It was a standoff for about four minutes or so. The Gorgon Liadan assumed at this point her people were dead, or something even worse. That they had abandoned her to flee to gain outside help. It was her idea to gather herbs at such a rural place and risk trying to rope anyone to help them.

Trickling some of the Gold Qi he had available out, he urged around a few of the Harpy's to see what would happen. The odd thing is despite his urging it skipped those who really want it to go around and mostly affected the ones in a high state of cultivation deviation.

So the more monstrous ones settled down first and two of the ones with large wings on their backs.

"If this is some sort of trick.." A Harpy stared at the human? and Gorgon down. Scrutinging the former more than she already was. 'What's is with the vibes he is letting off? Is he really another magician who got lucky or something?'

Despite the number of people who witnessed what took place at the Mine, which was himself and spirits at the end of it, more information had been uncovered as the days passed. Someone was purposefully releasing it in a controlled way.

A tossed over the Government agent Mr.Green, the Greenbear Tribe members who were disgruntled, or his own people that may have felt some type of way. He doubted it was Luigi or the newcomer Cheryl. That left the Bo heir and her contacts.

He didn't think it was the spirits with the way he had been refining them.

"You will be dead and can't do anything about it." Rexford was sick of the threats and wanted to go back home at this point. 'I have a business to finish for the Gorgons and she did bring me these Harpys to mess with by chance. If I throw them into the Black Gold Vortex alive I would be able to test a few theories.'

It as a dark thought but a good one none the less.

Taking out a few Vortex Body Tempering Pills he crushed them and rubbed them on a festering wound. Of course, the Harpy was apprehensive while he did so but she felt compelled to stay as the vibe she received from him was just to her liking.

"I would feed it to you but you just are the worse as a patient." It was said confidently if not a bit smugly. The harpy only blinked at him in understanding however. Slowly her eyes returned to normal and looked less animilstic. "Well, you are looking better already."

The strong medicinal odor riled up the normal harpies as they had trouble not attacking to get some themselves. But the less affected ones helped to keep them in line by grunting out wired unintelligible words to Rexford.

The powdered form of the pill caused the wound to sizzle and shine in bright golden light on the surface flesh. Thanks to the strength of the Harpy and her desire to live, it already had some in her bloodstream moving through her body.

It was a Body Tempering Method and Rexford found himself intrigued by how it worked.

It was good that the quick treatment was done this way as the Harpy's Flock Leader was too weak to take it normally. Especially with the quantity and quality, of what Rexford was trying to give to her. He made a note to give the regular ones unless it was really necessary.

'If these cultivators can't take it, then the old man must have a better temperament and method. Or it could be the fact they are some type people beast or something.' Thinking of old man Bo he needed to talk to him soon to get a better understanding of creatures out there in the City.

Feeling the relief, the Flock Leader took off her clothes and rubbed the powder everywhere she felt pain before. It was quite the show and left Rexford blinking rapidly in shock but not for the normal reasons.

"That is a toned body of impressive proportions." He almost gave a whistle of appreciation. The result of hard work one's entire life compared to his method of force from Qi and Mana. Granted he did so to get closer back to his previous body parameters but it still felt off. "It would be great to compare notes, too bad your group is volatile so far."

"For that you have my apologies." The Flock Leader gave a small curt nod. "But we have been at war for generations and seeing you with the Gorgon did not help. Especially after what they did to us."

"My sister told you we had nothing to do with that!" Liadan all but hissed at the other. Rexford stepped back from the Harpy's in front of the Gorgon defensively. "You birdbrains just didn't listen at that is the reason more of you are dying!"

"Humph, yet the last few skirmishes have ended in your tribes dropping compared to our flock!" The same angry one voiced out in an anger but at least she put her weapons away. The others were also slowly getting control of themselves with the pressure of the Flock Leader guiding them. "No coincidence we lost control right as your kind fled the mountains!"

"Duru, calm yourself." An older member spoke with calm and full confidence in her voice. She passed the chains from her hands to another seeing as the situation had lessened some. "Blame and punishment can be had later, right now this is more important."

The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

Duru may be aggressive but she heeded the other's words quickly. The Flock Leader who was named Ipek from what he picked up was talking to the others in quick tones almost resembling that of chirping birds.

It was melodious at times but also irritating due to the strength of his hearing Rexford found. But a look at the Gorgon Liadan it was not an issue. Which meant he still needed more control.

A few of the Harpys scarpped the powder from the Flock Leader who still hadn't redressed onto their own wounds. The potency of the powder mixed with her blood actually helped them recover just as easy.

Which was a shock to all those gathered. Rexford however was pulled from his admiring gaze by the older Harpy who calmed the aggressive Duru. She even moved her wings in front to prevent him from seeing what they were doing.

