His familiar gave a thoughtful tilt of her head while Eric continued to devour his breakfast. “You know, there is something to be said about getting your own party of loyal companions to help you clear dungeons. Safety would shoot way up, and if your hunch is right… we’d be able to train up an entire band of kickass future Bronzes to fight by your side one day.”

Eric grinned. “Wouldn’t it be great if the whole party received the same amount of points for a first-clear bonus? That would allow for some devastating builds, and hopefully open up the way for some powerful Bronze Tier classes, if nothing else.”

His familiar grinned. “I agree completely. We can use your legions to faceroll the local baddies right off the map, and build up a solid crew of delvers we trust to have our back to clear the wild dungeons remaining, and we’ll be cleaning up Orange Tiers… and feasting on all those sweet, sweet, territory boons, at a rate that will have all our enemies crying with envy. And don’t look now, but I just spotted three opportunities to recruit some ideal candidates for our super elite, Lilly approved, cool-cats-only dungeon diving corp heading right this way.”

Eric didn’t bother turning around, just nodded to one of the waitresses keeping a very specific eye on the one occupied table, who immediately brought out platters full of fresh crepes, clotted cream, lingonberry sauce, honey, and melted butter in less than thirty seconds while several male servitors seemed to glide through the dining hall just in time to pull out chairs and bow to the three abashed looking girls who had just shown up.

Annika looked rather cute when she glared, her imperious green eyes a softened version of his mother’s. He couldn’t deny her beauty or the delicious scent of arcane potential she gave off, and he thought the tiny smattering of freckles on the bridge of her nose that she tried to hide with concealer were actually quite cute.

Sufia, on the other hand, was flashing the teasing smile of someone who found few things in life more pleasurable than the hunt. And the look in her hungry gaze made it clear that Eric was still clearly on her menu.

Jinni had also taken a seat, though her business attire was fully buttoned once more. Only the faint flush to her cheeks gave away that she might see herself as anything but a strictly professional acquaintance.

Eric broke the ice, raising his glass of freshly poured milk. “A toast to new friends. Please, try the crepes. Absolutely kickass.”

He dipped his head Jinni’s way.

“My compliments on the brilliant hires, Jinni. Professional cooks and waitresses, right? I hope we’re paying them top dollar. Or… credit.”

Jinni’s cheeks dimpled when she grinned. “We are.”

“Good.” Eric gazed for long moments at a now brilliantly flushing Jinni. “Wind Cultivator, right?”

Her eyes widened, “How did you...” Then she flushed and shook her head. “And if you had any doubts before...”

Sufia chuckled throatily, taking a sip of something clearly stronger than Milk. “He flushed you out as well as any hunter, Jinni.”

“That he did,” she acknowledged with a rueful smile. “It is a secret I hope you will have the grace to keep between us, Eric Silver.”

Eric just winked, before solemnly handing her what just might be one of the most priceless treasures imaginable, at least on this resource rich and knowledge poor world, a newly ascended realm now in the crosshairs of far too many predacious factions.

He couldn’t deny the subtle thrill he felt, watching Jinni’s face light up with almost trembling reverence, the look in her eyes worth everything it had taken to put that treasure in her hands. And how her hands shook, that woman of exquisite grace and refinement, when she glimpsed just the first few pages.

“Eric, this… this is a pristine copy of Windridge Clan’s cultivation path. It lays it all out… explains how any configuration of nodes, even broken Empress ones between 7 and 12, can be forged into the most exquisite of foundations…” She had paused, literal tears filling her eyes. “It’s even saturated with Spiritual Energy! A natural treasure that will allow one to walk in the footsteps of masters, their memories of ascension becoming your own!”

Eric frowned. “Do you mean the Feng Ren Sect?”

He blinked under the sudden fervor of Jinni’s gaze, Sufia and Annika also peering at Eric with a humbling intensity, clearly aware that he had just casually tossed in Jinni’s lap a prize beyond measure.

“That you even know their hidden name. A name none would dare to say aloud unless he or she had proven themselves as an inner disciple or warrior capable of beating their own, and few indeed could achieve the latter without already being the former.”

