just activate defensive and speed charms and just run for it. But nothing happened.

"Was the meal not to your liking young master?" asked a waiter respectfully when taking empty plates and seeing my disturbed expression. "Nothing, it was great" I managed to smile at him. "I guess I m not the hero after all" I sighed for myself.

I paid some coins and small stones which would be equivalent to 40% of T1 spirit stone. A small fortune for someone, just a small sting for me...We left the restaurant and finally headed to the Purple Veil Consortium pavilion.

Time to get the real business done!