Chapter 30: Legendary Specimen

Chapter 30: Legendary Specimen

Chapter 30

Turned out that finding someone with an Orange race was harder than expected. After scanning more than a hundred people, he still got nothing.

Kai tried not to get deterred and continued searching. He wanted to find the legendary specimen and maybe ask him or her why they were so few of them. It was a race against time as the sun was slowly falling to the west and the day grew closer to its end.

The market was closing and many stall owners were packing things up. Then something finally caught his eye. This morning he would never have noticed him so easily, but by now he was so used to all other combinations, that this one stood out like a moon amidst the stars.

He found it: a legendary Orange with a type 3 profession too. Sadly, he didnt have a camera to photograph this moment for posterity.

He marched towards this rare specimen completely focused on Mana Sense and Keen Eye. He felt a new Guide notification but ignored that too. All his focus was on admiring those beautiful and complex mana veins, the true apex of Orange.

Hey kid, why are you staring at me like that? Did you get yourself in trouble again?

Why does this voice sound familiar?

Deactivating his skills and giving attention to his normal sight, he found himself face to face with uncle Moui.

The burly man stared at him expectantly. Are you in trouble or are you looking to buy something? Moui asked with his deep voice.

Kai moved his gaze away from the legendary specimen known as uncle Moui to the stall standing between them. A table full of different cuts of meat and pelts. The smell of blood unmistakable from up close.

It wasnt the first time he had seen this type of stand, but he never saw Moui manning it.

Uncle, you didnt tell me you were a hunter. Kai used his overly friendly tone.

The man sighed deeply, raising his eyes to the sky as if to ask the spirits to help him.

When and why should I have told you that?

Kai shrugged, I dont know, but it seems like something you should share with your favorite person.

Since when are you my favorite person exactly? He asked, acting more resigned than outraged at his ridiculous claim. After dealing with him a couple times, the big man wasnt caught off guard easily anymore.

Is this a challenge? If it is, I accept. Kai hid his thoughts behind a confident grin.

Well, you are clearly not married, so no wife or children. And I heard around town they call you a loner, so no extended family or nephews nearby either. With your Im-a-very-dangerous-person and you-best-stay-away aura, I doubt you are very popular. So even if Im not your favorite, Im certain I rank pretty high.

Kai smiled brightly and suppressed a snicker as Moui was left speechless, his left eye slightly twitching.

What? Am I wrong? Kai asked innocently.

Did I push it too far? Did I break him? Maybe that was a bit cruel, but his expressions are so funny.

Seeing the big mans brain about to short-circuit, Kai continued the conversation without missing a beat. As if he hadnt just insinuated the hunter was a loner with no social connections.

Im 100% not projecting my insecurities on him.

Uncle, why have I never seen you here before?

After a moment of silence, Moui seemed to agree with him that ignoring the first part of the conversation was for the best. The only course of action if he wanted to maintain his sanity and not strangle the little brat.

I share the stall with other hunters and we take turns. I prefer hunting, but I had to cover for a friend today. He accentuated the word, daring him to contradict him.

Surcoughanyway uncle, can you tell me how you reached the peak of Orange? You are the onl.

With a movement he could barely follow, Moui's hand flashed forward over the stall, grabbed him, pulled him up and deposited him in front of his looming figure. No one in the market seemed to have noticed anything. Kai had an inkling that if the hunter broke his neck no one would notice either.

Okay, maybe I should have thought this through more. Damn my large mouth.

Kai might have underestimated the mans reaction a tad bit. Was it really such a big deal?

Moui's eyes narrowed threateningly, Who told you that?

The hunter always had a dangerous and unapproachable aura, only now did Kai realize Moui had been suppressing it all along. Like a tidal wave, it pressed down on him, giving him a hint of why people stayed away from him.