Eric grinned, cracking his knuckles. “No comment.”

Jinni shook her head in awe. “Do you have any idea what this is worth? Or how hard it was to gain access to even the most basic techniques when I was marked for Earth, fifteen years ago? I had to struggle just to prove my worth! Had I not had such a strong foundation, I would have been denied access to even the most basic cultivation tomes. I shudder to recall how hard I had to work to clear my nodes and begin forging my peripherals, accord-bound to refuse all but the most rudimentary tools. And here before me is a complete guide to ascending all the way up to the threshold of Bronze, from the most powerful Wind Cultivators allowed any access to Terran resources at all, their grandmaster just a half-step from Silver Ascension himself!”

Eric winked. “A prize I claimed fair and square in an orange tier delve, so there’s no way in hell any Bloodtier Syndicate affiliated conniving administrator, counselor, or all around scum-bag can dispute my prize.”

Annika whistled. “I think you might have found the most priceless artifact Earth’s delves have so far surrendered.”

Eric smirked. “That’s one way of putting it.”

Jinni’s awed gaze grew intent. “Eric… what is it you wish to do with this prize?”

Eric’s smile widened as he locked gazes with Jinni for long moments that set her cheeks ablaze.

Annika’s eyes widened. “Eric, are you proposing...”

“What I’m proposing,” Eric quickly said, “Is an opportunity for all of us. An opportunity for us to learn and grow and polish our skills. An opportunity to take advantage of what I hope will be a relatively peaceful week or two to perfect skills I’ve been forging in the crucible of battle, but doing very little to solidify my insights with actual diligent practice in a sane setting where I’m not just brainstorming new techniques to survive another handful of hours. And perhaps most importantly… I’m hoping that Jinni can help me forge a cultivation academy here on Earth that might just be every bit as vital for Earth’s future prosperity as our savings and loan bank.”

Eric smirked at the looks this earned. “Okay, maybe not quite as important as a financial sector not tainted by a faction that would see us all in chains or dead… but certainly a path forward that anyone with any sort of cultivation affinity could use to ascend without having to risk their lives in the crucible of combat. Though of course even my tomes made it clear that the crucible of battle will help even cultivators to excel and ascend at a pace they otherwise would never be able to achieve.

“Still, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with a gentler path forward that would allow single parents or just people who don’t want to constantly risk their lives to savor the vigor, vitality, and combat prowess that only cultivators and Classers could hope to enjoy. This would allow thousands, perhaps millions of additional souls to become significant players in their own right, able to protect their communities, their families, themselves… all of humanity against predacious invaders, monster surges, and anyone looking for easy meat to take advantage of.”

Eric locked gazes with a speechless Jinni. “What I would like is for the one girl I’ve met who by some miracle actually radiates a Wind Cultivator’s affinities to take full advantage of this prize, to learn all its secrets, and maybe serve as the headmistress of a cultivation academy safely ensconced in either Ashland, Picksonville, or Hope territory. The spiritual energy those territories now radiate will allow cultivators to ascend faster than pretty much anywhere else on this planet… and I’m willing to use pretty much every penny I have to make that happen.”

Eric furrowed his brow. “Speaking of which, I actually have no idea how much cash flow I now have available, between my Blue Card and Arlen Ort’s scummy games.”

“And just how much would we be charging for this training?” A breathless Jinni asked.

Eric frowned, before dipping his head. “Profit motive. You’re right. Blue Corp is the ultimate example of compassionate capitalism. But making money is still the name of the game.”

“In a way that enhances entire societies as a whole, to their citizen’s benefit as much as our own,” Jinni whispered, but her heart really wasn’t in it. Eric could tell she wanted nothing more than to spend the next week delving into that tome’s wondrous secrets.

