Chapter 81 - Day CCXLII, Part II

Will grabbed a beer and sat on his bed. I on the other hand got few bites of beef jerky and bread. Then I also opened a bottle and drank some.

- So? - he asked eventually because I focused too much on food.

- Sorry. Was just very hungry... I discovered a way to get skills like healing or making barriers. That's what you saw yesterday, and that's what allowed me to win with Mark.

- I figured that much after what happened. But how do you got those?

- Classes. Like in an RPG game. You need to unlock a class, then it will allow you to buy, and upgrade those skills. You still need lots of crystals to do so.

- Ok, I understand - he took a sip from his bottle. - But how do I unlock those classes?

- You need to kill a boss.

- So Aisha was right? You let her take that crystal so she would figure it out herself? You cheeky little liar - he smiled.

- No. Crystal is just like any other crystal. To get the point, you need to kill the boss. That's why I told you, you need to be strong enough. You saw how powerful the goblin one is.

- You don't need to convince me. I'm all about limiting this knowledge. We had enough chaos around. What about the promise?

- Yeah, about that. I can no longer make goblin boss appear since I already killed it. Well, I don't know for sure, but that's what my observations led me to believe.

- You little asshole. You have been using me this whole time, to spawn that bastard!

- I never used you! I killed it because it was there. You wouldn't be able to anyway.

- I know. Just playing - and he winked at me.

For a moment I wanted to punch him. A very brief moment, because then I realized how easily he was able to lighten my mood.

- Fuck you, Will.

- You wish.

I just took a deep breath, meanwhile, he was laughing at his own joke.

- Will. Focus... Yesterday I found something new. After killing the rat boss I unlocked a new class. It's different from others. It costs more. Ten points, instead of one. So I wanted you to help me get those ten points.

- I get it, but who the hell is gonna help me get more of those points?

- We will find someone.

- That's a bad idea. Trust me, I know when I hear one.

- Ok, then I'm not gonna kill the wolf boss if there is one, or a different one, and help you get your points on that one.

- If rat boss was way stronger than the goblin, then wolf is gonna be ridiculous. It will take ages before I can even try.

- Sorry, but I already killed rat one.

There was no response, he was clearly thinking. From time to time taking a swig from the bottle.

- Fine. I'll help you. We will figure out a way to make me stronger after. But you - and he pointed his finger at me - are gonna help me. Fine?

- Fine.

- Then let's grab our things, and go.

- No. I can't go today. Hatta went to talk with Aisha, and he for sure is gonna want to have a word with me after he is done with her.

- Trouble?

- Yeah. They made some kind of alliance. She for sure wanted to tell him what happened yesterday.

- How do you think he will react?

- I have no idea.

- Want me to tag along?

- No. Take a day off. I've been pulling you with me for a while now. You deserve a break, Will.

- You to deserve one, Peter.

- I'll have one when I'm dead. It might come pretty soon since Aisha is so pissed at me.

He chuckled a bit.

- Yeah. She is. Maybe she will calm down a bit, with time.

I wished she did, but also kinda doubted it will happen. My stomach growled at me, so I focused more on the food, then had a few sips of beer.

- So what's the plan for tomorrow?

- Goblins, and after more goblins. We need to go there at least ten times.

- What about me? Do you dint expect me to go there alone?

- No. I have one point ready, so I just need nine. The tenth time is for you.

- Oh - he smiled a bit. - You do think about me from time to time. It's nice to know.

I just shook my head. That guy was unbelievable, but I liked him. He had his way with people. The ability to change the mood with just a few words. Something I completely lacked.

- I hate you, Will. I swear... I hate you. You are the worst.

He laughed out loud.

That's how the conversation ended. I then left to do a bit of shopping, get new armor, yet another weapon and have a look at my statistics. I was almost done with what I wanted to check when somebody patted me on the shoulder.

- Hatta wants to talk with you - said a Wuxia member I didn't recognize.

Maybe he was one, maybe not. Too many faces already went thru this place.

I went to see Hatta in his underground office. He was waiting, sitting behind the desk, and playing with a knife in one hand. Spinning it, moving thru his nimble fingers. He was angry. I could tell by facial expression. Frowning eyebrows, and pursed lips.

He made an inviting gesture with his hand, so I would sit. I did, with new leather armor in my hands.

- What the hell did you do? - he just simply asked.

There was a bit of anger in his voice.

- Look...

- No. You should have never shown them or told them, and you can't convince me otherwise. You should keep it a secret.

- What? - I was a bit surprised.

I never expected such words from him. I thought he would be angry that I didn't share my secret with him.

- What? Oh... I get it. You thought I'm angry because you didn't tell me? No. I'm not. There were more important things, and I trust that you would come to me when the time was right. I still do.

- I would, and I will. When you are ready, I'll tell you everything.

- I managed to calm down Aisha a bit, but the problem was never with her. The others are problems. The more people know the risk of information spreading is bigger. Who else has any idea about those abilities?

- Will. I believe he is ready, so I told him everything.

- You trust him?

- I do.

- Then I will also trust him, but please don't tell anybody else.

- I know how to keep my mouth shut.

- Tell me one thing more. How hard is it to acquire that power?

- Hard.

- Would Blue be able to do it? Or figure out how?

- Yes. That's my biggest fear.

Hatta dropped the knife and hid his face in his hands.

- Fuck - he mumbled with palms covering his mouth. - I need to find him fast.

- I'm preparing Will to help me fight him, just in case. Even if he finds out, there are still limitations. He is not gonna become stronger than me immediately, and the information didn't spread. Let's not panic.

- I'll make sure it won't spread easily and double the people in search parties.

I gave him a nod.

- Stick around Peter. I will need you when we find him - he continued.

- I'll be hunting goblins with Will. In the cave. Send somebody when you find him.

- Ok. We will hold that asshole as long as we can if we see him. Well... There is a chance we might not need you at all, but I'm not going to count on that.

- Better safe than sorry.

- You should consider looking with us.

- Such an idea went thru my mind already but finding Blue will be hard. With, or without me. Who knows what he is up to, and who is helping him. I don't want to waste too much time chasing a ghost.

- I can see your logic, but Blue is a threat we can not ignore.

- I know. I just don't want to stay behind when he is getting stronger, and stronger, every day.

- He has been cut off from the device. There is...

I didn't let him finish.

- You sure about that? Can you assure me he didn't put his hand on that ball even once since he escaped?

- No. I can't, but we are doing what we can. There is always somebody watching in the city center.

- It's clearly not enough, Hatta. He is escaping your grasp somehow.

- I know! - he slammed his hand on the desk. - I fucking know! But what else can we do? Do you have a better idea? I can't sleep because of that guy. I can't think about anything else than catching him.

- Right now I don't, but there is a chance that I will with time.

- So are we supposed to wait for you, and do nothing? That's stupid Peter.

- No. That's not what I meant. You should keep looking, just don't really put all your money in this basket. Maybe you will find him, but I doubt that. You should focus more on preventing him from doing anything. Get more people around the device. Get yourself a bunch of guards, and have some people around Velvet Lotus.

- I'll think about it.

- You do. I'll be around.

With those words, I stood up and left still holding my new armor. Then I bought some food for dinner and left to take some more rest.

The day ended with 826 882 points and one class point remaining on my account.