36 Malik Zakaria

Before I left Morrow handed me a small sack, it was my winnings for the final fight with Sauer. The sack contained 20 gold coins, fighting in the arena is certainly one of the most lucrative businesses in Black Lion Village.

After leaving Morrow's manor I relaxed and took a deep breath. My plan was proceeding as smoothly as I could possibly imagine. Originally, I thought I would have to work my way up the mercenary group, eventually revealing Sauer's plot and my "relation" to Morrow after a couple months. The opportunity provided by Sauer fighting in the arena came at the best time.

I shook my body out, all the lying and acting was stressful and my body felt stiff. I knew I'd have to get used to it but it didn't mean I liked it. No normal person could be so deceitful without any worries. If it wasn't for my experience in my past life hardening my resolve there is no way I could have performed as well as I had.

I decided to head to the origin stone first. A habit from my old life. Even though Black Lion Village was fairly safe it wasn't unheard of for human villages to suddenly suffer attacks from beast or even the other sentient races. Therefore, I had developed the habit of leveling up as early and as often as I could.

When I arrived at the origin stone I noticed the same mercenary was still there collecting fees for using the origin stone. What was his name again? Oh yeah, Malik Zakaria. He was a dark skinned fellow who, from my past memories, adhered to a strong moral code and sense of justice.

As I approached his eyes rose in acknowledgment, "Back so soon? You couldn't have possibly gained enough essence to level up since the morning."

I joyously laughed, "Actually I have."

Malik's jaw dropped, "What? How? It takes most people days to gain enough to level up."

I looked at his shocked face, "It wasn't much I just won a few battles in the arena."

Malik began to nod, it was common for people in the arena to level up fast since contestants would often kill each other.

Then he stopped and looked at me hesitantly, "If I may what name did you go by in the arena?"

"Young Lion," I responded casually.

Again his jaw dropped as he stood their stunned, "Young Lion? How are you here? Lord Morrow didn't kill you?"

Obviously he had heard the news about me killing Sauer. Since he had to stay at his post he hadn't witnessed the fight himself.

"The situation is a little more complicated than it appears, you will naturally know the details tomorrow."

He looked at me quizzically then gathered himself and stated, "If you want to use the origin stone again it'll be 5 copper."

I handed him the 5 copper coins and proceeded to the origin stone.

Name: Troy Williams

Level: 9 (0/3000)

Essence: 4919

Stat Points: 0

STATS

Strength: 11

Constitution: 10

Willpower: 14

Dexterity : 12

SKILLS

Snake King Aura: (Active)

As I focused on the level the essence poured out and the amount in my level bar increased.

Level: 9 (3000/3000)

Level: 10 (0/3600)

Having felt the advantage of being faster than my opponent in the arena, I decided to put all the stats into dexterity. I know I was disadvantaged against Sauer due to a lack of strength, but I felt an increase in speed would still be more beneficial. Not to mention, increasing dexterity increased the effectiveness of the windwalker stone as well. Obviously the stone has a limit in how much it can increase a persons speed. A level 100 human would not get a 50% speed boost from the windwalker stone. There are tiers assigned to the stones and the one I have is only tier 1. A tier 1 windwalker stone will only boost 50% speed for a level 20 or below human. Every level after 20 will decrease the effect by 1%. In other words, by level 70 it would have no effect at all.

I looked at my stats before stepping away from the origin stone.

Name: Troy Williams

Level: 10 (0/3600)

Essence: 1919

Stat Points: 0

STATS

Strength: 11

Constitution: 10

Willpower: 14

Dexterity : 12 + 2

SKILLS

Snake King Aura: (Active)

After I came down from the origin stone I looked at the mercenary who stood there patiently. Even after finding out I was Young Lion, the man who had killed Sauer and was still let off by Morrow he continued to ask for the payment. A lesser man would have tried to use the chance to curry favor, let me enter for free in hopes of hanging onto my coattails. In his mind I must be some insanely powerful character, yet he still stood true to his duty. A man with such a true and just character should not be regulated to collecting fees all day.

"Malik Zakaria was your name right?"

He nervously responded, "Yes."

"Would you like to be a Lieutenant?"

"Of-of course, many men dream of becoming a Lieutenant," he stammered.

"Very well, tomorrow be prepared to take on the rank and responsibility of Lieutenant."

"What?!" He stared at me confused.

I turned and began to walk away, "As you will learn tomorrow, I'm your new Captain."

Without looking back I already knew the man was standing there shocked, with his jaw dropped for the third time in just a couple of minutes.

After leaving the origin stone I headed over to the Arena. I didn't want to be too late gathering my winnings or I would have to wait till the next day and I wasn't the type of person who liked putting off tasks.

After arriving I came up to the attendant at the gambling house and presented my gambling ticket from my fight with Sauer. The attendant looked at the ticket and quickly gathered all the gold into a sack and handed it to me.

"28 gold for Young Lion defeating Sauer."

I took the gold and left the Arena. I was planning on heading back to the Inn and getting my knapsack I left there. There wasn't much left in it, mostly miscellaneous things Valerian and I bought at the G'eth village for our trip here. However, I'm the type that doesn't like leaving things to waste so I decided to get it before heading to the Captain Manor which will be my new residence.

On my way there I could smell an enticing aroma drifting from one of the nearby buildings. Suddenly, I recalled just how hungry I was, I had small snacks between matches but I hadn't ate a full meal all day. I was starving. Following the smell I found a quaint building with a small sign on the front with Boar's Belly in red letters painted on it. I remember this place! The owner was a small time chef back on Earth. After coming to Agartha he didn't have much money but was able to buy a small house off the beaten path in Black Lion Village.

Since it wasn't on the main street where most of the commerce was conducted it took a long time to become well known. Evan though he was small time on Earth the man had a talent for cooking meat, he could cook any kind of meat making it tender yet juicy. He also had three sons who had inherited his talent and became renown chefs on their own. However, if i recall correctly, it wasn't until he began expanding his restaurants to other human villages and cities that he found all his sons. After ten years Boar's Belly had restaurants in almost every human city and was the largest human restaurant business in Agartha.