Eric grinned. “Let’s start with security, so that we never need fear the blades we ourselves forge. We will make training exclusive to those willing to give a cultivator’s oath. The same oath of nonaggression that anyone else wanting to make use of my Tier 2 pod and/or my Wealthy Tier delves would. And since we just know that our disciples will one day be taking on students of their own… the binding will include an oath not to deliberately maim or kill fellow Wind Tier disciples who can trace their lineage back to our school. Save in self defense or if they feel their lives are genuinely in danger, of course, and they’re free to do what they must if they’re being cleverly set up by corrupt cultivators, goblin schemers, or the like. That should give our world an ever growing number of cultivators that won’t be coming after the Sylvan Faction or foolishly getting goaded into killing off each other.”

Eric rubbed his chin in thought, taking a casual sip from his cold jug of milk. “As far as profiting from their efforts goes… maybe 10% of future earnings from Delves or instruction will be gifted to our academy. And for their own future students, no more than 5% of their earnings from delves or instruction will go to their mentor, another another 5% to the school itself.” Eric flashed a mercantile grin. “Even better, we’ll reduce the percentage haul we charge anyone taking advantage of our rich tier delves to 10%, so cultivators who make Ashland their home will make just as much in credits as they would, had they been Classers without any academy affiliations at all.”

Annika flashed a pleased smile. “And that also encourages countless disciples who would come to your academy to make Ashland or Picksonville their permanent residence because the treasures they would earn in your delves are beyond what they would earn anywhere else, and they’ll pay no more than the same fee as everyone else.”

Jinni gave a thoughtful nod. “We’re deferring immediate tuition for long term goodwill, a stronger population base, and a long term increase in Ashland’s profitability in the decades and centuries to come.” Her cheeks dimpled in a heartfelt grin. “I highly approve of your proposal, Eric Silver, and I have absolutely no doubt that my supervisor will be amenable to my taking on the added responsibility.”

Eric winced. “And you’re handling our real estate and banking venture. Shit. I just put a lot on your plate, didn’t I?”

Jinni reached over to squeeze his hand. “What you gave me, Eric Silver, was the greatest gift I could possibly ask for. And seeing as I’m technically on vacation for the next week, I see no reason why I shouldn’t begin familiarizing myself with what will be the foundation of our cultivation academy’s teachings immediately.”

She bit her lip. “I don’t suppose by any chance you might have any, well, techniques, to go with this glorious prize?”

Sufia’s eyes widened. “Why not just ask him to grant you an imperial throne, girl? The prize in your hand is worth billions on this world. Even I can see that.”

Jinni chuckled awkwardly. “You’re right. That was—“

Her eyes widened with awed disbelief when Eric flipped his Wind Step manual between their now completely ignored stacks of crepes, though Bunbun was doing her best to make sure not a single delicious morsel was wasted, much to Eric’s approval. And if the girls staring so raptly at the second spiritual treasure he had so casually tossed for their perusal had anything to say about an undead revenant bunny who was doing a remarkably good job of emulating a very hungry adventurer with the way she put down their food… they were keeping those thoughts to themselves.

“Eric, you actually recovered a movement technique? Do you have any idea...” Jinni looked on the verge of collapse. She swallowed breathlessly, clenching the cultivation manuals tightly to her. “I’ll see about building us a cultivation sanctuary in Picksonville as close to Ashland’s border as will still grant us full access to the rich spiritual energy saturating your miraculous territory.”

Sufia didn’t hesitate to point north. “Then you’ll want to build it about four and a half miles that way. There’s a beautiful valley with a small forest absolutely blooming with spirit fruit and arcane treasures as well, and the mana and essence is so thick there it feels like swimming through a glorious dream whenever I take a break from delving to go exploring, just for fun.”

Jinni gazed at Sufia for long moments, clearly seeing what Eric’s Unified Perception had already made clear. “You have the gift, Sufia.”

The girl blushed and looked away. “Father made it clear long ago that the best way to avoid trouble was to not go looking for it. He taught me to be a hunter, in tune with the land and able to sense my prey, and sense even better those that would make me their prey, and that was enough.”

