I almost gagged when the eight-inch glass shard-like stone left my head. My left eye is numb, and I think my opinion of cheese has changed. I scramble to Flash Gordon to try and help him, but he's doing better than I am.

Flash Gordon sits on the ground, perfectly fine, sporting a new crystal mohawk. It glimmers in the light as it changes color depending on the angle.

"Are you alright?"

"..."

"Yeah, I know."

"..."

"I'll have to be careful using my skill on pregnant creatures then."

I carefully grab Flash Gordon's mohawk and tug on it until it slides out of his head. As soon as the crystal breaks free, I get a system notification.

[Your tamed beast, Flash Gordon, has created a new skill with the help of your skills.]

[Gain the Title: Novice Teacher.]

I tilt my head in confusion. I never read or heard of tamed beasts learning skills like this. I'm a shit tamer, aren't I? I've got a master tamer as a teacher, and I didn't even know I could increase my tamed beast's power this way. Shit. What other skills can I try to instill in my beasts?

Do I even have the time? The higher the level, the harder it is to learn new skills by training. It took me way longer than I wanted to level a leadership skill, and I was only level one hundred. In the grand scheme of things, that's not a lot.

I now have to decide if I want to invest everything into learning and training new skills now - if it's even worth it. Let's check Flash Gordon's new skill first. Might as well see my title, too.

[Crystallization (F) Lv1

The user can grow crystals from their body, reflecting the user's affinities. Quality and Quantity increase as the skill grows.]

[Novice Teacher F

You are starting to learn and act as a teacher. You have a long road to walk before becoming a Master.

Your intent is slightly easier to understand while teaching.]

Alright... that makes making money off Flash Gordon easier. Since that was my intention anyway, and my new title mentions it. I have to wonder if intent plays a part in learning skills. If that's the case, we will need a plan to decide how and what the skill should be.

I'm not too interested in increasing the rank of this title, but it doesn't seem obscure, so I'd bet there are internet guides or published books about it. For now, I have to think. I look down at the two crystals in my hand.

[Mind Crystal F]

[Elemental Crystal F]

Should I be insulted that the crystal born from my brain is just ranked F? It's probably because Flash Gordon's skill is that rank, but he didn't have it yet on a technicality. A different issue I should eventually face is that I felt things growing inside in other places than in my head. I'm not in the mood for exploratory surgery, so I'm sure it'll be fine.

I see something shimmer inside my crystal. An indecipherable sequence of what I consider "noise." It's like looking at a fever dream from the outside. Outlines aren't consistent, and colors are seemingly random. I can't identify if something is a person, place, or thing.

But whatever it is, it seems familiar. Deja vu. I believe it's safe to assume that this might be a memory of mine or a fragment of my subconscious, but I can't be positive.

I'll let Duchess study it for me since she knows [mind] magic.

I leave the [Mind Crystal] where Duchess can find it and exit the mansion with the other crystal. I plan to show it to my... what should I call them? My employees? More importantly, I wanted to show them to Free Chains and Charlie so they can appraise it and create a business model. Flash Gordon will need to power-level his new skill before anything else, but it's good to set up for the future.

I noticed another letter on my kitchen counter. No contaminants like last time, but I'm pissed that the new security for the building wasn't able to stop whoever this intruder is.

[Dearest Ellis Vincere of the Vincere Family,

you now meet the base requirements to join under the banner of the Firstborns.

confirmation by emailing us from our website disguised as a fan page.

you decide against it.

The Prancer, Percy.]

It's the goddam other half of the fucking letter. Alright, let's see here. I pick the crumbled letter out of the trash and line it up next to each other.

[Dearest Ellis Vincere of the Vincere Family,

It has come to our attention that you now meet the base requirements to join under the banner of the Firstborns.

Please respond post haste with confirmation by emailing us from our website disguised as a fan page.

We will know if you decide against it.

Signed, The Prancer, Percy.]

I'm more concerned about who signed this letter. A First Party member goes by the moniker of the "Artful Prancer," with the last name Percy. I'm unsure if he wrote this letter, as the nickname isn't the same as in the diary I absorbed. It could be his child or a relative, but having a thief in my home doesn't make me happy.

I looked up "First Party Fan Page" on the internet and found a blog site detailing the known First Party members with photos or artist renditions. At the bottom of the page is a section to email them. I pause for a moment before realizing I don't actually care.

Why am I going to listen to a bunch of asshats who broke into my house? I know the Firstborns are the group at the top, but that doesn't mean I'm willing to go "under their banner."

Then I stop.

I'm not in a position to decline this invitation. I'm not any closer to finding a way to help my mother. I'm a few levels higher, but that doesn't mean anything in the grand scheme.

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

I swallow my frustrations and proceed to email them. As I attempt to type anything, I get an e-form in my inbox asking me about my name and other information. I fill them as I see fit.

[Name:] Ellis Vincere

[Class:] An A-rank Tamer

[Religious Affiliation:] Met a few. No biggie.

[Political Affiliation:] Fuck you.

[Place of Residence:] Technically homeless, but you know where I am.

[Greatest Weakness:] Why would I say anything???

[Greatest Strength:] See above.

[Please note additional information about you that is appropriate to know:] I eat 10k calories a day on some days and nothing at all on others.

[Please pick from below what organization under the Firstborns are you interested in joining? The Order, The Cabal, The Vanguard, The Arcanum:] I'm not swearing allegiance in a damn e-form.

[Any questions or concerns about how we accommodated you during this online interview?:] Stop breaking in and leaving notes around.

I'm getting second thoughts about joining the Firstborns now. From what I learned from the leader of the "order" back at the courthouse, these four factions have their own intents and purposes within the Firstborns.

