With the massive crowd, it was difficult to spot the speaker but Eik finally found him a little ways away. A small group of people had created a little clearing in the throng where they stood, faces beaming with pride and cunning.

  Darius Kerman and Chairwoman Huntley stood at the forefront, Merchant Lord Greggers immediately behind them. Judging by the filthy nod he sent Eik when their eyes met, the man had no idea that Frank had spilled the beans about his employer being Greggers. There was no way he didn’t know that many of the members of the Black Fang were dead, including Frank, but if anything that probably meant that he presumed his secret safe forever.

  The B-rank scout Lisa’s subordinate, dark ninja man, who had gone with Eik and Lisa to the hideout of the Bankers had been sent back to the lair of the Black Fang to sift through documents. There had been a veritable mountain of information about all sorts of shady deals and violent acts.

  That Eik hadn't really been confronted almost at all for the deed he had carried out that night was a sobering testament to the state of Earth society and his own rising status in it. He was getting a taste for what it meant to hold power in a place where power was everything. Their society had to be made better before he ended up in a mental state that enjoyed it too much.

  Eik was more than happy to hand all of the findings over to Mission Central, but managed to get his hands on a few documents that described the deal with Merchant Lord Greggers. Damning evidence like a signed contract was a bit too steep to hope for, but Greggers could have denied the legitimacy of such documents anyway.

  Eik had definitely been the main target. The robberies of the other merchants had been part of a smoke screen to muddle the real intention — to weaken Eik’s rapidly growing position in Forest society. The break-in at his home had apparently been an attempt to obtain the recipe for the Potion of Mighty Strength. Luckily Eik kept that in his rucksack of holding — not that anybody else would have been able to decipher the information written in it without a translation spell, and that was not a skill anybody on Earth possessed yet as far as he knew.

  The documents looked more like copies of reports than anything else. The fact that he hadn’t been confronted and accused yet hopefully meant that Merchant Lord Greggers thought he was safe.

  He was not. And Eik would make sure he was made aware of that in time.

  The old guard of Forest made their way through the crowd and went around to each of the participants to shake their hands, ending at Eik. The worst of them acted as though they had never pulled him into an interrogation and grilled him like a criminal, only to denounce his worth and practically declare him a traitor. Not to mention the handling of the investigation of Rock Fist Bart’s assault that nearly resulted in Heath’s death.

  Others looked profoundly uncomfortable with the whole thing as they shook Eik’s hand, palm clammy as they struggled to meet his gaze.

  Elaine Haness on the other hand was chewing on her lip just to maintain a straight face. Eik had already told her about the findings in the lair of the Black Fang. None of them had been particularly surprised to learn that Merchant Lord Greggers was responsible but had nonetheless decided to hold off on going public with any of their knowledge for now.

  Especially Eik was going to be busy with the Championships for however long it would last.

  “I don’t remember accepting any such position,” Eik said, not yelling but not trying to lower his voice either. The folks standing closest to the conversation exchanged glances and quiet whispers. “In fact, I’m pretty sure I quit the moment I was informed about this rather sudden employment. Did you not get the memo or something?”

  Chairman Huntley laughed nervously as she looked around the gathered faces. “Mr. Magnasen, let’s not be too hasty now. I’m sure there’s been some manner of misunderstanding between us. By coming over to our side, you’ll become instrumental in securing the absolute best and safest future for all of the precious citizens of For—”

  “My every act is for the sake of the people living here,” Eik said, barely noticing that his voice was rising. “I’m not doing this for some twisted need for power and influence. I’m a loner. In a perfect world with no responsibilities I would probably barely leave the house. Your incessant, ignorant, and frankly self serving approach to an issue that might well be the difference between our successful transition into a new world and a helpless, prolonged demise, does not give me the slightest confidence in your abilities.”

  “What?” Chairman Huntley said, a frown flashing across her face as well as the faces of other members of the old guard. “How dare you speak to us like this, you insolent and ungrateful little cur!” she hissed with a voice that one would need super senses to hear unless one stood as near as Eik. Then she raised her voice again. “Our only wish is for the prosperity of the people of Forest!”

  “You covered up and purposefully botched an investigation into the assault of my dear friend and teammate simply because it was committed by Rock Fist Bart, the son of one of the most influential men in the city. At the time I was just a random guy who’d earned myself more attention than what was good for me.”

  Chairman Huntley couldn’t suppress a roll of her eyes. “Young man, you are going to have to learn how to let minor matters like that lie if you want to climb high in this world. Get over yourself.”

  Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

  “That’s what I’ve been telling you! I’m not interested in politics like you! I just want us to be safe!” He carefully neglected to mention the fact that he very much was interested in growing stronger. He’d like to grow wealthier as well but that was secondary. Once he’d realized that his shoulders were being weighed down by a heavy responsibility, strength had become an undeniable necessity. That he just so happened to enjoy it as well was nothing more than a bonus.

  “And you think we don’t want exac—” A large hand on her arm silenced her.

  “Now, now, let’s all take it easy, shall we?” Merchant Lord Greggers sang as his swollen, red skin jiggled with every word. “We didn’t come here to start a fight, I can promise you, Mr. Magnasen. Our only intention was to show our faces and wish all of you brave and honorable warriors the best of luck in your upcoming trials. All of us who will remain here at home are counting on you to come back safe and sound. We’ll be sure to keep things safe here while you’re away.”