Sufia flashed a fond smile of remembrance. “Enough for me to get the strongest Advanced Class I could hope for. And when so many others with wealthy, connected families and years spent in the best academies in the empire were turned down in their request to join Earth’s liberation force… I was immediately accepted and given a Hunter’s training, and orcs quickly became my favorite prey.”

Annika’s smile was filled with pride as she squeezed Sufia’s shoulder. “Our darling Sufia is the only living member of the Sylvan Alliance to successfully spot and take down a goblin Assassin, Eric. If you ever wanted a girl at your back to keep you safe, few would serve you better than her.”

Sufia blushed and lowered her gaze. “I would gladly serve him all my days,” she whispered.

Eric took a thoughtful sip of his drink. “Well, now that you and Jinni have both made it to Earth, I don’t think earlier restrictions and roadblocks apply. So why not make use of the cultivation manuals along with Jinni? I’ll bet you could learn a hell of a lot, as long as you don’t need a rigid set of nodes to anchor various elemental paradigms...”

Sufia shuddered with barely concealed disgust, quickly shaking her head, despite Annika’s frown. “No! By the goddess, I always hated the way I felt practicing elementalist arts.” She gave an apologetic chuckle. “Not that I have anything but fiercest love for the woman I swore to serve, but I only ever felt clean after mandatory mana lessons as a child when I communed with the forest and went hunting.”

Eric frowned. “So, wait, you don’t cast spells at all?”

“Of course I do!” Sufia said with a smile. “But only spells tied to mother nature and the hunt. The arts that resonate within my soul. When I cast them, I feel… clean. But nothing makes me feel better than a day hunting in the wilds and living off the land.”

Eric grinned. “I see I’m not the only one who doesn’t like stiffened meridian channels.”

Jinni nodded, positively beaming when she gazed a flushing Sufia’s way. “I sense she has anchored one of her nodes with a System talent, but it is anchored to her affinities of Wood and Wind so it should prove no hindrance to cleansing her Meridian channels.”

The petite elf gently took Sufia’s hand. “What do you say, Sufia? Would you like to see just how far you can stride the world as a cultivator?”

Sufia gazed at Jinni for long moments, before slowly giving a nod. “Yes… sifu. I really think I would.”

Annika furrowed her brow, Eric noting she was the only one who seemed less than excited. “But wouldn’t it be an issue, a Wind Cultivation manual when our Sufia is both Wind and Wood?”

Jinni shook her head. “It shouldn’t. In fact, from what I see, the Windridge Clan’s manual was specifically designed to appeal to the powerful scions of many clans. Their techniques can be followed by anyone with a basic cultivation affinity, even if they lack the ability to channel any actual Qi Skills. They effectively become what are known as basic body cultivators, and they are still head and shoulders beyond mortals. Though you can compare the most basic cultivators to the Conscript class, so long as they have a complete Meridian foundation, including Broken Empress foundations of 8,9,10, or 11 meridians, much like yourself, Sufia, this foundational manual still shows the steps needed to ascend to the very cusp of Bronze!” Her eyes twinkled with excitement. “In fact, this book all but tells you how to break through! It’s clear that it grants you a perfect foundation, even if an orange tier dungeon delve will deny you the actual secrets to ascend any further.”

Annika nodded. “Clearly it was made with the enticement of privileged young masters in mind, which definitely works to our benefit.”

Eric grinned and raised his cup. “A toast to our future academy, then. And Annika? You’re more than welcome to attend as well, if you like. Mother made it clear that you have a complete set of twelve Meridan channels.”

Jinni and Sufia’s happy smiles immediately wilted, Annika’s gaze growing bitter. “That’s not a path I can walk, Eric, for any number of reasons.”

Eric winced, realizing he had somehow said the worst thing possible. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you, or offend.”

Annika forced a smile Eric knew was only being shown for his benefit. “It’s alright, Eric. Not all of us have the same affinities or gifts. Whereas Sufia finds elemental magic distasteful, I absolutely love feeling the energies of fire, frost, and lightning coursing through my blood.” She sighed. “As much as I love my bow, almost as much as Sufia loves hers, if life had been different, I would never have taken the Spirit Archer class. As it is… I would love to see if I can walk a different path, once I hit level fifty.” She flashed an arch smile. “Assuming I can ever get there. But there are risks to switching to a completely unrelated class, no matter how many lessons I learn under Headmaster Arci. If I’m not careful, I’ll brick my class and be unable to ever break through to Bronze.

