Chapter 520

Chapter 520

Once I walk through the guildhall doors, I see Ember and my body double both sitting down on the new furniture, talking to each other.

My double has a concealment disguise on and looks like a random citizen, while Ember just looks like his normal self.

There are hardly any other hunters in the guildhall yet. Only a few are here, buying some gear and potions early in the morning before their farming expeditions begin, but the two are off in a portion of the lobby isolated by themselves.

Ember looks up at me as I approach and sit down in the seating area they're relaxing in, and he speaks up first.

"I can feel our soul energy capacity and potency have increased by almost double what it was... Emptying and regenerating your core must have taken an immense amount of Qi, but from the barrier I feel around us, it seems that expelled energy didn't go to waste. The population of this city has grown almost five times since I went under. It seems those young warriors you were training have managed to hit their second rank up too... Overall, very impressive."

I nod, but he adds on before I reply.

"There was also a labyrinth created... The high-grade dungeon below the others in that canyon is no more, so I assume you overcharged it, and well—"

He thinks to himself for a moment.

"Actually, I'm not sure how exactly it happened based on the rate of containment stones farmed from those Minotaurs. That wouldn't be nearly enough to...wait..."

More gears are turning behind Ember's eyes, and he figures out exactly what happened.

"It must have been another surge from the throne. That's what triggered this."

I smile and nod.

"Very perceptive as usual. I plan to work with the Demon inside and grow it to 100 floors."

Ember shrugs.

"Good trade. All demons want is to grow their labyrinths. As long as you make it easier for them to do so, there shouldn't be anything to worry about. Well, that is until they're free, then they can be a pain."

Ember looks up to the ceiling like he's remembering something while speaking that last sentence, but I change the topic.

"So, a year inside the Isolation Pod. I assume because of your positive attitude this means it was a success? You managed to create the concealment item we need to suppress Soul Energy?"

Ember nods.

"Oh, yeah. We're set. Creating the items was the easy part. It took me less than an hour to get them both done."

I raise an eyebrow.

"What—what do you mean? What was that year of time inside all for then?"

Ember stands up from the white couch he's sitting on, stretches his arms, and looks around before replying in a low tone.

"Well, just because it only took an hour doesn't mean it wasn't one of the hardest things I've ever pulled off. A mere level 2000 channeling Divine Energy. Maybe you'll understand how impressive it was one day. I had to go into full hibernation for a year to recover from that."

He keeps stretching, then stares at me as I stand up from the couch across from him and grins.

"But damn, I do feel pretty good now after that nap."

He lets out a satisfied sigh while putting his arms down and continues.

"So, your double filled me in on everything we have to do now. Meetings with the Regional Directors and Sector Leaders today, then head off to the meeting point to get into the B-Class exams in two days. Then, a day later, they begin."

I nod.

"Exactly."

"In that case, I think we should activate the items now. It's going to take a bit of practice to get fully used to them. The longer it's on, the better. Might as well take them for a test run now."

Ember lifts a finger, and the air around it ripples like something is coming out of it, then stops moving.

He looks at the top of his finger like there's something there, but I can't see or sense a thing.

Next, he brings his finger to his forehead, and before my eyes, all traces of his Soul Energy and even mana control disappear entirely.

I boost my perception skills to the max, confused at the sight I'm seeing, but no matter how hard I try, nothing happens.

He looks like an ordinary human. Not even a drop of mana in him. He doesn't even look like he's an awakened...

My inspect and appraisal skills don't show any readings. His status is gone. It's like he's become a ghost.

"You're right, it doesn't look good at all yet. I told you it would take some getting used to. Two days should be enough to teach you how it works. Come on, let's head off to the trade deals, we don't have time to waste."

I let out a sigh.

"Couldn't this have waited until after?"

Ember shakes his head.

"We're visiting a lot of unknown regions today, it's best we prepare for the worst. Never know who will be waiting to meet us. Plus, like I told you before, it takes time to control this limiter. The longer you have it activated before actually having to use it, the better."

I nod and walk out the door with Ember after waving my double goodbye.

"Yeah, good point..."

I think to myself for a moment, and come up with an idea as to how I'll cover my lack of mana control once I get to the Galeheart Tower.

"Alright, I have a plan. Let's go pick up the rest of the finished orders from Bri."

I crush a transport crystal to Bri's bunker with my hand on Ember's shoulder and we go up to meet her in her office setting up shop for the day.

She doesn't perceive us coming, and is startled at first, but deduces it is the new concealment item that Ember mentioned last month when we were all together and is very impressed.

Ember shows her how it changes the perceived mana control, but does not explain any of the details on how it actually works. She approves.

"Fools me, I have quite the keen eye and I can't see through it at all."

She hands me the remainder of the goods that she's been crafting this week that settles all of the orders, and I leave telling her to prepare for more because I'll be working on getting next month's orders processed and automated before I leave for the B-Class exams.

Next, I use another teleportation crystal and it brings us to the Galeheart Tower.

Standing in the lobby, Lith is waiting for us in a new grey and blue suit with his blond hair combed back and a bright white smile on his face.

I walk over to him while pulling an assortment of labeled item boxes out of my item storage and setting them down on the lobby's desk beside him.

"There's Sector 1's order delivered right on time."

Lith motions for one of the guards at the back of the room to sort, count, and distribute the delivered orders.

He then nods and gives me an item box back in return.

"Good to see you're on time and have delivered without fail. I trust that everything is there. Here is the payment for the remaining 75%, plus the 25% down payment for next month's orders and a new list of goods I'd like to have crafted for Sector 1. It's over double the volume of last month. I predict many clients will be doing the same, so prepare your team for more."

I accept the item box and put it into my storage for later, then pull out a large black suit of armor from my storage.

It's one from the top of the loot tower from the Lich King earlier this month.

"The old Sector 2 leader always wore one of these. Even though they know I'm a new business connect, I might as well keep up appearances."

In reality, I want to wear this concealment armor so it doesn't look overly suspicious that my mana control is not perceivable. I know I wouldn't trust an unawakened to deal with magic items, so I don't expect anyone else to.

Even if someone has the capability to see through the black armor, the lack of mana control will look more like a second layer of security that they can't crack and will only add to my prestige rather than if they just tried to appraise me without the armor on.

However, even if no one can see through the concealment armor, I think it looks very professional to meet them in a recognizable Dark Continent disguise like this.

I use a small portion of my blood and imbue the set with it to create a bond, then step inside and the black armor fits around all of my gear very comfortably and naturally.

Ember nods.

"Good idea."

Lith replies too.

"You're right. Meeting the Directors like that is probably best."

They agree, but for entirely different reasons.

He thinks to himself for a moment, then pulls out five teleport crystals.

"Well, let's get to it. We have Sector 3 and 4 on the list first. Then we'll head over to the Bedrock and Talton Regions. Finally, our last stop will be the Vice Region. Ready to go?"