It was understandable as more started to undress.

"I am Damla, Apothecary of the Sunbird Flock in New York as you know it."

"Pleasure... now compared to when we first met." Rexford returned a handshake and found himself appreciating the level of decorum now. "Rexford... I will leave any titles out considering what happened.

"I understand." Damla gave the Gorgon a dismissive look as if she was not even there. If she was able she might have killed her just to be rid of one who saw them in such a sorry state. "There is enough to go around for everyone when making some deals, don't you think?"

She quoted him per word and almost exact pitch.

"That still holds true?"

"Yes... but payment is needed of equal proportions. I am tempted to ask up front due to your aggressive behavior." Rexford was erring on the side of caution as they were the winning party from what was determined between the warring groups. But that didn't mean he would switch over still. "Discarded areas or materials you no longer desire is a good little incentive if you don't have any money."

"Money is a bit tight right now but we do have some .. rock that Mages like. Will that suffice?" Pulling out a leather-bound bag she revealed them to him. "Should be enough to trade for a few thousand dollars."

She was unsure but there was something else. The Harpy's didn't seem to care too much for the city or the shop area. Rexford had understood no one came to bother them or notice them for that matter so something had to be preventing regular folk from getting involved.

"Let's see first." Taking the magical rocks.. which almost had him laughing at such a thing he turned to the Gorgon. "Can you get a good trade value for these?"

"Umm.. all in all about 20,000 for that bag. I just did some earlier before shopping. The exchange rate is decent in-store but is better to go to the bank to get it done if you have large quantities." Liadan said quickly to make sure she didn't give the others time to protest. 'Finally able to do something in this, I really should have listened and not come out.'

"Well, that covers what I used so far then." Rexford nodded as he had little to go on still and the value of his Vortex Enhancing Pills was pretty high but that could be inflated because of the old man Bo was desperate. "Guess we can do this as a first-time discount deal."

Taking out a few more he passed them over to the older Harpy who then tossed it behind herself. Her wings were still blocking and a weird wall of Qi distorted the surroundings.

When it went up, Rexford had no idea but he made a note to study that later.

"We have more back home, so setting a decent trade while working for the non-discounted price." Damla knew of the Magic stones used a little in the Magic Community but to them, it was just used as trades. 'It takes too much for us to make it useable and it is not as good as Qi stones. Maybe old man Ashford was right, maybe we do need to branch out before it is too late.'

"But we cannot wait too long." Duru stepped forward as she no longer had to focus on any of the others.

At some point, the aggression had died down to nothing amongst the Flock. As well as her own with a more appreciative look towards the human??? she was still undecided about what he was.

"For the treatment of our Flock, I am sure the rules can be broken to allow him to enter." Apparently, her word carried weight in this manner. A few gasps and chirps illicit a response that deemed it so. "I will take responsibility for him, we must not dally here much longer."

Damla agreed and soon they were hashing out details for movement back home. During that time Rexford was unable to pick up where the home was located but it wasn't far apparently. He started thinking about where in the country a population of bird people lived.

Liadan had gotten in touch with her people and explained the situation as best she could to get some help. Luckily by her smile, someone was coming as they had not abandoned her just yet.

Rexford frowned as that was pretty bad they were just going to leave her and get away themselves. But without the full picture, he wouldn't know what to do with his current information just yet.

They arrived right around the time the Harpys were ready to go. It was weird seeing the giant monstrous brid ones take more humanoid shapes. With one of them even gaining back the ability to speak and think rationally.

After conversing with the Gorgons a little through Liadan to give her more importance and bargaining power in her tribe, he got them in touch with Luigi to make arrangements for transport.

A combination of the Bo family and Cosmo's gang made it as safe as he could currently. The Underworld and the Supernatural World were more connected than Cosmo let on, which was not that good considering Rexford had made a lot of risky moves. But in the Gangleader defense, he thought a lot of it was fake or just exaggerated rumors over the years.

Rexford was his only real proof with his guy Luigi being another as time went by.

Handing over a few bags of Spirit Enhancing Pills to the Gorgon Lidan he left with the Harpy's. He made sure to send word with one of his Spirits that Liadan was the priority member of the group and not the others.

So if a fight broke out or a need to dispose of them keep her alive the best as possible.

Flying via talon carry was not the worst but he became a little angry at his suit getting messed up. It was a good thing he could sew but damn he really had to get compensated well for this.

His mind started racing as he cultivated and thought over what just happened today. Not knowing he was affecting the Harpys who were still dealing with Cultivation Deviation by taking into themselves via the Tortured Mind Refing Arts. A sense of peace took over and the missing portions of the Mind Path of Cultivation filled in at an alarming rate!

Not to mention the countless Spirits he pulled toward him in the air of various animals and people who died in horrific plane crashes!