A shiver ran down his spine. His brain stopped working, overwhelmed by the oppressive presence bearing down on him. It took him a moment to realize the hunters mana was actively trying to suppress his own. He didnt know if it was a skill or something and now it didnt matter.

I just saw it, Kai answered with a strangled voice.

Damn, I hate adults and their stupid secrecy.

Since today Moui didnt seem keen to share anything more, Kai looked for another kind of reward. Anyway, how do you plan to compensate me, uncle? Kai put forward his hand with his palm up.

At the mention of compensation, Mouis thoughtful look immediately sharpened on him. Why would I need to compensate you?

You admitted to having overreacted for no good reason and mistreated a poor innocent child, trying to intimidate him into giving up private information.

Kai could see Moui was trying to come up with a response. In the end, he grumbled, Fine, I can give you ten chips and its not negotiable.

Why dont you let me choose a couple pieces of meat, instead? Kai didnt know which animals it belonged to, but meat was meat, and his family would surely appreciate it.

No way. Thats too much for a little misunderstanding.

Id say its a good deal. Its not like you dont have any to spare. What are you going to do with it? The stall was still half filled and the market was closing. Some of it was jerky, but some was fresh. The meat had been properly bled and cut, but with Greensides humidity and no refrigeration, there was only so much that could be done. It was lucky it wasnt summer yet.

His previous self would have been appalled by the hygienic situation. Now it was nothing a good fire couldnt fix.

Its been a slow day. Moui defended himself.

Kai looked at him sideways. He was pretty sure his very affable aura might have something to do with it. Ever tried smiling?

The hunter looked away from his judging gaze, There is a reason I dont usually man the stall.

Kai would have patted his shoulder in sympathy if he could reach it.

So, can I get my choice of meat?

Fine.

* * *

Walking back home with his bounty, Kai checked his notifications.

*Ding*

New skill available in the Archive! Inspect (lv1) Be it through mana or sight, nothing will escape your eyes and mind.

*Ding*

Inspect (lv1) is creating a resonance with Keen Eye (lv27)

*Ding*

The compatibility meets the minimum threshold. Do you wish to substituteKeen Eye with Inspect?

Warning: some or all levels of your skill may be lost in the process, the choice is irreversible. Do you wish to proceed?

Kai grinned, waving the piece of snake meat wrapped in two large leaves he was holding. Another win for the day.

He had thought he would have to slowly level Keen Eye. Choosing how to specialize and evolve the skill at each step. Slowly molding it into a permanent asset that would accompany him forever. Instead, he directly unlocked an orange variant. It didnt give him the same ability to customize the skill to his exact requirements, but it would save him tons of time and effort.

Not rushing into things, Kai evaluated his options. After he came back from the estate he was behaving too hastily. Following his whims.

May the spirits forgive me, Im turning into an arrogant brat.

Thankfully he noticed it in time. He had fun acting the part sometimes, but he did not want to become one for real. After all his growth and the advancement of his race, he felt like the king of the world. Now he had a choice to make, but this deserved some serious thought.

Apart from accepting the offer of the Guide, he could not take the skillwhich wasnt an optionor ditch a different one to open a slotnot an option either. He didnt need both skills.

What did this new skill grant him? There was no way to truly know before taking it, but he could make a few hypotheses. From the name and description, Inspect seemed centered on analyzing people and objects. Making it useful in both alchemy and everyday life.

The only con he could think of was that Keen Eye was very flexible. He kept it almost constantly active and there was no guarantee he would be able to do the same with an orange skill.

Still undecided, Kai realized the main reason for his hesitating was that he liked Keen Eye. Plain and simple. The skill made him feel smart when he noticed details he would otherwise have missed. But there was no reason that Inspect would not have even bigger benefits.

*Ding*

Congratulations, Keen Eye (lv27) has been moved to the Archive, Inspect (lv1) has taken its place.

It was a bit of a shame he got no extra levels, but it was to be expected since the two skills were of two different grades. He couldnt wait to see what this new skill could do.