"Ugh! Kuk!" He looked up at Leroy in utter shock. "I.. you... don't.. understand.." Not seeing the gloves on he used during the Tourney he wondered briefly why his blood didn't stop flowing yet.
"Strike 1 was for attacking me in the back. Strike 2, do not get in my way or make decisions for me. Tang Xui made that mistake already, luckily she was able to fix that problem before really pissing me off." His anger was controlled at least but came off hot all the same. "But I can tell you don't have the balls to kill him to fix the problem." Leroy reached his hand out burning the blood on the ground that belonged to him with dark blue flames. "A 100 lashes was the punishment yet he hit dared to hit me once more. I had all I needed to kill him for trying to kill me just then. Not to mention conspiring and stealing from me."
Those remaining understood that Leroy did this to get to the one who organized this or at least make those who were involved pay a little. Tang Xuan thought he was helping but he actually got in the way. That is what they thought anyway.
But who would kill a Noble so openly with a small excuse like that? Also, Tang Xuan also belonged to a Noble Family as well. A Family that was on the rise that Leroy was friends with.
"I.. I am sorry." Tang Xuan looked down as he put the protection of a Noble of the Empire first and really thought that was better than one of his only friends. "Saving you the wrath of those behind him."
"You should get those wounds looked at." Saiori voiced as she was already next to Leroy.
"No need." Leroy activated his Fire-lighting Body and walked back to the market. "I have more important things to do. Before I forget," He took out a piece of paper and wrote up some instructions. "take this to the Merchant Division."
"Of course." Saiori left with Miniori going with. "Sister Kaitori can stay with you to help you shop. Can't have something else like this happening."
As the situation was spread around further, a few people looked at what happened and felt it was wrong for someone who didn't go to the Akademy to cause problems like this. Especially getting away scot-free by the looks of it. A few arguing they would not go to that Blacksmith Shop anymore and just go elsewhere.
Even if the prices were a little more.
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Talks-
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A small Investigation went underway of what took place but nothing really came out of it. The Blacksmith Shop may have done something wrong but it also had the right to sell the product to someone else if they so desired.
Leroy was not given any payment back or anything for what happened since he did damage the shop itself. Describing the technique that was used on him also turned up nothing. Especially with no poisons or foreign material inside him.
As for his Storage Bags and Storage Bracelet, they were returned to him. Leroy emptied the contents out and to the eyes of the others, he burned them away. Of course, they were thrown into the Flame Vortex to help expand his Internal Space further.
'Humph, they had Tracking Inscription patterns on them, quite the pain in the ass this is turning out to be.' As for his goods, he checked over the fruits and vegetables but found nothing amiss. 'Tch! What a really big pain this is!'
"Leroy, how are your wounds?" Tang Xui asked across from him.
"They are fine, what do you want really?" Somewhat in a bad mood, he was not one for pleasantries right now. "A teaching lesson or something else?"
"Nothing like that, just checking on you." She really didn't know how to broach the subject on what happened really and if he really was gonna kill that Noble and Tang Xuan if he stepped in the way. "What do you plan on doing for the break period?"
"Plan on working on projects, even more so now to help improve my Occupations as well." Removing the seeds from everything he set about preserving the foodstuff. Some were Jarred and Dried to keep them better. "Need to go to the Merchant Division to apply for them actually."
Getting up, he was followed by a bothered Tang Xui. Spotter flew down landing on his shoulder the moment he activated the protection around the place.
traveling the akademy grounds at night time had a different feeling about it. With just the three of them, Tang Xui enjoyed how it felt. Something about the situation was enjoyable about Leroy not sending her away or yelling at her as he did Tang Xuan.
"Hmm?" She was puzzled as Qi gathered around Leroy with each step. He wasn't getting stronger as far as she could tell but a small change was taking place. 'Is he cultivating while walking?'
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
The answer was both yes and no. Spotter was cultivating as Demon Beasts do but helping Leroy as well at the same time. Thanks to Spatial Sense and the Demon Beast Manual he was able to do as they did with physical contact.
A few students waved and marveled at Leroy who was walking around after such an incident. Making it to the Teleportation Area, the trio went directly to the destination.
Greeted by a Proctor, Leroy put the paperwork down for what he came for. Of course, the person was not authorized to read it and had to go and summon someone higher up.
Of all the ones to come out, it was a Smith Proctor. AS one who was in the Closed Door Ceremony he of course could go over the paperwork. Opening it up after security went up, he read it over seriously.
Smith T1, Tailor T2, Inscription T2, Herbologist T3, Brewer T2, Teacher T3 were listed on what he needed to have promoted. Not too high and just one Tier higher in standing.
