The cultivator outreach team was a group of five. They were all dressed in different colors ranging from reds to azure blues and forest greens. I wasn't sure if their robes related to their skills or if they had wanted to look odd on purpose. It reminded me a bit of the NBA All-star games where they all wore their team's jerseys. The group was a pretty even mix between men and women of varying ages. When they saw me they stopped walking.

"Are you Amari?" The man in azure blue robes said as he stepped forward. He looked younger than me. In his early twenties or even younger.

"I am. I guess you all are on the welcoming committee?" I smiled at each of them as I felt their auras. They weren't anything to call home about but they should be strong enough to take care of themselves.

"We are. My name is Chang Yi and I am the official cultivator liaison for the UWG. If you don't mind my asking. Did you know Chinese before this or did you learn it after?"

I cocked my head to the side as I tried to understand why he'd asked that. It only took me a minute to realize that he hadn't been speaking English just then. I chuckled and shook my head. "I never learned."

Chang Yi's eyes widened as if he had just found the golden goose. "So a skill? Where did you get it? Could we buy it from you?"

I shook my head. "Sorry, it isn't for sale. Or rather it came from my class."

"Uh huh, I was under the impression you were mostly a combat type. I didn't realize you had such a diverse range of abilities."

I grinned wide at that. "What can I say? I am a man of many mysteries. Some might say a Maverick."

"Right well Mr. Jackson we would like to welcome you to New York formally. Last time you were here things were a bit busier than we would have liked but it served its purpose. If you would" He gestured for me to follow him. "We would like to continue this discussion somewhere more private."

I shrugged and stepped up to follow. The other four fell into step next to and behind me. I couldn't tell if they were trying to intimidate me by surrounding me or if they were trying to make sure no one ran up but I didn't care. It made me feel pretty badass. Like I was some sort of VIP client surrounded by bodyguards.

"So Mr.Jackson we couldn't help but notice your level suddenly skyrocketed a few days ago. Would you be willing to share how that came about?"

"I helped some people with a monster hoard. I had to deal with a rather huge amount of them so my level leaped up. I assume that you all haven't had that here?"

"No, no we haven't. I would appreciate an update on such things. If humanity is dealing with threats it would be foolish for us to face them as individuals. Wouldn't you agree?"

I smiled. "Of course, what was that the former Chief said? It's time for us to unite."

"Indeed,"

We settled into a comfortable silence as they led be into the UN building. This time we went up an escalator and down several hallways before we entered a room. This one lacked the arrays for silence and was slightly larger. Chang Yi and I entered along with two of the others while the last two. The red and green robes stayed outside. The inside of the room was all black with black leather couches and a TV screen that had already extended down from the ceiling. I took a seat on one couch while Chang Yi took the other. His two silent guards stood sentry at the door.

"Am I too assuming that I am going to get some bad news? You are going through quite a lot to secure the entrance and exit." I asked playfully.

"You will have to forgive the rudeness. You have a bit of a reputation." Chang Yi replied though there was a slight hunger in his eyes. As if he was hoping that I did do something.

"Is that right? I wouldn't want anyone to be uncomfortable. I suppose I should be a better role model in the new age."

He stared at me like there were a hundred things he wanted to say. Which I found amusing. After several seconds he finally found something he was willing to say. "We are thankful that you have come to assist us with this problem. I assume you have been brought up to speed on the basics of the situation?"

My smile disappeared as we turned to the point of my visit. "Yeah, several murders very cult and horror movie-like."

"Yes, what you might not know is that there was another murder this morning." He grabbed the remote for the TV and flicked it on. When the image came up I had to grit my teeth to stop from blasting the room apart. The victim was a man probably in his late fifties. The body had been posed to almost look like a person in supplication before the heavens. His heart was cut out and he was offering it to the sky. The whole thing made me want to throw up. At the body's feet were the words. "Still at level 1" in what I had to assume was his blood.

"As you can see the person is targeting lower-level people. The attacks have been causing a rift between cultivators and non-cultivators in the city. It doesn't help that even the weakest cultivator can slowly increase their level."

