Akio sat across from Hiroshi in the town's fancy tavern, which, to his discerning eye, was still a pigsty. The rough-hewn tables, the cheap pottery, the general ambiance reeked of the mediocrity he had come to associate with this town. He eyed his drink with disdain, the dull amber ale looking as insipid as it tasted. "This," he announced, holding up his mug, "is a laughable excuse for ale." He swirled the drink around, watching as the poor excuse for a beverage clung desperately to the sides of the mug. The faintly sour smell wafted up, causing him to wrinkle his nose in disgust. Hiroshi merely raised an eyebrow, a small smile playing on his lips as he absorbed Akio's complaints with the patience of a saint.
Akio rounded on Hiroshi his fingers sparking with pent-up anger. "What on earth are you doing, Hiroshi?" He hissed, his tone laced with venom. "That man insulted us, treated us like we were commoners!" His gaze was heated, his anger palpable in the cool evening air.
Hiroshi, unfazed by Akio's outburst, simply pursed his lips and stared pensively at the dilapidated building across the street. His eyes narrowed, a thoughtful expression painting his features. "Akio," he began, his voice calm and level, betraying none of the annoyance he felt at his companion's short temper. "I think I know where our cultivation aura is coming from." His gaze flickered back to the building, the corner of his mouth tilting up in a small, barely-there smile. "That bumpkin might have been more helpful than you think."
"How so?" Akio asked, his expression a mixture of confusion and disbelief.
Hiroshi clasped his hands behind him, adopting a pose that was part contemplation, part readiness for action. His eyes were narrowed in thought, but there was a zing of excitement in them that Akio couldn't help but pick up on. "I think he may be a hidden master," Hiroshi finally uttered, his deep voice carrying a weight of absolute certainty.
His eyes met Akio's, a spark of anticipation igniting in their depths. There was a pause, the words hanging heavily in the crisp air. The concept seemed ludicrous, and yet Akio could not dismiss it outright. Because if there was one thing he knew about Hiroshi, it was that he had a knack for seeing the unseen, mostly sordid trade opportunities, but he was known for uncovering the hidden. And, if he was right, this would change everything.
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"We will have to investigate carefully," Hiroshi cautioned, his gaze steady as he continued to observe the decrepit building. He turned to Akio, his tone grave and his expression serious. "If he truly is a hidden master and we offend him..." Hiroshi trailed off, leaving the unsaid consequences hanging in the crisp evening air.
Akio shuddered at the thought, remembering the tales told in whispers of the wrath of an Old Monster. Those masters, living in self-imposed isolation, were known to hold grudges and were quick to anger. A chill ran down his spine at the image of facing a provoked Old Monster. It was a scenario they would avoid at all costs.
Having a disgruntled Old Monster on one's tail was akin to having a ticking time bomb. It was a dangerous gamble, but if it paid off, it would put them leagues ahead in their cultivation journey. The thought of this potential payoff ignited a spark of determination in Akio's eyes. He nodded at Hiroshi, his resolve firming. "We tread carefully then," he said, steeling himself for the challenging road ahead.
Akio paused in his tracks, the night wind rustling his robes, his eyes narrowing in contemplation. "But if he's in hiding, why were the research division able to detect his aura?" he questioned, turning to face Hiroshi. "The Old Monsters are known for their crisp aura control, they shouldn't be detectable all the way from the capital." The skepticism in his voice was palpable, his gaze steady as he studied Hiroshi's reaction keenly. He waited for a response, his mind racing with questions and doubts, his heart pounding in his chest with the weight of the revelation.
Hiroshi pulled out a flask from his robe, uncorked it, and took a leisurely swig. "Unless..." he said, his voice steady despite the outrageous theory he was about to propose, "what the capital detected wasn't his full power, but just a tiny wisp leaking out." His eyes turned to Akio, a spark of excitement glinting in their depths.
Akio blanched, his skin turning as white as the moon hanging overhead. "But, Uncle," he stammered, his voice a mere whisper against the night's silence, "that was an S-grade aura." The gravity of Hiroshi's suggestion sunk in, making Akio's heart pound in his chest even harder. If what Hiroshi was suggesting was true, then the true scale of the power they were dealing with was unthinkable.
"What was he on about with this Ko-Fi though?" Akio asked, a puzzled frown etched onto his face. He scratched his head in confusion, unable to comprehend the term 'Ko-Fi'. Hiroshi shrugged nonchalantly, the flask in his hand filled with a beverage that smelled vaguely familiar. He took a sip of his inferior growth elixir, allowing the warm, brown liquid to slide down his throat, the aroma filling his nostrils. It was bitter and a tad acrid, yet strangely comforting. "Beats me," Hiroshi replied, his voice steady as he savoured the drink.