Chapter 192 - Days DXXVIII - DLXI, Part I

The next thirty days were filled with hunting. I went out every day and cleared the camp out of orcs. The episodes of me losing myself in anger repeated. I got injured but with the healing, my sturdy body, and natural regeneration I still could go hunting, although my overall health started to decrease, which involved even more wounds.

Ki'rai observed me in silence in her chicken form. She didn't try to talk with me, and I usually was too tired to start the conversation on my own. She only changed her form to eat.

With time passing my carts got filled with crystals. To be exact 12 719 of them. And we were finally ready to go back. We still had a bit of food, but I actually didn't want to push anymore, since my condition deteriorated very much, and anything more could end badly.

We then slowly made our way back, killing everything that tried to fight us. Wel... I did. Eventually, we reached the goblin cave, which took three more days. With the lack of goblins around I deduced that people started hunting again.

Then suddenly Ki'rai transformed into a goblin. I actually was so focused on walking, that I would have brought her to the city with me if she wouldn't do that.

I stopped a bit surprised about her movement.

- I guess we part our ways here. I'll be taking a day or two off. How do I contact you?

She came closer without a word and punched me straight into my stomach.

- Ou. What the...?

- I'll find you - she said and stormed off.

I had no idea what was going on. Part of me wanted to go after her and find out, but in the end, I just started heading back to the city. I didn't do anything to her, so what would I chase her?

At the gate, I noticed few people, not really watching over the woods. They noticed me only when I was practically below them, passing through. My shadows, and especially the carts filled with crystals, were the ones that grabbed their attention.

I kept walking, heading to the city center. On my way I saw many people, usually newcomers, but also some faces that I saw already for few times, working. Clearing up the burned-down buildings. Making the city a bit less destroyed.

Upon reaching my destination I noticed that the tent was gone, and there were noticeably fewer people hanging around compared to what I was used to seeing a month ago, but they all looked at me, as I walked among my shadows pulling the carts filled with precious gems.

I proceeded to sell ten thousand of them right away. Counting took some time and my arrival was announced to the important figures. Hatta appeared, accompanied by Will as I was in the middle of piling the stones on the glyph.

- You look terrible - he said. - But it's still good to see you.

- Terrible? He looks like shit - said Will. - Did they got you this good? Don't tell me that you went inside that cave...

- No I didn't. I focused on clearing up the camp. Only, the camp. We can talk about how handsome I am later. I'm tired, and just want to split this, and sell my part. The other part is a donation - I looked at Hatta saying those last words.

- Thank you. We will use it to rebuild. As you probably noticed, we started hunting again.

- I did. The woods were cleared. Do you go for other territories too?

- We take it slow. Bigshots go to get the class points, but the rest sticks to the outside. We try to assist as much as we can. Amit is actively teaching people how to hunt rats. He had some success in this, but we had to assist him a lot. There were also many injured. Fortunately no dead.

- People need to get stronger - said Will.

- They will get stronger. They just need time - was my response.

- Yeah... But unfortunately, we have also some disturbing news - Will leaned on one of my carts. - But maybe we should talk about that in Hatta's office.

- Is it Blue?

- No. Blue has been a great help, and he is not doing anything, but following my orders - said Hatta.

- That's kinda disturbing in itself, you know that?

Will smiled.

- I already told him that.

- I'm not dumb. I'm keeping my eye on the guy. I'll handle him. You should both focus on getting us back on our feet. We need more crystals.

I threw the last stone on the symbol.

- Take those. This should help a lot - I said, pointing at one of the carts, still filled with part of my score.

- Yes, it will help a lot. Finish what you are doing, and let's meet in my office, ok?

- Ok.

Hatta grabbed the handles of that cart and started pulling it, heading towards the headquarters of Wuxia. Will followed him.

I sold ten thousand and went shopping. I bought new clothes, as mine were torn to shreds, healed myself, and then invested in shadow fusion, reaching the limit of that skill, or at least that's what I thought back then.

Then I ate the rest of the food remaining on the carts, and send my shadows, to put them away, close to buildings belonging to Wuxia, so they would have an eye on them for me, as I would need them soon to bring even more crystals.

I still was planning on killing that boss over, and over again.

I waited for a moment so my shadows would return, then I dismissed them, and started heading to Hatta's office. It was nice to see the guards again, but this time in new and shiny equipment, probably provided by Jayadeva and his son, Rishi. I also needed to get them some more crystals, so the kid could improve his crafts.

I good weapon could certainly help me in my quest.

Two people stood on both sides of the door leading to the office. Familiar faces, but without names. They didn't stop me, but I still knocked on the door.

- Come in - said the leader of Wuxia.

And I went inside.