“Oh, you will be hitting level fifty,” Eric said with a confident smile. “I’m pretty damn certain of that, especially if you three wanted to form a party and maybe do some adventuring together? And don’t worry about bricking your class. Because you know what the greatest thing about my Tier 2 Ascension pod is?”

Annika’s eyes twinkled, a genuine half-smile coming to her artfully dyed lips. “No, Eric, Silver. Why don’t you tell me what’s so special about your Tier 2 Ascension pod?”

“Well I will! I’m so glad you asked. Anyway, the best thing about it besides it making every class you’re eligible for available to you, utterly bypassing any asinine corrupt council restrictions, is that you don’t even have to enter the pod to know what classes are open to you. You just have to touch the ascension center’s pyramidal walls and it will do a quick biometric and tell you exactly what you need to know. It’s an awesome opportunity to see every arcane class you might be applicable for at level 50, and the best options will literally glow with the color of its potential. So if no Bronze or Silver tinted options pop up that only you can see… you just walk away and call it a day.”

All three girls exchanged glances at that. “You do know that will be a game changer for the human race, once we complete stage one building and reveal your prizes to the world, don’t you?” Jinni whispered.

Eric grinned. “Damn right it will. Instead of less than 1% of the population volunteering for the pods, 100% can try, giving us millions of Classers getting the best starting class they possibly can, in addition to millions of additional professionals to build up our tech, industry, real estate, farming, and general quality of life as much as is possible.” He turned to Annika. “Which reminds me, how would you like to help me start a genuine Adventurer’s Academy?”

Annika blinked. “What?”

Eric locked intent gazes with Sufia. “How many lives would have been saved if your commander had known ahead of time the inns and outs of all the boss fights to be overcome before ascending to the highest level you’ve dared so far of our endless delve? How many lives would have been saved if you had had what amounted to a Boss Tier guide that explained exactly how to survive those battles… how best to aggro, distract, avoid, and take down that boss?”

Sufia paled, features tightening with both regret and unmistakable resolve. “We would have had 100% survival. I’m sure of it.”

Jinni gazed at Eric for long moments. “You wish to design an academy focused exclusively on how to survive all 12 of your delve’s greatest challenges, whether it be boss fights or simply mastering the layouts of the various floors?” She shared a heartfelt look with Sufia. “The hallmark of any good leader, doing everything they can to protect the citizens under their care.”

Sufia nodded. “My captain and I have been keeping meticulous notes for Elonia’s benefit, even if we’re absolutely forbidden from sharing them… unless a Contender is savvy enough to ask, of his own accord.” She flashed a teasing smile Eric’s way. “How many kisses would you give me for such a prize, Eric?”

Eric chuckled good-naturedly. “I’m sure we’ll figure something out. And yes, Jinni, I do indeed want our future academy focused on dungeon tactics and survival. With hands-on field professors going so far as to actually lead dungeon delving groups once the students achieve the experience, skill levels and power levels needed to take on a given dungeon tier. But that’s just the start. There’s so much more an adventuring academy can do for a prospective Classer than just give them hot dunguneering tips!”

“Really. What other ideas do you have for us, Eric Silver?” Said Annika, with the bemused smile of a teacher pleased to see her students finally understanding the lesson she had gone to such efforts to teach.

“How many noobs actually know that the smartest thing you can do is take whatever class opens up the possibility for Bronze or perhaps even more, when first daring the pods? And if absolutely no options with Bronze tier potential pop up, maybe the goal isn’t to get a 5 point per level class at level 1, but Conscript till level 9, and then work on Core Condensation and see if you can unlock a truly fantastic class with strong Bronze potential at 20% core saturation or greater?”

Eric grinned at the looks the girls were giving him.

