Chapter 391 Photo Shoot

Chapter 391 Photo Shoot

"I suppose that I should call Lotus and Rae back if there is a big group meeting." Karl realized as they started to walk back toward the centre of camp.

Inquisitor Israel laughed. "I think everyone in the media and government would be happier if they forgot that High Priestess Lotus was a thing. But yes, call them back, I am looking forward to the uncomfortable looks they give her when they have to address her as High Priestess for formal introductions.

I don't even think they had her do a short, cameo length interview. She said they asked her to wait two hours, and it hasn't been that long yet, but they're wrapping up the press duties.

They almost definitely lied to her about how long everything would take and then sent her away so that she didn't notice she was being excluded until everything was done." Karl laughed as he realized that the Inquisitor was right, so he called Rae and Lotus back to do the final meet and greet.

Rae appeared in front of them, and Israel instinctively drew his sword before he saw the laughing High Priestess on her back.

"Hey guys, are we ahead of schedule?" Lotus asked.

"They tried to trick you because the world wasn't ready for High Priestess Lotus. But we're about to do the group photo shoot, so I called you back. I wouldn't want you to miss out on all the fun just because they weren't going to do a full interview." Karl explained.

Lotus frowned. "I have half a mind to show up on Rae's back just to punish them for not interviewing me.

I'm a High Priestess, I should get some respect.

It was fun playing in the woods, though."

Rae returned to her space as Lotus hopped down to accompany Karl and the others to the meeting. The frustration and annoyance on the face of the reporter who had come to fetch them was obvious, but that was only making it more fun to escort Rae back with them.

"Wait for it." Israel whispered as they reached the edge of the lights around the photo op mingle. They had set it up to appear to be some sort of military base, with ballistic walls that were made of composite armour and then decorated on the inside to look like a garden pavilion. The cameras wouldn't be looking up, they just wanted to make certain that the location wouldn't be obvious to anyone who wasn't here when they saw the footage.

Did you have any plans for a namesake development? Royal Rank Elites tend to make obscene amounts of money after a while, so if you want to build a community, or a high rise somewhere, it won't be long before it's in your budget, and we can help you with not only the financing, but the permits and legal blockades that often delay development." He suggested.

"I will have to think about it. I haven't actually spent much time in the cities to know what sort of development would be best suited both to the area, and to myself. I am a Beast Master, after all, so something more attuned to nature might be best. But if you happen to see more news about me later, my plans for my work might make the choice more obvious. I just don't know where that's going to lead me next."

The banker nodded and adjusted his expensive suit coat. "You want to do something that is associated with your work, or the people you were working with, then. That makes sense, not everyone wants a landmark building in the Capital in their name.

I am told that you met Prince Corbin already, and he made that Sect compound for the Spellblades. They used to be in an ancient monastery near the border, but it was becoming too dangerous for new students, so he relocated all his people."

"That's actually a great idea. Perhaps if there are more Beast Masters in the future, I can set them up with a place that raises tamed beasts, so they don't have to head out into the wilderness looking for rare monsters or make a random guess as to what their first beast's skills will be." Karl suggested.

"Do you really think that there will be more like your mark in the future?" Someone asked from behind Karl.

"I do. Now that there is one, there are likely to be others. But there are also similar classes, like the Rangers, that bond a living partner. Most of them end up bonding with a common animal. But what if they could bond with a relatively docile monster instead? They would get the benefits of something like a Warbear instead of a hunting dog. It might make a noticeable difference to their progression if they were able to find monsters that weren't wild and territorial when they first entered the Academy." He explained.

"You are quite dedicated to assisting the growth of the Elites, are you planning to apply to the Bureau of Elite Development?" The man asked.

"Colonel Valerie is a good friend of mine, and Commander Morgana, who might be Princess Morgana soon if I'm judging her power correctly, is an agent, and a member of my team. But as for officially joining the Bureau, that isn't in my immediate plans."

The visitors didn't seem to know what to do with Karl's independent stance, and the man just nodded vaguely as he failed to determine Karl's current alliances.

"I'm afraid I missed your name." Karl added when the man didn't say anything else.

"Oh, my apologies. I am Director Jones of the Military Finance Committee. We're part of the Department of Defence, and in charge of ensuring that money is being properly allocated for the needs of those defending the nation." He explained.

"It's a valuable job, Director. From what I can tell, your committee has been doing an outstanding job. Nobody expects money to be endless, but none of the locations I have been stationed at were desperately short of supplies."