Chapter 480 Getting Back On Track

~~~(POV: Cera Adamo)~~~

~~~(Location: Apartment, Capital City Avalon)~~~

~~~(Time: 12:13 PM)~~~

"Now that all the women are gone... I can focus on my last tier-up quest... Never thought I'd say that..."

Enough distractions have come and gone, and it's time that I get back to work. I'm here in Avalon searching for an individual by the name of Kris Martim, a highly-skilled magician. Why my tier-up quest is asking me to find him? I don't know.

I've never heard of the man known as Kris Martim, and I don't have a Marker showing me where to go to start the quest. Cause I haven't started it until I talk to this guy. I should get a Marker on my map after getting the quest from him, but if I don't, I'm gonna be pissed.

"I don't know where to start looking to find this guy... But my best guess is starting at the Palace. If anyone knows where a powerful magician is, it's the people that are around the Royal Family or the Royal Family themselves."

Now that I have a plan in motion, I have to get the worst part about all this over with. Actually heading to the Palace. I could just pull the whole Son of an Angel thing, but I'd rather not.

"But it'll be the fastest way to get the information I need on Kris Martim... Nope. I'm not doing it. I don't want that kind of crap."

Since I'm doing this the hard way, I'll need to find a way in. No one can just walk up to the Palace gates and ask if they can meet the Royal Family or anyone in their court.

Wouldn't be much of a need for security if that were the case, but there would be many dead nobles and ruling family members of Avalon Kingdom if this were the case.

Today is the last day that I have the apartment, so I might as well get out of here now.?

The streets are filled with Players and NPCs achieving their own goals. But before I can get very far, I see a familiar man standing at a rather popular food booth staring at me.

'',

It's Sir Erikson. We talked a long time ago on The Player Continent. He put the pieces together that I'm Slayer Zern, and who my family is.

'.',

"I didn't expect to see you here, Slayer Zern. If that's what you prefer to go by."

He takes the time to start talking to me after getting away from his spot and walking next to me. I'm not really in the mood to even tell him to piss off. If he wants to talk, he can. But I won't be listening.

"You're a man of few words, and I respect that. I just wanted to confirm something. Your relationship with Ms. Adamo is something I see in siblings. Which means that the famous group of powerful friends that you have is actually your family, right?"

That's one long question with some self-discovered explanations in it. A long sigh leaves my body, and I pinch the bridge of my nose. The smart ones are always giving me trouble.

"It'd be for the best if you didn't get involved with whatever you think is going on. There are big things that are at play right now."

<br/>My statement is a partial bluff. I just don't want him getting involved with any of my family members.?

"I understand that. It's just the last time we talked. Things didn't go so well, and since the alliance between guilds is over now that we've safely transitioned to this world. I was wondering if you would be willing to join a guild? Maybe even make your own?"

Couldn't make or join a guild even if I wanted to. My Class prevents me from joining or creating guilds in any official manner.?

"The only reason you know I'm here, Sir Erikson, is because you followed Hailey. Or had someone following her. I don't know what her business with you is, but keep me out of it."

Knowing this is from simple deduction. I know that no one knew I was here other than Hailey. But since Hailey has business with the Steel Legion guild, from the looks of it, they put a tail on her, which led them to me.

It's not hard to see, but there are more complex ways that it could've happened, and I wouldn't have been the wiser.?

Which leads back to why even contacted me if he likely knows I'm going to reject any offer he gives me. He's playing some angle, but it eludes me at the moment.

"That's pretty impressive work, detective. But if you wanted anything to do with guilds, you would've done something a long time ago. I just wanted to see how you'd answer. And you didn't disappoint."

He's impressed with my skills of problem solving and deduction. But I've yet to see anything that impresses me.

"You completely redirected the conversation on how I came to find you. Gaining complete control of the conversation. A maestro of words, and a dangerous one at that."

Now I'm starting to get a little impressed. But this is hardly anything. Anyone can see this.

"What I've gathered from how you've handled this is several things. Would you like to hear them?"

He's trying to flex his skills and seem better than me...

He's trying to impress me...

My lack of response seems to act as a confirmation of permission.

"You're a control freak... You always need to know everything about everyone in any given room... You are an incredible manipulator and master of deceit and lies... For anyone unfamiliar with you, you're a pure Sociopath... Complete disregard for life and other people's thoughts..."

That's pretty spot-on, but he doesn't seem to be done.

"The most freighting thing to me is your intellect... You are always 10 or 20 steps ahead of everyone... Even in major guilds that have some of the best minds out here... Your Sociopathy makes you unpredictable and dangerous. You've done things that seem benevolent, but only to keep up the idea you're anything more than what you really are."

At this point, I think he has some professional training in mental cases or something.

"And that's a cold, calculating predator."

For most, they'd take that as an insult, but I don't. It's something that helps me thrive in a hostile world.

"While you're not bloodthirsty, I believe you enjoy inflicting pain... I think you're a Sadist and take far too pleasure in causing the most pain possible for this who make you mad or get in your way..."

We're still walking at this point, and I'm not outwardly reacting to anything he's saying. But I'm giving him credit where it's due.

He's got me pegged.?

"However, for the people that you've let close... You love and care about them and would do anything for them... Probably one of your only redeeming qualities..."

I can't help but let out a good laugh at the last bit. He's right that it's the only good thing about me. But I do have a problem with accepting responsibility for my actions regarding the current state of humanity. Very Sociopathic, just like he concluded that I am.

"That's pretty impressive, Sir Erikson. While it'd be fun to profile you, I'm sure that you don't want to miss your chance to talk to Ms. Adamo before you lose that chance. Cause you're the type of man that has to know the secrets of people around you."

That last bit is a freebie for him. Showing that I'm capable of doing the same thing. He chuckles and looks away slightly. Probably at the clock on his Player Hud.

"Don't be a stranger, Slayer Zern. While you're not interested in guilds, that doesn't mean you can't have allies."

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A/N: Below this line, I'll be keeping Cera's player information. That way, I won't have to place it into the story above anymore. It takes about 180 words up.

[Slayer (Zern) Lvl.228][Tier-3]

[Exp: 42/100%]

[Title: The Son of Arch-Angel Michael (Hidden)]

[Stats] [Strength - 7095][Endurance - 7045][Dexterity - 7215][Speed - 8240][Focus - 19,660]

[Mana aura control: 6/100%]

[Health: 76,560,000,000/76,560,000,000] [Mana: 216,600,000,000/216,600,000,000]

[Stat Points: 350] [Armor rating: 500]

'',

[Inventory] [Dice of Wayland (Divine)] [Hardened Tree sap Armor (Very Rare)] [The Witness (Legendary Sword)] [Fenrir's Whistle (Divine)] [Camping gear] [Food Rations 3x] [Dried meat 3x] [Fishing poles 2x] [Fish 8x] [Festival Garbs 2x] [4x EXP Boosts]

[Passive Perks]

[Inheritor of the Sword] [Son of Heaven] [Slayer of Evil] [Holy Willow Trees Savior] [Finder of Legends] [The Divine who has Legend] [Destined for Greatness] [Dungeon Diver] [An Overachiever]

[Active Skills]

'',

[Heavens light Lvl.74 325/7400] [Protected by Heaven Lvl.74 225/7400] [Slash Lvl.92 4600/21000] [Parry Lvl.68 85/6800] [Double Strike N/A] [Kingslayer N/A] [Raging Machine N/A] [Winged Glory] [Angelic Flight] [Divine Pressure Exertion] [Divinity Pulse] [Controlled Fun]