“And how many mortals even think to spend weeks or a month or more training up basic spear and sword & shield skills before even daring a pod, so they have a foundation to actually build upon once they get a class? Background skills that will actually allow them to get the best starting class possible… even if we end up telling them only take a class with Bronze potential, if available, or Conscript if not? And most importantly, beyond anything else, before they even dare their first adventure, they should spend weeks, perhaps months, doing nothing but training! Having them lift not just daily, but two, three, or four times a day, once we get them a decent Vitality with sprints and jogging for literal hours every day, so they build up their Strength and Vitality as much as possible, maybe all the way up to 15 or 16, which would be the equivalent of maybe 4 free Conscript levels? Not to mention the additional free points they’ll get hitting Journeyman with any weapon. Which will give them 3 additional points, or two, I’m sorry, and most importantly… give them the skills they need to actually fight well and survive their eventual ascension to level 10 and beyond.”

Eric laughed at the looks his brainstorming had earned him. “Of course we’ll game the System as much as humanly possible. No progressing skills to Journeyman tier until they’ve used calisthenics and weights to boost their Strength and Vitality, the two stats easiest to train up, to 15, 16, or even higher. That way every additional point earned from skill tier breakthroughs has that much more punch, helping them grow beyond the limits of anything but the most fanatic of training programs. And that’s just the first step! That’s just playing with logical hunches and educated guesses. With thousands if not millions of potential adventurers soon to make Ashland their home, we have an unrivaled opportunity to collect as much data as we could possibly hope to have! Data used to compile careful studies you know haven’t been done here on Earth and I’m sure Blue is forbidden to tell us even if they have been done elsewhere.”

“What studies?” Annika asked breathlessly.

Eric frowned thoughtfully. “Algorithms that let us know the absolute best path for any Classer or soon-to-be classer to follow for the absolute best long term prospects and short term growth. For example, is it better to train diligently as a mortal and then select the best class available upon entering the Tier 2 pods, or is it better to take Conscript Class and enjoy accelerated Classer training as we’re all natives on our newly ascending planet? Because I’m just wildly assuming that Conscript plus 20% or more Core Saturation for people who don’t immediately get a class with Bronze Tier resonance is the best way to go. But we don’t actually have any objective proof of that. Maybe it turns out that the strongest pick anyone can make, the one that will resonate best with their souls and allow them to ascend past the White Tier level 100 upper limit is whatever class that pops up strongest after months of training with sword, spear, free-weights, and yeah, practice wands we’ll provide the very first time they dare to enter a pod. Heck, we could even give those interested free lessons at the arcane academy we’re building in Solaris to the most driven would be adventurers, and who knows if that intense training while still a mortal would unlock titles and class options they’d otherwise have absolutely no access to without 100% core saturation!”

Annika gazed at Eric for long moments. “Eric, what you’re talking about is...”

“Brilliant, I know,” he smirked. “Look, the point is, we don’t know. There is so much that we don’t know, and that I’m sure your absolutely forbidden from telling me, unless I mention it first. And that’s okay. You girls don’t have to say anything at all. But what I do know is that, if nothing else, an adventurer’s academy giving newly minted Classers a chance to earn twelve or more free level up points training their butts off while teaching them basic competency with their chosen weapons and basic tactics with spears complementing sword and shield or wand and shield, and most especially what to expect with various monster types in Ashland’s dungeons and how best to overcome them, would help an entire generation of adventurers to survive, prosper, and, for our Blue Corp friends, bring back sweet sweet loot hauls from the deeps, increasing our profits and helping our beautiful territory blossom and prosper like never before!”

All three girls gazed at Eric for long moments.

“It’s brilliant,” Jinni enthused. “And it’s a path that I was absolutely forbidden from mentioning at all.”

“Which tells us all we need to know,” said Annika breathlessly, lips curving in an awed grin. “Eric, would you seriously want me to be the headmistress of your adventuring academy?”