An organization founded by the First Party, which was probably formed alongside the creation of the Prime Territories. ...Am I joining the shadow government?

I sit on the couch and lean back, kicking my feet onto the coffee table. I sit and contemplate further about whether I'm doing the right thing or not. I'm no longer regarding this as something only about pride. Now I'm considering if this is the right decision. I haven't sent the form back, and I might not.

My grandfather didn't have the best relationship with the first party -and if the information I learned over the months is accurate- then he basically gave up his 'empire' and all of his lands out of spite because he didn't want his 'comrades' to rule over the remnants of humanity.

There may be more to this invitation than I thought. Although it may be a trap, I want to see what the Firstborns have in store.

Before making any major decisions, I decided to talk to Duchess and Flash Gordon about this offer. After entering my mansion and collecting them, I told them about the situation.

[Hmm... Thisss one doesn't like it]

"If the Firstborns don't have a way to heal my mother, then there isn't anything I would do for them. The Saint is a member of the First Party, so they might have a way to force his hand."

[Perhaps, but thisss one is skeptical. Is there anything regarding the timing that makes this more interesting?]

"It's been close to a month since the quakes. Maybe they wanted to give me this offer earlier, but the disaster made them put everything on hold."

[Then what happened before the grand tremors.]

"We fixed that zurg fracture and killed a dragon, although I doubt they were aware of its death."

[Perhaps they were aware of its existence beforehand, and now that sack of scales and meat is gone, they concluded that you had a hand in it. It wasn't as if that winged lizard was hiding its presence.]

"So they want my combat abilities, which include you guys... They might be interested in my other skills as well. I doubt it has anything to do with my two pieces of real estate, this mansion and the [Crossroads]."

[If you are willing to subject yourself, thisss one, and the others to the whims of an organization, then thisss one will trust your judgment. However, if thisss one feels that appropriate compensation isn't returned, trust thisss one when thisss one says to pull out.]

"What happens if we never get pulled out?"

[Thisss one knows that this ends in two ways. We turn tail, or become the head.]

~~~

I submitted the form.

I instantly got a response in the form of a legal document. I forwarded it to Free Chains instead of reading it. He immediately called me.

"What is this?"

"I'm joining the shadow government. Make sure the benefits are there."

"What benefits? This is a non-disclosure agreement. It's void now that you've shown it to someone else, even as your lawyer."

"That sounds sketchy as fuck. Good thing I didn't sign it then. Can you tell the email that sent this to me to meet me in person?"

"...Alright."

A few hours later inside the café across the street. After talking to Free Chains about the new crystals that Flash Gordon can make, he told me about the ramifications. He reiterates something I know, that [Stone]s are considered renewable energy and, in time, can regenerate the element they hold while [Crystals] are one and done. They can't be recharged, but they have more initial energy.

It's easier to get [Crystals] since they can be harvested from creatures, while the only known way to get [Stones] is through mining operations. The only 'profit' Free Chains can see from Flash Gordon's skill is to do commission work.

Basically, we advertise our 'diverse' means of getting [Crystals] and sell rare and illustrious energy types, such as [Gravity], [Life], [Death], etc., to those who are willing to pay for it. Not only can we make large quantities of credits due to selling a product with high demand in bulk, but we can earn 'commission' for it as well.

It's a bit scammy, but both parties will be happy.

I stop the conversation and look across from us. Sitting there is a man with a thick mustache. They seemed to have already ordered as they sipped a coffee.

Free Chain notices my gaze as he looks over and is surprised that someone managed to sneak up on us. It wasn't like we were loudly boasting about our business model. The café was empty since I bought it out for the day. I'm famous now.

"Hey now, don't stop. It's getting interesting. Looking for investors in that scam of yours?"

"My client refuses to confirm nor deny anything relating to a 'scam' at this moment."

"Are you Percy?"

"Yes I am. It's a shame that you brought a lawyer... But you're lucky they're a [Lawspeaker] since they can be trusted to hold their end of a contract. Let's skip ahead a bit. I'm angry, and I want help."

"Get some counseling."

"I want to talk to you about a conspiracy I might have uncovered that might interest you. It is related to your grandfather and my father. They were members of the First Party, and I think foul play was involved."

"Your father being?"

"The thief of the First Party, the Prancer. It's not as foreboding as the Silver Conqueror, but I'm sure you've heard of him. He's been framed for something terrible and is now in hiding. Almost all members of the First Party are dead due to 'circumstances' or are in hiding."

"I think you are being too fast with this, man."

"I'm not fast enough. I'm under surveillance, but I managed to sneak away for this meeting. I am not here on behalf of the Firstborns, although I am a part of it. The e-from and contract were... tests, so to speak."

"I don't like being tested like this. What do you want."

"I want you to officially join the Firstborns using the proper channels - I'll guide you - and help me find proof of the frame job."

"..."

"Aren't you going to ask 'why me?'"

"I have assumptions."

"It's because you have claims to this land."

"?"

"I know this from my father, and I've seen the contracts in person once before, but your grandfather gave up the Prime Territories with the stipulation that an heir with no blood relations to other members of the First Party can reclaim the lands for themselves. There are few things you'll have to do-"

"Free Chain, is this guy lying to me? Can't you [Lawspeaker] your way into seeing the contract? Isn't that one of your powers?"

"...Perhaps. A binding as significant as that would need an absorbent amount of mana and a three-day paid break. The [Lawspeaker] or whoever wrote up the contract would know that I looked at it if they are still alive."

"The arbiter was Iberes, the god of law, more accurately, one of his angels."

"...I'll definitely need that break just to ponder the significance of that statement. I'll have to "ask god" if I'm allowed to look beforehand, but yes, I can confirm if that is true in a few hours."

"..."

"What do you say? Want to become a king?"

"..."