  Unwittingly, Eik’s jaw clenched tight as he gazed steadily at the foul businessman. “That is much appreciated, Mr. Greggers. I’m sure my things are safe with you. I will make sure to repay you one day.”

  The rotund man smiled brightly, his greasy forehead glistening in the noon sun. “That is a given. Do not worry. Go… Go and be victorious.” He raised a clenched fist high for all eyes to see. “Forest stands behind you, brave warriors!”

  A hesitant cheer began to spread through the crowd but it soon grew to include almost everyone gathered. Eik, however, was silent, a sour taste in his mouth.

  “Alright, it’s time to go!” he called and began to usher the nervous F-rankers through first, guiding one person at a time. “I don’t want to be here a second longer,” he mumbled to himself.

  When Eik was about to step through the pulsing fracture, Merchant Lord Greggers came up behind him, his hand out to touch Eik shoulder. Before he could, however, a blue tendril jetted out from under Eik’s sleeve and wrapped itself a dozen times around the arrogant man’s bare wrist.

  With a howl of surprise and fright, Greggers jolted back, nearly stumbling over his own clumsy feet but the rope of Profound Toxin refused to let him go. Rancid, nauseating smoke rose up from the contact site as it sizzled as if on a grill.

  “Stop!” Greggers shrieked. “What the hell are you doing to me? Stop!”

  “Fuck,” Eik hissed as he futilely tried to will the toxic tendril back into his body. Was it reacting to the hostility he felt toward Merchant Lord Greggers? Sure, he hadn’t made it too outwardly obvious but Profound Toxin seemed to be eternally aware of his feelings nonetheless.

  Well, the timing left something to be desired, that was for sure.

  Greggers fell to his knees, tears flowing down his pockmarked cheeks. Discolored, purple splotches had already begun to spread from the wound. No matter how much Eik despised Merchant Lord Greggers, he couldn’t afford to be the direct cause of the man’s death right here where everybody could see. Privately… maybe.

  Merchant Lord Greggers was low F-rank as far as Eik knew, which meant that his arm might well be gone within the minute at this rate.

  Shit, shit, shit! Profound Toxin wasn’t listening to him at all right now. What the hell could be done?

  Could Profound Toxin manifest through dimensional gates? Probably not, right? Hopefully not…

  Disappearing halfway through the fracture, Eik pulled at the rope of poison but it just wouldn’t let go. “Look, Greggers, that’s gonna hurt like a bitch tomorrow, I’m not gonna lie, but I promise I’ll pay your medical bills, alright?” he said and popped through the portal.

  ***

  Eik was in his suite, Heath and Michael lounging on his bed with Sonja sitting in the window sill.

  “You think he’s okay?” the Dane wondered out loud.

  “Who?”

  “Merchant Lord Greggers.”

  “He’s fine,” Heath said. “I saw his arm. It looked nasty as hell, but there was a pretty powerful healer in the crowd.”

  Eik leaned back with a sigh of relief. “Phew, that’s good.”

  “I don’t know about that,” Sonja muttered to herself.

  They sat in silence for a while, Eik fiddling with something in his lap.

  “What are you doing?” Michael asked.

  “Just checking my levels from the last fight. It was pretty tough so I’m hoping for some good stuff.”

  “You haven’t done your levels and stuff yet?” Heath asked with genuine surprise. “Why?”

  Eik shrugged. “I guess I just never got around to it. I’ve barely had a moment to myself, what with all the preparations for our participation in the Championships. I’ve been back and forth between worlds on crutches, literally.”

  “So what’d you get?”

  “Let’s see…”

  [Acquired (Unique) Profound Toxin — Lv. 46]

  [Acquired (Unique) Profound Toxin — Lv. 47]

  [Acquired (Unique) Profound Toxin — Lv. 4…

  [Acquired (Unique) Profound Toxin — Lv. 53]

  “Eight levels from a single fight? What the hell?” Heath exclaimed as he read over Eik’s shoulder.

  “That’s my line,” Eik said. “If it keeps going up like this, it’ll kill me for sure next time Backflow activates at its own volition.”

  “Oh, boo hoo, get over it, asshole!” Heath punched Eik at full power in the shoulder, but a sheet of blue rose up reflexively to block the blow, nearly breaking Heath’s knuckle bones. Eik could barely keep it together as his friend hopped around the suite in pain.

  “Do you realize how much I’m going to have to torture myself with poisons on purpose, just to almost keep Resistance: Toxin up to snuff? It sucks.”

  “Didn’t you talk about practicing inside that mind space of yours?” Michael asked.

  “Yeah, I might do that tonight. Since we have three days to go before the Championships begin I finally have a bit of time to try it out.”

  He checked the next messages.

  [Acquired Movement Boost — Lv. 21]

  [Acquired Movement Boost — Lv. 22]

  [Acquired Movement Boost — Lv. 23]

  [Acquired Movement Boost — Lv. 24]

  “Four? What? How?” Heath whined.

  “I did use it almost constantly in a drawn out fight against a high C-ranker,” Eik reminded him.

  “I know, but still!”

  [Acquired Resistance: Toxin — Lv. 39]

  “Huh, I guess the last couple of days of extra strong tea did pay off,” Eik muttered.

  “You’re an insane person,” Michael deadpanned.

  “What else’d you get?” Sonja asked, having joined the others in reading over Eik’s shoulder.

  Eik’s finger flicked across the surface of the wooden plaque. “Next up we’ve got… Oh.”

  “Holy shit, it’s happening!”

  [New skill available]

  YOU!

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