Eric grinned. “I know you have an adventurer’s spirit and a beautiful heart. I know you can fight, that you were compassionate enough to make sure my Milk Maids were protected from exploitation and clever enough to assure that only the most devoted adventurers can win their hearts and hands. That alone tells me all I need to know. And the fact that you can organize and manage well enough that Mother Dearest is now using you as her assistant manager just shows that you have the administrative skills to back up the savvy head on your shoulders and the compassionate heart in your chest. Honestly, Annika, if you’re interested, I think you’d be perfect!”

Annika gazed at Eric for long moments before bowing her head. “I would be honored to accept… my prince.”

Eric chuckled. “Strictly free agent, but definitely your friend.”

He turned to Jinni. “So… yeah. We should know how much working capital we have to fund both these schools of awesomeness. Oh, completely different subject, but now that I think about it, I also have a handful of cuttings that need a rich fertile area to plant them in. I’ll bet we could find the perfect spot right outside of our future cultivation academy, even if they’re mostly magical and maybe sentient carnivorous plants… but full of stat-boosting goodness,” he assured a suddenly pale-faced Jinni.

He then leaned back, smiling at the three girls, hands behind his head. “There. Now that that’s settled, I think this was an awesome first meeting between the future movers and shakers of Ashland, Picksonville, and Hope Provinces. The heroes that might just give the downtrodden people of my world a fighting chance.” He then turned to Annika.

“I’m guessing Mother told you how long she wants me to hold tight as she wheels and deals on behalf of my kidnapped friends?”

Annika’s excited grin turned to a professional mien once more. “She did, Eric. She hopes to have a deal on the table within the next couple of weeks. And Eric?”

“Yes?”

Forest green eyes peered intently into his own. “Far more lives are at stake than a single handful of friends, however dear they may be to you. You do know that, right?”

Eric winced. “Yeah, somehow I figured that was the case.”

She flashed an impish smile. “I hope so, Eric, because our alliance… or perhaps I should say, your sister’s alliance, is sort of counting on it.”

Eric rolled his eyes. “No pressure, right?”

“None whatsoever.”

“Good. Because I’m about to enjoy eight hours of luxurious, uninterrupted sleep. Then I’ll be spending the next week or so honing my skills as much as I possibly can. You are all welcome to join me for sparring, demonstrations of my Qi techniques for our future academy, or how I practice my spells, if any of you are interested.”

Jinni bowed her head. “I think we’d all love a chance to learn whatever you’d be willing to teach us. And I’ll make a point of getting you those numbers, as well as securing what Blue Corp training equipment I can.”

Eric grinned. “Lovely. On that note, time for me to crash. Now get whatever you like. It’s on the house,” he declared with a wink Jinni’s way before making his way to his quarters upstairs, which he knew would be the top floor suite, just as luxurious with its plush thick rug, floor to ceiling windows overlooking the far off entrance to his delve, and perfectly pressed cotton sheets as he could hope for, sinking into his feather stuffed mattress to enjoy the best eight hours sleep of his life.

Fortunately, Blue Corp prided itself on accommodations as secure as they were luxurious. Even if any hypothetical Bloodtear affiliated agent had attempted to take advantage of Eric’s seeming vulnerability, enchanted bulletproof windows resistant to both blasterfire and hypersonic bullets would prove an extremely frustrating hindrance. Yet should such a hypothetical assassin or group of would-be assassins have the skills to charm, seduce, or outright murder any Blue Corp employee to come across their path before sneaking into areas utterly off limits, they might just find their multi-million credit target blissfully asleep.

But not his fiery-eyed rabbit glaring at them with absolute contempt and ears crackling with crimson lightning who might or might not have said something to the affect of... “Too bad for you, Mrs. Nice Bunny was shot dead by the last group of assholes she tried to show a better way. Now the only thing I’ll bother showing shitstains like you is your friends’ entrails, motherfuckers!”

Regardless of what any particular Shadowblade, Assassin, or Bounty Hunter might think of such a declaration, their speculations would be short-lived indeed, once were forced to endure a certain pissed-off rabbit’s savagery and an appetite for things other than her master’s beloved crepes.