"Give me a few minutes." Proctor Mura gave a glance at Tang Xui very briefly. "Who designed those gloves you are wearing?" She was surprised but pointed at Leroy directly. "I see." With a deep sigh, the Smith went to arrange what was needed.
While they waited, Tang Xui didn't ask anything and just watch the small traces of Qi that gathered around Leroy and Spotter. As for her gloves, she was only wearing them in case someone ignored the rules and attacked them.
"Hello there." Proctor Constance said cheerfully to the duo. She rushed over the moment her spies reported Leroy entered the area. "Student Leroy, why are you out so late? I heard you were injured today over something."
"Hello, Proctor Constance." Leroy answered politely but did not answer her question. 'I wonder if I can pick up some decent designs this late at the working area?'
"He looks absentminded." Proctor Constance spoke to Tang Xui after Leroy didn't answer. "We haven't met yet, but I am also a Teacher in the Akademy. Once you become a second year you can take my classes."
"Greetings Teacher Constance." She responded kindly with a bow. "What do you teach?" Learning from before she didn't answer for Leroy or make assumptions currently.
"I teach quite a few courses. Such as Tailoring, Alchemy, Formations, and Inscription Occupations. Are you interested in learning from me?"
"No." Tang Xui answered quickly as she didn't like the woman and got a really bad feeling from her. Intuition was a hell of a thing. "Focusing on my actual Cultivation Attainment and not really on anything else."
"I see." Proctor Constance's eyes narrowed a little but nothing more. 'This girl is close to him from what I hear, I wonder how to get in her graces? Not like her Family is that powerful but Tang Ansui is a decent associate and Co-worker.'
As Constance tried to engage Tang Xui in simple conversation she found herself becoming more and more frustrated at the short replies and general disinterest.
'Why are teenagers so insufferable!?' Constance was old despite appearances, she was also bad at getting along with people. Especially those she found no use for and couldn't control. 'I must try a different option.'
"Caw!" Spotter gave out a call as it grew bigger before shrinking back down. "Caa ca!" Having grown in Rank thanks to Leroy it fluttered happily.
"Here you go student Leroy." Proctor Mura announced as he came back in. Seeing Constance he gave her less of a glance and more of a disgusted gaze. "I wish you luck in all that you do."
"Thank you." Leroy took the Missions and gave a salute of respect. He didn't say anything to Constance as Tang Xui followed behind him. Having smelled something on the woman he felt something was wrong. 'I smelt that at the Tailor Shop but that was nothing too disturbing. Unless it triggered with something else I don't know about.'
As Leroy tried to figure out what happened to him still, Tang Xui started making small talk. Happy he answered as normal she figure everything would be ok again.
Proctor Constance turned to Smith Mura once she sent away the other workers. It was a good time to close the facility for some cleaning.
"What did he want? What was assigned?" She immediately demanded the answers but received no answers. "You know I will find out after applying to see!"
"Then do so, I am not your lackey witch!" Turning on his heels, Smith Mura gave her a fair warning. "Do not think you can do whatever you please with people still, times are changing."
"I do what I must because times are changing!" Constance shouted as the man walked away from her. She cursed inwardly as this wouldn't happen if she was back at her full power. 'I just managed to keep him here at the Akademy now this! Hopefully, he will not be leaving in the next week!'
Leaving angrily, Constance went to apply to find out what Leroy requested at the facility and what he was tasked with. She was to be disappointed some more today.
Because of the incident, she organized information on what Leroy would be up to was put under wraps. The different Mission work he would have to do to get promoted was devised by several Proctors that would evaluate it based on the report. Without knowing which Proctors arranged the Missions she couldn't ask.
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Supplies-
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The remainder of the night, Leroy tended to his wounds and made plans for the Missions. Cross refrensing them with a few Artifact locations and different Resources in general he was looking forward to it.
A few clangs outside, he spotted Saiori, Miniori, and Kaitori sparring. Every now and then Spotter would drop in to make the spar more dangerous. The battle prowess of all of them increased to another level visibly.
"Good for them." Leroy muttered as he went back to arranging his work. The Transmission Stone he affixed to a Storage Bracelet started to vibrate. "Hello." Answering it like a cell phone, he circles some Qi into it instead of wasting a Qi Stone.
"So I have a proposal for you, can we meet in the morning?" It was Tang Xui's voice and she sounded pretty excited. "I got some good news that will definitely entice you!"
"Why not just tell me now?"
"It's late at night and I have an image to uphold!" She almost shouted into the stone.
"Very well, but make sure you have everything you need when talking to me. I plan to head out soon. So I need to keep busy until then and make preparations."
"Wait.. what about your wounds!?"
"Good chance to temper my body further. Also, need supplies." Of course, he wouldn't tell her what he was up to directly. 'If I can find those Artifacts