Chapter 35 - Days LXXXI - XCVII: Nobuo Adachi

The day started very early. By then it was a usual thing for me to wake up so fast. My body kinda synchronized with the sunrise. I took my new knife, bowl, and backpack, and headed to the city center.

Antonio was keeping an eye on the device. He didn't say a thing as I approached the device, and started shopping. I bought a full backpack of food, and four portions of water. I drank it but did not eat. I took the full backpack with me and went straight to the storage, keeping an eye if somebody is not following me. There was nobody. I left it all there and headed back for more.

This time I bought another full backpack of food, and additional four pieces of seasoned meat. I cooked it over the flames and shared some with the firekeepers. They really appreciated it. I asked them to inform me if they found out anything about Aisha's whereabouts. In exchange, I promised to share some more food with them.

Then I went back to storage, but this time, I had a tail. Another group of hungry scavengers. They were clumsy, so I noticed very soon. Instead of ambushing them, just as I did with the last group, I shouted that I know what they are doing, and proposed some food if they just leave me alone. They came out and after a short negotiation, they agreed to not follow me if I fill their stomachs. Since I was gonna come back for even more food, I promised to buy them some then. They agreed.

After I came back, I fulfilled the promise, bought yet another backpack of provisions, and four bowls of water. Staying hydrated just with fruits was a big problem during my hunting, so I had to drink in advance. I wished that there would be a way to bring some water with me, but since there was none...

Then it struck me, and I checked if it was possible to buy glass bottles, and it indeed was. So I bought a few. Every single one was 50 points, but it was worth it. I filled them and was on my way. Everything ended up in storage. I, on the other hand, went back home to leave unnecessary things like a bowl, and pick up my oak weapon, and the new shield.

Equipped, I headed to spend the night outside the city, by the wall.

I spend the next two weeks farming crystals. With an even more upgraded body and a sturdy shield it was easy. I even stopped waiting, and wean ahead to meet with the scouts searching the woods. It was risky but brought more precious sones. By the last day I was terribly tired, but managed to collect a nice number of 1534 rat crystals. With a nice topping of 6 goblin ones.

I was gathering all of them in the storage. The total number of rat ones, hidden there, was 2742, and 6 goblin ones. That was a lot. The problem was, how to transport them to the device without others noticing. I was too tired to think about it, so I just slept right there.

I woke up the next day along with the sun. I quickly decided to just take a full backpack of crystals to sell. Without help or a cart, it was impossible to bring all of them anyway. I took a hundred, and also put the 6 goblin ones in my pocket.

This time Maurício was on the watch duty. He saw me from afar and paid close attention to my every move. I paid the tax with six crystals straight from my pocket. I noticed it made him a bit happy. He was probably gonna take five of them just for himself.

I sold my score for a nice amount of 12k points. I invested in the constitution 30 times, which was a total of 12825 points. More than I brought, but it was worth it. To hunt every day for hours I needed superhuman endurance. To endure blows I needed a sturdy body. That was the most important thing since I was already able to dodge most of their blows and block the rest.

I filled my backpack with food and bought some additional meat to share with the firekeepers. They sadly didn't have any additional information. One of them had a black eye because he was asking too much about Aisha.

His name was Nobuo. Nobuo Adachi. He used to hunt, but unfortunately, he broke his leg, and it healed badly, so he was practically unable to fight. He was a really prideful man and wanted to repay me for the food I shared with him, and others. He was assuring me, that he will keep trying, but I thought it might end badly for him, so I took him to take it easy, and focus more on listening if somebody would talk anything about me. I wanted to have a pair of ears listening carefully even if I was hunting.

I also found out from them that Nacho was looking for me, and since he and his boys were unable to find me, he appointed a reward for whoever would find where I hide. Several scavengers were already looking.

A quick peek around confirmed several eyes tracking my every movement. It was bad. It was just a matter of time before they found about the third gate and my house. I wasn't worried about the storage, since all of the crystals were hidden under the rubble anyway. My hunting ground was about to be taken from me. I had to do something, but to be honest I had no good ideas. I needed to think, maybe even sleep on this problem

So I got up, bought a glass bottle, and filled it five times with water. Four portions I drank immediately, the last I left for the next day. Then I headed back. Taking a very long stroll around to lose anybody who would try to follow me.

Day ended with 4006 points on my account, and 2642 hidden next to the third gate.