"Is the murderer targeting non-cultivators or anyone with a low level?" I asked.

"We believe it's anyone with a too low a level. As that is often people who don't cultivate we can't say for sure that they're separate."

"Alright, who do you think is doing this?"

"Based on the victims and the posing we believe it's the System's Herald. We also believe that the System is awarding quests for this behavior."

Now that came as a start. I leaned forward in my seat. "Why do you say that."

"After we found the fourth body we received a faction-wide quest. It told us to find the murderer. We would be rewarded based on our contribution to the goal."

I nodded. "So you think the System likely gave the murderer the opposite quest?

"We do, the System wants conflict whether it's us against the wildlife or us against each other."

"On that, we agree. You still haven't mentioned what you wanted me to do exactly. I doubt this person is going to come for me. Are you asking me to stay here and just watch over the city?"

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"More or less that is correct. We have people that are looking into the murders. We want you to act as reassurance for our people."

"You want me to convince people that you are protecting them? Which would also make them think that I am on your side?"

Chang Yi's expression remained neutral as he stared back at me. It didn't matter though it was pretty clear what the government was thinking. The question was what could I do about it? If I refused I would look like an asshole and there was no way I could just let people die. Not like this. So how could I participate while extracting benefits? "Why didn't I get a quest when I arrived?"

"We believe that the quest is only for people who are a part of our faction. If you would like to join?" He continued when I showed no interest in responding. "Ideally you won't have to involve yourself in the pursuit of the subject. If you join in we want you to avoid killing them if possible. People must understand that the rule of law is back."

I couldn't help but chuckle and lean back in my seat. "Is it? What will you do if you can't stop them? If they got a class designed for assassination? Last I checked they were tied with Amahle. If they have all four of their class skills or spells they could be a problem. I am not sure the kind of damage we would cause if we were to start a fight in the city."

"Do you think this person could beat you?" Chang Yi asked and for the first time, he sounded a bit worried.

"Nope and if I am right that their class is based around stealthy killing the concern is going to be about a cat-and-mouse game. If I have to chase them through the city it will limit the kind of attacks I can use. I also can't let my aura loose which would make it more difficult."

"We believe that Masquerade will do with the battle itself but if needed we would like to call on you to assist. Do you think this person could beat the pair of you?"

"I doubt it. Do you mind telling me what Masquerade's class is?"

"I am not allowed to discuss that. In exchange for your assistance, we are willing to offer you some of the items we didn't sell during the auction. You would be permitted to take any two items or up to five hundred thousand credits but not both."

I nodded my head. The offer wasn't the greatest thing in the world by any means but not bad. Not bad at all. "Where is Masquerade? Am I coordinating with them or am I just sitting back until things fall apart?"

"Masquerade is currently in a different meeting. They will visit you once they are done. We will also request that you try to keep any collateral damage to a minimum. There is a strange lack of information about your method of battle. Unleashing your aura as you said would be prohibited. You will be liable for any excess deaths you cause."

"I assure you that won't be a problem. Though I am not going to die for you all. Is there anything I need to know?"

We went over a few smaller things including how long they wanted me to stay. With us ultimately settling on one week. If after one week we hadn't caught the person we would assume they ran off when I arrived. It wasn't the best case but I couldn't put off my cultivation for too long especially if this person found a similar quest and started raising their level. I didn't think they would be stronger than me even if they somehow matched levels with me but they would just slaughter everyone else.

"So do I need an escort to my living space? Or do you trust me to find my spot?"

"I will take you to the hotel. Since we have brought you here we will take care of the price for the week. We do ask that you be respectful to the workers."

"Never bother service workers," I said with a laugh. "I imagine customer service is even tougher now."

He nodded and we left the building. The streets were much busier now and once again I was impressed. People in business suits and casual jeans flowed together. "Is there a reason you all are doing this? It's like you are trying to hold onto what used to be?"

"Despite what the apocalypse has done it is time for to restore order. In some ways, we will seek what we had and in others, we will seek more."

"How will you deal with superpowers? It's a bit hard to wear a business suit when a casual punch or a monster could dissolve the outfit?"

