Chapter 144 - What Happened After I Was Taken?

'Come on, Vloz. We both know you want the manual…'

Despite Oli's teasing, Vloz wasn't unhappy. He kept quiet for a moment as he pondered the implications of what Oli just said. The leopard couldn't help but imagine traveling as a human and exploring human culture to the utmost, free to go anywhere as both beast and human.

'If you're willing to stay and consider letting me fake my death, then the manual is all yours,' Oli mentioned again.

'Oli, are you serious about having such a manual?'

'Do you think I would joke about that with someone fanatic about human society?' Oli joked.

Vloz sighed, 'Oli… I'm willing to lengthen my stay and hear you out. But if you want to take this seriously, then you'll need to think up an irrefutable reason.'

'Vloz, I--'

'Not for me or Rathe, but for your mother,' Vloz reasoned. 'If we go through with this and your mother is unconvinced, she would leave to track you down. You know better than I that Ania is not one to accept something so drastic without at least seeing you again. And if she sees you, she would likely cling to you for as long as she'll be allowed.'

'I… I hadn't considered that…'

'You have many good reasons to stay already, so finding a key cause is all that remains, something even she won't be able to argue with. However, I think I should travel with you.'

'Huh?! Why should you--'

'Oli, having me around would be for security reasons. And with time to finish my human metamorphosis, I'll be able to blend in without a problem. Am I wrong?'

'Well…' Pulling at straws, Oli searched for a good response. 'The moment you finish the metamorphosis, it's recommended you retain human form until your body is stable. That would--'

'That's not an issue. Considering how I would just be guarding you after you bite off more than you can chew, I should be fine as long as you don't piss off more dragons,' chuckled Vloz. 'Are there any other concerns you might have?'

As Oli took more time to think, Vloz continued, 'Until you come up with more reasons for me to counter, let's continue our discussion. What do you need me to do for the Practor Family?'

'I just need proof that I'm connected with a perennial,' replied Oli. 'With you, I'll be able to prove that we're a well-off territory worth joining. As for me being a beast… I don't want to reveal that until after I've introduced you. Then you can take me away should something happen or he may be more willing to accept the situation given his track record as an honorable swordsman.'

'Is he the only promising family member?' asked Vloz. 'I'd rather not go through so much trouble for a single man yet to become a perennial.'

Shaking his head, Oli stated, 'Hurman has three sons, two of which are almost elders and are dual cultivators like Hurman. The eldest son is currently ill but that may not be for long. The second eldest has taken over as the lead instructor of their sword school and he can easily defeat me based on our sparring match.'

'Hmm… I suppose I'll look into them. After I investigate them for further details, I'll share my opinion of them joining the territory. Fair enough?'

'Thanks, Uncle Vloz. That would help a lot.' Oli then asked, 'How did you find me anyway? And what happened to the territory after I was taken?'

Vloz answered, 'I followed strange tracks for the past nine moons, traversing more than a dozen territories to only find nothing but a new set of tracks leading elsewhere. As for the territory, Rathe managed to befriend a powerful, nearby territory and got them to help build our army in exchange for entering a few of their youth in the academy. Those Thunder Jaguars have taken the lynxes' former role as hunters since Chief Gar questioned our ability to protect a region. 

'But King Portro was called into action and should've finished an investigation by now, proving that we were against a king cultivator and a major breach of province restrictions was made. That will instead boost our reputation, proving that we somehow repelled the majority of the threat and are still growing at an incredible pace. Declaring you as dead would affect that, but it would be somewhat expected given the involvement of a high-king.'

'And Mom?'

'She's been forlorn ever since, completely unconsolable… She refuses to believe that you've passed. I'm not sure whether it's her motherly instinct or desperation to not lose you, but she was right in the end,' Vloz stated.

Pondering the state of the territory and how his friends were doing, Oli asked, 'What about the others? Like Netra?'

'Yeter also refuses to believe you're dead and Karos has neither agreed nor disagreed with the public opinion that you died. Then again, that was before I left so that may have changed by now. Netra is… She's very much like your mother, refusing to believe you're gone for good. And when some beasts for nearby regions have come offering to become her mate, Netra outright denies them without any regard for her reputation or the reputation of the Night Foxes.'

Vloz chuckled and added, 'Don't tell me you want Netra to get the manual and take a human form?'

'I--'

'Oli, I'm willing to pass her the manual after I memorize it but don't expect her to be able to hold off her mother. With you there, Puula was still focused on finding her someone. With you gone and pronounced dead, Puula will do everything in her power to get Netra to abandon the thought of being with you and betroth Netra to the best candidate. It's one other point to consider.'

'... But if I'm there, then the territory would still carry a target and she would get targeted too…' Oli sighed. 'And I'm still not sure about you traveling with me. Maybe you could stay with the territory and bring Netra to me after she learns human metamorphosis?'