"We would have a dedicated branch of the army for that. We don't intend for the civilians to have to fight day in and day out."

"You think the System will allow that? It might be using these murders as a way to push you all to change."

Chang Yi glared at me. "What would happen to those of us who can't fight? Those of us not interested in risking their lives?" His volume steadily rose as if finding new anger until I held up a hand to stop him.

"You don't need to convince me of anything. If you feel that strongly you are going to need to get stronger. Strong enough to protect everyone. Either way, we will all have to make our own choices."

"I" He took a calming breath. "On that, we agree. Can I assume that you will be joining us for the expedition?"

"Indeed, I want to try and reach level forty by then though," I replied just before we entered a tall office building.

"You are oddly ambitious. It makes me wonder if we are all missing something. Give me a moment to make sure your room is ready."

Chang Yi stepped away and so did two of the guards. I watched them for a few minutes before I decided to step away. Unfortunately for me, the last two guards followed so I ended up sitting in the lobby. I passed my inner eye over the sigil for **Psionic Rain**. **Ethereal Convocation** had another benefit that wasn't explained when I got it. The spell helped me better understand my sigils. It wasn't enough for me to understand the language but it was a good start. The sigils were symbols that accepted the energy and then transformed neutral spiritual energy into what I needed. The same thing was true for my psychic energy. When I cultivated the energy was for lack of a better word flavorless. Which brought me to a new question. Why did I need the sigils in the first place?

**Psychic Mastery** taught me the basics of manipulating that energy but I didn't think there was anything special in it. So why couldn't I just shape my energy into what **Psionic Rain** would do and then let it do it? Did I need the sigils? The answer to that was yes and no. It was a bit like the difference between doing all your math on pen and paper versus letting an A.I. do it for you. The A.I. was faster and probably more accurate which in a fight made all the difference. If I need five seconds to form the attack when my opponent needed three I would be fucked. The final aspect was the biggest of my issues.

The Tao was involved somehow. It didn't make much sense but I should be able to directly manipulate the tao. What I have been doing so far was fine but it was more like using the tao like a hammer. Just hitting a person over the head. Instead, I should be able to manipulate the strand of lucidity into a blade and then stab with it. Unfortunately, I couldn't. Before I could start practicing though Chang Yi returned and I was led through the halls and up several flights of stairs. When we finally arrived at my room I wasn't impressed. The room was an old office with no windows and had a basic mattress on a wooden frame. The whole thing gave "We just put this together an hour ago" vibes but I decided not to be a diva about it. In truth, I wasn't going to spend much time here anyway.

"We will have Masquerade come here to visit you. In the meantime please get comfortable and let the receptionist know if you need anything. They will send someone to get me if you have more specific requirements."

"Am I allowed to leave? Or will my two shadows here be sticking around?"

Chang Yi shook his head. "They will be going back with me. You are free to explore the city at your leisure we ask that you refrain from causing problems. If you find yourself in a conflict please do not kill anyone."

I chuckled and stepped into the room. "I will be on my best behavior. You have my word." I closed the door behind me and turned on the light. It sounded like I had a few hours to myself so I figured it would be best to get some energy practice in. I sat cross-legged on the bed and activated **Psychic Mastery**. The rest of the word drifted into monochrome while I watched the instruction. I could tell that this spell was ready to advance to the next stage and what better time than the present? It took me less than an hour to get a hang of the new lesson. Just like that **Psychic Mastery** reached the next stage. The "Advanced" stage was a lot of the same. It focused on more refined shapes but it wasn't anything immediately useful. I still couldn't make anything more complicated than simple weapons. The dream of unleashing psychic bullets or a psychic helicopter was still far off.

I considered cultivating here but the energy was all off. The air felt for lack of a better word polluted. I could almost taste it in the air. I seriously considered using the teleporter and just coming back in an hour. That wouldn't do. I wouldn't run the risk of someone dying while I was cultivating. I was just about to meditate on the tao when someone knocked at the door. I grinned to myself and leaped up. Things might get a bit more interesting.